Ranking The 15 Best Players in Super Bowl LX: Patriots vs Seahawks

As Super Bowl Sunday gets closer and closer, I thought it would be a great time to take a step back and analyze both the rosters of the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots and see how both teams' best players stack up against one another.  These players had the most impact in leading their clubs to the biggest stage in football, and everyone on this list will be relied upon if their team looks to be the last one left standing.

15: Kenneth Walker III, Seattle Seahawks, RB

Walker is one of the most underrated running backs in the NFL over the past four seasons, and this postseason has shown a wider audience just how talented he truly is. His performance against the San Francisco 49ers in the Divisional Round, where he scored three touchdowns, was a clear reminder of how impactful he can be at any moment.

14: Demarcus Lawrence, Seattle Seahawks, EDGE

While he may no longer be as consistently explosive as he was during his peak years in Dallas, DeMarcus Lawrence’s first season in Seattle has been nothing short of exceeding expectations. This season, Lawrence recorded six sacks and scored two touchdowns on scoop-and-score plays, proving he can still flip momentum in an instant. As Seattle heads into the Super Bowl, the hope is that Lawrence has one more impactful moment left in him.

13: Grey Zabel, Seattle Seahawks, G

Zabel, the Seahawks' first-round selection in last year's draft, had one of the best rookie seasons that no one outside of Seattle talked about. His strength in the trenches was key in Seattle being able to get the run game going on a consistent basis and making sure quarterback Sam Darnold had time to throw the ball downfield.

12: Charles Cross, Seattle Seahawks, LT

Cross took another step forward in 2025, showing improved consistency and strength in pass protection, and his efforts were rewarded as the Seahawks signed him to a brand new extension near the end of the regular season.

11: Stefon Diggs, New England Patriots, WR

Diggs may not be as consistent as he was in his younger years, but he has shown flashes throughout the season. On a young Patriots offense, the veteran wideout has provided much-needed leadership and always seems to be Drake Maye's first option on crucial passing plays.

10: Christian Gonzalez, New England Patriots, CB

While some might find this too low, it feels right to me, as when he plays at his best, there is no doubt Gonzalez is one of the better corners in the NFL, but I simply see too often that he can be got on a pretty consistent basis. Nevertheless, he has become the focal point of New England, and against a team that does like to throw the ball downfield, there will be a chance for him to create a momentum-shifting turnover in the big game.

9: Nick Emmanwori, Seattle Seahawks, DB

The Seahawks' second-round defensive back has put himself near the top of the Defensive Rookie of the Year conversation with his stellar play throughout the campaign and will no doubt be one of the cornerstones of Mike Macdonald's defense going forward. As the season has progressed, his impact and confidence have grown by the game, making him an X-factor to swing the game on Super Bowl Sunday.

8: Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks, QB

Darnold is on the verge of one of the greatest and most unique career turnarounds we have seen not just in the NFL but in the history of sports. Sure, there is the chance that the moment becomes too big for him; I don't expect that after what we saw in the NFC title game from him against a Rams team that has tormented him for years. If he brings that same level of command and avoids turning the ball over against New England, the Seahawks should be Super Bowl champions.

7: Ernest Jones IV, Seattle Seahawks, LB

Ernest Jones IV quickly became a culture-setter in Seattle after arriving via midseason trade in 2024, bringing leadership and physicality to the heart of the defense. His impact showed up everywhere in 2025, piling up 126 tackles while also adding five interceptions. In my opinion, he is very live as a potential sleeper pick to win Super Bowl MVP if the Seahawks win this game.

6: Byron Murphy, Seattle Seahawks, DT

Murphy holds a special place in Seattle as the first draft pick of the Mike Macdonald era. After an inconsistent rookie year in 2024, he arguably played at an All-Pro level in 2025, recording seven sacks to finish in a three-way tie for the team lead. Beyond the pass rush, Murphy was a crucial piece in Seattle establishing itself as one of the league’s top run defenses.

5: Leonard Williams, Seattle Seahawks, DT

Williams is a veteran presence that has kept Seattle's defense unified all season long. Even though his production dropped a tad this season with seven sacks after recording eleven in 2024, his true value came as a threat that opposing offenses have to game plan for, which makes life easier for everyone around him.

4: Devon Witherspoon, Seattle Seahawks, CB

Witherspoon is one of the most physical and complete cornerbacks in the NFL. While PFF rankings aren’t everything, there’s a reason he finished the season as their top-rated corner. He’ll be a constant problem that Maye and the Patriots offense must solve throughout the night if they want a real chance at winning it all.

3: Milton Williams, New England Patriots, DT

Patriots coach Mike Vrabel has said all postseason long that “the big dogs come out in January,” and Milton Williams has done exactly that. After winning a Super Bowl with the Eagles last year, Williams has elevated his game in New England, recording five total tackles, 2.0 sacks, and four quarterback hits through three playoff games this year. His presence up front has been game-changing for the Patriots, who have not allowed a single 60-yard rusher in any game he’s played this season. Williams will play a key role in New England’s game plan as they look to slow down Seattle and control the trenches.

2: Drake Maye, New England Patriots, QB

Maye has delivered one of the best second seasons we’ve ever seen from a quarterback and is all but guaranteed to finish as a top-two MVP candidate after closing the regular season with a league-best 113.5 passer rating. He completed 354 of 492 passes for 4,394 yards, 31 touchdowns, and just eight interceptions, becoming only the eighth quarterback in NFL history to pair a 70 percent completion rate with 4,000-plus yards and 30-plus scores. The postseason, however, has told a different story, as Maye has struggled against elite defenses, totaling six fumbles, two interceptions, 533 passing yards, four passing touchdowns, and one rushing score. If New England is going to win this game, Maye will need to rediscover his MVP-level form.

1: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks, WR

This shouldn’t even be controversial. Jaxon Smith-Njigba just authored one of the greatest wide receiver seasons in NFL history, finishing the regular season as the league leader in receiving yards with 1,793. He set a Seattle franchise record with 119 receptions and added 10 touchdowns playing in all 17 games. While he was relatively quiet in Seattle’s 41–6 divisional-round win over San Francisco, the likely Offensive Player of the Year erupted in the NFC Championship against the Rams, hauling in 10 of 12 targets for 153 yards and even scoring a touchdown. Smith-Njigba isn’t just the best player suiting up on Super Bowl Sunday; he’s proven himself to be one of the very best players in the NFL, period.