The Football Fan Spot

I’m not doing this list by who puts up the best stats, or by who is the best in fantasy football, or who is the flashiest, but if I were the GM of an NFL team and could draft one from any team to build our franchise around, this is what my draft board would look like. You may notice that the players on this list play similar positions. This is because I’m following the football philosophy that if you have a quarterback, someone to protect the quarterback, and someone to attack the opposing quarterback, you have a shot to win every game. This philosophy is often followed when drafting. Look at recent drafts, the majority of top 10 picks have either been defensive linemen or rush linebackers, quarterbacks, or offensive tackles, with a few running backs and wide receivers sprinkled in.

For a team that uses a 4-3 defense

1. QB Tom Brady (New England)

An NFL team starts with a quarterback. Tom Brady, assuming he can prove that he’s not shell shocked after that knee injury, is the best of the quarterbacks in the NFL. He has a great arm that can make all the throws and has won with both good and average supporting casts. He is on another level in the playoffs and displays excellent leadership.

2. QB Ben Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh)

This might sound like a bit of a surprise, but I love Ben Roethlisberger. He love his leadership and his toughness and how he’s able to extend plays with his feet. He breaks tackles, moves around outside the pocket when necessary and always seems to get a throw off, or gain something on the ground. He has great leadership and two rings and a cannon for an arm.

3. QB Peyton Manning (Indianapolis)

Manning doesn’t always come up big in the playoffs and he struggles against 3-4s, but he’s one of the most consistent regular season quarterbacks in the NFL, he has a ring, and he has an excellent arm. He’s also his own offensive coordinator with an amazing NFL IQ.

4. OT Joe Thomas (Cleveland)

Now that those 3 quarterbacks are gone, its time to look at other positions. Joe Thomas has been one of the most dominating left tackles since he stepped in the field in 2008. It wasn’t his fault the quarterbacks sucked for Cleveland last year. He protected them all really well. He’s an amazing athlete and the real deal at left tackle and, what puts him above the rest on this board, he’s still only 24 years old and can play the position well for the next 10-12 years.

5. DT Albert Haynesworth (Washington)

There are always going to be the injury concerns, but Haynesworth is the most dominating 4-3 defensive player in the league. He’s got great size at 317 pounds and is a monster against the run, occupying 2 blockers every time, but he’s also amazing as a pass rusher despite his size. He has great agility and a knack for getting to the quarterback and he also occupies two blockers in pass rush as well. Good defensive ends have struggled after not playing with Haynesworth because they aren’t getting one-on-one matchups on pass rush anymore.

6. RB Adrian Peterson (Minnesota)

The only exception to the quarterback, pass protector, pass rusher philosophy I’ll make is Adrian Peterson, simply because, he can carry a team by himself. Minnesota has had a lot of garbage at quarterback in Peterson’s career, but Peterson has been able to put up amazing stats against 8 man boxes and lead his team to the playoffs. He’s been helped by a good defense, but there’s no denying that he’s been the Vikings’ offense for the last few years. He’s more valuable to a team that any quarterback remaining.

7. DE Mario Williams (Houston)

Time for more pass rushers. While Albert Haynesworth was a bit of an indirect approach to the quarterback, occupying blockers, making defensive ends better, and also getting some sacks at 317 pounds, Mario Williams is the direct route. The supremely athletic Williams had 12 sacks last season and 14 the year before. Even better, the 6-6 290 pound Williams is still only 24.

8. OT Ryan Clady (Denver)

Ryan Clady allowed 1 sack last season for a team that threw 620 times. That’s beyond insane. Oh year, and he’s still 22. The only reason he’s not ranked higher and because he’s not a great run blocker, whereas Joe Thomas is, but for pass heavy teams that like to air it out, you can’t do much better than Clady.

9. QB Drew Brees (New Orleans)

This may look surprisingly low for Brees, but he’s not experienced in the playoffs and has a tendency to choke towards the end of games. That being said, he has an amazing arm and kept the injury plagued Saints in playoff contention last year by throwing for 5000+ yards.

10. DE Jared Allen (Minnesota)

One more pass rusher, Allen has 30 sacks in the last 2 seasons, which is actually more than Super Mario. He’s good against the run and doesn’t have a lot of holes in his game. I also like the fact that he has had success with two different teams. A lot of the guys above him on this list have only played for 1 team and one system for their whole career. I don’t know how different Kansas City and Minnesota’s systems are, but Allen has success in both so that has to count for something. The only reason Mario Williams is ranked higher is because Allen is 27.

For a team that uses a 3-4 defense

1. QB Tom Brady (New England)

An NFL team starts with a quarterback. Tom Brady, assuming he can prove that he’s not shell shocked after that knee injury, is the best of the quarterbacks in the NFL. He has a great arm that can make all the throws and has won with both good and average supporting casts. He is on another level in the playoffs and displays excellent leadership.

2. QB Ben Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh)

This might sound like a bit of a surprise, but I love Ben Roethlisberger. He love his leadership and his toughness and how he’s able to extend plays with his feet. He breaks tackles, moves around outside the pocket when necessary and always seems to get a throw off, or gain something on the ground. He has great leadership and two rings and a cannon for an arm.

3. QB Peyton Manning (Indianapolis)

Manning doesn’t always come up big in the playoffs and he struggles against 3-4s, but he’s one of the most consistent regular season quarterbacks in the NFL, he has a ring, and he has an excellent arm. He’s also his own offensive coordinator with an amazing NFL IQ.

4. OT Joe Thomas (Cleveland)

Now that those 3 quarterbacks are gone, its time to look at other positions. Joe Thomas has been one of the most dominating left tackles since he stepped in the field in 2008. It wasn’t his fault the quarterbacks sucked for Cleveland last year. He protected them all really well. He’s an amazing athlete and the real deal at left tackle and, what puts him above the rest on this board, he’s still only 24 years old and can play the position well for the next 10-12 years.

5. OLB DeMarcus Ware (Dallas)

Ware is the best in the league at creating pressure on the quarterback out of a 3-4. He almost broke an NFL record with 20 sacks last season and constantly draws double teams as a rush linebacker, allowing his teammates easier matchups.

6. RB Adrian Peterson (Minnesota)

The only exception to the quarterback, pass protector, pass rusher philosophy I’ll make is Adrian Peterson, simply because, he can carry a team by himself. Minnesota has had a lot of garbage at quarterback in Peterson’s career, but Peterson has been able to put up amazing stats against 8 man boxes and lead his team to the playoffs. He’s been helped by a good defense, but there’s no denying that he’s been the Vikings’ offense for the last few years. He’s more valuable to a team that any quarterback remaining.

7. OT Ryan Clady (Denver)

Ryan Clady allowed 1 sack last season for a team that threw 620 times. That’s beyond insane. Oh year, and he’s still 22. The only reason he’s not ranked higher and because he’s not a great run blocker, whereas Joe Thomas is, but for pass heavy teams that like to air it out, you can’t do much better than Clady.

8. QB Drew Brees (New Orleans)

This may look surprisingly low for Brees, but he’s not experienced in the playoffs and has a tendency to choke towards the end of games. That being said, he has an amazing arm and kept the injury plagued Saints in playoff contention last year by throwing for 5000+ yards.

9. NT Vince Wilfork (New England)

Every good 3-4 defense has a good nose tackle and none are better than Vince Wilfork. He’s a monster against the run and occupies two blockers on almost every player because of his size and strength. He makes everyone on the defensive line better and he’s still only 27.

10. OLB James Harrison (Pittsburgh)

Harrison was the NFL’s defensive player of the year last year with 16 sacks for Pittsburgh’s #1 ranked defense. He’s a do everything type rush linebacker, but he’s ranked so low here because he’s 31 years old.

Tim Tebow has won a Heisman trophy and 2 national championships in his 3 seasons at Florida. He is the only player in NCAA football history to win the Heisman in his sophomore year. He is the only player in NCAA history to rush for and throw for 20 touchdowns in the same season, with 29 passing touchdowns and 22 rushing touchdowns. He holds the University of Florida's all-time for most rushing touchdowns in a career, despite the fact that he is a quarterback, he is still a junior, and the University of Florida was attended by Emmitt Smith, the man who holds the record for most touchdowns, as well as rushing yards, in NFL history. Smith is also the man who babbled on Monday Night Countdown every week, but that's beside the point. However, despite all of these things, Tebow did not declare for the NFL draft after his junior season because he was told by the NFL advisory committee that he would likely not be a first day pick. Whether it be his lack of a true position (is he a quarterback, running back, tight end, wildcat, linebacker, or, as some scouts fear, just a nice goal line back or fullback?) or the fact that he ran the same spread offense at Florida that famously inflated Alex Smith's stats at Utah, causing the Niners to take Smith #1 overall, only to see him benched 4 years later, for some reason scouts don't like Tim Tebow. I wouldn't call myself a scout, but I like Tim Tebow. I think he can play quarterback at the next level, in the mold of Ben Roethlisberger.

Both of them are big, Ben 6-5 244, Tebow 6-3 238, and both are tough to bring down. Both have big arms and make strong throws. Both of them can run with the ball, but don't have great speed. They can get by with their quickness, ability to break tackles, and ability to throw on the run. Both are incredibly tough and have that desire to win. They are great leaders who lead by example and action and both often play hurt. Both are incredibly versatile. Teams are looking at Tebow to play a lot of different positions in the pros, including quarterback, running back, full back, tight end, and linebacker. Roethlisberger played wide receiver in high school and also played punter in college. Both played in shotgun offenses in college. Roethlisberger played in a shotgun offense at Miami of Ohio, proving to be the exception to the rule that shotgun quarterbacks can't translate to the pros. Tebow should be able to do that too, as he often does not stay in the shotgun and thrives when he is moving around and improvising.

I'm not saying that Tebow is going to win 2 Super Bowls and 2 Super Bowl MVPs in his first 5 season like Ben Roethlisberger has. Big Ben has been fortunate enough to have an excellent supporting cast around him, from Hines Ward to Jerome Bettis to James Harrison and that has helped him tremendously. However, if Tebow were put into a similar situation as Pittsburgh, he could thrive. Minnesota is the most intriguing option. Even if they get Brett Favre, they still don't have a franchise quarterback of the future. They would be picking in the mid 20s next year likely and they would be a great fit for Tebow. They have a great running game with Adrian Peterson, an excellent offensive line, a great run defense, and an improving group of receivers. If they get Tebow late in the first next year, they could be setting themselves up to make multiple runs at the Super Bowl, possibly even winning a few.