The NFL's 100th season is fast approaching, and contrary to a popular belief, football isn't exactly short on talent for Frank Mason III Jersey the future, with new-age superstars like and among some of the .The 100th anniversary isn't just about celebrating the stars of tomorrow, however. It's also about paying respects to the stars already established and, in some sense, the stars who paved the paths currently being traveled.So we decided to do just that -- using only jersey numbers as our guide.With the 100th season just around the corner, we identified the top players around present-day according to their digits, 1-99. While we ranked players by their current standing and future outlook, we did make note of some of each number's best legends along the way. So you'll get a taste of everything throughout our top 99 -- the past, present and future.Without further ado, we present ... the top 99 players for the NFL's 100th anniversary, ranked by jersey number: 1 |Easy choice. Whether or not you love him as a QB, it was basically either him or your favorite practice-squad punter here. Aside from Warren Moon, No. 1 has traditionally been popularized by special teamers -- Gary Anderson, Jason Elam and Matt Turk among them. So Newton can take pride in knowing he's truly embodied the single digit.2 | Not the best-looking QB number, if we're being honest, but Ryan's rocked it since Day 1, and no one else really comes close to matching his level of talent and/or production. These are the kicker numbers, remember!3 | If you want to make a case for or , well, you can just stop reading right here. Whereas Ryan looks fine and familiar in No. 2, Wilson absolutely makes Sterling Brown Jersey his number look cool on a QB, perhaps in part because of his smaller stature and elusive style of play. No contest here. 4 | Deshaun WatsonThere's actually a surprising amount of competition for ownership of No. 4, as two other mildly promising young QBs in and use it. No one would reasonably opt for either of them over Watson at this point, though. If we're talking legacy honorees, gets it, hands down. The all-timer is even easier: Brett Favre.5 |Not going to lie, we almost put , a 34-year-old kicker, over Flacco here. fans of the last, oh, six years may have vouched for it, too. But there's enough potential left in Big Joe's arm, now in Denver, to scrap him for a special teamer. In any event, it's unfortunate a QB number made cool by Jeff Garcia and Donovan McNabb is devoid of star power.6 |All Baker needed was one year to earn this spot over the likes of , and , who are all good in their own right but certainly aren't commanding huddles or spotlights like Colin Cowherd's archenemy. 7 | This is an absolutely tremendous number, particularly for QBs. It's sleek. It's iconic. It's the best of the single digits on pa sers. Big Ben owns it by way of being the only current "elite" veteran to wear it, but maybe can make it his own down the road. Among the best No. 7s in NFL history: John Elway, Michael Vick, Boomer Esiason, Joe Theismann, Ron Jaworski.8 |What a perfect match we have here. No. 8 is crisply symmetrical but, in turn, kind of bland -- not so unlike our friend Kirk, who is perfectly efficient but may or may not have the "stuff" to win the big games. Regardle s, he's clearly the best bet among other guys Milwaukee Bucks Jeresy donning the number, though and both give it a dual-threat persona.9 | isn't bad, but if you think Brees, you automatically think "9."10 | As you'll notice, the teens are littered with wide receivers. No. 10, in particular, is home to a bunch of good, if not elite, guys like and . (Don't even try to suggest here.) But Hopkins is a level or three above them. was the only other big name considered here, but he's been as good as his rings suggest. 11 | probably has the best chance of stealing this just because he's a QB. Legacy-wise, give it to . If you're , give it to .12 | Tom BradyThe best number in the game, not because of its look but because of the names representing it. As if the best QB of his time weren't enough, No. 12 can also be found on and beneath the doctored shoulders of a revived . Throw in there for good measure, and it's clear this one's Vin Baker Jersey got oomph.13 | Odell Beckham Jr.This may have been the hardest of them all. You can easily make arguments for and , two premier wideouts with lots of years ahead of them, and truth be told, they're probably both more reliable than OBJ. It's just so hard to pa s up Beckham's total package -- his pure talent, his fresh scenery, his celebrity status. If anyone truly owns No. 13, it's him. An underrated honorable mention: T.Y. Hilton. 14 | If this sounds more like a QB number, that's because it is, but , and don't measure up. Diggs is a pure play-maker when he's on his game, and any team would be happy to have him.15 | Patrick MahomesHe's going to single-handedly popularize this number. Only Bart Starr stands in his way as a true all-time threat.16 | could give this guy a run for his money if Goff's clutch-time floundering continues. At the moment, though, few players offer more with these digits. They are rather iconic, too, pa sing through Joe Montana, Norm Snead and other legendary QBs. 17 |Even as he ages, it's clear Phil has this one locked up. It's got to be a good representation of how many kids Bryn Forbes Jersey he has by now, too, right? On their best days, and deserve consideration here, but ties usually go to the QB anyway. Rivers is to 17 as Roethlisberger is to 7, Cam is to 1 and so on.18 | A.J. GreenIt says something about impact that No. 18 still evokes memories of the longtime QB. Presently speaking, there aren't a lot of elite candidates other than Green, who helped put the whole WRs-in-teen-numbers craze into overdrive along with Julio Jones when he arrived back in 2011.19 | Some of you will want here, and that's fine. Thielen's just way better than most people give him credit for. This guy has quietly had production for the last, like, two and a half years. Easily a top-10 WR in all of football. 20 | Is Ramsey's number really that recognizable outside of Jacksonville? Maybe. Maybe not. Regardle s, he's by far the best to rock No. 20, a look that's truly owned by all-time greats like Barry Sanders, Brian Dawkins and Ed Reed.21 | For all his off-field woes, Elliott has done a tremendous job as far as recognition goes, making No. 21 a big deal in Dallas despite today's devaluation of running backs. The mere fact he plays for the probably helps. Alternate considerations: , who's arguably no longer among the game's most elite corners; and , who's not quite elite yet.22 | Another running back?! To be fa