NFL Players Inc. unveiled its first-ever “Rising 50” list Wednesday afternoon and included in the top-five are Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell and wide receiver Antonio Brown.
The marketing and licensing department of the NFLPA says that the list was created to identify for sponsors, licensees, retailers and future partners of the league the next generation of players who are in a great position to break out and rank among top sellers of licensed merchandise moving forward.
“NFLPI’s depth of knowledge about NFL players provides our business partners with some valuable sales and marketing insights, and the Rising 50 list is designed to be a unique resource they can use to plan for the upcoming season,” said incoming NFLPI President Ahmad Nassar. “We believe the list will stir up some healthy debate while becoming a useful tool for evaluation going forward.”
While Bell and Brown are both deservedly in the top five, another Steelers player managed to crack the list as wide receiver Martavis Bryant checks in at No. 40 overall.
While Brown has some minor endorsement deals already in his pocket, he’s yet to really get picked up by a big national product or brand. After his outstanding 2014 season, you would think that companies would be lined up competing for his services that includes that unmistakable smile.
As long as Bell keeps his nose clean moving forward, you would think that he also has a good chance to cash in brand wise in the near future.
According to NFL Players Inc., this list will be updated annually.
NFLPI Rising 50 List:
1. Odell Beckham Jr.
2. Le’Veon Bell
3. Marcus Mariota
4. Antonio Brown
5. T.Y. Hilton
6. Jeremy Hill
7. Mike Evans
8. Jameis Winston
9. Randall Cobb
10. Kelvin Benjamin
11. Emmanuel Sanders
12. Alshon Jeffery
13. DeAndre Hopkins
14. Julius Thomas
15. Golden Tate
16. C.J. Anderson
(tie) Ronnie Hillman
(tie) Montee Ball
19. Blake Bortles
20. Julian Edelman
21. Giovani Bernard
22. Andre Ellington
23. Amari Cooper
24. Brandin Cooks
25. Connor Barwin
26. Bobby Wagner
27. Latavius Murray
28. Khalil Mack
29. C.J. Mosley
30. Travis Kelce
31. Melvin Gordon
32. Jordan Matthews
33. Jarvis Landry
34. Tyrann Mathieu
35. Tre Mason
36. Denard Robinson
37. Lamar Miller
38. Jadeveon Clowney
39. Mark Ingram
40. Martavis Bryant
41. Eric Decker
42. Joique Bell
43. Devonta Freeman
44. Davante Adams
45. Carlos Hyde
46. Todd Gurley
47. Bishop Sankey
48. Kiko Alonso
49. Chris Borland
50. Brock Osweiler
