NFL Top 100: Joe Staley returns in 2013

The NFL continued their made for TV Top 100 list Thursday evening, and Joe Staley joined Colin Kaepernick and Anquan Boldin on the list. Staley was ranked No. 78, which is a bit of a dip from last year, where he ranked No. 67. NFL.com has a video with Aldon Smith and Jared Allen discussing Staley.

2012 saw the 49ers offensive line take a nice step forward, and Staley was a rock on the line. Alex Boone and Anthony Davis were the biggest stories of the year, but Staley has developed into Mr. Consistency for this team. Early in his career he struggled at times with consistency. In 2009 and 2010, he dealt with injuries that cut short both seasons, but the last two years he has taken a big step forward. He has earned back-to-back second-team All Pro and Pro Bowl nods as an anchor for what has turned into a great offensive line.

The 49ers head into 2013 with Staley and Davis manning the edges, and only Alex Boone as an experienced "backup" for the tackles. Luke Marquardt and Carter Bykowski are the offensive tackles I'm looking forward to watching during the preseason. The two rookies will get plenty of opportunities to show what they can do. The addition of Adam Snyder is an interesting one in that Snyder can realistically back up any of the five offensive line positions. He is not guaranteed a roster spot, but that is a bonus in his favor.

Here is the NFL Top 100 through 71:

100. Dennis Pitta - Baltimore Ravens, TE
99. Trent Williams - Washington Redskins, T
98. Maurice Jones-Drew - Jacksonville Jaguars, RB
97. Heath Miller - Pittsburgh Steelers, TE
96. Dashon Goldson - Tampa Bay Buccaneers/San Francisco 49ers, S
95. Max Unger - Seattle Seahawks, G/C
94. Daryl Washington - Arizona Cardinals, LB
93. Anquan Boldin - San Francisco 49ers/Baltimore Ravens, WR
92. Gerald McCoy - Tampa Bay Buccaneers, DT
91. Troy Polamalu - Pittsburgh Steelers, S
90. Percy Harvin - Seattle Seahawks/Minnesota Vikings, WR
89. Cameron Wake - Miami Dolphins, DE
88. Jacoby Jones - Baltimore Ravens, WR
87. Bernard Pollard - Tennessee Titans/Baltimore Ravens, S
86. London Fletcher - Washington Redskins, LB
85. Charles Woodson - Free Agent/Green Bay Packers, CB
84. Steve Smith - Carolina Panthers, WR
83. Lance Briggs - Chicago Bears, LB
82. Logan Mankins - New England Patriots, G
81. Colin Kaepernick - San Francisco 49ers, QB
80. Dwight Freeney - Free Agent/Indianapolis Colts, DE
79. Luke Kuechly - Carolina Panthers, LB
78. Joe Staley - San Francisco 49ers, OT
77. Aaron Hernandez - New England Patriots, TE
76. Matthew Stafford - Detroit Lions, QB
75. Brandon Flowers - Kansas City Chiefs, CB
74. Robert Mathis - Indianapolis Colts, LB
73. Antonio Gates - San Diego Chargers, TE
72. Mario Williams - Buffalo Bills, DE
71. Trent Richardson - Cleveland Browns, RB