The rules are simple: create the best team possible by picking a college for each position group and then inheriting the players from that college. Age is a factor in this and the colleges can’t be used more than once. So what would the team look like?
Quarterbacks – Patrick Mahomes (Texas Tech)
There’s no backup for Mahomes, so this could be a dangerous pick. But he’s clearly the best quarterback in the league and he’s still young, easily making Texas Tech the selection.
Running Backs – Saquon Barkley, Miles Sanders (Penn State)
This was actually a pretty tough decision. Alabama is the best by far producing talents like Henry, Jacobs, Drake, and Ingram but they can be better used. It’s between Georgia and Penn State and while Georgia has more depth with Chubb, Michel, Gurley, and Swift, the 1-2 duo of Barkley and Sanders is too good to pass up on.
Wide Receivers – Julio Jones, Amari Cooper, Calvin Ridley (Alabama)
Alabama is best used at the wide receiver position where they have perennial pro bowlers like Julio Jones and Amari Cooper. Julio is aging, however it doesn’t matter because Alabama just has so much young talent with guys like Calvin Ridley, Jerry Jeudy, and Henry Ruggs ready to take over.
Offensive Line – Ronnie Stanley, Quenton Nelson, Nick Martin, Zack Martin, Mike McGlinchey (Notre Dame)
Notre Dame has been so dominant on the offensive line producing arguably the top two guards in football with Nelson and Zack Martin, and also arguably the top tackle in football with Ronnie Stanley. Nick Martin and Mike McGlinchey while not as dominant as the other three are still considered to be the strengths of their respective teams offensive lines.
Defensive Line – Nick Bosa, Joey Bosa, Cameron Heyward, Chase Young (Ohio State)
This was tougher than you think because Mississippi State has also produced some big talent like Fletcher Cox, Chris Jones, and Preston Smith but Ohio State is too good to pass up on. The Bosa brothers are both studs, Heyward is one of the best defensive tackles in football, and Young has been touted as the best defensive line prospect to ever come out. They also have great depth setting them apart from Mississippi State.
Linebackers – Anthony Barr, Eric Kendricks, Myles Jack, Jayon Brown (UCLA)
UCLA has failed to produce NFL talent at any other position, but at linebacker they’ve really produced some great players. Barr is a great blitzer and tackler and Kendricks is sneakily one of the 3 best linebackers in the league. Jack has been a rare bright spot for the Jaguars and Jayon Brown is the unsung hero, as he is the heart and soul of the Titans defense.
Cornerbacks – Jalen Ramsey, PJ Williams, Ronald Darby, Xavier Rhodes (Florida State)
As weird as it is to say, the cornerbacks may be the weakness of the team. Ohio State and LSU were the best options but they’re already being used elsewhere. Florida State has Ramsey and PJ Williams who’s pretty underrated. Outside of those two the rest of their cornerbacks are past their primes and will likely get burnt if they ever have to enter.
Safeties – Tyrann Mathieu, Jamal Adams (LSU)
The best box safety in the league is Jamal Adams and the best free safety in the league (in my opinion) is Tyrann Mathieu. Both of these players went to LSU so this is really a no brainer pick. They also have depth in case one of them gets hurt with Jalen Mills and Grant Delpit also going to LSU.
That rounds out the team. What would you have done differently?
Photo: Getty Images
