Top 40 NFL Players to Start a Franchise With
One of the areas of the Madden video game franchise that is the most iconic is the fact that you can reset the NFL, and draft a team from every NFL player currently in the league. It's a concept that is always fun to think about.
If I were to start an NFL franchise, and could choose from anybody currently in the league, who would I start with? Obviously, the quarterback position is the most important on the field, so they're going to get first consideration. Pass rushers are next in line, then playmakers on either side. I assembled the following list taking into consideration: past play, age, positional importance, and projection for the future. Money did not factor in. Neither did current contract. I assumed each player was currently at full health, but injury history could have an effect. Here are the top 40 players that I'd take to start a franchise right now.
40. Chris Harris Jr: His size might not be ideal, but his play on the field speaks for itself. He's earned his spot as one of the best cornerbacks in the league. At 28, he still has plenty of good years left, and will continue to make an impact.
39. Le'Veon Bell: Running back might not be the most important position on the field, but it's hard to ignore Bell's talent. He a dynamic player who has averaged 4.5 yards per carry for his career, and has twice recorded 75 or more receptions.
38. Jamal Adams: Adams has yet to play a down at the professional level and I feel comfortable saying he's going to be a star. See Jamal run. See Jamal hit. See Jamal make a bunch of plays. He can play on my team anytime.
37. Ryan Kerrigan: I've always loved Kerrigan, I confess. He has averaged 10 sacks per season since he joined the Redskins. He's a high-effort guy who doesn't get enough attention. Overlook him at your own risk.
36. Amari Cooper: Cooper is entering his third season in 2017. In his first two, he has averaged 78 receptions and over 1,100 yards. He effortless makes big plays and is only going to get better. In summation, he's a quarterback's dream.
35. David Johnson: Johnson's 2017 season was one for the ages. He ran for over 1,200 yards, had 879 yards receiving, and scored 20 total touchdowns, which led the league. He's a workhorse who can carry an offense.
34. Patrick Peterson: There aren't too many players in the NFL who are better athletes than Peterson. He's a shutdown corner who has made the Pro Bowl in all six of his professional seasons. He's also still just 27 years old.
33. Tyron Smith: Smith came into the league at just 20 years old and has developed into the best offensive tackle in the league. No matter who your quarterback is, he can feel safe in the pocket knowing his guy has his blind side covered.
32. Earl Thomas: A five-time Pro Bowler, and three-time All Pro, Thomas is quite easily one of the most dynamic playmakers in the NFL. His range and instincts make him one of the most lethal centerfielders in this era.
31. AJ Green: Prior to last season, ended early by an injury, Green was averaging 83 catches, 1,234 yards, and 9 touchdowns per year. He's one of the three best receivers in the NFL, and only his age keeps him this far down on the list. He's 29.
30. Jalen Ramsey: If someone were to build their ideal NFL cornerback, they'd likely wind up with a dude that looks suspiciously like Ramsey. He has size, speed, and ball skills that make him a near-lock for a career of greatness.
29. Antonio Brown: Like AJ Green, only age is working against Brown. He has averaged a ridiculous 120 catches, 1,579 yards, and 11 touchdowns. It's not hard to argue that he's the best receiver in the NFL right now.
28. Fletcher Cox: Cox is one of the top young defensive linemen in the game at this point, even if he doesn't have the Pro Bowls that some others have. He's a terrific interior pass rusher, and has to be schemed for, or he'll wreck a game plan.
27. Landon Collins: Few made a leap in year two like Collins did. Last year, he was a legitimate Defensive Player of the Year candidate. He recorded 125 tackles, 5 interceptions, 4 sacks, 13 passes defended, and a touchdown.
26. Marcus Peters: In two years, Peters has 14 interceptions. His knack for forcing turnovers is on a level above nearly everyone in the NFL. He changes games, and at 24 years old, he has a long, productive career still to come.
25. Leonard Williams: The Jets have had some terrific defensive linemen in recent years, but Williams might be the best of the bunch. He has become a dominant player who has become the most-feared player on a really good defense.
24. Geno Atkins: If Atkins were three years younger, he'd be much farther up this list. He gets overshadowed by other guys, but few have been as effective as him over the past several years. He's nearly unblockable rushing from the interior.
23. Carson Wentz: Wentz struggled at times in his rookie season, but overall, there's a lot to love and look forward to. He showed accuracy and an ability to create on his own. Better receivers will only make him better in year two and beyond.
22. Myles Garrett: Garrett hasn't played a down yet, but he has all the tools to become the next great pass rusher. In practices and preseason games, he has shown flashes of what he could become, and he could be the kind of player capable of devastating an opposing offense.
21. Julio Jones: Two years ago, Jones had a fully healthy season and decimated defenses around the league. He led the NFL in catches and receiving yards while looking like a guy that even double and triple coverage couldn't stop.
20. Vic Beasley: If you like speed rushers, Beasley is your guy. He's lightning off the edge, and proved to be nearly unblockable in 2016. He led the league in sacks last year, with 15.5, and he's just 25 years old. He's going to lead the league a few more times.
19. Cam Newton: There's nobody quite like Newton in the NFL. He's a physical specimen at quarterback, and even the NFL doesn't know how to manage him. His accuracy is questionable, but he can absolutely take over a game when he needs to.
18. Jadeveon Clowney: One could argue that Clowney hasn't lived up to the hype, but that's unfair since the hype was impossible to live up to in the first place. He might not have the big sack numbers (yet), but he is dominant in his own right.
17. Mike Evans: The first three years of Evans' career has been as good as any in NFL history. Last year he had an amazing 96 receptions for 1,321 yards and 12 touchdowns. His combination of size and skill are top notch, and he's just 24 years old.
16. Patrick Mahomes: It's cliche to say a rookie quarterback looks like an all-time great, but Mahomes might have earned those comparisons to Aaron Rodgers. He has a rocket arm capable of making throws that make coaches drool.
15. Von Miller: Not counting 2013, when he only played nine games, Miller is averaging 13.5 sacks per season. He's one of the most feared pass rushers in the game, and has proven he can take over a game on the biggest stage.
14. Odell Beckham Jr: The term "burst onto the scene" seems made for Beckham. In his three seasons as a pro, he's averaging 96 receptions, 1,374 yards, and 12 scores per year. Oh, and he's only 24 years of age.
13. JJ Watt: It's not a stretch to say Watt is the most dominant defensive player of this generation. An injury wiped out last season, but in the four seasons prior to that, he averaged an absolutely ridiculous 17 sacks per year.
12. Luke Kuechly: Kuechly is the best inside linebacker in the league, and is the prototype for the position in general. He combines speed, instincts, and toughness in a way only the all-time greats have done before. He's averaging nearly 150 tackles a season.
11. Aaron Donald: In just three years, Donald has become the defensive tackle that all other defensive tackles are compared to. He simply can't be blocked one-on-one. The fact that he's just 26 years old is frightening to opposing offenses.
10. Marcus Mariota: Mariota isn't necessarily the flashy player that some of his counterparts are, but he's shown himself to be a player on the rise. His athletic ability is an added bonus, but he has proven that he can win games with his arm as well.
9. Joey Bosa: Though his career got off to a rough start due to a holdout, Bosa dominated in his rookie season. He had 10.5 sacks, and looked like a world beater, on his way to a Rookie of the Year award, despite only playing in 12 games. He's also just 22 years old. Shew.
8. Matthew Stafford: Stafford throws for what seems like a millions yards per season. He has a huge arm, and can make every throw. He hasn't always been the most accurate passer, but in recent years, he's finally showing he's elite. At 29 years old, he has plenty of time to play, too.
7. Dak Prescott: Certainly, playing behind the best offensive line in football, and with a great running back, helps, but Prescott has earned the praise he gets. He's an accurate thrower who makes good decisions and doesn't turn it over.
6. Khalil Mack: After a slow rookie season, Mack has established himself as a premiere defensive player in the league. He's a deadly pass rusher, plays the run well, and is just impossible to handle in general. He's just 26.
5. Russell Wilson: Sure, Wilson is tiny compared to the average great quarterback, but it hasn't hurt him. He's a three-time Pro Bowler, who has a Super Bowl win and 56 wins in five years. Every now and then the 28-year old makes a throw that seems impossible.
4. Derek Carr: I keep seeing people finding reasons to knock Carr, but he has gotten better ever year, and has become a true star. He has a great arm, and a terrific grasp of the game, but it's his heart that truly shines. He can lead my team onto the field any time.
3. Jameis Winston: The former number one pick, Winston has earned the complaints about his turnovers. However, he has every tool a team could want. He's also just 23 years old and will only get better. He could be the best quarterback in the league in a few seasons.
2. Aaron Rodgers: The oldest player on this list at 33, Rodgers is still an easy choice here. Nobody in the history of the league could do what he makes look easy. For my money, he's the greatest quarterback in NFL history.
1. Andrew Luck: It has become common to bash Luck recently, and it's just nonsense. Few players have ever had the talent that he has. It's unfortunate that injury and a bad offensive line have wasted so much of his potential. The sky is the limit for Luck, and if I'm starting a franchise, he's my guy.
If I were to start an NFL franchise, and could choose from anybody currently in the league, who would I start with? Obviously, the quarterback position is the most important on the field, so they're going to get first consideration. Pass rushers are next in line, then playmakers on either side. I assembled the following list taking into consideration: past play, age, positional importance, and projection for the future. Money did not factor in. Neither did current contract. I assumed each player was currently at full health, but injury history could have an effect. Here are the top 40 players that I'd take to start a franchise right now.
40. Chris Harris Jr: His size might not be ideal, but his play on the field speaks for itself. He's earned his spot as one of the best cornerbacks in the league. At 28, he still has plenty of good years left, and will continue to make an impact.
39. Le'Veon Bell: Running back might not be the most important position on the field, but it's hard to ignore Bell's talent. He a dynamic player who has averaged 4.5 yards per carry for his career, and has twice recorded 75 or more receptions.
38. Jamal Adams: Adams has yet to play a down at the professional level and I feel comfortable saying he's going to be a star. See Jamal run. See Jamal hit. See Jamal make a bunch of plays. He can play on my team anytime.
37. Ryan Kerrigan: I've always loved Kerrigan, I confess. He has averaged 10 sacks per season since he joined the Redskins. He's a high-effort guy who doesn't get enough attention. Overlook him at your own risk.
36. Amari Cooper: Cooper is entering his third season in 2017. In his first two, he has averaged 78 receptions and over 1,100 yards. He effortless makes big plays and is only going to get better. In summation, he's a quarterback's dream.
35. David Johnson: Johnson's 2017 season was one for the ages. He ran for over 1,200 yards, had 879 yards receiving, and scored 20 total touchdowns, which led the league. He's a workhorse who can carry an offense.
34. Patrick Peterson: There aren't too many players in the NFL who are better athletes than Peterson. He's a shutdown corner who has made the Pro Bowl in all six of his professional seasons. He's also still just 27 years old.
33. Tyron Smith: Smith came into the league at just 20 years old and has developed into the best offensive tackle in the league. No matter who your quarterback is, he can feel safe in the pocket knowing his guy has his blind side covered.
32. Earl Thomas: A five-time Pro Bowler, and three-time All Pro, Thomas is quite easily one of the most dynamic playmakers in the NFL. His range and instincts make him one of the most lethal centerfielders in this era.
31. AJ Green: Prior to last season, ended early by an injury, Green was averaging 83 catches, 1,234 yards, and 9 touchdowns per year. He's one of the three best receivers in the NFL, and only his age keeps him this far down on the list. He's 29.
30. Jalen Ramsey: If someone were to build their ideal NFL cornerback, they'd likely wind up with a dude that looks suspiciously like Ramsey. He has size, speed, and ball skills that make him a near-lock for a career of greatness.
29. Antonio Brown: Like AJ Green, only age is working against Brown. He has averaged a ridiculous 120 catches, 1,579 yards, and 11 touchdowns. It's not hard to argue that he's the best receiver in the NFL right now.
28. Fletcher Cox: Cox is one of the top young defensive linemen in the game at this point, even if he doesn't have the Pro Bowls that some others have. He's a terrific interior pass rusher, and has to be schemed for, or he'll wreck a game plan.
27. Landon Collins: Few made a leap in year two like Collins did. Last year, he was a legitimate Defensive Player of the Year candidate. He recorded 125 tackles, 5 interceptions, 4 sacks, 13 passes defended, and a touchdown.
26. Marcus Peters: In two years, Peters has 14 interceptions. His knack for forcing turnovers is on a level above nearly everyone in the NFL. He changes games, and at 24 years old, he has a long, productive career still to come.
25. Leonard Williams: The Jets have had some terrific defensive linemen in recent years, but Williams might be the best of the bunch. He has become a dominant player who has become the most-feared player on a really good defense.
24. Geno Atkins: If Atkins were three years younger, he'd be much farther up this list. He gets overshadowed by other guys, but few have been as effective as him over the past several years. He's nearly unblockable rushing from the interior.
23. Carson Wentz: Wentz struggled at times in his rookie season, but overall, there's a lot to love and look forward to. He showed accuracy and an ability to create on his own. Better receivers will only make him better in year two and beyond.
22. Myles Garrett: Garrett hasn't played a down yet, but he has all the tools to become the next great pass rusher. In practices and preseason games, he has shown flashes of what he could become, and he could be the kind of player capable of devastating an opposing offense.
21. Julio Jones: Two years ago, Jones had a fully healthy season and decimated defenses around the league. He led the NFL in catches and receiving yards while looking like a guy that even double and triple coverage couldn't stop.
20. Vic Beasley: If you like speed rushers, Beasley is your guy. He's lightning off the edge, and proved to be nearly unblockable in 2016. He led the league in sacks last year, with 15.5, and he's just 25 years old. He's going to lead the league a few more times.
19. Cam Newton: There's nobody quite like Newton in the NFL. He's a physical specimen at quarterback, and even the NFL doesn't know how to manage him. His accuracy is questionable, but he can absolutely take over a game when he needs to.
18. Jadeveon Clowney: One could argue that Clowney hasn't lived up to the hype, but that's unfair since the hype was impossible to live up to in the first place. He might not have the big sack numbers (yet), but he is dominant in his own right.
17. Mike Evans: The first three years of Evans' career has been as good as any in NFL history. Last year he had an amazing 96 receptions for 1,321 yards and 12 touchdowns. His combination of size and skill are top notch, and he's just 24 years old.
16. Patrick Mahomes: It's cliche to say a rookie quarterback looks like an all-time great, but Mahomes might have earned those comparisons to Aaron Rodgers. He has a rocket arm capable of making throws that make coaches drool.
15. Von Miller: Not counting 2013, when he only played nine games, Miller is averaging 13.5 sacks per season. He's one of the most feared pass rushers in the game, and has proven he can take over a game on the biggest stage.
14. Odell Beckham Jr: The term "burst onto the scene" seems made for Beckham. In his three seasons as a pro, he's averaging 96 receptions, 1,374 yards, and 12 scores per year. Oh, and he's only 24 years of age.
13. JJ Watt: It's not a stretch to say Watt is the most dominant defensive player of this generation. An injury wiped out last season, but in the four seasons prior to that, he averaged an absolutely ridiculous 17 sacks per year.
12. Luke Kuechly: Kuechly is the best inside linebacker in the league, and is the prototype for the position in general. He combines speed, instincts, and toughness in a way only the all-time greats have done before. He's averaging nearly 150 tackles a season.
11. Aaron Donald: In just three years, Donald has become the defensive tackle that all other defensive tackles are compared to. He simply can't be blocked one-on-one. The fact that he's just 26 years old is frightening to opposing offenses.
10. Marcus Mariota: Mariota isn't necessarily the flashy player that some of his counterparts are, but he's shown himself to be a player on the rise. His athletic ability is an added bonus, but he has proven that he can win games with his arm as well.
9. Joey Bosa: Though his career got off to a rough start due to a holdout, Bosa dominated in his rookie season. He had 10.5 sacks, and looked like a world beater, on his way to a Rookie of the Year award, despite only playing in 12 games. He's also just 22 years old. Shew.
8. Matthew Stafford: Stafford throws for what seems like a millions yards per season. He has a huge arm, and can make every throw. He hasn't always been the most accurate passer, but in recent years, he's finally showing he's elite. At 29 years old, he has plenty of time to play, too.
7. Dak Prescott: Certainly, playing behind the best offensive line in football, and with a great running back, helps, but Prescott has earned the praise he gets. He's an accurate thrower who makes good decisions and doesn't turn it over.
6. Khalil Mack: After a slow rookie season, Mack has established himself as a premiere defensive player in the league. He's a deadly pass rusher, plays the run well, and is just impossible to handle in general. He's just 26.
5. Russell Wilson: Sure, Wilson is tiny compared to the average great quarterback, but it hasn't hurt him. He's a three-time Pro Bowler, who has a Super Bowl win and 56 wins in five years. Every now and then the 28-year old makes a throw that seems impossible.
4. Derek Carr: I keep seeing people finding reasons to knock Carr, but he has gotten better ever year, and has become a true star. He has a great arm, and a terrific grasp of the game, but it's his heart that truly shines. He can lead my team onto the field any time.
3. Jameis Winston: The former number one pick, Winston has earned the complaints about his turnovers. However, he has every tool a team could want. He's also just 23 years old and will only get better. He could be the best quarterback in the league in a few seasons.
2. Aaron Rodgers: The oldest player on this list at 33, Rodgers is still an easy choice here. Nobody in the history of the league could do what he makes look easy. For my money, he's the greatest quarterback in NFL history.
1. Andrew Luck: It has become common to bash Luck recently, and it's just nonsense. Few players have ever had the talent that he has. It's unfortunate that injury and a bad offensive line have wasted so much of his potential. The sky is the limit for Luck, and if I'm starting a franchise, he's my guy.
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