Here is what an All Pac 12 NFL roster might look like. After looking at the talent pool, I decided to go with a base 4-3 Cover 3 defensive scheme and a base Ace offense with a power running scheme.
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 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Aaron Rodgers | Brett Hundley | Kevin Hogan |
| GB | GB | CLE |
| $20.3M | $671K | $540K |
| Cal | UCLA | Stanford |
The top earner, and best player, for the All Pac 12 roster is former Cal Golden Bear, Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers is too good to pass him up for the younger Andrew Luck. Backing Rodgers up is his current backup in Green Bay, Brett Hundley. He provides some young potential to fill in for Rodgers if he were to go down. Filling out the QBs is another young talent in 2016 5th-round pick, Kevin Hogan. Having some cheap, young potential as the backups allows us to afford Rodgers without sacrificing too much at other offensive positions.
3 roster spots filled, 50 left
$21.511M Spent | $145.489M Left
Running Backs
| RBs | ||
|---|---|---|
| Marshawn Lynch | Christian McCaffrey | Jacquizz Rodgers |
| OAK | CAR | TB |
| $2.625M | $3.125M | $1.7M |
| Cal | Stanford | Oregon St |
| De'Anthony Thomas | ||
| KC | ||
| $804K | ||
| Oregon |
We start the running backs off with recently un-retired Golden Bear, Marshawn Lynch. His cheap, back-loaded 2 year deal makes him the perfect starter with rookie backup. That rookie, is our 1st-round pick out of Stanford, Christian McCaffrey. Serving as the cheap, veteran backup to the 2 of them is former Beaver, Jacquizz Rodgers. De’Anthony Thomas would see some snaps in passing scenerios, trying to get him out in space, but would server mostly on speacial teams. He would serve as the teams primary kick and punt returner. There were 2 notable exclusions from the RB crew, veteran Jonathan Stewart and former WR now RB, Ty Montgomery.
4 roster spots filled, 46 left
$8.254M Spent | $137.235M Left
Wide Receivers
| WRs | ||
|---|---|---|
| Keenan Allen | Doug Baldwin | Brandin Cooks |
| LAC | SEA | NE |
| $8.65M | $4.419M | $1.563M |
| Cal | Stanford | Oregon St |
| Paul Richardson | Trevor Davis | Matt Slater |
| SEA | GB | NE |
| $1.5M | $597K | $1.644M |
| Colorado | Cal | UCLA |
Keen Allen rounds out the Golden Bear triple threat of the offensive. Starting opposite him is fellow veteran Doug Baldwin. This provides a solid pair of wide receivers for the base 2 TE scheme the offense will run. Behind them, we have a couple of 2014 draft picks, starting with current Patriots Brandin Cooks. He would work out of the slot and provide the over-the-top, deep threat for the offense. The other 2014 pick is Baldwin’s current teammate, Paul Richardson. He provides the next deep threat for the offense and really stretches the field in 4 wide sets. The last 2 receivers on the offense provide special teams support. This especially goes for current Patriot, Matt Slater, who is a 6x Pro Bowler for the AFC as a special teamer.
6 roster spots filled, 40 left
$18.373M Spent | $118.862M Left
Tight Ends
| TEs | ||
|---|---|---|
| Rob Gronkowski | Zach Ertz | Richard Rodgers |
| NE | PHI | GB |
| $6.75M | $3.02M | $1.924M |
| Arizona | Stanford | Cal |
| Austin Hooper | ||
| ATL | ||
| $752K | ||
| Stanford |
This is where this offense gets dangerous. Pairing Rodgers with the best tight end in the league, in Gronkowski, could make for a record breaking TD combo. Throw in current Eagle pass catcher, Zach Ertz, and you’ve got a very dangerous 2 TE set. Behind them we have another current Packer, Richard Rodgers. Rodgers would be utilized as an H-back in 2 back sets. Lastly, we have former Cardinal, Austin Hooper; who would make the most of his contributions on special teams. The biggest exclusions from this list are veteran Mercedes Lewis, and current Saint Coby Fleener, whose $7.5M price tage was just too much.
4 roster spots filled, 36 left
$12.446M Spent | $106.416M Left
Offensive Line
| OL | ||
|---|---|---|
| T Tyron Smith | T Jake Fisher | G Kyle Long |
| DAL | CIN | CHI |
| $8.82M | $1.162M | $8M |
| USC | Oregon | Oregon |
| G Xavier Su'a-Filo | C Alex Mack | T Caleb Benenoch |
| HOU | ATL | TB |
| $1.766M | $8.3M | $603K |
| UCLA | Cal | UCLA |
| G Sean Harlow | C Brian Schwenke | |
| ATL | TEN | |
| $604K | $775K | |
| Oregon St | Cal |
The offensive line has a solid core, but is very young and inexperienced at the backup positions. We start with one of the best left tackles in the league, and our first Trojan of the roster, Tyron Smith. Starting opposite him is former 2015 2nd-round pick out of Oregon, Jake Fisher. Backing them up is current Bucs backup RT, Caleb Benenoch. Moving to guard, we have another former Duck, Kyle Long. At the other guard we have the Texans 2nd-round pick from 2014 out of UCLA, Xavier Su’a-Filo, who is definitely the least experienced, and weak link, of this line. Backing up the guards is our next rookie, 4th-round pick out of Oregon St., Sean Harlow. His teammate in Atlanta takes the captains chair of the offensive line at center, Alex Mack. Behind him is another Cal Golden Bear, Brian Scwenke. Overall this line has some very strong points, but would struggle if anyone got hurt. There were multiple exclusions from this corps, but price had a big part to do with leaving them out. Names like Ryan Kalil, Max Unger, Zane Beadles, Nate Sodler, David Bakhtiari, David DeCastro, and Matt Kalil all missed the cut to keep the team under the cap.
8 roster spots filled, 28 left
$30.03M Spent | $76.3863M Left
Offensive Spending Breakdown
The offense accounted for for 54.5% of the overall team roster; having a $20+M QB will do that to you. We were put in a position to have to skimp at depth in some places to still have a stud starting cast (i.e. the offensive line). The offense also did not take advantage of many rookie deals, and only had 2 of the 7 rookies on the roster. Surprised to only see 2 Trojans on the offense.
The Defense
Defensive Line
| DL | ||
|---|---|---|
| Everson Griffen | Haloti Ngata | Leonard Williams |
| MIN | DET | NYJ |
| $8.6M | $7.703M | $5.081M |
| USC | Oregon | USC |
| Terrell Suggs | Frostee Rucker | Henry Anderson |
| BAL | ARI | IND |
| $6.95M | $1.08M | $783K |
| Arizona St | USC | Stanford |
| Stephen Paea | Elijah Qualis | |
| DAL | PHI | |
| $1.906M | $497K | |
| Oregon St | Washington |
The pass rush on this team is stacked. We are going with a base 4 man front, which brought usual 3-4OLB, pass rusher, Terrell Suggs, back to the line with his hand in the dirt. This provides some flexibility, for him to move around, stand up and rush, or execute some zone-blitz type schemes. At the other end, we have the second biggest earner of the defense, former Trojan Everson Griffen. Inside at the 2 gap, 1 technique, we have veteran Haloti Ngata. He provides a great run stopping presence on the inside. At the other defensive tackle, we have another former Trojan, 2015 1st-round pick, Leonard Williams. His size and athleticism makes him a perfect 1-gap, 3tech for this scheme. Behind them we have a couple of veterans; our third former Trojan on the d-line, Frostee Rucker, and former Beaver, and combine freak, Stephen Paea. We have a couple of young guys finishing out the defensive line, including our next rookie, and first Huskie, 6th-round pick out of Washington Elijah Qualls. There aren’t any changes I would make to the starting group here, but the notable exclusions to me were Jurrell Casey and Cameron Jordan.
8 roster spots filled, 20 left
$32.6M Spent | $43.786M Left
Linebackers
| LBs | ||
|---|---|---|
| Lorenzo Alexander | Mason Foster | Eric Kendricks |
| BUF | WAS | MIN |
| $3M | $2M | $1.406M |
| Cal | Washington | UCLA |
| Myles Jack | Blake Martinez | Aaron Wallace |
| JAX | GB | TEN |
| $1.44M | $636K | $406K |
| UCLA | Stanford | UCLA |
| Jayon Brown | ||
| TEN | ||
| $533K | ||
| UCLA |
Linebacker is where the most of amount of value was gained on this roster. We utilize a lot of young, but very talented backers. However, we actually start with a couple of veterans; current Bill, Lorenzo Alexander, and former Washington Huskie, Mason Foster. Calling the plays for the defense will be current Vikings starting mike, Eric Kendricks. Backing them up are a couple of starting caliber, 2016 draft picks in Myles Jack and Blake Martinez. Former Bruin, Aaron Wallace, provides primarily speacial teams support. And we wrap up the linebacking corps with our next rookie, 5th-round pick out of UCLA, Jayon Brown. The biggest exclusions here were the veteran USC alumni; Clay Matthews, Brian Cushing, and Rey Maualuga, all of which had too steep of a price tag to get this team under the cap for the most talent.
8 roster spots filled, 13 left
$9.421M Spent | $34.365M Left
Cornerbacks
| CBs | ||
|---|---|---|
| Marcus Peters | Richard Sherman | Fabian Moreau |
| KC | SEA | WAS |
| $2.614M | $13.631M | $671K |
| Washington | Stanford | UCLA |
| Shareece Wright | Alterraun Verner | Kevon Seymour |
| BUF | MIA | CAR |
| $1.075M | $695K | $540K |
| USC | UCLA | USC |
We have a couple of lock-down corners to start off this secondary. All-Pro from the University of Washington, Marcus Peters, and 3x, 1st-team All-Pro out of Stanford, Richard Sherman. Filling in at the nickel is our next rookie, 3rd-round pick out of UCLA Fabian Moreau, whose torn pec at his pro day caused him to fall in the draft. This provides this roster with a starting caliber, 1st-round pick worthy corner, for 3rd-round money. Behind them are former Trojan and Former Bruin, Shareece Wright and Alterraun Verner. 2016 6th-round pick out of USC, Kevon Seymour, provides additional special teams support.
6 roster spots filled, 7 left
$19.226M Spent | $15.139M Left
Safeties
| Ss | ||
|---|---|---|
| Eric Weddle | Chris Conte | Marcus Williams |
| BAL | TB | NO |
| $5.75M | $2.875M | $1.135M |
| Utah | Cal | Utah |
| Will Parks | ||
| DEN | ||
| $565K | ||
| Arizona |
We have our first Utes sighting and we have 2 of them in the safeties. We start with 2x 1st-team All-Pro, Eric Weddle. Starting next to him will be the weakest point in the starting secondary, former Golden Bear Chris Conte. Backing up Weddle will be a fellow Ute, and our next rookie, 2nd-round pick Marcus Williams. Rounding out the safeties group will be special teams contributor, Will Parks. The most notable exclusions from this group are a couple of Pro Bowlers, Jarius Byrd and T.J. Ward.
4 roster spots filled, 3 left
$10.325M Spent | $4.814M Left
Defensive Spending Breakdown
The defense accounted for only 43% of the overall team budget. The defense utilized rookie deals the most, and found a lot of value at key positions like linebacker and cornerback.
Specialists and Head Coach
| ST and HC | ||
|---|---|---|
| K Zane Gonzalez | P Johnny Hekker | LS Nick Sundberg |
| CLE | LAR | WAS |
| $487K | $2.596M | $1.053M |
| Arizona St | Oregon St | Cal |
| Head Coach | Ron Rivera | Cal |
Our last rookie of the bunch is current Browns kicker, 7th-round pick out of Arizona St., Zane Gonzalez. The roster wraps with one of the best punters in the league, former Beaver, Johnny Hekker, as well as one of the best long snappers in the league, and our last Golden Bear player, Nick Sundberg.
Our last Golden Bear of the roster will be taking the lead as head coach, Ron Rivera. Rivera was a 2nd-round pick out of Cal by the Bears in the 1984 draft.
3 roster spots filled, 0 left
$4.136M Spent | $678K Left
The Starting 22
Due to the Pac 12 headquarters location, I’ve named this team the San Francisco Sharks.
| Offense | |
|---|---|
| QB | Aaron Rodgers |
| RB | Marshawn Lynch |
| Z | Doug Baldwin |
| X | Keenan Allen |
| TE | Rob Gronkowski |
| TE/Slot | Zach Ertz/Brandin Cooks |
| LT | Tyron Smith |
| LG | Xavier Su'a-Filo |
| C | Alex Mack |
| RG | Kyle Long |
| RT | Jake Fisher |
| Defense | |
|---|---|
| DE | Everson Griffen |
| DT | Leonard Williams |
| DT | Haloti Ngata |
| DE | Terrell Suggs |
| Sam | Lorenzo Alexander |
| Mike | Eric Kendricks |
| Will | Mason Foster |
| CB | Marcus Peters |
| CB | Richard Sherman |
| SS | Chris Conte |
| FS | Eric Weddle |
Team Breakdown
| School | # of Players |
|---|---|
| Arizona | 2 |
| Arizona St | 2 |
| Cal | 10 |
| UCLA | 10 |
| Colorado | 1 |
| Oregon | 4 |
| Oregon St | 5 |
| USC | 6 |
| Stanford | 8 |
| Utah | 2 |
| Washington | 3 |
| Washington St | 0 |
Topping the list is a tie at 10 players a piece, Cal and UCLA. Coming in at second is Stanford, and a surprising third is USC, with 6 alumni on the roster. The only school not to be represented on this roster is Washington State.
As for the NFL teams included in this roster, the Green Bay Packers have the biggest love affair with the Pac 12, with 5 current players on the roster (and that number could have been much bigger). They were the only team with more than 3. The only teams to not have a player represented were the Giants, 49ers, and Steelers.
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