We’re deep into the offseason lull now, so it’s only right that we take some time to hand out some flowers across the league. We talk about NFL players a lot – obviously – and use terms like “best in the league” or “elite” frequently, but rarely do we actually quantify who the best players on each team are. Until now.
The criteria is pretty simple. We’re not projecting ahead and thinking long-term. This is strictly: who is the best player on each team right now? Today, we’re moving onto the NFC West: starting with the Arizona Cardinals.
Arizona Cardinals: Kyler Murray, Quarterback
Let’s start with some controversy. This may ruffle a few feathers but Kyler Murray is an excellent quarterback. You can make all of the Call of Duty jokes that you want and point to the fact that Murray might not even be with the Cardinals next season, but he’s still great. After all, this is a player that played at an MVP level in 2021.
Admittedly, his 2022 season prior to his injury wasn’t as good. Nor was it close. His pass completion was still at a respectable 66.4 percent, but Murray’s overall efficiency fell. Per RBSDM, his EPA dropped to 0.001 per play, 23rd in the NFL. Compare that to 2021 when he finished 12th in EPA per play, and you’ll notice a difference. Of course, the supporting cast was worse this time around, but Murray still struggled.
However, this is about him still being an excellent player. His arm talent is excellent, he’s got a wicked fastball, and – when it’s on – his deep ball is one of the best in the league. Pair it with his athleticism and there’s a recipe for an elite quarterback in there.
His odds are also boosted by the fact that the Cardinals boast arguably the worst roster from top to bottom across the NFL heading into 2023.
Los Angeles Rams: Aaron Donald, Defensive Tackle
The Rams current depth chart doesn’t make for good reading. From across most positions, it’s one of the weakest rosters in the league. But those are the repercussions of the way this roster was constructed. Thankfully, choosing the best player on the roster is still a relatively easy task. Cooper Kupp was considered, but as long as Aaron Donald dons a Rams jersey, he’s the guy.
2022 wasn’t Donald’s year. It was the first time that we were reminded of his mortality. He played in just 11 games but he was still an elite pass rusher during that time. His 40 pressures still ranked 15th among all interior rushers by the end of the season and, even at age 32, Donald clearly has plenty of time left at the top of the mountain.
San Francisco 49ers: Trent Williams, Offensive Tackle
There aren’t many better rosters in the NFL than the 49ers. That’s evidenced by the fact the 49ers have been one game away from the Super Bowl for two seasons in a row now – and they did it with Jimmy Garoppolo and Mr. Irrelevant, Brock Purdy, under center. That’s not to take anything away from either quarterback, but it’s more of a hat tip to the overall quality of the roster.
It feels like a cardinal sin not to give this to either Nick Bosa or Fred Warner. Bosa just won the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year award with a truly dominant 18.5 sack season, and Warner has consistently been the most impressive linebacker in the NFL for the last three years, but we’ve still got to go with Trent Williams.
Williams eats pass rushers alive like no other tackle in the NFL right now. The fact he might be the best pass-blocking and run-blocking left tackle in the league is frightening. If you don’t get the chance to watch him work often, now is the time. Sit back, relax, and watch Williams destroy worlds.
Seattle Seahawks: D.K. Metcalf, Wide Receiver
This wasn’t easy. The Seattle Seahawks have a host of very good players. Tyler Lockett has been one of the game’s most underrated receivers recently, while the likes of Tariq Woolen are still ascending. And then there’s Jordyn Brooks, Jamal Adams, and new addition to the defensive line, Dre’Mont Jones. All excellent players. We’re rolling with D.K. Metcalf, though.
He’s not a perfect receiver and is often accused of being stiff and not much of a route-runner, but that simply isn’t true. He’s a full-field player with elite speed, the ability to stack a defender, and the aggressiveness to win at the catch point. But that’s also under selling what he can do with the ball in his hands. He’s shifty for a player of his size and has excellent contact balance that just makes him tough to bring down. Oh, and the speed. Friends, the speed is electric. Metcalf isn’t human.
-Thomas Valentine
Twitter: @tvalentinesport
Photo: All-Pro Reels. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.