Rams and the NFL Network Top 100 update
As the hit show The Top 100 Players of 2015 continues to roll on, the St. Louis Rams have placed two players on the list. Defensive lineman Aaron Donald and defensive end Robert Quinn. The countdown recently cracked the top 50 in the past couple weeks with Quinn coming in at #44 and Donald debuting on the countdown earlier at #92.
The show asks current NFL players to list their votes for the top 100 players in the NFL right now. A system that may be a little skewed based on friendships, teammates and private conversations, but nonetheless, a fairly accurate aggregate of information.
Aaron Donald: NFL Top 100 #92
Donald was selected in the first round of the 2014 draft, 13th overall out of Pittsburgh. He was a highly regarded defensive tackle that has a nose for the football. Any rookie to place in the shows top 100 should consider it an honor. To be recognized by his peers as a true impact player so early in his career is a sign of good things to come. Donald’s stats, however, speak for themselves. He played in all 16 games and started 12 of those. He ran up 48 total tackles, two forced fumbles and finished with nine sacks. Those nine sacks were good enough for second most on the team last year, behind only Quinn.
Robert Quinn: NFL Top 100 #44
Quinn was also a first round selection for St. Louis. Quinn was the 14th overall pick in the 2011 draft out of North Carolina. Quinn has been productive his entire career. He has accumulated 45 sacks, 133 total tackles, 13 forced fumbles and 11 passes defended in those four years. 2014 might be considered a down year for Quinn as he only managed 10.5 sacks. That is tied for the second lowest total in his short career. Coming off 19 sacks in 2013, the ceiling is very high for this young player.
NFL Network will continue to work their way down to the top player in the NFL every Wednesday evening at 9pmET on the NFL Network (Check your local TV listings.) This Wednesday will include numbers 40-31. Check back for updates as more of your Rams look to finish in the top 40!