Each of us are building our perfect team. The stipulations are that this is a 5 year dynasty run. So you have to take into account health, age, off field concerns and experience.
By: Team X Analyst
TEAM BROWN
Offense
Quarterback
Andrew Luck Indianapolis Colts – Luck has long been considered to fit the prototype of an NFL quarterback. Size, strength, athleticism and intelligence. He has shown that he can win with lackluster talent around him. Luckily for him, this team will be ultra talented. Side note: The Colts are making moves to finally give him an offense to play with.
Runningback
Saquon Barkley New York Giants – I’m sure everyone given the chance would take a Barkley. I know what you’re thinking, only one year of production let’s not crown him the best in the game. That being said, he did all that playing for the Giants and their terrible line. There is no reason to believe his career doesn’t stay on that same path if he avoids injury.
Wide Receiver 1
Michael Thomas New Orleans Saints – Since entering the league in 2016, he’s tallied 321 receptions, 3,787 yards and 23 touchdowns while catching 77% of his targets(85% in 2018). He’s a great big bodied pass catcher who is willing to go over the middle of the field.
Wide Receiver 2
TY Hilton Indianapolis Colts – Pairing Luck with his current favorite target seems like a no brainer for my offense. With Thomas being the go-to possession guy, now I have Hilton to blow the top off the defense and open up the middle of the field for everyone else. In his career he’s averaged just over 18 plays of 20+ yards and 5 plays of 40+ yards.
Slot Receiver
Keenan Allen Los Angeles Chargers – He’s one of the best route runners in the NFL and seems to always be open with Phillip Rivers needs him. In 2018 he caught 79% of his targets out of his targets from the slot and 46% of those went for first downs. Had a few unfortunate injuries slowed his career a bit but he’s been an absolute playmaker.
Tight End
George Kittle San Francisco 49ers – Two words: Record Breaker. George Kittle broke the record for receiving yards by a tight end in 2018. He led the league in yards after catch with 870 of his 1377yards coming after the catch, 8th in yards, 14th in receptions and 15th in yards per target. On top of that, he’s a very willing run blocker and is skilled at that as well. Coming from Iowa and them being a run heavy offense it’s set him up to be a stud for a long time.
Tackle
Ryan Ramczyk New Orleans Saints/Ronnie Stanley Baltimore Ravens – Ramczyk played just shy of 1000 snaps and gave up only 4 sacks with 3 penalties. Currently playing right tackle but has the ability to be an every down left tackle. At first with Stanley I thought maybe I was just being a Notre Dame homer and taking him out of bias. Then I saw he played almost 1100 snaps and gave up just 2 sacks and had 5 penalties playing in the AFC North against above average pass rush defenses. Currently playing left tackle but also has the ability to switch to right if needed. These two would make a great combo for years to come as both are just 25 years old.
Guard
Zack Martin Dallas Cowboys/Quenton Nelson Indianapolis Colts – As a Notre Dame fan it’s hard to pass on these two on the interior. Martin and Nelson are both nasty lineman who play to the whistle. It didn’t take long for either to translate to the NFL. Both earning First Team All-Pro honors as rookies. Martin has been an All-Pro all 5 of his seasons. Nelson played a little over 1100 snaps with 2 sacks and 9 penalties. Martin played almost 900 snaps with 3 sacks and 1 penalty. Nelson adds more youth at 23, while Martin brings some experience having just finished his fifth year and being 28.
Center
Jason Kelce Philadelphia Eagles – With an average age so far of 25, Kelce brings a lot of experience at 31 years of age and 8 years in the league. He’s a 2 times All-Pro and has played 110 NFL games and never missed one. Last year he played over 1000 snaps allowing no sacks and 6 penalties. He rounds out an offensive line that would excel in both the running and passing game.
TEAM SMITH
Quarterback
Russell Wilson Seattle Seahawks – Wilson has been an elite quarterback his whole career with no offensive line, minimal talent at WR, and no consistent running back since Marshawn left. With a good line, good receivers, and a talented running back, I can’t imagine the type of numbers that Wilson could put up. I am thinking high floor, and crazy high ceiling.
Running Back
Saquon Barkley New York Giants – Running backs careers are not very long, and trying to look ahead 5 years, you need someone young and established. After 1 year, you can already see that Saquon is going to be a stud in the NFL.
WR1
Deandre Hopkins Houston Texans – Hopkins is 27 years old and could easily give 5 more years. He is the staple of consistency averaging close to 1240 yards a season and starting all but 1 game since he entered the NFL.
WR2
Michael Thomas New Orleans Saints – Michael Thomas is 26, but has only been in the league 3 years compared to Hopkins’ 6. He has not gotten less than 1100 yards in any of his first three seasons and averages a 77% catch percentage which is ridiculous for a WR (Fitzgerald averages a 60%).
WR3
JuJu Smith-Schuster Pittsburgh Steelers – JuJu can play outside, and probably will this year, but he has done a lot of his work from the slot. We already know what he can do with another elite WR, exploding for 1400 yards last year. No safety will be able to defend him, resulting in teams having to match up their third corner which will be easy pickings, not to mention opening up the running game for Saquon.
TE
Travis Kelce Kansas City Chiefs – Kelce has been very consistent throughout his career. In his first year starting, he had 862 yards, and he has never went lower than that, with his high last year of 1336, 116 receptions, and 10 touchdowns. He is 29, but shouldn’t have trouble playing another 5 years. He is also a willing blocker.
Left Tackle
David Bakhtiari Green Bay Packers – Bakhtiari is probably the best left tackle in the game and is only 27 years old. He could use some work in run blocking, but is still an elite talent. His pass blocking skills are higher than anyone else in the league, and that is who you want protecting the blindside of your quarterback.
Left Guard
Quenton Nelson Indianapolis Colts – Nelson was an all-pro in his first NFL season, so if he continues to improve, there is no doubt he will be the best offensive linemen in football. He is at a disadvantage in discussions because he doesn’t play tackle, but with increasing emphasis on pressure up the middle, guards are just as important.
Center
Matt Paradis Carolina Panthers – Paradis was the lone bright spot on the Broncos offensive line. Once he went down to injury, the team struggled to protect or open up run lanes. Prior to the week Paradis went down, Lindsay was averaging 6.11 YPC. The rest of the year, that average dropped to 4.44 YPC. If you want to look at the schedule, he faced Cincinnati, Oakland, Cleveland and SF after Paradis got hurt. In the games with Paradis he played against Seattle, the Rams, the Texans, and Baltimore’s number one ranked defense. In a position with few elite players, Paradis tops the list.
Right Guard
Zack Martin Dallas Cowboy – Martin has been in the league for 5 years, and has 5 Pro Bowl/All-Pro selections already. He is the best guard in the NFL.
Right Tackle
Ryan Ramczyk New Orleans Saints – Ryan is only 25 years old and is already talked about as the top right tackle in football. Ramczyk has only allowed 6 sacks and 6 pressures on over 1000 snaps. He has played 48 snaps against Danielle Hunter, and 22 against Aaron Donald, two of the best defensive linemen in the league. Neither of them have registered a pressure against him.
TEAM SKILLMAN
Quarterback
Patrick Mahomes Kansas City Chiefs – Mahomes has literally everything you could ask for in a QB. He’s young, strong arm, mobile, accurate. Probably the easiest decision I’ll have to make in this. I don’t expect 50 TDs every year but having the ability to do it is something only a few QBs in history have done.
Runningback
Saquon Barkley New York Giants – I was thinking about getting cute here and going with Nick Chubb, but when it comes to receiving and big play ability, you can’t beat Barkley.
WR1
DeAndre of Hopkins Houston Texans – For my WR1, I have to have someone who can xcatch the ball in any situation. Whether he’s covered, or he’s falling out of bounds, or high pointing it, he’s got to be a safety valve for my QB. Hopkins has limited injury concerns youtt and no off field issues. At 27 years old he’s still in his prime and will be for most of this 5 year window.
WR2
Calvin Ridley Atlanta Falcons – I’m trying not to just take the top 3 guys. This pick to me makes sense because he’s young, just a rookie last season. Already Ridley shows elite route running and speed. At my other outside WR, I wanted someone who could take the top off at any time but also not be just a one trick pony. He had a very nice rookie season opposite of Julio and expect him to get better this year.
Slot WR
JuJu Smith-Shuster Pittsburgh Steelers – JuJu thrived in the slot role last season playing along side Antonio Brown. He’s a guy who could score on any given play and would be a great compliment to Hopkins. Also he’s only 22.
Tight End
George Kittle San Francisco 49ers – This pick is a combination of me being a huge fan of him, and the fact that he’s the best RAC TE I’ve ever seen. Not too many TEs have ever had the ability to score from anywhere on the field like Kittle. Kelce has some of that but I’m going with the younger, record breaking, player in Kittle.
Offensive LineOT Braden Smith Colts /OT Laremy Tunsil Dolphins/OG Quentin Nelson Colts /OG Shaq Mason Patriots /C Ryan Kelly Colts – Young and talented, that’s all you need to know about this line.
Team X Scouting 