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
S.Luckman 1943
J.Cutler
J.McMahon
RB
R.Grange
B.Nagurski 1934
W.Payton 1977
M.Forte
N.Anderson
G.Sayers 1965
WR
J.Morris 1964
D.Hester
H.Hill 1956
C.Conway
TE
M.Ditka 1961
E.Moorehead
C
B.Turner
J.Hilgenberg 1989
O.Kreutz
G
S.Jones 1956
G.Musso
D.Fortmann 1941
T
J.Stydahar 1940
K.Van Horne
J.Williams
J.Covert 1985
DE
E.Sprinkle
D.Atkins 1963
D.Hampton
R.Dent 1985
M.Hartenstine
DT
S.McMichael 1986
J.Osborne
T.Harris
OLB
G.Connor
L.Briggs 2005
D.Buffone
J.Fortunato 1963
O.Wilson
ILB
B.George
M.Singletary 1985
D.Butkus
B.Urlacher 2005
CB
P.Tillman 2012
B.McRae
D.Woolford 1993
T.Schmidt
S
G.Fencik 1981
R.Petitbon 1963
R.Taylor
M.Brown
PK
K.Butler 1985
P
BJ Green 1961
