Jan 26, 2013, Honolulu, HI, USA; Cleveland Browns tackle Joe Thomas (73) blocks Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) at Ohana Day for the 2013 Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Two Wisconsin Badgers legends make PFF's list of best NFL players from 2000s

Originally posted on Wisconsin Badgers on SI
By Lorin Cox | Last updated May 25, 2025 7:28 PM ET

The best players in the trenches don't always get the recognition they deserve.

Thankfully, the folks over at PFF take the time to grade every player on every play, even the ones that never touch the ball.

It's fair to disagree with their grades sometimes, but they got it right when they assembled their team of the best NFL players from the 2000s and included Wisconsin Badgers legends Joe Thomas and J.J. Watt.

LB: Patrick Willis
LB: Ray Lewis

THE ALL-PFF TEAM - the NFL's best players since 2000 ⭐https://t.co/yRyRlye0jL
— PFF (@PFF) May 23, 2025

Left Tackle: Joe Thomas

Thomas is truly one of the best of all time at his position, having delivered the highest career PFF pass-blocking grade of any offensive lineman in the PFF era (95.9).

Thomas allowed just a 4.0% pressure rate in his career, the second-best mark among all offensive tackles with at least 5,000 pass-blocking snaps. He holds the PFF record for most seasons (six) with a pass-blocking grade above 90.0. For context, honorable mention Trent Williams, who has six seasons of 90.0-plus PFF overall grades, has just one season with a 90.0-plus PFF pass-blocking grade.Jonathon Macri, PFF

The NFL has seen plenty of good left tackles over the last 25 years, but it would be hard to put anyone ahead of the Hall of Famer from Brookfield, Wis.

The same is true on the defensive line for future Hall of Famer J.J. Watt.

Former Los Angeles Ram Aaron Donald is technically ahead of him on the list, but it would be incomplete if Watt wasn't still included in the lineup.

Interior Defender: J.J. Watt

Watt split his time between edge defender and interior defensive lineman, the latter of which is where he features on this list, as his most dominant seasons at that position are the only ones to come close to rivaling Aaron Donald.

The second-highest-graded interior defensive linemen in the PFF era delivered a record 119 quarterback pressures for the position and a 92.9 PFF pass-rush grade in 2014, which ranks just outside Donald’s six best seasons of all time. Watt also put together three of the five seasons with the most sacks for the position, leading to the third-most sacks (120.5) in the PFF era, including the playoffs.Jonathon Macri, PFF

Watt retired after the 2022 season, so he won't be eligible for the Hall of Fame until 2028.

It shouldn't take long for him to get in from there. His spot on the all 2000s team is strong evidence of that.