Last year, I made my own version of Bill Barnwell’s “Perfect Roster.” The idea is, following certain criteria, to build the best team you can fit under the NFL’s 188.2 million dollar cap. This year, I’m bringing it back. This is my version of the team. Below are the criteria in Barnwell’s own words (last year’s version, so all years get moved forward, and the salary cap has increased).
Quarterbacks
| Patrick Mahomes | KC | QB | 2017 1st | $4,479,776 |
| Dak Prescott | DAL | QB | 2016 4th | $2,120,849 |
| Taysom Hill | NO | QB | 2017 UND | $735,000 |
Last year, there was more debate about the quarterbacks, with Carson Wentz, Jared Goff, Deshaun Watson, and Dak Prescott all on rookie contracts. This year, it would be hard to take anyone but Pat Mahomes. Not only is Mahomes the reigning league MVP, but with a cap hit under 4.5 million for 2019, he’s also easily the league’s best value. Dak Prescott remains on the team as a backup because he gives them a franchise caliber quarterback that can step in if needed at a very reasonable price. Taysom Hill is listed as a quarterback, but he’s mostly on the team for special teams purposes. Hill could see a few snaps as a gadget player, but I wouldn’t want to take Mahomes or any of my other offensive starters off the field regularly for a gadget player, so Hill won’t have much of an offensive role in any capacity.
Running Backs
| Alvin Kamara | NO | RB | 2017 3rd | $1,050,693 |
| Chris Carson | SEA | RB | 2017 7th | $661,282 |
| Phillip Lindsay | DEN | RB | 2018 UND | $575,000 |
| James Develin | NE | FB | Veteran | $1,600,000 |
Alvin Kamara is one of the top running backs in the league and a clear choice out of the 2017 3rd round picks. Phillip Lindsay is a bit of a redundant talent, but he’s the obvious choice out of 2018 undrafted free agents, after becoming the first offensive undrafted free agent in NFL history to make the Pro Bowl as a rookie. He provides strong insurance for Kamara. Chris Carson is a power back who can compliment Lindsay and Kamara and is an easy choice among 2017 7th round picks. James Develin is a do everything veteran fullback who comes at a very reasonable price.
Wide Receivers
| Adam Thielen | MIN | WR | Veteran | $8,105,000 |
| Michael Thomas | NO | WR | 2016 2nd | $1,628,763 |
| JuJu Smith-Schuster | PIT | WR | 2017 2nd | $1,144,302 |
| Jakeem Grant | MIA | WR | 2016 6th | $755,096 |
| Hakeem Butler | ARZ | WR | 2019 4th | $696,126 |
| Kelvin Harmon | WAS | WR | 2019 6th | $526,960 |
Michael Thomas and JuJu Smith-Schuster are arguably the two best rookie contract wide receivers in the league and, while Adam Thielen is on a 4-year, 64.2 million dollar veteran extension, because of how the deal is structured, his cap number is just 8.105 million for 2019, which makes him a bargain. Thielen, Thomas, and Smith-Schuster make a dominant top trio, so depth isn’t a huge concern, but Jakeem Grant gives me a situational deep threat who can also contribute as a return man (and fills the need for a 2016 6th round pick) and Hakeem Butler and Kelvin Harmon are developmental prospects who I thought were the best players selected in their respective rounds in this past draft.
Tight Ends
| Travis Kelce | KC | TE | Veteran | $10,718,400 |
| Nick Boyle | BAL | TE | Veteran | $3,333,333 |
| Tyler Eifert | CIN | TE | Veteran | $3,025,000 |
| Jordan Thomas | HOU | TE | 2018 6th | $599,602 |
Travis Kelce is arguably the top overall tight end in the league, so he was worth splurging for at a 10.718 million dollar cap hit. He’s one of just 5 players on this roster with an 8 figure cap hit. Nick Boyle won’t win any foot races, but he’s arguably the best run blocking tight end in the league and he also provides a reliable set of hands as an underneath receiver at a very reasonable cap number. Tyler Eifert is another inexpensive veteran. He’s an injury risk, but has the talent to be one of the top tight ends in the league when healthy, so he’s worth a shot. Jordan Thomas is a developmental prospect who fills the requirement for a 2018 6th round pick.
Offensive Line
| David Bakhtiari | GB | OL | Veteran | $14,200,000 |
| Zack Martin | DAL | OL | Veteran | $14,000,000 |
| Rob Havenstein | LAR | OL | Veteran | $8,300,000 |
| Joel Bitonio | CLE | OL | Veteran | $7,000,000 |
| Mitchell Schwartz | KC | OL | Veteran | $6,430,000 |
| Jason Kelce | PHI | OL | Veteran | $2,444,000 |
| Austin Blythe | LAR | OL | 2016 7th | $2,025,000 |
| Chase Rouiller | WAS | OL | 2017 6th | $681,792 |
Like last year, the offensive line is where I spent the bulk of my cap space on veteran players. David Bakhtiari and Zack Martin are arguably the best offensive tackle and guard respectively in the league and are worth their large cap hits. Joel Bitonio and Jason Kelce are also among the best in the league at their position and have below market cap hits. Same with Mitchell Schwartz and Rob Havenstein at right tackle, though those two will have to compete with each other for the starting job. Autsin Blythe has developed into an above average starting right guard for the Rams, after being a mere 7th round pick in 2016. He provides versatile depth and a spot starter in case injuries strike on the interior and he fills a draft requirement. Chase Rouiller fills my requirement for a 2017 6th round pick and also provides versatile depth, though the Redskins’ starting center is only about an average starter.
Interior Defenders
| Aaron Donald | LAR | ID | Veteran | $17,108,000 |
| Kenny Clark | GB | ID | 2016 1st | $2,978,707 |
| DJ Reader | HOU | ID | 2016 5th | $2,078,845 |
| Da’Shawn Hand | DET | ID | 2018 4th | $740,491 |
| Terry Beckner | TB | ID | 2019 7th | $523,079 |
Even at a cap hit of over 17 million, I had to have Aaron Donald, the most dominant player in the NFL, on this team. He’ll start next to Kenny Clark, who has quietly developed into one of the best interior defenders in the league and has just a 2.979 million dollar cap hit, despite going in the first round in 2016. DJ Reader is a situational run stuffer from the 2016 5th round, Da’Shawn Hand is a situational pass rusher from the 2018 4th round, while Terry Beckner is a developmental prospect who was the first pick in the 7th round in 2019 and fills my requirement for a Buccaneer.
Edge Defenders
| Khalil Mack | CHI | ED | Veteran | $11,900,000 |
| Josh Allen | JAX | ED | 2019 1st | $4,135,025 |
| Lorenzo Alexander | BUF | ED | Veteran | $3,750,000 |
| Brandon Graham | PHI | ED | Veteran | $3,500,000 |
| Chase Winovich | NE | ED | 2019 3rd | $744,328 |
Khalil Mack has signed a 6-year, 141 million dollar extension, but his cap number is just 11.9 million, so I can sneak him on to my team. Good luck trying to block him and Donald at the same time. Brandon Graham also got a big long-term deal, re-signing for 40 million over 3 years this off-season, but the cap strapped Eagles structured his deal in a way that keeps his cap hit at 3.5 million for 2019. He’s going into his 30s, but is still one of the better pass rushers in the league on a per snap basis. Lorenzo Alexander gives me a versatile player who can rush the passer, play standup linebacker, and play special teams at a very reasonable price. Josh Allen could end up being the top player from the 2019 NFL Draft and he comes at the price of the 7th overall pick (cap hit 2.2 million dollars less than the 1st overall pick). Allen woukd have a situational role as a pass rusher as a rookie, even on a loaded team. Chase Winovich is another developmental prospect and was a strong value pick in the 3rd round.
Linebackers
| Luke Kuechly | CAR | LB | Veteran | $9,962,573 |
| Zach Brown | PHI | LB | Veteran | $2,500,000 |
| Darius Leonard | IND | LB | 2018 2nd | $1,647,228 |
| Leon Jacobs | JAX | LB | 2018 7th | $592,670 |
| Blake Cashman | NYJ | LB | 2019 5th | $570,773 |
| Te’Von Coney | OAK | LB | 2019 UND | $498,000 |
Luke Kuechly is arguably the top linebacker in the league and he comes at a significant discount compared to his top competition for that role, Bobby Wagner, who has a 14.0375 million dollar cap hit. Darius Leonard is the reigning Defensive Player of the Year and was obviously a smart choice in the second round in 2018, while Zach Brown is a veteran run stuffer who comes at a reasonable price and can play as a 3rd linebacker in base packages. Leon Jacobs, Blake Cashman, and Te’Von Coney fill draft and team requirements and can play special teams.
Cornerbacks
| Stephon Gilmore | NE | CB | Veteran | $9,170,833 |
| Byron Jones | DAL | CB | 2015 1st | $6,266,000 |
| Jason Verrett | SF | CB | Veteran | $1,500,000 |
| Byron Murphy | ARZ | CB | 2019 2nd | $1,452,636 |
| Desmond King | LAC | CB | 2017 5th | $714,998 |
Stephon Gilmore is arguably the top cornerback in the league and his cap hit is reasonable, despite a 5-year, 65 million dollar deal. Byron Jones is also one of the top cornerbacks in the league and he fills my requirement for a 2015 1st round pick on a 5th year option without breaking the bank (like top-10 picks Leonard Williams, Brandon Scherff, and Amari Cooper would have at cap hits of over 12.5 million). Desmond King went in the same round as George Kittle, so he wasn’t a no brainer addition to this team, but he’s already arguably the top slot cornerback in the league and adds value as a return man as well, which gives him the edge over Kittle. Jason Verrett is an inexpensive injury flyer who has the talent to contribute if healthy and he fills the requirement for a 49er. Byron Murphy probably wouldn’t play much, but he was a strong pick in this year’s second round and has a lot of long-term potential.
Safeties
| Derwin James | LAC | S | 2018 1st | $2,815,671 |
| Kevin Byard | TEN | S | 2016 3rd | $2,249,265 |
| Justin Reid | HOU | S | 2018 3rd | $924,893 |
| Eddie Jackson | CHI | S | 2017 4th | $811,449 |
Derwin James, Kevin Byard, and Eddie Jackson are all among the top safeties in the league and all are on rookie deals. More and more teams and using 3 safeties at the same time with regularity, so I think we’d figure out how to use Byard, James, and Jackson at the same time. Justin Reid wouldn’t play much on defense behind those three, but he was a solid starter as a rookie for the Texans and is one of the most impressive players from the 2018 3rd round. What gives him the edge is his ability to play special teams in addition to defense.
Special Teams
| Michael Dickson | SEA | P | 2018 5th | $642,537 |
| Aldrick Rosas | NYG | K | 2016 UND | $645,000 |
| Josh Harris | ATL | LS | Veteran | $930,000 |
Michael Dickson and Aldrick Rosas are among the best in the league at their position and are inexpensive in terms of draft compensation and salary. I don’t know much about Josh Harris, but I needed a long snapper and someone from the Falcons and he fits perfectly into the remaining cap space I have. He’s been long snapping for the Falcons since 2012, so he has to be doing something right.
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