Calais Campbell's appearance on NFL Rank top 100 shows progress, respect

It's been a year of progress for Arizona Cardinals defensive end Calais Campbell.

First, he made the Pro Bowl in January.

Then he was rated among the top 100 players in the league by ESPN.

Campbell was ranked 78th (81.20) on the list, which was revealed Tuesday, and was the second Cardinal to appear on the list. Cornerback Patrick Peterson was 49th (84.85). Campbell was the seventh defensive end named to the list, but he should've been higher. He's not yet better than Houston's J.J. Watt (No. 1 -- 98.87) or Buffalo's Mario Williams (No. 46 -- 84.93), but Campbell's size and length makes him a better defensive end than New York's Muhammad Wilkerson (No. 50 -- 84.65), Miami's Cameron Wake (No. 51 -- 84.54), Seattle's Michael Bennett (No. 60 -- 83.13) and New York's Sheldon Richardson (No. 61 -- 83.04).

There were 71 total voters, including ESPN analysts, Insiders, reporters, and Stats & Info NFL experts, as well as partner sites including Pro Football Focus and Football Outsiders.

Campbell doesn't play for a team that attracts the limelight like the Jets or the Dolphins, or hasn't had the success of the Seahawks. But he's quietly become a defensive factor that has teams double-teaming and planning against him because he's 6-foot-8 and has the quickness of an outside linebacker.

At No. 49, Peterson appears low but he's the fourth cornerback on the list behind Seattle's Richard Sherman (No. 8 -- 93.31), New York's Darrelle Revis (No. 9 -- 93.24) and Cleveland's Joe Haden (No. 42 -- 85.46). Depending on the day, Peterson could -- and should -- be ranked higher than Haden.

Trimmer, slimmer and intent on proving he's better than his 2014 stats show, Peterson is poised to have a better year than he did last season.

But with a slew of young talent, the Cardinals are also poised to have more names on the list next season.


(espn.com)