We recently used this space to unveil our pre-season all-division teams, as is our annual tradition at this time of year. As always, the lists were compiled largely by a panel of just one, although there was significant input from CBSSports.com’s writing and editorial staff after I took a first run on the lists by myself.
We started last week by working our way through the AFC. Here are the lists for the AFC East, AFC North, AFC Southand AFC West. This week, place at the NFC. We started on Tuesday with the NFC Eastcontinued on Wednesday with the NFC North and Thursday with NFC South, and wrap things up today with the NFC West. Without delay …
Offensive Skill Stations
QB: Matthew Stafford (LAR)
AR: James Conner (ARI)
WR: Cooper Kupp (LAR), Deebo Samuel (SF), DK Metcalf (SEA)
TE: George Kittle (SF)
FLEX: Allen Robinson II (LAR)
There’s probably a world where Trey Lance immediately takes the league by storm and becomes a superstar in his second season in the NFL, like Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson before him; but Stafford is far more likely to remain the best quarterback in this division. Everything that froze to lead him to success last year is still there with the exception of Andrew Whitworth at left tackle, but Joe Noteboom should be able to step in and provide quality protection at this place. Without DeAndre Hopkins for six games, we’re skeptical of Kyler Murray outperforming Stafford this year.
Conner gets the running back spot almost by default, as he’s the only fullback in the division who doesn’t seem to split the snaps (Rashaad Penny, Kenneth Walker, DeeJay Dallas and Travis Homer all feature in the mix in Seattle; and Cam Akers and Darrell Henderson will both be heavily considered for the Rams) or going off the field when passing (Elijah Mitchell almost never played in those situations last year). Kittle is arguably the best tight end in the NFL when you factor in his impact as a blocker and his ability to create after the catch. He won’t have the receiving volume of some of the other top players, but his in-game effect is nearly unmatched.
There were plenty of receiver options in this division. Kupp, coming off a record season, was a no-brainer. Beyond him, however, each of Samuel, Metcalf, Robinson, Brandon Aiyuk, Tyler Lockett and even Hopkins (despite six missed games) has a good point. Samuel’s versatility makes him arguably the most unique player in the NFL right now, and even if his rushing volume goes down, the threat of him lining up in the backfield at any moment is going to cause huge headache. Metcalf seems like a better fit for the Geno Smith/Drew Lock era than Lockett, who’s unlikely to get as many of those deep moonball hits from those guys as he does from Russell Wilson. And we attribute Robinson’s disastrous 2021 season to whatever was going on in Chicago. Working with Stafford and Sean McVay should help him get back to top form.
offensive line
OT: Trent Williams (SF), Rob Havenstein (LAR)
G: Justin Pugh (ARI), David Edwards (LAR)
C: Rodney Hudson (ARI)
Williams has as good a case as anyone for being the best individual offensive lineman in the league. Havenstein beat linemate Noteboom, 49ers right tackle Mike McGlinchey and Cardinals left tackle DJ Humphries due to his ability to A. stay on the field; and B. pass protect. Alex Mack (retired) and Laken Tomlinson (free agency) are no longer part of this division, which has significantly thinned reasonable interior offensive line options. Hudson remains a solid center, although he is clearly nearing the end of his career. He gets the nod over Brian Allen due to his longer quality playing experience, which gives us greater confidence that he will be a net positive this season. Pugh has been an average-to-top keeper for a while now, and Edwards has made progress in protection every year.
defensive front
EDGE: Nick Bosa (SF), Leonard Floyd (LAR)
IDL: Aaron Donald (LAR), Arik Armstead (SF)
GM: Dr. Greenlaw (SF), Fred Warner (SF)
FLEX: Bobby Wagner (LAR)
This group is positively terrifying. It contains the best defensive player (and arguably the best player, period) in the NFL (Donald). He has one of the few best edge rushers in the league (Bosa). He has one of the most versatile defensive linemen in the NFL (Armstead), who has shown high-level ability both on the edge and on the inside. He has three good-to-great cover linebackers (Greenlaw, Warner, and Wagner) who are also pretty darn good against the run. And there’s Floyd, who has been very productive every season in Los Angeles. If these guys were all on the same team at the same time, the offensive coordinators would be shaking.
Defensive backfield
CB: Jalen Ramsey (LAR), Charvarius Ward (SF), Byron Murphy (ARI)
SAF: Budda Baker (ARI), Jordan Fuller (LAR)
Ramsey is the best defensive back in the NFL. I know the last image we saw of him included being beaten on the court in the Super Bowl, but A. it happens to everyone; and B. Ja’Marr Chase does that to everyone. Ramsey is doing great. Ward was a really interesting signing for San Francisco because he brings a level of physicality and a style to the face press that the Niners didn’t have a year ago. He should shine under DeMeco Ryans. Murphy had a great start to last season and calmed down a bit later, but showed he can work well in the slot, which is incredibly difficult to do.
Baker and Fuller are really fun players to watch, both because Baker is perhaps the most unusually tall player in the league who isn’t named Derrick Henry (he’s a 5-10 safety, 195 pounds who tries his best in the box) and because Fuller absolutely flies off the top of the defense to make plays all over the court.
Specialists
K: Matt Gay (LAR)
P: Michael Dickson (SEA)
RET: Rondale Moore
I won’t lie…I asked our resident kicking expert (John Breech) who he thinks are the best kickers and punters in each division, and I copy/pasted those names on each team of all divisions. Moore should have a bigger offensive role this season than a year ago (especially at the start of the year, with Hopkins out) but he’s so dynamic with the ball in his hands that Arizona think he’s got it. will still leave to contribute in the second leg, where he is a huge threat to snap up a big win.
