It’s that time of year for The Best 53 to do our all-college conference rosters. We start this season out with the Atlantic Coast Conference. Take a look at what the 2017 roster looked like here, ACC 2017 NFL Roster. After looking at the pool of players, we decided to go with a 3-wide, spread base offense and a one-gap, 3-4 base defense.
The Criteria
The criteria is very similar to last year with 3 main differences. The addition of a player on their 5th year extension, the spreading of rookie deals throughout different rounds of each draft, and making sure each college in the conference is represented
- The roster must be under the current salary cap of $177.2M
- We use an even spread of rookie deals roughly based on league averages: 8 from 2017, 6 from 2016, 5 from 2015, and 1 player from the first round of the 2014 draft that is on their 5th year extension (where applicable)
- These rookie deals will also be spread throughout different rounds of that years draft, to better simulate an actual roster
- We will include one rookie from each round of the draft (were applicable)
- Each college in the conference will be represented
- We will have a well rounded roster that includes role players and special teams
The Offense
Quarterbacks
| QBs | ||
|---|---|---|
| Deshaun Watson | Jacoby Brissett | Brad Kaaya |
| HOU | IND | IND |
| $3.149M | $760K | $555K |
| Clemson | NC State | Miami |
Getting the start at QB for the All-ACC roster is the Texans’ Dashaun Watson. Going with a QB on a rookie deal really opens up the rest of the roster (as opposed to going with the pricier Matt Ryan or Philip Rivers). Watson is also the best choice from the 1st round of the 2017 draft, which included Mitchell Trubisky, Mike Williams, and David Njoku. Backing him up will be the Colts’ Jacoby Brissett. Brissett has the starting experience to step in immediately if Watson went down. Only spending ~$4.5M on quarterbacks really sets up the rest of the roster.
3 roster spots filled, 50 left
$4.464M Spent | $1172.736M Left
Running Backs
| RBs | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dalvin Cook | Dion Lewis | Duke Johnson |
| MIN | TEN | CLE |
| $1.444M | $4.313M | $3.895M |
| Florida State | Pittsburgh | Miami |
| Nyheim Hines | ||
| IND | ||
| $661K | ||
| NC State |
We go back into the 2017 draft for our starting running back, this time into the 2nd round for former Seminole Dalvin Cook. Cook’s price tag and potential earned him the top spot over veterans like LeSean McCoy, Lamar Miller, and Devonta Freeman. Playing the role of change of pace back will the Titans’ Dion Lewis and coming in on passing situations will be the Browns’ Duke Johnson. Johnson could also see some time in the slot in 4 wide sets. We round of the running backs with our first rookie of the roster, Colts’ 4th round pick, Nyheim Hines.
4 roster spots filled, 46 left
$10.313M Spent | $162.423M Left
Wide Receivers
| WRs | ||
|---|---|---|
| Larry Fitzgerald | DeAndre Hopkins | Jamison Crowder |
| ARI | HOU | WAS |
| $16.85M | $14M | $2.043M |
| Pittsburgh | Clemson | Duke |
| Allen Hurns | Josh Bellamy | Ray-Ray McCloud |
| DAL | CHI | BUF |
| $4.375M | $1.907M | $520K |
| Miami | Louisville | Clemson |
The nice thing about taking a QB on a rookie deal is being able to choose 2 big name wide receivers instead of just one. In this case, we go with one of the greatest of all-time in the Cardinals’ Larry Fitzgerald, and currently the best receiver in the league, DeAndre Hopkins. Starting in the slot will be former Blue Devil, Jamison Crowder. Backing them up will be former Jaguar, now Cowboy Allen Hurns. Rounding out the wide receivers, and assisting on special teams, will be the Bears’ Josh Bellamy and our 6th round rookie, Ray-Ray McCloud.
6 roster spots filled, 40 left
$39.695M Spent | $122.728M Left
Tight Ends
| TEs | ||
|---|---|---|
| Greg Olsen | Jimmy Graham | Logan Thomas |
| CAR | GB | BUF |
| $7.95M | $5.917M | $630K |
| Miami | Miami | Virginia Tech |
No surprise to see a couple of big name Hurricanes at the top of the tight end depth chart. Greg Olsen provides the 3 down presence at tight end, while Jimmy Graham provides some explosiveness in the passing game, especially in the red zone. Providing depth and playing on special teams is former Virginia Tech QB Logan Thomas.
3 roster spots filled, 37 left
$14.497M Spent | $108.231M Left
Offensive Line
| OL | ||
|---|---|---|
| T Anthony Castonzo | T Morgan Moses | G Joe Thuney |
| IND | WAS | NE |
| $10.8M | $5.4M | $858K |
| Boston College | UVA | NC State |
| G Shaq Mason | C Rodney Hudson | T Bobby Hart |
| NE | OAK | CIN |
| $3.418M | $2.782M | $1.005M |
| Georgia Tech | Florida State | Florida State |
| T TJ Clemmings | G Justin Pugh | C Joe Looney |
| OAK | ARI | DAL |
| $1.907M | $3.25M | $975K |
| Pittsburgh | Syracuse | Wake Forest |
Anchoring the offensive line at left tackle will be former first round pick out of Boston College, Anthony Castonzo. Starting opposite him will be UVA’s Morgan Moses. They provide solid bookends for Watson at an affordable price. We move to the inside with both the Patriots’ starting guards, Joe Thuney and Shaq Mason. Both provide a ton of value from a financial stand point, even with Mason’s recent contract extension. The best value on this offensive line is at center with the Raiders’ Rodney Hudson. Hudson restructured his contract this off-season and converted $7.086M of his salary into a signing bonus. This cleared up $5.668M in cap room for the ACC roster. These savings allowed us to beef up the depth at o-line; adding Bengals’ starter Bobby Hart to backup the tackles, and Cardinals’ starter Justin Pugh to backup the guards. We round out the depth with current Cowboys center Joe Looney, who was thrown into the starting roll after Travis Frederick was placed on IR.
9 roster spots filled, 28 left
$30.395M Spent | $77.836M Left
Offensive Spending Breakdown
The offense accounted for 57.2% of the total team salary. This offensive lean to the salary cap makes sense, as most of the talent on rookie contracts are on the defensive side of the ball. The wide receiver corps is were the majority of the offensive money is spent, accounting for almost 40% of the total offensive cap number.
The Defense
Defensive Line
| DL | ||
|---|---|---|
| Aaron Darnold | Eddie Goldman | Adam Gotsis |
| LAR | CHI | DEN |
| $8.892M | $1.809M | $1.074M |
| Pittsburgh | Florida St | Georgia Tech |
| Tim Settle | BJ Hill | Jarvis Jenkins |
| WAS | NYG | KC |
| $547K | $738K | $720K |
| Virginia Tech | NC State | Clemson |
| Olsen Pierre | ||
| ARI | ||
| $630K | ||
| Miami |
We start the defense off with the best defensive player on the roster, the Rams’ Aaron Donald. This roster will be much more difficult to fit under the cap next year when the 1st year of Donald’s 6 year $135M extension begins and his cap number almost doubles. For now, we will enjoy his All-Pro play for the cost of his 5th year option on his rookie deal. Starting on this 3 man front with him will be the Bears’ Eddie Goldman and the Broncos’ Adam Gotsis. Backing them up are a couple of rookies that have looked impressive so far this season; our 3rd round pick out of NC State, BJ Hill, and our 5th round pick out of Virginia Tech, Tim Settle. We round out the front will a couple of depth players, the Chiefs’ Jarvis Jenkins and the Cardinals’ Olsen Pierre.
7 roster spots filled, 21 left
$14.41M Spent | $63.426M Left
Linebackers
| LBs | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bradley Chubb | Vic Beasley | Zach Brown |
| DEN | ATL | WAS |
| $4.958M | $4.612M | $2.953M |
| NC State | Clemson | UNC |
| BJ Goodson | Harold Landry | Ray-Ray Armstrong |
| NYG | TEN | CLE |
| $776K | $1.224M | $1.238M |
| Clemson | Boston College | Miami |
| Matt Milano | James Burgess | |
| BUF | CLE | |
| $620K | $555K | |
| Boston College | Louisville |
We start the linebackers off with our 1st round pick of this roster, the Broncos’ Bradley Chubb. Chubb was the highest pick from the ACC in the 2018 draft, which included 5 other ACC players in the first round. Starting at the other outside backer position will be the Falcons’ 1st round pick from 2015, Vic Beasley. Running the defense from the Mike backer position will be the Redskins’ Zach Brown. Brown gets the call over the Panthers’ Luke Kuechley for providing top 5 ILB talent for over $5M less on the cap this year. Starting next to him as the Will backer in this 3-4 defense will be the Giants’ BJ Goodson. Backing up the outside, and providing an additional pass rush, will be our 2nd round pick of the roster, Harold Landry. Many thought Landry was a 1st round talent, so it’s a steal to get him in the 2nd. The Bills’ Matt Milano will provide rotational depth behind Brown and Goodson. The Browns’ Ray-Ray Armstrong and James Burgess will be contributors on special teams.
8 roster spots filled, 13 left
$16.936M Spent | $46.49M Left
Cornerbacks
| CBs | ||
|---|---|---|
| Jalen Ramsey | Xavier Rhodes | Kendall Fuller |
| JAX | MIN | KC |
| $6.648M | $13.4M | $648K |
| Florida State | Florida State | Virginia Tech |
| Patrick Robinson | Sam Shields | Greg Stroman |
| NO | LAR | WAS |
| $2.25M | $1.005M | $499K |
| Florida State | Miami | Virginia Tech |
Starting at corner are a couple of Florida State stand-outs, Xavier Rhodes and Jalen Ramsey. Starting at the nickel will be the Chiefs’ Kendall Fuller. Fuller excelled in the slot last season with the Redskins, before being used in the trade for Alex Smith this off-season. Also capable of stepping into the slot, or a starting role if needed, will be the Saints’ Patrick Robinson. The Rams’ Sam Shields will provide a veteran presence for the secondary. We round of the corners with our 7th round pick out of Virginia Tech, Greg Stroman. Stroman provides some additional value as a potential punt returner for the roster.
6 roster spots filled, 7 left
$24.17M Spent | $22.32M Left
Safeties
| Ss | ||
|---|---|---|
| John Johnson | Lamarcus Joyner | Rayshawn Jenkins |
| LAR | LAR | LAC |
| $773K | $11.287M | $721K |
| Boston College | Florida State | Miami |
| Tre Boston | ||
| ARI | ||
| $2.5M | ||
| UNC |
We head out to LA for the majority of the back-end of our secondary. Our starting crew are teammates for the Rams, John Johnson and Lamarcus Joyner. Joyner’s franchise tag makes his cap number a steep hit, but the savings on rookie deals in critical starting positions left plenty of room open for him. Stepping over to the other LA team, the Chargers, we have their 4th round pick from 2017, Rayshawn Jenkins. Jenkins and the Cardinals’ Tre Boston will look to be big contributors on special teams.
4 roster spots filled, 3 left
$15.281M Spent | $7.039M Left
Defensive Spending Breakdown
The defense accounted for 40.7% of the overall cap. Rookie deals at key defensive positions, especially in the front seven, kept the overall defensive budget low. The secondary accounts for 55.7% of the total defensive cap hit, only having 10 of the 25 players on the defense.
Specialists and Head Coach
| ST and HC | ||
|---|---|---|
| K Harrison Butker | P Andy Lee | LS Thomas Hennessy |
| KC | ARI | NYJ |
| $555K | $2.378M | $555K |
| Georgia Tech | Pittsburgh | Duke |
| Head Coach | Doug Marrone | Syracuse |
Originally drafted by the Panthers in the 7th round of the 2017 draft, Harrison Butker has been a steady and reliable kicker since signing with the Chiefs. 3x All-Pro out of Pittsburgh, Andy Lee, takes the role of punter. We finish up our roster with a 2017 UDFA out of Duke, Thomas Hennessy.
Former Syracuse offensive lineman, now Bills’ Head Coach, Doug Marrone will take the head coaching spot for this All-ACC team.
3 roster spots filled, 0 left
$3.488M Spent | $3.551M Left
The Starting 22
Due to the ACC headquarters location, I’ve named this team the Greensboro Coastals.
| Offense | |
|---|---|
| QB | Deshaun Watson |
| RB | Dalvin Cook |
| Z | DeAndre Hopkins |
| X | Larry Fitzgerald |
| Slot | Jamison Crowder |
| TE | Greg Olsen |
| LT | Anthony Castonzo |
| LG | Joe Thuney |
| C | Rodney Hudson |
| RG | Shaq Mason |
| RT | Morgan Moses |
| Defense | |
|---|---|
| DE | Adam Gotsis |
| NT | Eddie Goldman |
| DT | Aaron Donald |
| Sam | Vic Beasley |
| Mike | Zach Brown |
| Will | BJ Goodson |
| Jack | Bradley Chubb |
| CB | Jalen Ramsey |
| CB | Xavier Rhodes |
| SS | John Johnson |
| FS | Lamarcus Joyner |
2019 Draft
New for this year, we are including a mock draft for each team for the 2019 NFL Draft. Each player is within a round of where we have them projected as of the time of this post.
| Round | Player | Pos. | School |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trayvon Mullen | CB | Clemson |
| 2 | Dexter Lawrence | DT | Clemson |
| 3 | Kelvin Harmon | WR | NC State |
| 4 | Chris Lindstrom | OG | Boston College |
| 5 | Tommy Sweeney | TE | Boston College |
| 6 | Mitch Hyatt | OT | Clemson |
| 7 | Jacques Patrick | RB | Florida State |