Top 30 NFL players 30 and over: Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers headline list of best veteran players for 2022

Football is a young man’s game, you might say, especially when you consider how many of the NFL’s premium talents are still playing on rookie contracts. But to overlook the true veterans would be to overlook just as many superstars. In fact, some of the best players at the most important position just happen to be old, by NFL standards.

So let’s celebrate the best of the eldest! We already ranked the top 25 NFL players 25 and under for 2022. Now we’re ranking the top 30 players 30 and over. Some clarifications:

• What is the cutoff for a player turning 30? We’re counting a player as long as they are 30 or older when the 2022 season officially begins on Sept. 8. If they turn 30 later, such as in Week 2, they don’t count for this exercise.
• What goes into the ranking? Both past performance, 2022 projection and, to a lesser degree, positional value. Basically, which of these players is most talented and most important this season?

Without further ado, the ranking:

Note: Player ages listed are as of Sept. 8, 2022.

30. Buccaneers C Ryan Jensen (31)

The quarterback of Tampa Bay’s championship-caliber line, he hasn’t missed a game in six years. He’s also coming off his first Pro Bowl season at age 30, settling in as one of Tom Brady’s steadiest protectors.

29. Dolphins OT Terron Armstead (31)

When he’s healthy, he’s a Grade-A left tackle, notably spending eight years as Drew Brees’ blind-side blocker. But can he stay healthy? The longtime Saint has missed at least six games in four of his last six seasons.

28. Rams LB Bobby Wagner (32)

He may be a declining breed as the big man in the middle, but he still stays around the ball, racking up a career-high 170 tackles in 2021. Now alongside more talent in L.A. after 10 years in Seattle, he’s poised to log his ninth straight All-Pro nod.