Infomastaro

By Tyler ErzbergerShareNewsweek is a Trust Project member

We are a little over a week away from the biggest football game of the year between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX, and it's time to make some tough choices.

There will be dozens of stars on the field in the Bay Area this coming week, but who are the best of the best?

Here are my top 10 players playing in Super Bowl LX.

More news: Colts Reporter Reveals Why He Left Bill Belichick Off Hall of Fame Ballot

...

More news: Seahawks’ Sam Darnold Makes History With Super Bowl LX Start vs Patriots

10. Nick Emmanwori (Seattle Seahawks)

A rookie safety in his first year in the league, drafted in the second round, Emmanwori has only gotten better and better each week in a Seattle uniform. Watch for him to be an X-factor in the Super Bowl.

9. Stefon Diggs (New England Patriots)

Diggs has brought a necessary veteran presence to a young New England team and has been a safety blanket for star QB Drake Maye. When things get chaotic next Sunday, look for Diggs to be a common target to calm things down.

8. Ernest Jones IV (Seattle Seahawks)

Jones got revenge on his former team that didn't want to give him an extension in the NFC Championship, beating the Los Angeles Rams, and he's established himself as one of the game's best linebackers. He's a leader on the field and has helped elevate the Seahawks defense to where it is today.

7. Kenneth Walker (Seattle Seahawks)

Walker has been everything the Seahawks could ask for and more this season. He's been a consistent weapon in the Seahawks offense and has been there when Darnold hasn't been at his sharpest. If he can continue his stellar playoff form in the Super Bowl, it's going to be a challenging game for the Patriots to control the time of possession.

6. Sam Darnold (Seattle Seahawks)

Speaking of Darnold, the first-ever USC Trojan to start the big game is next on the ranking. While he would have been lower in this list without his performance in the NFC title game, it's impossible to overlook the masterclass he painted against a Rams team that has haunted him for years. If he plays like he did against the Rams against the Patriots, you're looking at the Super Bowl LX MVP.

5. Leonard Williams (Seattle Seahawks)

Williams is the linchpin of the Seahawks' defense, the veteran who makes everything work for the elite wall of Seattle. A former Trojan who played with Darnold on the New York Jets, the tandem will hope to lift the Lombardi Trophy together at Levi's Stadium.

...

4. Christian Gonzalez (New England Patriots)

The young maestro for the Patriots in their secondary, Gonzales, is ready to play in the biggest game of his life against the Seahawks. If he and New England's other top-end cornerback, Carlton Davis, can force Darnold to make tough throws, then they might snag a turnover, which can flip the script on this game.

3. Devon Witherspoon (Seattle Seahawks)

Per Pro Football Focus, Witherspoon was the No. 1-ranked cornerback for this most recent season. He is going to be a puzzle that Maye and the offense will need to solve throughout the night if they want a shot at winning it all.

2. Drake Maye (New England Patriots)

If he wants to be the prince who was promised to take the crown and throne from Tom Brady, this is it. He can't have an average game and beat the Seahawks. Maye is one of the best quarterbacks in football and needs to not only outduel Darnold in Super Bowl LX, but also needs to show why he should be the MVP of the league over Rams' Matthew Stafford.

1. Jaxon Smith-Njigba (Seattle Seahawks)

The Rams did everything they could to contain Smith-Njigba, but they couldn't. He has magical hands that bring in improbable throws, and the Seahawks do a fantastic job scheming up plays to get him open with space in front of him. He will be named Offensive Player of the Year next Thursday and could add more hardware to his collection by Sunday night.

Request Reprint & LicensingSubmit CorrectionView Editorial & AI Guidelines