Here is what a non-FBS NFL roster might look like. This roster includes players from FCS, Division II, Division III, NAIA, and even Canada (U Sports). As I was building the roster, the talent lead me in the direction of a base 3-4 Cover 3 defense and a base 2TE, single back offense.
The Criteria
- The roster must be under the current salary cap of $167M
- We use the league average on rookie deals, which is 5 from 2014, 6 from 2015, and 9 from 2016.
- We will include one rookie from each round of the draft (were applicable)
- We will have a well rounded roster that includes role players and special teams
The Offense
Quarterbacks
| QBs | ||
|---|---|---|
| Carson Wentz | Jimmy Garoppolo | |
| PHI | SF | |
| $6.063M | $434K | |
| NDSU | Eastern Illinois |
Starting at QB for the small school roster is the current leading candidate for MVP from North Dakota St, Carson Wentz. Wentz has been lights out this year not only as a passer, but as a leader for the league leading Eagles. Backing him up will be the newest edition for the 49ers, out of Eastern Illinois, Jimmy Garoppolo. Becuase of the youth and talent of these two, I decided to only take 2 QBs for the roster. The big exclusion from the QBs was Flacco, but not only is his $24.55M cap hit way too much, Wentz is just a better quarterback.
2 roster spots filled, 51 left
$6.497M Spent | $160.503M Left
Running Backs
| RBs | ||
|---|---|---|
| David Johnson | Chris Ivory | Danny Woodhead |
| ARI | JAX | BAL |
| $800K | $6M | $1.75M |
| Northern Iowa | Tiffin | Chadron St |
| Terrance West | Tarik Cohen | |
| BAL | CHI | |
| $1.797M | $623K | |
| Towson | NC A&T |
We have a very talented group of running backs. We start with Northern Iowa’s David Johnson. He will handle the primary back duties. Chris Ivory will be his primary backup. Ivory started his college career at Washington St, but was dismissed from the team after his Junior year. Ivory finished his college career at Division II Tiffin University. Taking the role of passing down back/slot receiver is another Division II alum, from Chadron St, Danny Woodhead. His teammate in Baltimore, Terrance West, provides some depth to the group and will see time on special teams. Also seeing time on special teams will be our first rookie of the roster, 4th-round pick out of North Carolina A&T, Tarik Cohen.
5 roster spots filled, 46 left
$10.97M Spent | $149.533M Left
Wide Receivers
| WRs | ||
|---|---|---|
| Tyreek Hill | Pierre Garcon | Adam Thielen |
| KC | SF | MIN |
| $586K | $6.425M | $3.746M |
| West Alabama | Mount Union | Minnesota St |
| Chris Hogan | Cameron Meredith | Cooper Kupp |
| NE | CHI | LAR |
| $2.969M | $617K | $704K |
| Monmouth | Illinois St | Eastern Washington |
We start the wide receivers off with former Tiger, Tyreek Hill. Hill ended up playing his senior year at West Alabama after getting kicked off the Oklahoma St squad for being a disgusting, piece-of-shit of a human being. Starting opposite him will be our first Division III player of the roster, out of Mount Union, Pierre Garcon. Garcon played in the National Championship all 3 years with the Purple Raiders, only losing 1 to Wisconsin-Whitewater. Filling the role of slot receiver is former Maverick, Adam Thielen. Next up in out WR corps is former Penn St Lacrosse player Chris Hogan. Hogan used his 1 year of remaining eligibility to enroll at Monmouth University and play WR for the Hawks. We round out the group with a couple of young guys; out of Illinois St, Cameron Meredith, and our 3rd-round pick out of Eastern Washington, Cooper Kupp.
6 roster spots filled, 40 left
$15.047M Spent | $134.486M Left
Tight Ends
| TEs | ||
|---|---|---|
| Delanie Walker | Julius Thomas | Cameron Brate |
| TEN | MIA | TB |
| $5.318M | $5.6M | $690K |
| Central Missouri | Portland St | Harvard |
| Adam Shaheen | ||
| CHI | ||
| $1.075M | ||
| Ashland |
We start the tight ends with one of the most underrated players in the league, from Central Missouri, Delanie Walker. Playing opposite Walker is former Portland St basketball player, Julius Thomas. Thomas only played for the Vikings’ football team in his senior season. Backing them up is our only Harvard grad of the roster, Cameron Brate. Rounding out the TEs is one of our 2 2nd-round picks of the roster (with no non-FBS 1st-rounder), out of Ashland University, Adam Shaheen. Shaheen played one year of college basketball at Pitt-Johnstown before walking on for the Eagles.
4 roster spots filled, 36 left
$12.683M Spent | $121.803M Left
Offensive Line
| OL | ||
|---|---|---|
| T Terron Armstead | T Jared Velheer | G Jahri Evans |
| NO | ARI | GB |
| $7.5M | $10M | $2.425M |
| Arkansas-Pine Bluff | Hillsdale | Bloomsburg |
| G Jermon Bushrod | C Ali Marpet | T Jylan Ware |
| MIA | TB | OAK |
| $3M | $1.029M | $486K |
| Towson | Hobart | Alabama St |
| G Joe Haeg | C Corey Levin | |
| IND | TEN | |
| $601K | $493K | |
| NDSU | Chattanooga |
The offensive line is a group of veterans with a young guy on the inside and a couple of rookies backing things up. At the tackles, we start with former Golden Lion, Terron Armstead, who still has the fasted 40 time for a lineman at the combine. Starting opposite him is former DII All-American out of Hillsdale College, Jared Veldheer. Backing them up is our 7th-round pick out of Alabama St, Jylan Ware. At guard, we have perennial Pro Bowler and 4x 1st-team All-Pro, from DII Bloomsburg, Jahri Evans. Opposite him is former Towson Tiger, Jermon Bushrod. Backing up the guards is Wentz’ former LT at NDSU, Joe Haeg. At center, we have our only other D3 athlete on the roster, and the highest draft pick ever out of a D3 school, from Hobart College, Ali Marpet. Backing him up is former Moc, Corey Levin.
8 roster spots filled, 28 left
$25.534M Spent | $96.269M Left
Offensive Spending Breakdown
The offense accounted for only 43% of the overall team budget. The offensive line took up the biggest chunk of the budget, using up 36.1% of the offensive budget, because of all the veteran contracts. We saved a lot of money having rookie deals at the #1 QB, RB, and WR.
The Defense
Defensive Line
| DL | ||
|---|---|---|
| Akiem Hicks | Chris Baker | Damon Harrison |
| CHI | TB | NYG |
| $10M | $6M | $10.6M |
| Regina | Hampton | William Penn |
| Noah Spence | Avery Moss | Javon Hargrave |
| TB | NYG | PIT |
| $1.372M | $529K | $733K |
| Eastern Kentucky | Youngstown St | South Carolina St |
| Cedric Thornton | ||
| BUF | ||
| $775K | ||
| Southern Arkansas |
Our starting defensive line in this 3-4 defense is a trio of veterans. We start with the 1 Canadian (alumn) of the roster, Akiem Hicks. Hicks was originally signed to play at LSU, but recruiting violations made him ineligible his first year. After turning down offers from the CFL, Hicks enrolled at the University of Regina in Saskatchewan. Starting at the other DE spot, from Hampton University, Chris Baker. Baker ended up playing for the Pirates after being expelled from Penn St for fights that happened off campus. Rounding out the starting group is our 1 NAIA alumn of the roster, Damon Harrison. Harrison played only one year of high school football, and wasn’t heavily recruited, but found his way onto the roster at William Penn University, where he became an NAIA All-American. Backing them up, we start with former Ohio St standout, Noah Spence. Spence was kicked off the team after his sophomore year for repeated failed drug tests, and transfer to Eastern Kentucky. He will play the role of of a pass rushing specialist. Up next, we have 2 more young talents. We start with our 5th-round pick of the roster, out of Youngstown St, Avery Moss, and move to 2016 3rd-round pick out of South Carolina St, Javon Hargrave. Rounding out the group is veteran Cedric Thornton, from DII Southern Arkansas.
7 roster spots filled, 21 left
$30.009M Spent | $66.26M Left
Linebackers
| LBs | ||
|---|---|---|
| Kyle Emanuel | Paul Worrilow | Ramon Humber |
| LAC | DET | BUF |
| $670K | $3M | $695K |
| NDSU | Delaware | NDSU |
| Arthur Moats | Junior Galette | Tanoh Kpssagnon |
| PIT | WAS | KC |
| $2.883M | $800K | $786K |
| JMU | Stillman | Villanova |
| Nate Palmer | Justin Durant | Chase Allen |
| TEN | DAL | MIA |
| $1.025M | $695K | $468K |
| Illinois St | Hampton | Southern Illinois |
The linebacking corps is probably the weakest group on the roster, but provides depth and special teamers. We start with another one of Wentz’ teammates at NDSU, Kyle Emanuel, where he won 4 straight national titles and the Buck Buchanan award for the most outstanding defensive player in the FCS. Playing opposite him on the outside is another Buck Buchanan Award winner, from JMU, Arthur Moats. On the inside, we start with our first Blue Hen of the roster, Paul Worrilow. Starting next to him is our last Bison of the roster, Ramon Humber. In the reserves, we have our primary pass rushing specialist of the group, from D2 Stillman College, Junior Galette. Galette ended up at Sillman for his senior season after getting kicked off the team at Temple. Also backing up the outside is our other 2nd-round pick of the roster, out of Villanova, Tanoh Kpssagnon. Providing primary support on the inside will be former Redbird, Nate Palmer, and former Hampton Pirate, Justin Durant. Palmer started his career at Illinois, but ultimately transferred to Illinois St after his sophomore year. We round out the group our only 2017 UDFA of the roster, out of Southern Illinois, Chase Allen.
9 roster spots filled, 12 left
$11.022M Spent | $55.238M Left
Cornerbacks
| CBs | ||
|---|---|---|
| Janoris Jenkins | Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie | Brent Grimes |
| NYG | NYG | TB |
| $15M | $9M | $8M |
| North Alabama | Tennessee St | Shippensburg |
| Malcolm Butler | Brandon Carr | |
| NE | BAL | |
| $3.91M | $3M | |
| West Alabama | Grand Valley St |
We have an impressive group of corners, and we start with a pair of teammates. First, we have former Florida Gator Janoris Jenkins. Jenkins was kicked off the team after his junior year for possession, and finished his senior year at North Alabama. Starting opposite him is former Tennessee St speedster, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. Filling the role of nickelback and veteran back-up is former Shippensburg standout, Brent Grimes. Next up is our last West Alabama Tiger of the roster, Super Bowl hero, Malcolm Butler. We round out the group with current Ravens starting CB from Grand Valley St, Brandon Carr. All 5 CBs are of starting caliber making this a solid part of the defense.
5 roster spots filled, 7 left
$38.91M Spent | $16.328M Left
Safeties
| Ss | ||
|---|---|---|
| Antonie Bethea | Mike Adams | Lardarius Webb |
| ARI | CAR | BAL |
| $3.417M | $1.775M | $1.3M |
| Howard | Delaware | Nicholls St |
| Miles Killebrew | ||
| DET | ||
| $685K | ||
| Southern Utah |
We start the safeties out with a group of veterans. At SS, we have 3x Pro Bowler from Howard University, Antoine Bethea. At FS, we have our last Blue Hen of the roster, Mike Adams. Backing up Adams is former CB turned FS, Lardarius Webb. Webb started his college career at Southern Miss, but trasnferred to Nicholls St after his sophomore year, where he would play both QB and CB. We round out the defense with 2016 4th-round pick out of Southern Utah, Miles Killebrew.
4 roster spots filled, 3 left
$7.177M Spent | $9.151M Left
Defensive Spending Breakdown
The defense accounted for 53% of the overall team budget. We spent the most amount of money on the defensive line and at corner, both loaded with veterans. Especially at CB, with all 5 corners being starting quality players, they accounted for 44.7% of the defensive budget.
Specialists and Head Coach
| ST and HC | ||
|---|---|---|
| K Adam Vinatieri | P Marquette King | LS Zak DeOssie |
| IND | OAK | NYG |
| $2.75M | $2.55M | $1.3M |
| South Dakota St | Fort Valley St | Brown |
| Head Coach | Bill Belichick | Wesleyan |
We start the specialists off with the greatest clutch kicker of all time, Adam Vinatieri. Vinatieri was originally slated to kick for Army (in 1991, let that sink in) but ultimately moved back home to attend South Dakota St. At punter, we have the 2016 2nd-team All-Pro out of Fort Valley St, Marquette King. King was originally recruited to the Wildcats as a wide receiver, but was moved to punter after the new head coach discovered King’s practicing of the skill in his spare time. We round out the specialists with former Brown linebacker Zak DeOssie. DeOssie was a Buck Buchanan Award finalist, and followed in his father, Steve’s footsteps as a Super Bowl winning long snapper.
There was only one head coach that made sense to take the reigns of a team of small school players, Bill Belichick. Belichick played center and tight end for D3 Wesleyan University, as well as being captain of the lacrosse team.
3 roster spots filled, 0 left
$6.6M Spent | $2.551M Left
The Starting 22
Because of the location of the FCS Championship, I called this team the Frisco Davids.
| Offense | |
|---|---|
| QB | Carson Wentz |
| RB | David Johnson |
| Z | Tyreek Hill |
| X | Pierre Garcon |
| TE | Delanie Walker |
| TE/Slot | Julius Thomas/Adam Thielen |
| LT | Terron Armstead |
| LG | Jermon Bushrod |
| C | Ali Marpet |
| RG | Jahri Evans |
| RT | Jared Valdheer |
| Defense | |
|---|---|
| DE | Akiem Hicks |
| NT | Damon Harrison |
| DE | Chris Baker |
| Sam | Kyle Emanuel |
| Mike | Paul Worrilow |
| Will | Ramon Humber |
| Jack | Arthur Moats |
| CB | Janoris Jenkins |
| CB | Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie |
| SS | Mike Adams |
| FS | Antonie Bethea |
Team Breakdown
| School | # of Players |
|---|---|
| Arkansas-Pine Bluff | 1 |
| Alabama St | 1 |
| Ashland | 1 |
| Bloomsburg | 1 |
| Brown | 1 |
| Central Missouri | 1 |
| Chadron St | 1 |
| Chattanooga | 1 |
| Delaware | 2 |
| Eastern Kentucky | 1 |
| Eastern Washington | 1 |
| Eastern Illinois | 1 |
| Fort Valley St | 1 |
| Grand Valley St | 1 |
| Hampton | 2 |
| Harvard | 1 |
| Hillsdale | 1 |
| Hobart | 1 |
| Howard | 1 |
| Illinois St | 2 |
| JMU | 1 |
| Minnesota St | 1 |
| Monmouth | 1 |
| Mount Union | 1 |
| North Alabama | 1 |
| NC A&T | 1 |
| NDSU | 4 |
| Nicholls St | 1 |
| Northern Iowa | 1 |
| Portland St | 1 |
| Regina | 1 |
| Southern Utah | 1 |
| South Carolina St | 1 |
| South Dakota St | 1 |
| Shippensburg | 1 |
| Southern Illinois | 1 |
| Stillman | 1 |
| Southern Arkansas | 1 |
| Tiffin | 1 |
| Tennessee St | 1 |
| Towson | 2 |
| Villanova | 1 |
| West Alabama | 2 |
| William Penn | 1 |
| Youngstown St | 1 |
45 schools are represented out of a possible 656, 124 FCS, 169 DII, 250 D3, 86 NAIA, and 27 U Sports (Canada). It is no surprise the top school is perennial FCS national contender, North Dakota St, with 4 alumni on the roster. We had only 5 other schools end up with multiples (2) on the roster, Delaware, Hampton, Illinois St, Towson, and West Alabama.
| League | # of Players |
|---|---|
| FCS | 35 |
| D2 | 14 |
| D3 | 2 |
| NAIA | 1 |
| Canada | 1 |
The divisional breakdown is as expected. The most amount of players came from the FCS, with 25. Next is Division II with 14, and my former division (Go Yellow Jackets) D3 finished with 2. The NAIA and U Sports (Canada) each finished with one player on the roster.
As for the NFL teams included in this roster, 2 teams finished with 5 players on the roster, the Giants and Buccaneers. 2 more finished with 4, the Bears and Ravens. We had 7 teams go unrepresented; the Seahawks, Falcons, Jets, Bengals, Browns, Broncos, and Texans.
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