The 2023 NFL Preseason Footwear Power Rankings

Find out which NFL players have the best footwear on and off the field during the preseason.

Pat Benson | Aug 17, 2023

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Just as players battle for a spot on NFL rosters during their training camps, the preseason gives the sneaker community a chance to take note of the direction players are trending. With just one week of games in the books, there was no shortage of eye-catching footwear on and off the field.

As star players begin to log more playing time, that means we are treated to more pregame sneakers and player-exclusive cleats. With an emphasis on players' footwear on and off the field, FanNation Kicks has ranked the top ten sneakerheads in the NFL ahead of the regular season.

Ezekiel Elliott

We were starting to get nervous that the free agency period of Ezekiel Elliott would extend into the regular season. While it will be strange seeing the 28-year-old running back in a New England Patriots uniform, it's better than nothing.

Elliott's Nike cleats are never worth writing home about, but his pregame sneakers are always top-notch. Throughout last season, Elliott impressed us with his Supreme Air Jordans and Nike SB Dunk Lows, among other rare kicks. We are eager to see if Elliot can match his productivity and style in Foxborough.

Cooper Kupp

Injuries have hindered Cooper Kupp from performing on the field and showing off his footwear. After missing a large chunk of last season, Kupp is currently rehabbing a hamstring injury with no clear timetable for a return. However, before the injury bug bit Kupp, the Pro Bowl wide receiver had some of the best footwear in the sport.

Last October, Kupp received 1:1 Nike Dunks and a match varsity jacket. Health is vital for Kupp to return to the top of our rankings. While we nervously await Kupp's return to action, Rams fans can purchase Kupp's jersey on the Nike website.

Joe Burrow

The preseason started off with a significant scare when Joe Burrow went down with a lower leg injury. Luckily, Burrow will be ready for the regular season. The only down side is that means we must wait a little longer to see the star quarterback get more tunnel fits off.

Burrow's cleats and pregame sneakers are often general-release models, but that is part of the charm of the Cincinnati Bengals quarterback's style. While we await Burrow's return, Bengals fans can choose between Burrow shirts and jerseys on the Nike website.

Patrick Mahomes

What is not to love about Patrick Mahomes? The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback is quickly building a case as one of the best players of all time, and he does it in style. Mahomes often wears his signature shoes or shows love to other adidas athletes with his pregame sneakers.

Best of all, Mahomes' footwear is always affordable and accessible for the average fan to find online. Although Mahomes is an adidas athlete, fans can choose between several of his official Chiefs jerseys on the Nike website.

Travis Kelce

Sticking with the Kansas City Chiefs, let's discuss Travis Kelce. In many ways, Kelce is the alter-ego to Mahomes. He is brash, a Nike athlete, and loves to flex with his often unobtainable sneakers before games. Every Jordan needs a Rodman, and Kelce fills that role.

Throughout last season, Kelce regularly wore Nike Dunk Low sneakers. However, his best moment came when he wore vintage Nike Air Yeezy sneakers before a game in October. Kelce even just received a player-exclusive cleat that dropped online. Chiefs fans can shop Kelce's section on the Nike website.

Deebo Samuel

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel signed with Jordan Brand during the middle of last season and immediately caught fire. Not only was he productive on the field, but he regularly made headlines for his ultra-rare cleats.

We saw Samuel rock player-exclusive Air Jordan cleats and crystal-covered Nike Dunk cleats (more on those later). Samuel has made the most of his short time with Jordan Brand, and the sky is the limit this season. 49ers fans can shop Samuel's jerseys on the Nike website.

Saquon Barkley

Not many players in the NFL can hang with New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley on a weekly basis. Sure, we saw Barkley rock a healthy mix of retro Nikes and Air Jordans before games. But he always followed it up with even hotter cleats on the field.

One of our favorite moments of last year came when Barkley wore player-exclusive cleats inspired by LeBron James made just for Ohio State Buckeyes players. (Don't tell Penn State loyalists). As we wait for the regular season, Giants fans can purchase Barkley jerseys on the Nike website.

Micah Parsons

Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons is another star player who is battling injuries this preseason. However, the Cowboys training staff is confident that Parsons will be back, and we are even more sure that he will return in obscene footwear.

Before games last season, Parsons wore Nike sneakers that made sneakerheads drool. On the field, he was the first player to debut the crystal-covered Nike Dunk cleats that Deebo Samuel wore later in the season. While Cowboys fans eagerly await Parsons return to the field, they can shop his section on the Nike website.

Dak Prescott

Sticking with the Dallas Cowboys, let's tackle (or at least try) the amazing footwear of Dak Prescott. The Cowboys quarterback is a Jordan Brand athlete who regularly wears general release Air Jordans before games which is very respectable.

But on the field, Prescott has a case for the best cleats in the league. Since signing with Jumpman, Prescott regularly debuts player-exclusive cleats that are among the best week-to-week. While we wait for Prescott to make his preseason debut, Cowboys fans can purchase one of his many jerseys on the Nike website.

Jalen Hurts

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts enjoyed a career year last season. While Hurts helped lead the Eagles to an NFC Championship, he dazzled sneakerheads with his player-exclusive Air Jordan cleats in Eagles colors. Most fascinating of all, Hurts wasn't even a Jordan Brand athlete.

However, that changed this past week when Hurts and Jumpman made it official with a sneaker deal. Just imagine what Hurts will wear now that he is officially part of the Jordan Brand family. Birds fans can check out Hurts' vast selection of gear on the Nike website.

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Published Aug 17, 2023

PAT BENSON

Pat Benson covers the sneaker industry for Sports Illustrated's FanNation. Previously, he has reported on the NBA, authored "Kobe Bryant's Sneaker History (1996-2020)," and interviewed some of the biggest names in the sports world. You can email him at 1989patbenson@gmail.com.