NFL Nation: Building Blocks NFC

Ultimate Building Blocks: NFC East

June, 11, 2009
Jun 11
11:06
AM ET
Comment Print

Posted by ESPN.com's Matt Mosley

If you were allowed to draft 10 players from the NFC East to serve as the core of a Super Bowl contender for the next three seasons, who would they be? I asked you guys to answer this question Wednesday, and you responded in a big way -- as always.

Insider: Building Blocks
Who might crack the list of Ultimate Building Blocks next season? Let's examine. Football Outsiders 

NFC: N | S | E | W
AFC: N | S | E | W


Who are top 10 Ultimate Building Blocks in the entire league? Scouts Inc. 

Now it's time to reveal my list of players who will lead me to Super Bowls over the next three seasons. With the talent base in the Beast, this team wins three consecutive Lombardi trophies. OK, let's get to it:

1. Eli Manning, QB, New York Giants: I think Tony Romo is capable of breaking through in the playoffs, but give me the young guy who has already done it. Manning is about to have a huge season. I'm talking MVP-caliber season.

2. DeMarcus Ware, OLB, Dallas Cowboys: Ware told the Beast on Tuesday that he's ready to take his game to a new level. He's not worried about another 20-sack season. He wants to make players such as Anthony Spencer and Jay Ratliff more dangerous. He's the most dynamic defender in the league right now.

3. Albert Haynesworth, DT, Washington Redskins: He's the most dominant defensive tackle we've seen in years. He's virtually impossible to block one-on-one. I think he'll make a huge impact on the defense in '09. Enough to get the Skins to the playoffs? Probably not.

 
  Rich Kane/US Presswire
  Eli Manning enters the 2009 season with 98 career touchdown passes.

4. Asante Samuel, CB, Philadelphia Eagles: He's hands down the best cornerback in the division, although Terence Newman's close when healthy. The ball always seems to find Samuel, and that's the best compliment you can pay a defensive back.

5. Jason Peters, LT, Philadelphia Eagles: Fantastic move by the Eagles to land one of the top left tackles in the league. He's certainly the best left tackle in the NFC East, and he'll protect Donovan McNabb's blind side for the next two seasons.

6. Jason Witten, TE, Dallas Cowboys: He's become the best all-around tight end in the league. He's a matchup nightmare for linebackers and safeties. With T.O. gone, Witten could have the best year for a tight end in franchise history.

7. Justin Tuck, DE, New York Giants: He took full advantage of Osi Umenyiora's absence to become the heart and soul of this defense. The smartest move Jerry Reese ever made was signing Tuck to an extension before the Super Bowl in 2007. Otherwise, Tuck would be preparing to break the bank. Also one of the best locker-room guys a team could have.

8. Brandon Jacobs, RB, New York Giants: I think Jacobs gives this offense its identity. When he's running downhill, he's almost impossible to stop. When he was banged up last December, the offense struggled.

9. Brian Orakpo, DE, Washington Redskins: If the Skins use him properly (at the line of scrimmage), Orakpo will be an absolute terror. I don't like him playing the SAM linebacker on first and second downs, but you guys already know that. Fantastic college player who will be a big-time producer at this level.

10. Brian Westbrook, RB, Philadelphia Eagles: I really struggled on this one because I have immense respect for Redskins wide receiver Santana Moss. But leaving Westbrook off the list didn't feel right. His injuries are a definite concern, but he's still a dangerous player. I think Westbrook has two solid seasons l
eft in him. So let's put him on the team.

Honorable mention: Moss, Romo, Newman, Marion Barber, Felix Jones, Leonard Davis, Trent Cole, DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, LeSean McCoy, McNabb, London Fletcher, LaRon Landry, Hakeem Nicks, Chris Cooley, Clinton Portis, Jay Ratliff, Bradie James, Osi Umenyiora, Corey Webster and Antonio Pierce.

Ultimate Building Blocks: NFC North

June, 11, 2009
Jun 11
11:05
AM ET
Comment Print
Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert

So you want to be an NFL general manager -- or at least play one on the Internet? Then join me for this ESPN Blog Network exclusive.

The assignment is to draft 10 NFC North players who would make up the nucleus of a Super Bowl contender for the next three years. I'll open up the discussion with my choices. Your job is to bash me -- er, make your own suggestions -- in the comments section below.

On with it:

 
  Tom Dahlin/Getty Images
  Aaron Rodgers beat out Jay Cutler as the quarterback for the NFC North's Super Bowl contender.

1. Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay. Every championship team needs a quarterback, and for me Rodgers is the most comfortable choice. His maturity and leadership are worth the sacrifice in arm strength relative to Chicago's Jay Cutler.

2. Jared Allen, DE, Minnesota. The only position more valued than quarterback is a pass-rusher, and Allen is the division's best. He just turned 27 and has several prime years remaining.

3. Calvin Johnson, WR, Detroit. He put up huge numbers last season on a team without a quarterback. Imagine what he could do with a permanent fixture at that position. He'll be a living mismatch for the next decade.

4. Lance Briggs, LB, Chicago. He'll turn 32 in the final year of our projected time span, but he could always move inside if his speed begins to diminish. Briggs could provide a steady veteran hand and I'm sure he'll maintain all of his playmaking tricks.

5. Chad Greenway, LB, Minnesota. In three years, Greenway should be in his prime: A tackling machine, veteran experience and the speed of relatively young 29-year-old.

6. Adrian Peterson, RB, Minnesota. This wasn't as easy as you might think. Running backs face short career spans and aren't good long-term investments. But even if Peterson slows down in Year Six of his career, he'll still be at a high level.

7. B.J. Raji, NT, Green Bay. He is going to be a disruptive force for years in this division.

8. Louis Delmas, S, Detroit. We're doing some projecting here, of course. But Delmas has the hitting ability and Bob Sanders-like toughness to be a star in this division.

9. Steve Hutchinson, OL, Minnesota. If I could choose one player to set a tone for my offensive line, it would be Hutchinson. He will be 34 in 2011, but he won't be any softer. His nastiness will rub off on the rest of my linemen.

10. Greg Olsen, TE, Chicago. He might be an average blocker, but Olsen is a gold mine for a smart offensive coordinator who knows how to create mismatches.

A few things I kept in mind while making my selections:

  • For the most part, I looked for players who would have at least three more highly productive years left in their careers. That ruled out players like Orlando Pace (age 33), Pat Williams (36) and Jason Hanson (38).
  • I tried to keep in mind the concept of a 24-position team, including kickers, rather than just assembling the 10 best players in the division. You obviously can't find 24 starters with 10 picks, but you can make a strong effort at solidifying most position groups. Glaring holes tend to derail Super Bowl dreams.
  • I resisted the urge to take both Rodgers and Cutler. Obviously, any team would be deeper with two quarterbacks of that caliber. But I chose balance over depth in this area and wondered about the realistic consequences of either Rodgers or Cutler riding the bench. (Even though this entire exercise is rooted in fantasy.)
  • I gave a lot of thought to putting a kicker on this team. A reliable place-kicker can win a couple of games on his own during the course of the season. But I couldn't squeeze in the Vikings' Ryan Longwell or the Bears' Robbie Gould.

OK. I'm done. Now it's your turn.

Ultimate Building Blocks: NFC West

June, 11, 2009
Jun 11
11:04
AM ET
Comment Print

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

The assignment: Design a team built to win Super Bowls for the next three seasons using players only from the NFC West.

 
  Scott A. Miller/US Presswire
  Larry Fitzgerald is a game-changer a team can build around.

The project's roots date to a related item I produced last month. We're adapting the item for all divisions. I have revisited and tweaked my list, adding new commentary for each selection.

1. Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Cardinals. Fitzgerald is still young and still ascending. Improving is important to him. He makes the spectacular play routinely and very rarely drops a pass. A game changer.

2. Patrick Willis, LB, 49ers. The division offers a few solid building blocks at the position. Willis stands out above the others because he's extremely physical without sacrificing range, and he is also proven. The result: He can punish people all over the field.

3. Steven Jackson, RB, Rams. No running back in the division can match his combination of size and speed. Frank Gore is also appealing, but Jackson gets the call because opponents fear him so much.

4. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB, Cardinals. The most dynamic talent at cornerback in the division. Tall cornerbacks generally lack this much speed and maneuverability. Rodgers-Cromartie looks like a star in the making.

5. Marcus Trufant, CB, Seahawks. Trufant gives this team two corners with excellent overall skills. Trufant won't turn 30 until deep into the 2011 season. 

6. Joe Staley, LT, 49ers. Staley brings the mentality of a mauling right tackle to the left side. And he hasn't missed a snap in his first two seasons.

7. Jason Smith, RT, Rams. Smith and Staley could be interchangeable on this team. Both seem to have the right temperament to play on the line.

8. Adrian Wilson, SS, Cardinals. The 49ers' Michael Crabtree filled this spot on my initial list, but this team should be fine with Fitzgerald. Wilson brings another fearsome presence to the defense.

9. Darnell Dockett, DL, Cardinals. The division features few standout defensive linemen in their prime. Dockett is one of them.

10. Brandon Mebane, DT, Seahawks. Let's give the defensive line another disruptive player on the interior. Mebane and Dockett would force offensive lines into difficult matchups.

The list does not attempt to name the 10 best players in the division. Fitzgerald's presence diminished the need for Anquan Boldin and other NFC West receivers. Willis' presence made it easier to pass on Lofa Tatupu, Karlos Dansby and even Aaron Curry.

The list does not include a quarterback because none projects as clearly viable for the three-year window. Kurt Warner will be in his 40s by then. (No player in his 30s earned a spot on my list.) Matt Hasselbeck must reestablish his health. Marc Bulger must reestablish his career. Shaun Hill and Alex Smith must win jobs.

Dockett can pass-rush effectively from the interior, but a game-changing defensive end or two would have been nice. Flag me down if you find a healthy one in his prime playing in this division. Patrick Kerney hasn't stayed healthy lately. I like 49ers defensive end Justin Smith's game, but is he a pure pass rusher? No.

Thanks for tuning in.

Ultimate Building Blocks: NFC South

June, 11, 2009
Jun 11
11:00
AM ET
Comment Print
Posted by ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas

The assignment sounded simple enough.

"Draft 10 players from the NFC South only with the goal being to win Super Bowls for the next three seasons," my bosses in Bristol said.

After agonizing for way longer than I expected (particularly on the last few spots), I came up with my list. Let's be clear that this is not necessarily a list of the 10 best players in the division; otherwise I might have included veterans like Tony Gonzalez, Ronde Barber and John Abraham.

I'm working with a three-year window and I don't know if those guys will hold up for the long haul. Heck, I'm not even sure that someone like Julius Peppers, who probably is the best pure athlete in the division, will be around for the short term. That's why I left him off my team, which probably isn't one of the four he wants to be traded to anyway.

I'm going only with guys I can count on and I'm focusing on the most important positions. I'm guessing we can fill in spots like tight end and safety with free agents.

 
  Bob Donnan/US Presswire
  The dynamic Steve Smith is the perfect receiver for Drew Brees to throw to.

For now, here are my top 10 picks and, remember, I'm basing this on a three-year window:

1. Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans. You start a franchise with a quarterback and this guy threw for more than 5,000 yards last year.

2. Jordan Gross, T, Carolina. When you start with a quarterback, you've got to protect his blind side. Gross is the best pass-blocker in the division.

3. Steve Smith, WR, Carolina. If I were ranking by best overall players in the division, I'd start with Smith. As it is, I'll take him third and let him be Brees' top target. He originally was drafted in the third round anyway and this will keep the chip on his shoulder.

4. Matt Ryan, QB, Atlanta. I'm taking two quarterbacks because I can. If the window had been five years, I probably would have started this list with Ryan.

5. Michael Turner, RB, Atlanta. Just imagine what Brees can do with a 1,500-yard rusher behind him.

6. DeAngelo Williams, RB, Carolina. It's a close call between Turner and Williams, but I'll be happy to let them share carries. For those who disagree with the order, picture Williams behind Atlanta's offensive line. Now, picture Turner behind Carolina's. I rest my case.

7. Jon Beason, LB, Carolina. I've ignored defense so far, so I guess Sean Payton is the logical coach for this team. But Beason's the most solid defensive player in the division.

8. Jonathan Vilma, LB, New Orleans. Can't ignore defense any longer and I'm going to load up on guys who've played the middle and just let them fly around.

9. Barrett Ruud, LB, Tampa Bay. Same logic as Vilma.

10. Chris Gamble, CB, Carolina. I came real close to going with Atlanta wide receiver Roddy White for the final spot. But it's tough to find shutdown corners and Gamble's the only guy in the division who fits that profile.

BACK TO TOP

NFL SCOREBOARD