Next in our series of all-college conference rosters is the Southeastern Conference. Take a look at what the 2017 roster looked like here, SEC NFL Roster 2017. After looking at the pool of players, we decided to go with a college style, gun spread offense and a 3-3-5 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 team
The Offense
Quarterbacks
| QBs | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dak Prescott | Blaine Gabbert | Brandon Allen |
| DAL | TEN | LAR |
| $726K | $2M | $630K |
| Mississippi St | Missouri | Arkansas |
Let me start off by saying that Cam Newton should be the starting quarterback for this roster. However, it is so hard to pass up a talented QB on a 4th round rookie deal. The amount of flexibility it gives you for the rest of the roster is incredible. We save almost $21M against the cap by taking the Dallas Cowboys’ Dak Prescott over Cam. That’s almost 8.5% of the total salary cap. How the Cowboys are not a successful team right now with this contract at QB, Zeke at RB, and that offensive line is beyond me. But lets reel it back in and take a look at who else is in the QB room with Dak. Initially the #2 spot was going to go to Mr. Irrelevant, $wag Kelly, but after his recent off the field mishaps got him booted off yet another team, we hand the clipboard to the veteran from the Titans, Blaine Gabbert. Lastly playing the role of scout team QB is former Razorback Brandon Allen.
3 roster spots filled, 50 left
$3.356M Spent | $173.844M Left
Running Backs
| RBs | ||
|---|---|---|
| Todd Gurley | Alvin Kamara | Alex Collins |
| LAR | NO | BAL |
| $7.228M | $878K | $630K |
| Georgia | Tennessee | Arkansas |
| Kerryon Johnson | ||
| DET | ||
| $1.182M | ||
| Auburn |
There is an obvious choice for starting running back for this All-SEC roster, current MVP candidate from the LA Rams, Todd Gurley. Taking the role of change of pace/3rd down back is our 3rd round pick of 2017 our of Tennessee, Alvin Kamara. Playing primarily special teams will be former Razorback Alex Collins. TLastly, I would have loved to take the Redskins’ Derrius Guice with our 2nd round pick, but since he hasn’t seen time this year after going out with an ACL injury in the preseason, I decided to take another 2nd round pick that has shown flashes of being the real deal, the Lions’ Kerryon Johnson.
4 roster spots filled, 46 left
$9.918M Spent | $163.926M Left
Wide Receivers
| WRs | ||
|---|---|---|
| Julio Jones | Odell Beckham Jr | AJ Green |
| ATL | NYG | CIN |
| $12.867M | $5.459M | $13.75M |
| Alabama | LSU | Georgia |
| Chris Conley | Antonio Callaway | Javon Wims |
| KC | CLE | CHI |
| $2.085M | $659K | $504K |
| Georgia | Florida | Georgia |
| Cam Sims | ||
| WAS | ||
| $480K | ||
| Alabama |
Here is where we get a little crazy with the roster. With all the money we saved at the QB position, we decided to stack the position with 3 of the top 10 receivers in the game right now. We’ll start on the outside with a pair of top 10 picks from the 2011 draft, the Falcons’ Julio Jones and the Bengals’ AJ Green. We then move into the slot with our 1st round pick from the 2014 draft out of LSU, Odell Beckham Jr. Having these 3 at WR should help out a young QB. Serving as primary back for the outside and providing a 4th option in spread sets is the Chiefs Chris Conley. Because we stacked at the top of the wide receivers (and because we would have no way to afford them past this season), we decided to go with 3 rookies to back them up. We start with our 4th round pick out of Florida, Antonio Callaway. Then we have a pair of special teamers, UDFA out of Alabama Cam Sims and our 7th round pick out of Georgia Javon Wims.
7 roster spots filled, 39 left
$35.804M Spent | $128.122M Left
Tight Ends
| TEs | ||
|---|---|---|
| Trey Burton | Ricky Seals-Jones | CJ Uzomah |
| CHI | ARI | CIN |
| $6.05 | $555K | $758K |
| Florida | Texas A&M | Auburn |
Starting at tight end will be one of Chicago’s free agent acquisitions this past off-season, from Florida, Trey Burton. Backing him up and contributing on special teams will be 2017 UDFA out of Texas A&M, Ricky Seals-Jones, and former Auburn Tiger, CJ Uzomah.
3 roster spots filled, 36 left
$7.363M Spent | $120.759M Left
Offensive Line
| OL | ||
|---|---|---|
| T Andrew Whitworth | T Andre Smith | G Ramon Foster |
| LAR | ARI | PIT |
| $9.174M | $2.645M | $3.592M |
| LSU | Alabama | Tennessee |
| G Connor McGovern | C David Andrews | T Bradley Sowell |
| DEN | NE | CHI |
| $696K | $2.35M | $1.2M |
| Missouri | Georgia | Ole Miss |
| G Jermaine Eluemunor | C Bradley Bozeman | |
| BAL | BAL | |
| $622K | $510K | |
| Texas A&M | Alabama |
The starting left tackle position came down to 2 all-time greats, the Eagles’ Jason Peters and the Rams’ Andrew Whitworth. We gave the slight edge to Whitworth given Peters recent injury history and Whitworth’s slightly cheaper price tag. Starting opposite him will be the Cardinals’ Andre Smith. Moving to the inside, we have the Steelers’ Ramon Foster and the Broncos’ Connor McGovern at the guards, and the Patriots’ David Andrews at center. This inside of this line isn’t going to win any awards, but will be very solid in providing enough protection for Dak to get the ball to one of his weapons. Backing up the line, we have a veteran from Chicago, Bradley Sowell, and a pair of teammates from the Ravens, Jermaine Eluemunor and our 6th round pick out of Alabama, Bradley Bozeman.
8 roster spots filled, 28 left
$20.789M Spent | $99.972M Left
Offensive Spending Breakdown
The offense accounted for only 43.9% of the total team salary. The WRs accounted for almost half of the overall money spent on the offense. Even though we spent so much on the wide receivers, we have a rookie deal at QB and 4 of our 2018 rookies on offense, keeping the overall cost down and allowing us to spend big on defense (in true SEC fashion).
The Defense
Defensive Line
| DL | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fletcher Cox | Dalvin Tomlinson | Trey Flowers |
| PHI | NYG | NE |
| $11.348M | $1.039M | $2.047M |
| Mississippi St | Alabama | Arkansas |
| Al Woods | Kyle Love | Darius Philon |
| IND | CAR | LAC |
| $2.5M | $1.3M | $735K |
| LSU | Mississippi St | Arkansas |
| John Jenkins | ||
| NYG | ||
| $630K | ||
| Georgia |
We start the defensive line out with our one big money veteran, the Eagles’ Fletcher Cox. Cox could have cost this team a lot more, but in early October, Cox restructured his deal to shave $6.552M off his cap number. This allowed us to squeeze in some more value throughout the roster. Starting opposite him on this 3 man front is the Patriots’ Trey Flowers. Flowers is having a great 2018 season and is currently PFF #1 graded edge defender. Filling the big body role of nose guard is the Giant’s Dalvin Tomlinson. It wouldn’t be an SEC roster without Alabama being represented on the defensive line. These 3 will function in essentially a one-gap, 3 man front that will easily convert into a 4 man front with LB Von Miller playing a hybrid OLB/DE role. Backing up the inside, we have a couple of veterans in the Colts’ Al Woods and the Panthers’ Kyle Love. Backing up the outside will be the Chargers’ Darius Philon and the Rams’ Dominique Easley.
7 roster spots filled, 21 left
$19.611M Spent | $80.359M Left
Linebackers
| LBs | ||
|---|---|---|
| Von Miller | Deion Jones | Leonard Floyd |
| DEN | ATL | CHI |
| $10.125M | $1.24M | $4.304M |
| Texas A&M | LSU | Georgia |
| Thomas Davis | Wesley Woodyard | Roquan Smith |
| CAR | TEN | CHI |
| $3.926M | $4.24M | $3.359M |
| Georgia | Kentucky | Georgia |
| Lorenzo Carter | ||
| NYG | ||
| $743K | ||
| Georgia |
There are a plethora of linebackers to chose from for this All SEC roster, but at the top is former 1st round pick out of Texas A&M, Von Miller. Miller will stand up playing a hybrid Will back/weak-side defensive end role. Starting at Mike backer will be our 2nd round pick of 2016 out of LSU, Deion Jones. Starting next to him at Sam backer is our 1st round pick from that same 2016 draft, out of Georgia, Leonard Floyd. Taking the role of the other inside backer when the defense shifts into a 3-4 front is our 1st round pick out of Georgia, Roquan Smith. Backing up the 2 inside backer positions are a couple of veterans, the Panthers’ Thomas Davis and the Titans’ Wesley Woodyard. Backing up the outside positions is our 3rd round pick out of Georgia, Lorenzo Carter.
7 roster spots filled, 13 left
$27.936M Spent | $52.423M Left
Cornerbacks
| CBs | ||
|---|---|---|
| Patrick Peterson | Casey Hayward | Tre'Davious White |
| ARI | LAC | BUF |
| $14.957M | $6.833M | $2.293 |
| LSU | Vanderbilt | LSU |
| Brian Poole | Mike Hilton | Joshua Holsey |
| ATL | PIT | WAS |
| $631K | $555K | $575K |
| Florida | Ole Miss | Auburn |
This is where this roster really starts to get ridiculous, the secondary. We start with our outside corners, All-Pro Patrick Peterson, and our only Commodore of the roster, Casey Hayward. Stepping in as the nickel corner is our 1st round pick in 2017, out of LSU, Tre’Davious White. Backing up the outside is the Falcons’ Brian Poole. Backing up the nickel, but primarily playing special teams is the Steelers’ Mike Hilton, and finally contributing on special teams is the Redskins’ 7th round pick in 2017, Joshua Holsey.
5 roster spots filled, 8 left
$25.844M Spent | $26.580M Left
Safeties
| Ss | ||
|---|---|---|
| Landon Collins | Eric Berry | DJ Swearinger |
| NYG | KC | WAS |
| $1.947M | $13M | $4.333M |
| Alabama | Tennessee | South Carolina |
| Eddie Jackson | Rudy Ford | |
| CHI | ARI | |
| $721K | $590K | |
| Alabama | Auburn |
This group of safeties is the main reason why I think this roster is best suited for a 5 DB base defense (either a 3-3-5 or 4-2-5). Starting at free safety is the All-Pro out of Tennessee, Eric Berry. Starting at strong safety is our 2nd round pick from 2015 out of Alabama, Landon Collins. Finally playing the role of weak safety in this 3 safety set is the Redskins’ DJ Swearinger. Swearinger is having one of his best seasons leading a top 5 Redskins defense. Backing them up is a pair of 2017 draft picks, 4th round pick out of Alabama, Eddie Jackson, and 6th round pick out of Auburn, Rudy Ford.
5 roster spots filled, 3 left
$20.591M Spent | $5.988M Left
Defensive Spending Breakdown
The defense accounted for 53.4% of the total team salary. There was a good spread of wealth throughout each of the position grouping, as there were top veteran talents at each spot, with great, supporting rookie contracts.
Specialists and Head Coach
| ST and HC | ||
|---|---|---|
| K Ryan Succop | P JK Scott | LS Morgan Cox |
| JAX | GB | BAL |
| $2.95M | $534K | $1.14M |
| South Carolina | Alabama | Tennessee |
| Head Coach | Jim Bob Cooter | Tennessee |
Starting at kicker for this All SEC roster is our last Gamecock, Ryan Succop. And starting at punter, our last rookie of the roster, 5th round pick out of Alabama, JK Scott. Lastly, starting at long snapper, we have the Ravens’ Morgan Cox
Former backup QB for the Volunteers, Jim Bob Cooter, will take the head coaching spot for this All SEC team.
3 roster spots filled, 0 left
$4.624M Spent | $1.364M Left
The Starting 22
Due to the SEC headquarters location, I’ve named this team the Birmingham Tigers.
| Offense | |
|---|---|
| QB | Dak Prescott |
| RB | Todd Gurley |
| Z | Julio Jones |
| X | AJ Green |
| Slot | Odell Beckham Jr |
| TE | Trey Burton |
| LT | Andrew Whitworth |
| LG | Ramon Foster |
| C | David Andrews |
| RG | Connor McGovern |
| RT | Andre Smith |
| Defense | |
|---|---|
| DE | Trey Flowers |
| NT | Dalvin Tomlinson |
| DT | Fletcher Cox |
| DE/Will | Von Miller |
| Mike | Deion Jones |
| Sam | Leonard Floyd |
| CB | Patrick Peterson |
| CB | Casey Hayward |
| WS | DJ Swearinger |
| SS | Landon Collins |
| FS | Eric Berry |
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 | Greedy Williams | CB | LSU |
| 2 | Montez Sweat | Edge | Mississippi State |
| 3 | Elgton Jenkins | OC | Mississippi State |
| 4 | DK Metcalf | WR | Ole Miss |
| 5 | Kendall Blanton | TE | Missouri |
| 6 | Jonathan Ledbetter | DE | Georgia |
| 7 | Lester Cotton | OG | Alabama |