Rank the Roster 2024: #14

[Waldo]

Rank The Roster: 2024 Edition

1. Jordan Love (53%)[+8]
2. Rashan Gary (36%)[+3]
3. Jaire Alexander (48%)[-2]
4. Zach Tom (27%)[+13]
5. Kenny Clark (33%)[-1]
6. Xavier McKinney (35%)[FA]
7. Elgton Jenkins (47%)[-1]
8. Josh Jacobs (43%)[FA]
9. Jayden Reed (36%)[+18]
10T. Christian Watson (24%)[-2]
10T. Dontayvion Wicks (24%)[+21]
12T. Preston Smith (27%)[-2]
12T. Devonte Wyatt (27%)[+4]
14. Current (xx%)[--]

Percent of vote the winner got will be in parenthesis, position change vs. 2023 will be in brackets.

Here's how this works:

Each day there is a new thread/poll, starting at #1, on down to whereever we get. The whole point of this exercise is to have something to talk about in the lean news months to carry us to camp. Each poll will be open for voting for 24 hours. New threads will only be created on weekdays. Ties will cause a runoff poll. You may vote up to TWO players (a change that was made mid-poll last year, seemed to work well).

Simply voting is not enough!

Post why you voted for who you did and provide a player to add to the next poll (every poll will be a list of 15-20 guys, new players added in bunches every few days).

Here's the thing. There is no criteria. This is an exercise to foster discussion therefore there are no clear criteria for ranking. Who is better right now? Who will have the best season? Who was better last year? Sort of a combo of them all? Do you take positional value into account? It really doesn't matter.

Previous Years:
Rank the Roster: 2023
Rank the Roster: 2022
Rank the Roster: 2021
Rank the Roster: 2020
Rank the Roster: 2014-2019

[NCF]

I went with Doubs and Kraft. This is definitely a tougher vote with a wider tier, I think. I considered Walker, Cooper, Brooks, Musgrave, Valentine, Van Ness, Sheed, Morgan, and Bullard. I think all of those guys are bunched together pretty tightly. I know some are going to balk at WR4 going before some of these other guys, but the way we used the personnel at WR and TE last year makes me think all of these guys will still be utilized heavily.

[Labrev]

I can get behind Doubs and Kraft. My next votes would go to Musgrave and LVN. Then it gets fuzzy to me.

[Cdragon]

I'm going Lloyd and Musgrave. We are at 15 and there are still a ton of guys who are going to be above average contributors.

[Drj820]

The Quay Walker Disrespect World Tour continues.

[Pckfn23]

I got a bunch still on this tier. Doubs, Musgrave, Kraft, Walker, etc...

[Yoop]

I'am a simple guy, if it aint broken, I aint fixing, soooooooo, I went WAlker and WAlker, lber one, LT two, even if he is moved out by Morgan he may end up at RG

[NCF]

The Quay Walker Disrespect World Tour continues.

Such a compelling case you make.

[Waldo]

The Quay Walker Disrespect World Tour continues.

I went with Quay as one of my picks. He does a lot of things really well and is still an ascending player. Such a difference to have an ILB with actual physical talent, that's fast enough to catch RB's going wide. There were a lot of times GB's defensive front was smothering, it very much was the most consistent strength of the team throughout 2023 (passing came on later in the season when Love was dealing), and Quay was a big part of that. My other pick was LVN.

Some defensive stats from last year:

Def Snaps, Tackles, Tackles per Snap (%):

Preston Smith - 732, 48, 6.6%
Rashaan Gary - 587, 44, 7.5%
Kingsley Enagbare - 452, 37, 8.2%
Lukas Van Ness - 365, 32, 8.8%
Justin Hollins - 84, 9, 10.7%

Quay Walker - 849, 118, 13.9%
De'Vondre Campbell - 575, 75, 13.0%
Isaiah McDuffie - 513, 86, 16.8%

Kenny Clark - 810, 44, 5.4%
TJ Slaton - 626, 50, 8.0%
Devonte Wyatt - 552, 36, 6.5%
Karl Brooks - 380, 20, 5.3%
Colby Wooden - 255, 17, 6.7%

(special teams tackles are included in total tackles, inflating values for ST players, especially Enagbare and McDuffie)

QB Hits (rate per snap), Tackles for Loss (rate per snap), Sacks:

Preston Smith - 21 (2.9%), 4 (0.5%), 8.0
Rashaan Gary - 22 (3.7%), 7 (1.2%), 9.0
Kingsley Enagbare - 6 (1.3%), 8 (1.8%), 2.0
Lukas Van Ness - 10 (2.7%), 8 (2.2%), 4.0
Justin Hollins - 0 (0.0%), 0 (0.0%), 0.0

Quay Walker - 5 (0.6%), 7 (0.8%), 2.5
De'Vondre Campbell - 2 (0.3%), 3 (0.5%), 0.0
Isaiah McDuffie - 3 (0.6%), 5 (1.0%), 0.5

Kenny Clark - 16 (2.0%), 9 (1.1%), 7.5
TJ Slaton - 2 (0.3%), 3 (0.5%), 0.0
Devonte Wyatt - 11 (2.0%), 6 (1.1%), 5.5
Karl Brooks - 5 (1.3%), 6 (1.6%), 4.0
Colby Wooden - 2 (0.8%), 1 (0.4%), 0.5

LVN stands out in efficiency stats. He converts his QB hits into sacks at a higher rate than the other OLBs and makes a lot of plays per snap. His TFL's are darn impressive for so few snaps. Enagbare is bad at getting to the QB. TJ Slaton makes no plays behind the LOS, though he makes a lot of tackles. Wyatt is as disruptive as Kenny while tackling at a higher rate. Brooks has rather good efficiency stats for his little use. Campbell was the worst of the ILB's last year.

[APB]

I got a bunch still on this tier. Doubs, Musgrave, Kraft, Walker, etc...

Same.

Both Walker's, at that.

I also have Valentine in this tier as I think he gets meaningful snaps via beating out Stokes as no. 2 CB, subbing for the ineffective Stokes, or subbing for the injured Stokes.

[Madcity_matt]

I got a bunch still on this tier. Doubs, Musgrave, Kraft, Walker, etc...

Same.

Both Walker's, at that.

I also have Valentine in this tier as I think he gets meaningful snaps via beating out Stokes as no. 2 CB, subbing for the ineffective Stokes, or subbing for the injured Stokes.

I went just Quay here. I think he will really shine in a play faster/think less scheme.

[go pak go]

I went Quay Walker and Tucker Kraft.

Kraft had such a strong second half of the season. He was a legitimate weapon in both blocking and receiving. Currently above Musgrave but that may change once Luke plays and lets his talent start overtaking.

As for Quay, I think this is a good spot for him - Back third of the starters. So much potential. Just needs to think less and play fast consistently.

[Labrev]

Quay has the talent to be ranked higher than this but he could also end the year being "third-fiddle" (if you will) at his position, if he doesn't take another step forward in his development. I am in the Mike Wahle camp on Quay: his flash plays are great but he is still quite inconsistent,
and he needs to get a lot better at the core duties of being an LB, of which McDuffie actually does a better job.

[wallyuwl]

Quay and Doubs. Love likes (loves?) throwing to Doubs. Quay needs to just play, this could be the year the game slows down for him.

[Backthepack4ever]

Quay and then LVN

It is time for Quay. This is the year to break out. He has flashed and he has struggled. It's time to flash. Let him play down hill and attack. Off ball lb is the weakest spot on d quay and edge coild make it a strength for years.

LVN for some of the same reasons. He flashed but more time and moving him around the front should help him impact games.

[MY_TAKE]

Quay and then LVN

It is time for Quay. This is the year to break out. He has flashed and he has struggled. It's time to flash. Let him play down hill and attack. Off ball lb is the weakest spot on d quay and edge coild make it a strength for years.

LVN for some of the same reasons. He flashed but more time and moving him around the front should help him impact games.

Quay

The other Walker(OT) in all seriousness should get some consideration, all things being considered.

[wallyuwl]

The other Walker(OT) in all seriousness should get some consideration, all things being considered.

Agree. I thought Morgan was a wasted pick. Even if he ends up being OK.

[lupedafiasco]

Back to back all pro returner with rules that kind of favor returners. I think Nixon will make a huge impact on STs and that doesn’t include his nickel CB experience and role.

I went with with Quay as my top choice though. He will play 100% of the snaps, compared to Preston who will play maybe 60%.

[APB]

Back to back all pro returner with rules that kind of favor returners. I think Nixon will make a huge impact on STs and that doesn’t include his nickel CB experience and role.

I went with with Quay as my top choice though. He will play 100% of the snaps, compared to Preston who will play maybe 60%.

I have been considering Nixon's potential bigger impact, as well. I think his talents will be better utilized, but how much bigger of an impact is the big unknown.

[Yoop]

on the Andy Herman podcast the other day the topic was bubble players, mostly mentioned players like Dillon, Meyers, Stokes etc, but he also mentioned Bisaccia, who's units last year declined, and after getting a few players in the draft to hopefully improve production, Andy's point was that his job should not be secure, I agree, as good a Nixon is he still needs lanes to run through