With the NFL’s top 100 players of 2025 list now beyond the halfway mark, it’s safe to say that Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Zach Sieler will not make the list. These rankings are driven by the players with voting beginning in November and ballots being submitted before the Super Bowl. After Sieler’s stellar 2024 season, it’s mystifying that he is being left off of the list.
If the list was voted solely on production, given who’s been put on the list so far, Sieler undoubtedly checks all the boxes. With that being said, there must be a bigger reason why he was left off by his peers.
Sieler Has Quietly Been One Of The Best Defensive Tackles In The League
Given Sieler’s demeanor and background, it’s typical to overlook someone like him. Sieler doesn’t have a flashy personality or an illustrious football background; he was a seventh-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft and attended the almighty Ferris State University. After being cut by the Baltimore Ravens, the Dolphins took a chance by signing him in 2019, and the rest is history.
Sieler began to burst onto the scene in 2023 after a strong 10-sack season. But after the departure of Christian Wilkins, it was questioned if Sieler could duplicate that season. He answered the call by following up his 2023 campaign with another double-digit sack year and was rewarded by being voted the team’s MVP in 2024. This isn’t just typical quality starter production. Sieler has been one of the best defensive tackles in the league, and that is not an overstatement.
Comparing Sieler’s most recent season to someone who made the list in Vita Vea, who ranked 76th, Sieler finished with three more sacks, tackles for losses, and also had six more quarterback hits while playing one less game than Vea. This is not to discredit Vea who is one of the most valuable players at his position, but it goes to show how disrespectful it is to have Sieler off the list.
Sieler Should Not Be Punished For Team Success
Another popular assumption that can be made is that Sieler is being overlooked due to the team he’s playing on. Yes, the Dolphins have the longest playoff drought in the NFL and struggle to win games late in the season when it matters, but that should not hurt Sieler when it comes to voting.
Signature playoff moments can help bolster people’s spot on the list, but no one punishes Myles Garrett and Maxx Crosby for being on significantly worse teams. This is not to state that Sieler is on the same level as those two, but Crosby and Garrett make the list because they are the best players at their position. The point is that the list should recognize the best players in the game, and there’s no question that Sieler fits that criteria.
End Of My Sieler Rant
Getting the input of players who have been around the game most of their lives and can explain the ins and outs of football should hold a lot of value. It’s great to get the players’ perspective on who they believe the best players in the league are, and the list is something that should stay. However, that’s not to say the list is flawless; Sieler’s omission is a prime example of its issues.
Just because these players live and breathe football doesn’t mean they’re always right when it comes to their rankings and takes. This is an example where the players who voted on the list are flat out wrong.
