Post by Funkytown on Jun 8, 2020 12:25:32 GMT -6
What if every NFL team had a complete do-over in building its roster? What if every single player were a free agent? What if the worst team in the league had a chance to add a Super Bowl MVP at quarterback? Or one of the worst defensive teams out there was able to plop a two-time Defensive Player of the Year in the middle of its front?
Well, let's find out. We hit reset on NFL contracts and released every player to the open market. Then we gave our NFL Nation reporters the GM job, allowing them to re-draft the foundations for their teams. Here are the rules:
> Every current NFL player is available, and salary caps don't matter here. But we only drafted four rounds.
> In those four picks, each pretend GM had to select a quarterback, a non-QB offensive player and a defensive player. The fourth pick was a wild card, open to anything.
> We used the 2020 NFL draft order, with traded picks reversed, and a snaking format.
What about the other 20 starters for each team? The rest of the roster is made up of average-level NFL talent. Our analytics team identifies that as someone such as OT Donovan Smith, edge rusher Harold Landry III or CB Malcolm Butler.
Each GM was asked to draft with intentions of winning a Super Bowl within five years. Some took a harder line, while others built a base that might still need a year or two.
So how did the players come off the board? What kinds of strategies were used? Which team came out looking like a championship favorite? Our NFL Nation reporters explain their process. Plus, ESPN Stats & Information provides a nugget for each roster, and Mike Clay evaluates each foursome with a tiered draft grade (1-4). Navigate by team or skip ahead to the full list of Nos. 1-128 at the bottom.
Well, let's find out. We hit reset on NFL contracts and released every player to the open market. Then we gave our NFL Nation reporters the GM job, allowing them to re-draft the foundations for their teams. Here are the rules:
> Every current NFL player is available, and salary caps don't matter here. But we only drafted four rounds.
> In those four picks, each pretend GM had to select a quarterback, a non-QB offensive player and a defensive player. The fourth pick was a wild card, open to anything.
> We used the 2020 NFL draft order, with traded picks reversed, and a snaking format.
What about the other 20 starters for each team? The rest of the roster is made up of average-level NFL talent. Our analytics team identifies that as someone such as OT Donovan Smith, edge rusher Harold Landry III or CB Malcolm Butler.
Each GM was asked to draft with intentions of winning a Super Bowl within five years. Some took a harder line, while others built a base that might still need a year or two.
So how did the players come off the board? What kinds of strategies were used? Which team came out looking like a championship favorite? Our NFL Nation reporters explain their process. Plus, ESPN Stats & Information provides a nugget for each roster, and Mike Clay evaluates each foursome with a tiered draft grade (1-4). Navigate by team or skip ahead to the full list of Nos. 1-128 at the bottom.
Link:
www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/29234387/re-drafting-nfl-picked-128-foundational-players-all-32-teams
Minnesota Vikings
Drafted by Courtney Cronin, Vikings reporter
Round 1 (25): Ryan Tannehill, QB
Round 2 (40): Davante Adams, WR
Round 3 (89): Arik Armstead, DE
Round 4 (104): Harrison Smith, S
I grabbed Tannehill, who I see as a top-15 QB talent, with my first-round selection and built around him. The 2019 season was the best of Tannehill's career, and I believe bringing a true No. 1 receiver like Adams into the mix will allow him to carry over that success for the next three to five years. Adams has the second-most receiving touchdowns (28) over the past three seasons and shows up when it counts the most, with 45 catches for 687 yards and six touchdowns in eight playoff games.
The value I got for a pass-rusher (another key part of a Super Bowl team) in the third round, when I landed Armstead coming off a 10-sack breakout season, made me feel like I was building a solid, balanced team. I chose Smith with my wild-card pick because when a future Hall of Famer is available, you take him, especially one who makes plays all over the defense. According to ESPN Stats & Information, he's the only player in the league with 20-plus interceptions (23) and 10-plus sacks (13) since 2012. -- Cronin
Stat to know: Adams is Tannehill's only above-average skill player, a spot in which he's familiar. Over the past two years, Adams is one of six wideouts who have accounted for over one-quarter of their team's targets, joining Michael Thomas, DeAndre Hopkins, Jarvis Landry, Keenan Allen and Julio Jones.
Mike Clay's draft grade: Tier 3. Cronin is betting that she'll get the Tannehill of 2019. We'll see. But Adams, Armstead and Smith were good, safe picks.
Drafted by Courtney Cronin, Vikings reporter
Round 1 (25): Ryan Tannehill, QB
Round 2 (40): Davante Adams, WR
Round 3 (89): Arik Armstead, DE
Round 4 (104): Harrison Smith, S
I grabbed Tannehill, who I see as a top-15 QB talent, with my first-round selection and built around him. The 2019 season was the best of Tannehill's career, and I believe bringing a true No. 1 receiver like Adams into the mix will allow him to carry over that success for the next three to five years. Adams has the second-most receiving touchdowns (28) over the past three seasons and shows up when it counts the most, with 45 catches for 687 yards and six touchdowns in eight playoff games.
The value I got for a pass-rusher (another key part of a Super Bowl team) in the third round, when I landed Armstead coming off a 10-sack breakout season, made me feel like I was building a solid, balanced team. I chose Smith with my wild-card pick because when a future Hall of Famer is available, you take him, especially one who makes plays all over the defense. According to ESPN Stats & Information, he's the only player in the league with 20-plus interceptions (23) and 10-plus sacks (13) since 2012. -- Cronin
Stat to know: Adams is Tannehill's only above-average skill player, a spot in which he's familiar. Over the past two years, Adams is one of six wideouts who have accounted for over one-quarter of their team's targets, joining Michael Thomas, DeAndre Hopkins, Jarvis Landry, Keenan Allen and Julio Jones.
Mike Clay's draft grade: Tier 3. Cronin is betting that she'll get the Tannehill of 2019. We'll see. But Adams, Armstead and Smith were good, safe picks.
Cousins was QB24?! Wow...
Hunter was the sixth DE?
Oh, well ... offseason.
... and neither is this Chris guy.