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Super Bowl XLIX - Ranking every player for Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots - ESPN
By Mike Sando and Matt Williamson
The biggest game of the NFL season requires a ranking that can match it in its intensity. So, as we have for the past several years, we have gone through the 53-man rosters of both Super Bowl participants and ranked every player 1-106.
Note that this is not a list of the most valuable players, although that naturally seeps into the perceptions of these players. Instead, this is a list of the best players overall, regardless of position. That's why our top five doesn't include either Tom Brady or Russell Wilson.
Who will be the best players on the field for Super Bowl XLIX? Here is our ranking of every player on the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks. While Seattle occupies six of the top 10 spots, the top overall player belongs to New England.
1. Rob Gronkowski, TE, Patriots: With all due respect to Tony Gonzalez, Gronkowski is on pace to become the greatest tight end of all time. He's a playmaker and matchup nightmare as a pass-catcher and is also an outstanding blocker. The Pats go as Gronk goes, which arguably makes him the most important player on the field Feb. 1, in addition to being the best.
2. Marshawn Lynch, RB, Seahawks: Lynch could easily rank No. 1 on this list. Counting playoffs, he leads the NFL in yards per carry after contact (2.55) and is a complete back (runner, receiver, blocker) with the versatility to produce at a high level regardless of the formation or even the blocking. Defensive players get tired of seeing him late in games.
3. Earl Thomas, FS, Seahawks: Seattle's coverage schemes work so well in part because Thomas has the speed to cover the field. As Thomas has become more experienced, he has filtered out negative plays from his game without losing the "splash" plays that make him special. Thomas forced a career-high three fumbles this season. He has a shoulder injury but has never missed a game in five seasons.
4. Richard Sherman, CB, Seahawks: Sherman has picked off 22 passes in 55 regular-season and postseason games over the past three seasons. No one else has more than 13 picks over that span (Thomas is tied for seventh with 11 INTs over the same 55-game run). Sherman improved his tackling this season, becoming a better player in run support as opposing quarterbacks tested him only sparingly. And when Aaron Rodgers threw his way in the NFC title game, Sherman made him pay. An elbow injury is a potential concern.
5. Darrelle Revis, CB, Patriots: Revis' presence in New England has allowed the Patriots to go to a heavy man-to-man coverage scheme, because few (if any) corners in the league cover receivers one-on-one as well as Revis, who ranked just behind Sherman at No. 4 overall in Pro Football Focus' cornerback rankings. He should end up in Canton some day.
6. Tom Brady, QB, Patriots: Speaking of Canton, Brady is obviously a lock for the Hall of Fame. After some early-season struggles, he is back to playing his usual great football. Having Gronkowski back at full strength has been a huge help for him this season. Brady finished fourth in the NFL in Total QBR this season.
7. Michael Bennett, DE, Seahawks: This is the same spot (seventh) where Bennett ranked in the Super Bowl roster rankings from last season. Bennett finished the 2014 regular season ranked behind only Cameron Wake in Pro Football Focus' grading for 4-3 defensive ends. He was third rushing the passer and first against the run. Only an unusually low grade for penalties prevented him from overtaking Wake for the top spot.
8. Russell Wilson, QB, Seahawks: Wilson is coming off the first four-interception game of his NFL career, but the way he played against Green Bay in the fourth quarter and overtime showed why he ranks so high on this list. Wilson typically protects the football so that Seattle can play to its strengths on defense and in the running game. Always a dual-threat player, Wilson showed late in the season an ability to connect with receivers on timing passes from inside the pocket.
9. Kam Chancellor, SS, Seahawks: Chancellor does for the Seattle defense what Lynch does for the Seattle offense. He gives it a nasty, physical edge that opponents must respect. The Seahawks' defensive performance fell off earlier in the season when Chancellor was dealing with injury. Chancellor has successfully adapted his game to comply with player-safety rules, without losing his ferocity.
10. Devin McCourty, S, Patriots: Just a notch below the Seahawks' Thomas, McCourty is an exceptional deep-middle player who cleans up the errors of the 10 men in front of him while also creating big plays. He is the eighth-ranked safety according to PFF this season.
11. Jamie Collins, LB, Patriots: A 2013 second-round pick out of Southern Miss, Collins is a freak athlete who is really only just scratching the surface of what he could be. New England asks him to perform many tasks on defense and he is able to handle everything thrown at him, recording 116 tackles, four sacks and two INTs this season. Collins is on the cusp of greatness.
12. Bobby Wagner, LB, Seahawks: Wagner's return from a toe injury has been key for Seattle this season. The Seahawks allowed 4.5 yards per play, 3.4 yards per carry and a 36 percent conversion rate on third down during the 752 snaps when Wagner was on the field. Opponents averaged 5.1 yards per play, 4.0 yards per carry and 41.7 percent on third down across the 304 snaps when Wagner was off the field. It should add up to a contract extension for Wagner as early as the coming offseason.
13. Sebastian Vollmer, T, Patriots: The Patriots' offensive line has struggled quite a bit this season, but Vollmer has been far and away their best and most consistent member of the front five. He helped cover for some of his peers' mistakes earlier in the season, and now this unit is functioning at a much higher level.
14. Cliff Avril, DE, Seahawks: Avril's addition from Detroit in free agency in March 2013 has been critical for the Seahawks' pass rush. He ranks seventh in PFF pass-rush grading for 4-3 defensive ends. His memorable bull rush against Denver in the Super Bowl last season set up teammate Malcolm Smith for a pick-six interception that helped Smith become MVP of the game.
15. Max Unger, C, Seahawks: Unger missed 10 regular-season games to injury this season. Lynch has averaged 5.2 yards per carry on 149 rushes when Unger was in the game, compared to 4.4 yards per carry on 170 rushes when Unger was not in the game. He's relatively healthy now, though, and a two-week layoff before the Super Bowl should only help him.
16. Russell Okung, T, Seahawks: Okung started 14 regular-season games and both playoff games, a big improvement from last season. He ranked only 36th out of 84 qualifying tackles in PFF grading (he was eighth as recently as 2012), but having him healthy is a big deal for Seattle's below-average line.
17. Dont'a Hightower, LB, Patriots: He isn't as athletic as his teammate Collins, but he is also asked to do quite a bit in the Patriots' scheme. Hightower is a foundation player for New England's defense, and never comes off the field.
18. K.J. Wright, LB, Seahawks: Rangy three-down linebackers have value. That is why Seattle extended Wright's contract during the season. He was sixth among 4-3 outside linebackers in PFF grading.
19. Chandler Jones, DE, Patriots: Jones is a little up and down, but he has loads of ability and is the Patriots' best pass-rusher. If he can put it all together, he would quickly rank among the best defensive ends in the league.
20. Vince Wilfork, DT, Patriots:
Wilfork isn't the force he once was, but he remains a formidable man in the middle of New England's defense. The Pats also have been moving him around the formation quite a bit of late.
21. Byron Maxwell, CB, Seahawks: Maxwell, who picked off Rodgers on Sunday, is without a contract for the 2015 season and it's unclear how much the Seahawks will want to pay him after investing heavily in their defense. A strong Super Bowl could set him up nicely in free agency.
22. Rob Ninkovich, LB, Patriots: Ninkovich is a such a Bill Belichick-type of defensive player. He has a nonstop motor, is versatile and does everything asked of him every week.
23. Nate Solder, T, Patriots: This has been a down year for Solder, but the former tight end is very athletic (did you see his touchdown in the AFC title game?) and is a proven blindside protector for Brady. A lot will be asked of him against Seattle.
24. Julian Edelman, WR, Patriots: Edelman has capably replaced Wes Welker as Brady's go-to target in the slot, but Edelman also will regularly line up outside the numbers. He is a chain-mover.
25. Bruce Irvin, LB, Seahawks: Irvin ranked 11th among 4-3 outside linebackers in PFF grading. He isn't the dominant pass-rusher Seattle hoped to get when it made Irvin the 15th player drafted in 2012, but Irvin is still a valuable player for the Seahawks.
****They actually ranked all 106 players in the Super Bowl. I'm just putting the top 25 players. If you have a question about a player. just ask.
By Mike Sando and Matt Williamson
The biggest game of the NFL season requires a ranking that can match it in its intensity. So, as we have for the past several years, we have gone through the 53-man rosters of both Super Bowl participants and ranked every player 1-106.
Note that this is not a list of the most valuable players, although that naturally seeps into the perceptions of these players. Instead, this is a list of the best players overall, regardless of position. That's why our top five doesn't include either Tom Brady or Russell Wilson.
Who will be the best players on the field for Super Bowl XLIX? Here is our ranking of every player on the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks. While Seattle occupies six of the top 10 spots, the top overall player belongs to New England.
1. Rob Gronkowski, TE, Patriots: With all due respect to Tony Gonzalez, Gronkowski is on pace to become the greatest tight end of all time. He's a playmaker and matchup nightmare as a pass-catcher and is also an outstanding blocker. The Pats go as Gronk goes, which arguably makes him the most important player on the field Feb. 1, in addition to being the best.
2. Marshawn Lynch, RB, Seahawks: Lynch could easily rank No. 1 on this list. Counting playoffs, he leads the NFL in yards per carry after contact (2.55) and is a complete back (runner, receiver, blocker) with the versatility to produce at a high level regardless of the formation or even the blocking. Defensive players get tired of seeing him late in games.
3. Earl Thomas, FS, Seahawks: Seattle's coverage schemes work so well in part because Thomas has the speed to cover the field. As Thomas has become more experienced, he has filtered out negative plays from his game without losing the "splash" plays that make him special. Thomas forced a career-high three fumbles this season. He has a shoulder injury but has never missed a game in five seasons.
4. Richard Sherman, CB, Seahawks: Sherman has picked off 22 passes in 55 regular-season and postseason games over the past three seasons. No one else has more than 13 picks over that span (Thomas is tied for seventh with 11 INTs over the same 55-game run). Sherman improved his tackling this season, becoming a better player in run support as opposing quarterbacks tested him only sparingly. And when Aaron Rodgers threw his way in the NFC title game, Sherman made him pay. An elbow injury is a potential concern.
5. Darrelle Revis, CB, Patriots: Revis' presence in New England has allowed the Patriots to go to a heavy man-to-man coverage scheme, because few (if any) corners in the league cover receivers one-on-one as well as Revis, who ranked just behind Sherman at No. 4 overall in Pro Football Focus' cornerback rankings. He should end up in Canton some day.
6. Tom Brady, QB, Patriots: Speaking of Canton, Brady is obviously a lock for the Hall of Fame. After some early-season struggles, he is back to playing his usual great football. Having Gronkowski back at full strength has been a huge help for him this season. Brady finished fourth in the NFL in Total QBR this season.
7. Michael Bennett, DE, Seahawks: This is the same spot (seventh) where Bennett ranked in the Super Bowl roster rankings from last season. Bennett finished the 2014 regular season ranked behind only Cameron Wake in Pro Football Focus' grading for 4-3 defensive ends. He was third rushing the passer and first against the run. Only an unusually low grade for penalties prevented him from overtaking Wake for the top spot.
8. Russell Wilson, QB, Seahawks: Wilson is coming off the first four-interception game of his NFL career, but the way he played against Green Bay in the fourth quarter and overtime showed why he ranks so high on this list. Wilson typically protects the football so that Seattle can play to its strengths on defense and in the running game. Always a dual-threat player, Wilson showed late in the season an ability to connect with receivers on timing passes from inside the pocket.
9. Kam Chancellor, SS, Seahawks: Chancellor does for the Seattle defense what Lynch does for the Seattle offense. He gives it a nasty, physical edge that opponents must respect. The Seahawks' defensive performance fell off earlier in the season when Chancellor was dealing with injury. Chancellor has successfully adapted his game to comply with player-safety rules, without losing his ferocity.
10. Devin McCourty, S, Patriots: Just a notch below the Seahawks' Thomas, McCourty is an exceptional deep-middle player who cleans up the errors of the 10 men in front of him while also creating big plays. He is the eighth-ranked safety according to PFF this season.
11. Jamie Collins, LB, Patriots: A 2013 second-round pick out of Southern Miss, Collins is a freak athlete who is really only just scratching the surface of what he could be. New England asks him to perform many tasks on defense and he is able to handle everything thrown at him, recording 116 tackles, four sacks and two INTs this season. Collins is on the cusp of greatness.
12. Bobby Wagner, LB, Seahawks: Wagner's return from a toe injury has been key for Seattle this season. The Seahawks allowed 4.5 yards per play, 3.4 yards per carry and a 36 percent conversion rate on third down during the 752 snaps when Wagner was on the field. Opponents averaged 5.1 yards per play, 4.0 yards per carry and 41.7 percent on third down across the 304 snaps when Wagner was off the field. It should add up to a contract extension for Wagner as early as the coming offseason.
13. Sebastian Vollmer, T, Patriots: The Patriots' offensive line has struggled quite a bit this season, but Vollmer has been far and away their best and most consistent member of the front five. He helped cover for some of his peers' mistakes earlier in the season, and now this unit is functioning at a much higher level.
14. Cliff Avril, DE, Seahawks: Avril's addition from Detroit in free agency in March 2013 has been critical for the Seahawks' pass rush. He ranks seventh in PFF pass-rush grading for 4-3 defensive ends. His memorable bull rush against Denver in the Super Bowl last season set up teammate Malcolm Smith for a pick-six interception that helped Smith become MVP of the game.
15. Max Unger, C, Seahawks: Unger missed 10 regular-season games to injury this season. Lynch has averaged 5.2 yards per carry on 149 rushes when Unger was in the game, compared to 4.4 yards per carry on 170 rushes when Unger was not in the game. He's relatively healthy now, though, and a two-week layoff before the Super Bowl should only help him.
16. Russell Okung, T, Seahawks: Okung started 14 regular-season games and both playoff games, a big improvement from last season. He ranked only 36th out of 84 qualifying tackles in PFF grading (he was eighth as recently as 2012), but having him healthy is a big deal for Seattle's below-average line.
17. Dont'a Hightower, LB, Patriots: He isn't as athletic as his teammate Collins, but he is also asked to do quite a bit in the Patriots' scheme. Hightower is a foundation player for New England's defense, and never comes off the field.
18. K.J. Wright, LB, Seahawks: Rangy three-down linebackers have value. That is why Seattle extended Wright's contract during the season. He was sixth among 4-3 outside linebackers in PFF grading.
19. Chandler Jones, DE, Patriots: Jones is a little up and down, but he has loads of ability and is the Patriots' best pass-rusher. If he can put it all together, he would quickly rank among the best defensive ends in the league.
20. Vince Wilfork, DT, Patriots:
Wilfork isn't the force he once was, but he remains a formidable man in the middle of New England's defense. The Pats also have been moving him around the formation quite a bit of late.
21. Byron Maxwell, CB, Seahawks: Maxwell, who picked off Rodgers on Sunday, is without a contract for the 2015 season and it's unclear how much the Seahawks will want to pay him after investing heavily in their defense. A strong Super Bowl could set him up nicely in free agency.
22. Rob Ninkovich, LB, Patriots: Ninkovich is a such a Bill Belichick-type of defensive player. He has a nonstop motor, is versatile and does everything asked of him every week.
23. Nate Solder, T, Patriots: This has been a down year for Solder, but the former tight end is very athletic (did you see his touchdown in the AFC title game?) and is a proven blindside protector for Brady. A lot will be asked of him against Seattle.
24. Julian Edelman, WR, Patriots: Edelman has capably replaced Wes Welker as Brady's go-to target in the slot, but Edelman also will regularly line up outside the numbers. He is a chain-mover.
25. Bruce Irvin, LB, Seahawks: Irvin ranked 11th among 4-3 outside linebackers in PFF grading. He isn't the dominant pass-rusher Seattle hoped to get when it made Irvin the 15th player drafted in 2012, but Irvin is still a valuable player for the Seahawks.
****They actually ranked all 106 players in the Super Bowl. I'm just putting the top 25 players. If you have a question about a player. just ask.
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