Locals In The NFL: Preseason Player Power Rankings
Aug 31, 2025, 5:25 PM | Updated: Sep 2, 2025, 10:47 am
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 12: Puka Nacua #17 of the Los Angeles Rams talks with Fred Warner #54 of the San Francisco 49ers after the game at Levi's Stadium on December 12, 2024 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
The NFL regular season kicks off next week, launching 18 weeks of Sundays filled with highlight plays and standout performances.
On top of that, dozens of players will start to make a name for themselves or continue their elite play from seasons past.
And what would an NFL season be without some harmless power rankings?
KSL Sports Locals In The NFL Power Rankings
Beginning this NFL season, we’ll post weekly player power rankings that shift as players make their mark.
These rankings are subjective — comparing offensive linemen to defensive backs and quarterbacks to linebackers will never be perfect.
For this first preseason edition, both past production and future projections are considered, with expectations for 2025 carrying a bit more weight. Let’s get into it.
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Honorable Mentions
These are players who failed to crack the top ten, but still deserve a nod and could easily be argued as one of the top 10 locals. Don’t be surprised if these names stick around this range or eventually make it to the list as the season progresses:
Garrett Bolles (Utah, Broncos OT), Rashid Shaheed (Weber State, Saints WR), Jonah Elliss (Utah, Broncos LB), Tyler Allgeier (BYU, Falcons RB), Cody Barton (Utah, Titans LB), Clark Phillips III (Utah, Falcons CB), Dalton Schultz (Bingham High, Texans TE), Taysom Hill (BYU, Saints TE)
With that out of the way, let’s kick off our top ten with No. 10.
10. Taron Johnson – Weber State – Bills CB
2024 stats: 65 total tackles (42 solo), one sack, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, two interceptions, one touchdown, and five pass breakups.
Johnson has been a cornerstone in Buffalo’s secondary for five years now. Despite missing time with an injury in 2024, he set a career high in interceptions.
When it comes to NFL slot corners, he’s among the best in the league. What really sticks out is his versatility. Whether it’s zone or man coverage or even a blitz, Johnson gets the job done.
Fully healthy heading into 2025, a career year could be in line for the former Wildcat.
9. Kaden Elliss – Judge Memorial High – Falcons LB
2024 stats: 151 total tackles (85 solo), five sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, one interception, and three pass breakups.
Elliss broke onto the scene in 2024 but still remains under the radar nationally and even in local circles.
He finished sixth in the NFL in total tackles and held down the middle of the field well for the Falcons. His game screams Bobby Wagner: a tackle machine that helps equally in the run and pass game.
As the defense improves around him, Elliss could potentially see his first Pro Bowl nod in 2025.
Kaden Elliss had a career high in tackles last year
He also recorded his first interception and led all linebackers in total pressures (43) per PFF
He is named as a candidate to be a first time pro bowler in 2025 https://t.co/IfLEHxZTLE pic.twitter.com/Lz0zZG1LbB
— Arkesh Ray (@arkeshrayyyy) July 12, 2025
8. Dalton Kincaid – Utah – Bills TE
2024 stats: 44 receptions for 448 yards and two touchdowns
Due to knee injuries and other factors, Kincaid regressed a bit from year one to year two.
However, coming out of fall camp, the Buffalo coaching staff didn’t just say that he was healthy; they said he looked better than ever both on the field and in the weight room.
Considering that Kincaid was already one of Josh Allen’s favorite targets and the Bills have a lot of new faces in the receiver room, a bounce-back year three could be on tap.
7. Kyle Van Noy – BYU – Ravens LB
2024 stats: 41 total tackles (25 solo), 12.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and two pass breakups.
Van Noy completely reinvented his game last year with the Ravens.
At 33 years old, KVN was top-five in sacks in the NFL for the first time in his career. Prior to his stint in Baltimore, the 12.5 sacks he posted were nearly double his career-high of 6.5 in New England.
The former Cougar is now 34 years old and entering year No. 12 in the league. If he avoids any significant regression, he will remain a top ten staple throughout the season.
QB’s worst nightmare… name him👇 pic.twitter.com/gYzoYyPxAj
— NFL (@NFL) August 30, 2025
6. Jordan Love – Utah State – Packers QB
2024 stats: 268 completions for 3,389 yards and 25 touchdowns
Love is currently a top 15 quarterback and has all of the tools to rise higher than that.
He dealt with an injury early last season but came back and led Green Bay to the playoffs in the toughest division in the NFL. Heading into 2025, the Packers added star linebacker Micah Parsons.
If the Packers want to be contenders this season, it will rely on Love’s performance and how he leads the offense.
5. Bobby Wagner – Utah State – Commanders LB
2024 stats: 132 total tackles (75 solo), two sacks, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, and four pass breakups.
Wagner is giving Father Time a run for his money, but we all know who eventually wins that battle.
Still, Wagner isn’t just a top tackler. He isn’t just a top linebacker. He’s one of the best defensive leaders in the NFL. The Commanders made waves in the NFC last year and could see similar success.
Similar to Van Noy, as long as Wagner has similar production, he will remain on this list through the new year.
4. Jaylon Johnson – Utah – Bears CB
2024 stats: 53 total tackles (42 solo), two sacks, one forced fumble, two interceptions, and eight pass breakups.
The Bears’ defense wasn’t great last year, but that doesn’t mean that Johnson wasn’t elite.
At the end of the day, how much can you do when you’re targeted less than 50 times for the whole season? He regressed a bit from 2023, but his production should go back up a bit as Chicago improves overall.
NFL coaches, executives, and scouts voted Johnson as the eighth-best CB in the league, even after a small step backwards.
Jaylon Johnson seals the deal. @ChicagoBears win! pic.twitter.com/fS7KNBq2X1
— NFL (@NFL) September 8, 2024
3. Puka Nacua – BYU – Rams WR
2024 stats: 79 receptions for 990 yards and three touchdowns
Nacua only played in 11 games last season due to injury and still nearly broke 1000 yards.
Los Angeles moved on from Cooper Kupp, allowing Nacua to step in as WR1. To relieve some pressure, they brought in veteran wideout Davante Adams. QB Matthew Stafford remains a top 10 shot-caller in the league as well.
Assuming full health, Nacua could enter the top-five wide receivers in the league conversation.
2. Penei Sewell – Desert Hills High – Lions OT
Sewell was just ranked No. 13 on the NFL Top 100 list and for good reason.
He is the best run-blocking tackle in the NFL and is also elite when Goff drops back. He allowed just one sack in over 1000 snaps in 2024.
When you’re voted as the best player in your position by your peers, you deserve to place in player power rankings.
1. Fred Warner – BYU – 49ers LB
2024 stats: 131 total tackles (76 solo), one sack, four forced fumbles, two interceptions, one touchdown, and seven pass breakups.
Last but not least, the best linebacker in the NFL comes in at No. 1.
Warner is a sideline-to-sideline do-it-all LB and the true anchor of the 49ers defense for the last half-decade. It’s truly scary to think that Warner is already a top 20 linebacker of all time with five or more years left in the tank.
At the end of the day, San Francisco is led by its defense, and the defense is led by Warner.
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About #LocalsInTheNFL
For over five years, KSL Sports has provided coverage on all NFL players with ties to the state of Utah.
Whether they attended Utah or BYU or grew up in the Beehive State, we keep you caught up with how the locals are performing on the highest stage.
From highlights to trades and other breaking news, check out our Locals In The NFL coverage here.
