Building the best QB, RB, and WR from active NFL players
If you built the best possible quarterback, running back, and wide receiver in a lab using attributes of current NFL players, what would the final products look like? We have the answers.
For the purposes of this exercise, a player can only be taken once, even if they have multiple elite attributes.
Quarterback
Arm strength - Anthony Richardson
There are only a few quarterbacks in the league who can challenge a healthy Richardson for the NFL's strongest arm, but a couple of them are being saved for other attributes. The Colts quarterback has struggled to put it all together as a pro, but we're only concerned about his ability to launch the ball down the field.
Accuracy and touch - Joe Burrow
No qualifying quarterback in NFL history has a higher completion percentage than Burrow's 68.6% mark. The LSU product can layer passes at any level of the field to avoid defenders and throw receivers open. Our QB could drop dimes to almost any part of the field with Burrow's accuracy and Richardson's cannon.
Mobility - Lamar Jackson
Jackson would likely be the pick even if we could pull from every quarterback in NFL history. The two-time MVP leads all signal-callers in career rushing yards (6,173) and has scored 33 rushing touchdowns in 103 games.
Playmaking and creativity - Patrick Mahomes
From no-look passes to left-handed tosses, Mahomes pulls off tricks that most quarterbacks would never even dream of trying. We could execute plays that would normally only be possible in video games with Jackson's mobility, our elite arm talent picks, and Mahomes' playmaking skills.
Mental and leadership - Jalen Hurts
Hurts has showcased strong mental fortitude and leadership skills dating back to his college career. His unrelenting desire to succeed has netted him a pair of Super Bowl appearances, a Super Bowl MVP, and a pair of Pro Bowls in four seasons as a starter.
Size and durability - Josh Allen
We need a frame to support our quarterback if they're going to be a threat, and there's no better pick than Allen's exceptionally durable 6-foot-5, 237-pound build. The 2024 MVP's 105 consecutive starts are the longest active streak in the league among quarterbacks despite his physical play style.
Running back
Power - Josh Jacobs
We're saving the obvious name for another category, similar to quarterback arm strength. Jacobs is a very good consolation prize, though. The three-time Pro Bowler broke 35 tackles and had 737 yards after contact in 2024.
Speed - De'Von Achane
Achane ran an exceptional 4.32-second 40-yard dash as a prospect and has regularly showcased that explosiveness in the NFL. The Texas A&M product has averaged 5.6 yards per carry in his career, largely on the back of his blazing speed.
Moves and elusiveness - Saquon Barkley
The backward hurdle is Barkley's most iconic moment from last year, but we also get his ability to juke, spin, and shrug off weak tackle attempts all over the field. The reigning Offensive Player of the Year forced 62 missed tackles last season, per PFF.
Receiving skills - Christian McCaffrey
Alvin Kamara leads all active running backs with 4,762 receiving yards in 115 games, but McCaffrey isn't far behind at 4,466 yards despite playing in 20 fewer games due to injury. CMC is the easy pick with our running back's durability determined by someone else.
Vision - Jahmyr Gibbs
Gibbs' vision has paired beautifully with a Lions offensive line that opens running lanes seemingly at will. The speedster had 41 runs of 10-plus yards and led the league with 25 carries of 15-plus yards in 2024, making the most of his blockers.
Size and durability - Derrick Henry
Henry's 6-foot-2, 247-pound frame continues to chug along unbothered despite leading the league in carries four times and having at least 280 carries in five of the last six seasons. The ironman has played in at least 15 games every season, outside of 2021.
Wide receiver
Power - A.J. Brown
Brown runs through arm tackles and regularly outmuscles defensive backs to prevent them from making plays on the ball. He's nicknamed "Swole Batman" by the Eagles for a reason.
Speed - Tyreek Hill
Jameson Williams and a few others were considered here, but we'll take the top speedster of this generation in spite of his age. Hill has averaged 13.1 yards per touch, has posted a double-digit average every season of his career, and has led the league in the category three times.
Hands - Justin Jefferson
We get to see Jefferson make unbelievable circus catches almost every week, so we'll happily take the ability to catch just about anything thrown near our wide receiver. He has just 20 drops on 730 targets despite regularly hauling in spectacular receptions.
Moves and elusiveness - Ja'Marr Chase
No receiver has more yards after catch than Chase (2,417) since he entered the league in 2021. He also ranks third in yards after catch per reception (6.1) and broken tackles (35) in that time.
Route running - Amon-Ra St. Brown
St. Brown is an expert at presenting quarterbacks with easy throws. His 81.6% catch rate handily led all receivers with at least 80 targets in 2024. DeVonta Smith was the next closest with a 76.4% rate. St. Brown also posted the best success rate in the NFL (70.2%), with Tee Higgins, the next closest receiver, owning a 64.2% mark.
Size and durability - DK Metcalf
Metcalf has appeared in at least 15 games every year of his career and gives us a strong 6-foot-4, 235-pound frame to maximize our elite power, speed, route running, hands, and elusiveness.