A circle fits into a square, but that doesn’t mean that it’s a perfect match. It could probably fit into a rectangle and a triangle, too. The NFL has positions, yet there are many players that play more than the one they are labeled. Some barely play the position they are labelled. There are players on offense that run the ball as well as the catch the ball. So our NFL rankings series seemed incomplete, because these players don’t get the versatility award.
The NFL is more specialized that ever. Two running back backfields are popular. Two tight end offenses are commonplace. Situational pass rushers get drafted in the top 10 of the NFL Draft. Teams hope these players become more dynamic, but if the players don’t, they’re still serving their purpose for the team.
This list of players buck that trend. It seems they can do everything they asked — and more. They play more than one position on offense or defense, and then they contribute on special teams. They’re the Prius of players. They’re a hybrid.
10. New England Patriots’ Marcus Cannon
Cannon was a longtime reserve for the Patriots. He was the sixth man for their offensive line for his first three seasons. But just like James Harden, he didn’t belong there. So the Patriots promoted the former fifth round pick out of TCU to starting left guard. Previously, he played all over the line, filling in wherever and whenever he was needed. As Sebastion Vollmer was oft-injured, he spent a lot of time on the right side of the offensive line.
Cannon was expected to be a first-round pick before being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin Lymphoma prior to the draft. He beat cancer and has gone on to begin building a successful career. However, he had an understandably slow impact on the NFL.
He is currently Logan Mankins’ replacement and has been solid as a starter.
9. Arizona Cardinals’ Tyrann Mathieu
Mathieu is an excellent defensive back. He lines up at safety for the Cardinals but could play anywhere on the field — and often does. He’s a corner that can play free safety. The 5-foot-9 athlete, formerly know as the Honey Badger, flies all over the field and delivers hard hits. He can read the quarterback and nab interceptions, too. Then he’ll settle down in nickel coverage and take care of shifty receivers like Wes Welker .
The former third overall draft pick is a stud. He fell in the draft due to off-field issues but proved to be an athletic gold mine. And he has since eradicated his off the field issues. If it weren’t for Patrick Peterson, he’d be the punt returner, too. His coach has high praise for the youngster.
“He meant a lot to us because of his flexibility and his positions,” coach Bruce Arians said back in Dec. 2013. “It will take two guys to take his place.”
8. New England Patriots’ Rob Gronkowski
Gronkowski is a man with the body of a tight end yet he has the speed and agility of most wide receivers. The Patriots can use him as a in-line blocker. They can send him on a seam route from a three-point stance. He’s effective from the slot and as a wideout. In short, there’s nothing that he can’t doing from a receiving perspective. And it’s why those who try to defend him as a tight end fail. On the other hand, defend him like a wide receiver and you’re toast, too.
He’s a physical chess match every play. Match his speed and agility, and he’ll come at you with strength and size — and vice versa.
He’s only at eight on this list because he’s a shell of his former self. It doesn’t mean that over the course of the season, he won’t sky rocket upwards. He has the potential to be the most productive hybrid player in the league. It’s just that we haven’t seen it from since his string of injuries. He and Tom Brady have been out of sorts.
7. Minnesota Vikings’ Cordarrelle Patterson
Mini-Harvin isn’t that mini. The 6-foot-2, 220 pound hybrid should draw all the comparisons to Harvin, because they are both hybrids. Harvin played for the Vikings (sometimes), and Patterson is growing into a dynamo for the Vikings. Still, Harvin is better — right now, he’s a lot better.
Patterson is more of a position-less player rather than a hybrid — meaning instead of fitting the role of many positions, he fits none. He’s a big play waiting to happen. But he’s a jack of all trades and a master of none. He’s not built to be a running back but is effective carrying the ball. He can’t run the routes that a wide receiver should. Harvin, on the other hand, can do that — which is why he’s yet to come on this list.
Patterson, like Gronk, has the potential to skyrocket up this list. He’s bigger, faster, stronger and probably more durable than Harvin. If he can find a way to apply that insane athleticism to as many positions as possible, he will be one of the NFL’s most dangerous weapons.
Oh, yeah and he’s not bad in special teams, either.
6. Philadelphia Eagles’ Jason Kelce
Just because Kelce has played center for the duration of his pro career, doesn’t mean he can’t play elsewhere. The college standout played left guard at Cincinnati, and if you’ve seen the way he runs around the field, you’d know that he is physically capable of playing linebacker, too — which was one of his positions in college.
“A big part of offensive football today is matchups,” said center Jason Kelce said back in August. “If you can get a good one-on-one matchup or a good matchup with a receiver on a safety or a tight end on a linebacker, we’re going to take advantage of that.”
And when you’re a defensive tackle matching up against Kelce — or a middle linebacker for that matter. Look at the fat man run!
5. Seattle Seahawks’ Michael Bennett
Michael Bennett is a pure defensive lineman. He’s is to the line like Matthieu is to the secondary. It doesn’t matter where you put him on the line. He can do his job. Don’t bother scratching your head over whether he’s a defensive tackle or a defensive end. The Seahawks use him as both — because he’s really, really good at both. In two games this season, he’s already got three sacks. In 2013, he had 9.5. In 2013, he had 9. For someone who is required to play everywhere and do everything on the line, that’s very solid. But much of his impact is left off the stat sheet.
As the NFL implements a greater use of mobile quarterbacks, players like Bennett become paramount. He can seal the pocket from the outside and disrupt it from the inside. He’s got six forced fumbles in the last four years and 107 tackles in his career. Bennett is a do-it-all kind of defender.
4. Philadelphia Eagles’ Darren Sproles
He is fun to watch, isn’t he? And boy do I wish that I had him on my fantasy team. When I heard he was heading to Chip Kelly’s system I couldn’t wait to see the result. And there he is, playing better than the Eagles’ lead back, LeSean McCoy. Sproles is averaging just over 10 yards per touch. McCoy has averaged a comparatively meager 3.7 yards per carry and 4.1 yards per touch. Sproles has been an absolute, explosive nightmare for teams.
The 5-foot-6 utility man can return anything you kick, punt and throw at him. He’s the most creative player with open space. He makes finding the end zone an art, and he paints his course down to the end of the field in paint strokes.
3. New Orleans Saints’ Jimmy Graham
Graham looks like he’s still playing basketball on the NFL field. The outside-the-box thinking is what the Saints needed, because he scores an exorbitant number of touchdowns. He turns defenders into head cases trying to figure out how to stop him. His most comparable counterpart is Calvin Johnson from an athletic and physical standpoint, but Graham a bit slower and taller. The NFL may have ruled him as a tight end, but some might say that Graham is a pure receiver. I’d say he’s neither. He’s a Zebra. Because of the way he looks and moves, he simply can’t be a wide receiver — even though he lines up at every wide receiver position. He also can takes snaps as an in-line blocker but he’s rarely asked to do so.
He’s a pass-catcher. That’s his specialty. Line him up anywhere, throw the ball near his body and he’ll got up and get the rebound — or catch. He’s most dangerous in the redone, which makes him invaluable for Drew Brees.
As far as athletes go, he’s fantastic. As far as hybrids go, he’s excellent but doesn’t make the impact at multiple positions like the plays upcoming on this list.
2. Seattle Seahawks’ Percy Harvin
Harvin is a headache for defensive coordinators — and himself. The hybrid player gets migraines and injuries galore, so he has trouble staying on the field. When he’s present, you know it. The Seahawks make sure to use him in every creative way possible. He’s running jet sweeps like a it’s no sweat. Paterson and Harvin are making that play once of the most indefensible in football. Harvin has developed into a wicked route runner, and he often leaves defensive backs dusted with broken ankles.
In three of Harvin’s first four years in the league, he had a touchdown rushing, receiving and returning. His rookie year, he failed to score a rushing touchdown but managed to make up for it with eight combined touchdowns receiving and returning.
He changed the complexion of the Super Bowl last year, and was in consideration for the MVP. The guy is unstoppable, because there’s no one quite like him. And in turn, no one can matchup up with him on defense.
1. Houston Texans’ J.J. Wattt
The $100 million dollar has everything that he wants. He’s got talent, production, fame and money. Yet, when he signed the contract extension, he woke up early for a workout in the gym — at 4 a.m. That’s what impressed everyone about Watt when he was coming out of the draft. He was a try-hard. But now that’s over-simplistic. He’s a meat-and-potatoes player sometimes. Then he’s suddenly slinking around the field like a cat, which makes no sense because he’s 6-foot-5 and 295 pound.
He’s the best defensive lineman in the league — probably the best defensive player. He plays defensive end, generally as a run defender. Then he moves inside to the rush the passer. But he can do both from either position better than almost anyone in the league.
He’s lined up at wide receiver in the Pro Bowl. He scored a touchdown as a tight end on Sunday against the Raiders. J.J. Watt may be most commonly referred to as a defensive end. But he’s really the NFL’s best hybrid player.
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