USA TODAY International Edition
Champion Eagles are fully equipped
Philadelphia loaded all over
The NFL’s best are recognized annually when Pro Bowl ballots are collected and all-pro votes tabulated.
But if you had to build an ideal roster by cherry-picking the best positional groups by team from throughout the league, how would a super team look? Maybe something like this:
Quarterbacks — Eagles: There’s a valid argument the Patriots would have the best QB room in the league no matter who is backing up Tom Brady. But with all due respect to the four-time Super Bowl MVP and Brian Hoyer, the nod goes to the team that knocked New England off in Super Bowl LII. The Eagles’ Carson Wentz almost surely would have been league MVP in 2017 had he avoided a late-season knee injury. But Nick Foles didn’t miss a beat, stepping in to lead Philadelphia to its first Lombardi Trophy, winning Super Bowl MVP honors in the process. His presence should allow the team optimal insurance while Wentz continues to work his way back from reconstructive surgery. Even thirdstringer Nate “Studfeld” Sudfeld seems to have a promising future, whether as a starter elsewhere or as a quality backup. He’s already thrown five TD passes in extended preseason action this month.
Running backs — Saints: Last season, fellow Pro Bowlers Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram became the first teammates to surpass 1,500 yards from scrimmage in the same season. Kamara (81 catches during his rookie of the year campaign) is known for his receiving prowess yet led the NFL with 6.1 yards per carry in 2017. Ingram has been the Saints’ leading rusher in each of the past four years but doesn’t get enough credit for his hands (career-best 58 receptions in 2017). New Orleans also is carrying established veterans in Shane Vereen and Terrance West.
Wide receivers/tight ends — Chiefs: In terms of pure depth, the Eagles have a strong case (Alshon Jeffery, Nelson Agholor, Mike Wallace, Kamar Aiken, Zach Ertz, Richard Rodgers and rookie Dallas Goedert). But when it comes to a top-end trio, perhaps no team has a better chance of producing three 1,000-yard pass catchers than the Chiefs’ combo of Travis Kelce, Tyreek Hill and Sammy Watkins. Aside from Rob Gronkowski, Kelce is the league’s best tight end, and Hill blossomed into a top-tier receiver in 2017 who has blazing speed. Watkins could fulfill his estimable potential in Kansas City, though he and his wingmen might need to be patient with new QB Patrick Mahomes.
Offensive line — Eagles: The Cowboys are naturally compelling with LT Tyron Smith, G Zack Martin and C Travis Frederick each owning legit arguments that they top the charts at their positions. Dallas’ front five could be even better with the addition of secondrounder Connor Williams at left guard. But the champion Eagles are the choice given their combo of quality and quantity. Jason Peters is coming back from a major knee injury but remains one of the premier left tackles of his generation. Mobile C Jason Kelce and mauling RT Lane Johnson earned all-pro honors while G Brandon Brooks emerged as a Pro Bowler. Stefen Wisniewski can play guard or center, while Chance Warmack and Isaac Seumalo bolster interior depth. And let’s not forget Halapoulivaati “Big V” Vaitai, who capably protected Wentz and Foles last season after Peters went down. Defensive line — Jaguars: Let’s get another obligatory Philly mention out of the way — they were loaded before adding Michael Bennett and Haloti Ngata in the offseason. But let’s look to
“Sacksonville,” where the Jaguars’ front produced 47 of the team’s 55 sacks in 2017. Calais Campbell and Malik Jackson can cause havoc from inside and out. Look for rookie firstrounder Taven Bryan, who comes from a similar mold, to thrive under their tutelage. Yannick Ngakoue is a rising star as a pass rusher with 20 sacks over his first two seasons. Former all-pro Marcell Dareus has been unable to dislodge tackle Abry Jones from the starting lineup. Though former first-rounder Dante Fowler has been a disappointment overall, he can bring a fastball off the edge in sub packages.
Linebackers — Broncos: This is tricky given linebacker corps in 4-3 and 3-4 fronts present a bit of an apples-too-ranges comparison. It’s tempting to go with Carolina (Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis) or Seattle (Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright) since those defenses feature two every-down backers who do many impressive things, especially in nickel defenses. The same can be said of Denver’s Von Miller, who can fulfill many of the position’s traditional duties and is the league’s pre-eminent edge rusher. Yet the Broncos are more than a one-man band. Shaquil Barrett and Shane Ray are also capable of causing havoc outside; even so, both are going to lose snaps to first-round pick Bradley Chubb, widely viewed as the 2018 draft’s top-rated defensive player. Brandon Marshall and Todd Davis are more than solid inside but could be pushed themselves by rookie Josey Jewell.
Secondary — Rams: This requires fresh thought with Seattle’s Legion of Boom and Denver’s No Fly Zone essentially disbanded. The Jaguars’ Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye are the top corner tandem, and it’s tough to find a better safety combo than Minnesota’s Harrison Smith and Andrew Sendejo. But when it comes to the complete package, tough to beat the Rams — theoretically. Pro Bowl corners Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters are new to the program, which already had a solid nickel (ironically named Nickell Robey-Coleman). The Rams think so much of Lamarcus Joyner that he got the franchise tag. He and John Johnson start at safety, but both have experience playing corner, giving coordinator Wade Phillips further schematic flexibility.
Special teams — Rams: If only special teams got collective nicknames, because Los Angeles’ might rival some of the greatest lineups the NFL has ever seen. KR-PR Pharoh Cooper, K Greg Zuerlein and P Johnny Hekker doubled as all-pros and Pro Bowlers in 2017. Hekker is underrated and could go down as one of the best punters in history.