This is a pretty simple project; career regular season value only as reflected in the Approximate Value metric (no peak, no playoffs, no adjustments, no rate stats, it's super basic). AV started in 1960, so for the pre 60s players I looked to the Hall of Fame, that's it. Not complicated.
It's a roster, not a ranking, so I'm not taking 5 quarterbacks, I'm filling out positions. Also, I don't have starters, I don't really think this type of ranking facilitates that so well - at some point, I'll cut out the middle part and choose starters solely based on top seasonal performances (maybe)
25 offense, 25 defense. Kicker. Punter. I didn't pick a 53rd person for the roster, figuring that needs to be a long snapper or some other type of special teams specialist.
Okay - I'm doing starters, they're in bold, based on their top seasons. And...I'm fudging a tick on the straight AV ranking, using some All Pro nods as leavening
This is all through 2023.
QB
J.Unitas 1959
P.Manning
B.Jones
RB
L.Moore 1958
E.James 1999
L.Mitchell
T.Matte
E.Dickerson
WR
R.Berry 1960
M.Harrison 1999
TY Hilton
J.Orr
R.Wayne
TE
J.Mackey 1968
D.Clark
C
J.Saturday 2005
R.Donaldson
G
Q.Nelson 2018
D.Sullivan 1968
G.Ressler
T
J.Parker 1958
T.Glenn 2004
B.Vogel
R.Diem
A.Castonzo
DE
G.Marchetti 1958
D.Freeney
R.Mathis
O.Braase
D.Thompson
B.Smith 1971
DT
A.Donovan 1955
F.Miller
BR Smith 1968
OLB
D.Bickett
D.Shinnick
S.Leonard 2018
S.White
T.Hendricks 1971
ILB
M.Curtis 1968
J.Herrod
B.Krauss
CB
B.Boyd 1968
E.Daniels
L.Lyles
V.Davis 2014
S
J.Logan 1970
R.Volk 1971
J.Belser
B.Laird
PK
A.Vinatieri 2014
P
R.Stark 1983
