A 3-Way Fantasy Draft Produces Definitive All-Decade Team
A 3-Way Fantasy Draft Produces Definitive All-Decade Team
With the 2019 season in the books, every football website, expert and organization will be coming up with their own version of the All-Decade Team for the 2010s. A quick Google search produced lists for CBS Sports, Sports Illustrated, NFL.com, Sporting News, the Athletic, and Yardbarker. At Inside the Hashes, we wanted to try our hands at creating an All-Decade Team, but with a twist. Instead of one reporter making a subjective list, we decided to use three and use a fantasy draft format to guarantee all the top names find their way into the conversation.
The draft was conducted over the past two weeks and the rules were simple: 1) The draft would snake by position, making sure all the spots got covered (in a 1-2-3, 3-2-1 format); 2) Players would have to be taken at their primary positions, except for returners (so Cameron Wake and Chandler Jones were defensive ends and Von Miller, DeMarcus Ware and Khalil Mack were linebackers); and 3) We had flex spots on both offense and defense, giving us even more flexibility with our potential lineups. We have included a rationale behind each one of our picks. Who had the best draft? Did we leave anyone off? Let the debate begin!
1. Richie QB - Tom Brady- For the first pick, it was hard to take anyone besides Brady, who not only would make the All-Decade team but the All-Century team, too. In his career, Brady has 541 touchdowns to only 179 interceptions in 20 seasons. He also has six Super Bowl wins, and many consider him the greatest of all-time. After a subpar season, there has been speculation he may leave the Patriots. Whether or not he stays, Brady will still go down as one of the greatest players to ever play this game.
2. Micah QB - Aaron Rodgers - It wasn’t hard to take arguably the most talented quarterback in NFL history at number two. A two-time MVP, Rodgers could have taken the top spot if not for Brady’s brilliant 2017 campaign. Rodgers is also the owner of, in my opinion, the most spectacular season all-time at the position in 2011, as his single-season passer rating record (122.5) still stands. He also collected a Super Bowl MVP in the first year of the decade and has been to three NFC championships since then.
3. Kevin QB - Drew Brees - I guess my consolation prize for getting the third pick is a player who holds the all-time record for most passing yards and touchdowns. Brees hit the 4,000-yard mark eight times and made nine Pro Bowls in the decade.
4. Kevin RB - LeSean McCoy - “Shady” is the decade’s top rusher with 10,434 yards, and he ranks second with 69 touchdowns (Adrian Peterson is first with 71). The six-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro was also a receiving threat out of the backfield, amassing 434 catches with the Eagles, Bills and Chiefs.
5. Micah RB – Adrian Peterson - Not sure why Peterson is still on the board, but I’ll take him any day of the week and twice on Sundays. The 2012 and ’15 rushing champion amassed more than 9,700 rushing yards this decade, even with seasons taken away due to suspension or injury. In 2012, he dragged the Vikings to the playoffs with a legendary 2,097-yard season, and he was still wildly effective six years later as a 33-year-old, rushing for 1,000 yards in Washington.
6. Richie RB - Ezekiel Elliott- While one of the more modern guys in this draft, Elliott has arguably been the best running back in football since his first carry. In four seasons, “Zeke” has been the rushing champion twice and has gone over 1,300 rushing yards in three of his four seasons. The only year he didn’t was when he got suspended, and even then he had 987 yards in 10 games. Throw in a massive contract and no signs of slowing down, and Zeke is definitely a safe pick here.
7. Richie WR1 - Julio Jones- This was a tough choice, but Jones has been in the conversation as the best receiver in football since 2011, and he quietly dominates every year. In nine seasons, Jones has played in 13 or more games in eight of those, and has a total of 797 catches for 12,125 yards and 57 touchdowns. He also passed Calvin Johnson as the fastest receiver to reach 10,000 yards, reaching the mark in 104 games to Johnson’s 115. Jones has also led the league in receiving yards twice, receptions once, and yards per game three times. A lock for the Hall of Fame, Jones deserves to be the first receiver taken off this board.
8. Micah WR1 - Antonio Brown – He would likely be the consensus top receiver on the official All-Decade team if not for a nightmare of a 2019 season. Before his career flatlined, he was in the midst of one of the most dominant stretches in NFL history. In a six-season span from 2013-2018, Brown never recorded less than 1,284 receiving yards or 101 receptions in a year. It’s disappointing that the elite trio of Brown, Le’Veon Bell and Ben Roethlisberger could never make it out of the AFC.
9. Kevin WR1 - Calvin Johnson - He only played through the 2015 season, but Johnson put up ridiculous numbers with the Lions. “Megatron” had more than 1,000 yards receiving in each of his six seasons in the decade, and he led the league with 1,681 yards (along with 16 touchdowns) in 2011, then set the NFL single-season record with 1,964 yards the following year. The six-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro totaled 538 receptions, 8,548 yards and 62 scores in this decade.
10. Kevin WR2 - Larry Fitzgerald - “Larry Legend” just signed on for his 17th NFL season, and he is Arizona’s all-time leader in all major categories at the position. He also ranks second in NFL history in catches and yards, and sits sixth in receiving touchdowns. Fitzgerald has amassed 855 receptions, 10,016 yards and 61 scores in the decade while making six Pro Bowl appearances and helping the Cardinals reach the 2015 NFC Championship Game.
11. Micah WR2 - DeAndre Hopkins - It was a little difficult choosing between Hopkins, AJ Green, and Odell Beckham Jr., but three consecutive first-team All-Pro selections to close out the decade gives Hopkins the edge. Even before Deshaun Watson arrived in H-town, he was producing gaudy numbers with quarterbacks like Brian Hoyer and Brock Osweiler throwing the ball to him.
12. Richie WR2 - AJ Green - Many people forget how good AJ Green actually was before injuries started to plague his career. Like Micah said, it was a toss up between him and Beckham, and I felt that Green has been more consistent for a longer period of time. In eight seasons, Green has reeled in 602 passes for 8,907 yards and 63 trips to the end zone, which is more than Julio Jones. Green missed the entire 2019 season due to injury. He is set to be a free agent, and it should be interested to see where Green plays next year.
13. Richie TE - Rob Gronkowski - Having the first choice at tight end made this pick extremely quick and easy for me, as Gronkowski has dominated the position from 2010 all the way until his retirement in 2018. “Gronk” is a five-time Pro Bowler, a four-time All-Pro, and was part of three Super Bowl-winning Patriots teams. In nine seasons, he had a whopping 79 touchdowns, 7,861 yards, and 521 catches. Unfortunately, injuries cut Gronk’s great career short, but he is still head over heels above every other tight end in this decade.
14. Micah TE - Travis Kelce - After a knee injury robbed him of his rookie season, Kelce has been on an absolute roll. He was never and will never be as dominant as Gronkowski in his prime, but he holds the distinction of being the only tight end to record four consecutive 1,000 yard seasons. The four-time All-Pro recently spearheaded the Chiefs’ 24-point playoff comeback with three third-quarter touchdowns against the Texans in the Division Round, and scored a touchdown in Kansas City’s win in Super Bowl LIV.
15. Kevin TE - Jimmy Graham - George Kittle set the single-season position record with 1,377 yards in 2018, put he has only played three seasons. Graham is a five-time Pro Bowler and was an All-Pro, when he led the NFL with 16 touchdowns and had one of his two 1,000-yard seasons. His totals are impressive: 649 catches, 7,883 yards and 74 scores in 10 years with the Saints, Seahawks and Packers.
16. Kevin O-FLEX - Marshawn Lynch (RB) - This flex spot gives us the typical fantasy football option of adding either an extra running back, wide receiver or tight end, and the choice here was obvious for me. Lynch had four straight fantastic seasons (at least 1,200 yards and double-digit touchdowns from 2011-14 with Seattle). He ranked third in the decade with 68 rushing touchdowns and fourth with 7,812 yards. Lynch was a part of two Seahawks Super Bowl teams (which could have both been wins had he gotten the ball at the end against the Patriots).
17. Micah O-FLEX - Todd Gurley (RB) - While Gurley’s prime isn’t comparable to that of some others on this list, he was easily the league’s top back until knee problems limited his effectiveness. He ran for more than 1,100 yards in an injury-shortened rookie season in 2015 before taking home Offensive Player of the Year honors two seasons later. He totaled 19 touchdowns in 2017 and 21 in ‘18, leading the Rams to Super Bowl LIII.
18. Richie O-FLEX - Jamaal Charles (RB)- Many people forget how explosive and dominant Jamaal Charles was before he got hurt. Charles was a dual-threat back that used his speed and agility to skate by defenders. In his career, Charles went over 1,700 scrimmage yards in three seasons, including 1,900 or more in two campaigns. had 10,156 scrimmage yards and 64 touchdowns in 11 seasons overall. His best season was 2013, when he had 1,980 scrimmage yards and 19 touchdowns. If it were not for injury, Charles could be putting up elite numbers.
19. Richie T1 - Joe Thomas - This decade showed some of the worst seasons to be a Cleveland Browns fan, even featuring an 0-16 season. But one bright spot through it all was Thomas who was named to 10 Pro Bowls and was selected to the All-Pro team six times in 11 seasons. Up until his final season, he had never missed a game, playing for 10 straight seasons and 167 straight games. Thomas solidified himself as one of the greatest offensive linemen in the history of the game.
20. Micah T1 - Jason Peters - The appropriately nicknamed “Bodyguard” has been protecting the blindside of Eagles QBs at an elite level for more than ten years. In this decade alone, he’s collected four All-Pro selections and been voted to six Pro Bowls.
21. Kevin T1 - Tyron Smith - He has been a stalwart on arguably the best offensive line of the decade in Dallas. Smith has been named to seven Pro Bowls and two first-team All-Pro squads while starting 131 games and playing every Cowboys offensive snap from 2013-15.
22. Kevin T2 - Mitchell Schwartz - While left tackles usually get more credit, I will go with a true right tackle here. All Schwartz has done is start all 128 games over eight seasons with Cleveland and Kansas City, and he played in every one of his team’s offensive snaps until 2019. Schwartz has not made a Pro Bowl, but he was a 2018 first-team All-Pro and earned three more second-team selections. He added a championship with the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV.
23. Micah T2 - David Bakhtiari - I was leaning towards Trent Williams, but Bakhtiari’s accolades this decade are too much to pass up. As the blindside protector for one of the All-Decade quarterbacks, Bakhtiari has been selected an All-Pro the past four years. He’s only missed six games in his seven-year NFL career.
24. Richie T2 - Trent Williams - My next pick for offensive tackle is Trent Williams, who has been one of the more consistent offensive linemen in the NFL this decade as a member of the Redskins. Williams has been named to seven Pro Bowls including every year from 2012-18. The Achilles heel on Williams is his inability to stay on the field. He played only two full seasons and missed the entire 2019 season due to a holdout because of a misdiagnosis of cancer by Washington’s medical staff. It should be interesting to see how the Redskins handle Williams’ situation next season.
25. Richie G1 - Zack Martin - One of the more slam dunk picks in this draft is Cowboys star offensive linemen Zack Martin. Martin. The former first round pick has dominated defensive linemen since he stepped foot in the NFL, clearing holes for great running backs in Demarco Murray and Ezekiel Elliott. Martin has been named to six Pro Bowls and is a four-time first-team All-Pro selection.
26. Micah G1 - Marshal Yanda - Baltimore’s loss in the divisional playoffs may have been the last time we see Yanda in the NFL. If that does end up being it, Yanda will finish as one of the best guards of this era. Spearheading a Ravens team that ranked ninth in rushing yards this decade, Yanda was elected to a ridiculous 15 combined All-Pro and Pro Bowl teams. This past season, he had just one penalty (a false start) in 971 snaps.
27. Kevin G1 - David DeCastro - He has been a stalwart on Pittsburgh’s offensive line, starting 111 games on the right side since his debut in 2012. He is a five-time Pro Bowler, a two-time All-Pro, and he helped the Steelers reach the 2016 AFC Championship Game.
28. Kevin G2 - Jahri Evans - As much as I would like to pick one player from each side of the line, I chose Evans over Logan Mankins, who had some of his better seasons before 2010, and Quenton Nelson, who appears to be destined for greatness after All-Pro selections in his first two seasons. Evans was a five-time Pro Bowler and a three-time first-team All-Pro in the early part of the decade, when he helped the Saints reach the playoffs three times. He retired in 2017 after one year in Green Bay.
29. Micah G2 - Logan Mankins - For the first half of the decade, Mankins was among the very best to suit up. He never caught that elusive Super Bowl ring (he played for the Patriots for the entirety of their nine-season Super Bowl drought), but he was selected to five Pro Bowls (including one in his final year) and four All-Pro teams in the decade.
30. Richie G2 - Mike Iupati - For my second guard, I am choosing the current Seattle Seahawks starter. Iupati, who was drafted in 2012, earned All-Pro honors as a rookie, but has not earned that recognition since. Despite this, Iupati is still one of the better guards in the NFL, and has four Pro Bowls to show for it. Besides the Seahawks, Iupati has also played for the 49ers and Cardinals.
31. Richie C - Jason Kelce - For my center, it was a toss up between Kelce and Travis Frederick. Since being drafted in 2011, the longtime Eagle is a three-time Pro Bowler, a three-time All-Pro and a Super Bowl champion. If it weren’t for Frederick missing all of the 2018 season, it could have easily went the other way. Kelce has been commanding that position in Philadelphia for a long time, but it may be over soon with rumors of a possible retirement.
32. Micah C - Travis Frederick - I badly wanted Kelce, but Frederick is a great consolation prize, having been the leader of a Cowboys offense that has yielded three rushing champions since he arrived in Dallas. He missed the entire 2018 season with an autoimmune disorder, but bounced back and made his fifth Pro Bowl this past season.
33. Kevin C - Alex Mack - He started all 16 games in 10 of 11 seasons and didn’t miss a snap over his first five years before sustaining a broken fibula 2014. Mack is a six-time Pro Bowler (three each with Cleveland and Atlanta), and he started for the Falcons against the Patriots in Super Bowl LI.
34. Kevin DE1 - J. J. Watt - There may not be a more dominating player at his position in this decade than Watt, who was a three-time Defensive Player of the Year (2012, ’14 and ’15), a five-time Pro Bowler and a five-time All-Pro. Watt had 96 sacks in the decade, including 16 or more four times and 20½ twice (2012 and ’14). His one drawback was injuries, having missed considerable time in 2016 (herniated disc in his back), ’17 (tibial plateau fracture) and ‘19 (torn pectoral muscle). Despite his injury, Watt was named the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year in 2017 after helping to raise more than $40 million in relief when Houston was hit by Hurricane Harvey.
35. Micah DE1 - Cameron Jordan - With so many of the league’s best pass rushers this decade playing the outside linebacker position, there were few quality options at the defensive end spot after Watt. Although New Orleans hasn’t fielded very good defenses over the past ten years, Jordan has been a consistently dominant force on the edge since his second season. He ranks seventh in sacks (87) since 2010.
36. Richie DE1 - Calais Campbell - One of the more underrated and consistent defensive ends is Campbell, the 2019 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year who now calls Jacksonville home. A former second-round pick in 2008, Campbell has been a force on the defensive line throughout his 12-year career. While Campbell was very good with the Cardinals, his career took off when he signed with the Jaguars in 2017. Since then, Campbell has recorded 31½ sacks and has made three straight Pro Bowls. In 2017, Campbell enjoyed an All-Pro season, recording 14½ sacks, three forced fumbles, and 67 total tackles. While the depth at defensive end is thin, Campbell is not a weak link at this position.
37. Richie DE2 - Julius Peppers - While most of his impact was before the decade, Peppers is still one of the most prolific defensive ends in this decade. He has 159½ sacks in his career, which ranks fourth all-time, and he was productive for his entire career. Since the start of the decade, Peppers made four Pro-Bowls and was named to one of his three All-Pro selections while recording 78½ sacks during this time period.
38. Micah DE2 - Chandler Jones - Very few players remain productive after leaving New England and Chandler Jones is one of them. Arguably the most underrated player in the NFL, Jones continued his streak of five consecutive seasons with double-digit sacks, recording a career-high 19 this past season. He is tied for second-place with J. J. Watt in total sacks this decade, recording 96 in just eight seasons.
39. Kevin DE2 - Cameron Wake - He spent some time as an outside linebacker, but was primarily a defensive end with the Dolphins and Titans. Wake has been selected to five Pro Bowls and was an All-Pro in 2012 after registering a career-high 15 sacks. He finished the decade with 95 sacks and 21 forced fumbles.
40. Kevin DT1 - Aaron Donald - Like Watt, this was another easy choice. Donald was the 2014 Defensive Rookie of the Year and was named Defensive Player of the Year in 2017 and ‘18. He has been selected to the Pro Bowl in each of his six seasons and earned All-Pro honors the past five. Donald has 72 sacks, including a league-leading 20½ in 2018, as well as 15 forced fumbles. He also had five tackles for the Rams in their Super Bowl LIII loss to the Patriots.
41. Micah DT1 - Ndamukong Suh - He is no longer in his prime, but when he was, he was the best defensive tackle in the game. Although numerous on-field incidents marred his image, he still made five All-Pro teams in a seven-season span from 2010-16. Suh has 58½ career sacks to his name and also once had the distinction of being the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history.
42 Richie DT1 - Geno Atkins - With a pretty deep defensive tackle list, Atkins was a tough choice to make but is definitely a very good option. Debuting in 2010, he has been a key cog in the middle of the Cincinnati Bengals defensive line for 10 seasons. Atkins has 75½ sacks, 383 tackles, and eight forced fumbles. The eight-time Pro Bowler has had double-digit sacks in three seasons, and he was selected to the All-Pro team twice.
43. Richie LB1 - Von Miller – He is one of the most dominating linebackers in the game today. In nine seasons, Miller has recorded 106 sacks, 490 tackles and 26 forced fumbles. In addition to eight Pro Bowls, three All-Pro selections, and a Defensive Rookie of the Year award, Miller also has a championship ring on his finger, winning Super Bowl 50 with the Denver Broncos and being named the game’s Most Valuable Player. Miller was definitely an easy choice, as he is one of the most dominant pass rushers of this era.
44. Micah LB1 - Luke Kuechly - As someone who favors the 4-3, I’ll take the recently retired Kuechly as my top ‘backer. Before the unexpected end to his career, he racked up 1,092 tackles, the most in the NFL this decade. He won the Defensive Rookie of the Year Award in 2012 and captured Defensive Player of the Year honors the next season. Kuechly has made the Pro Bowl every year except 2012, and he also earned five All-Pro selections. He intercepted 18 passes, forced seven fumbles and added 12½ sacks in his eight-year career.
45. Kevin LB1 - Khalil Mack - Despite only playing six years, Mack has made his mark as one of the NFL’s best pass rushers, as seen with the Raiders, who went from one of the best in that category to the worst after his trade before the 2018 season. He has 61½ sacks, including four straight years hitting double-digits (2015-18). The five-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro was also named Defensive Player of the Year in 2016 after registering 11 sacks, 73 tackles, five forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.
46. Kevin LB2 - Bobby Wagner - He has been selected to the Pro Bowl six times in eight seasons and is also a five-time All-Pro. Wagner has 1,075 tackles, making at least 100 stops every year and leading the league twice. The two-time Super Bowl participant also has 19½ sacks, 47 passes defensed, 10 interceptions and nine fumble recoveries with Seattle.
47. Micah LB2 - NaVorro Bowman - I was tempted to take one of several elite pass rushers still available, but Bowman made up half of one of the most crushing linebacker duos of all time. He was the heart of a defense that led San Francisco to three consecutive NFC Championship Game appearances. He was selected a first-team All-Pro four times.
48. Richie LB2 - Demarcus Ware - The fact that Ware is available this late in linebackers is a steal for me. The four-time All-Pro is almost a lock for the Hall of Fame, and he is one of the most special pass rushers of all-time. Ware had 138½ sacks, 35 forced fumbles and 657 total tackles in his career. Since the decade turned, Ware played seven seasons and had 65 sacks. He made his mark in Dallas, but his time in Denver was just as special, winning Super Bowl 50 and making a case to be the MVP if it wasn’t for Von Miller.
49. Richie LB3 - Patrick Willis- If it weren’t for injuries, Patrick Willis could have had an even more special career than he already had. In eight seasons, Willis had five All-Pro selections and seven Pro Bowl appearances. He totaled 950 tackles overall and led the league in 2007 and 2009. Willis was also the 2007 Defensive Rookie of the Year. It’s sad to see such a talent have a career cut short (thanks to a nagging to injury) because Willis could have been one of the best linebackers of all-time.
50. Micah LB3 - Lavonte David - One of the most underrated players of the decade, David ranks directly behind Kuechly and Wagner in tackles since 2010. He’s only made one Pro Bowl (as an alternate in 2015), but voters have taken note of him, selecting him to two All-Pro teams.
51. Kevin LB3 - Terrell Suggs - “T-Sizzle” registered 81½ sacks in the decade, including four seasons in double-figures with a high of 14 in his 2011 All-Pro season. The four-time Pro Bowler also has 12½ sacks in 20 playoff games and started with the Ravens in a Super Bowl XLVII win over the 49ers. He will play in his second Super Bowl with the Chiefs on Sunday
52. Kevin CB1 - Richard Sherman - Transformers director Michael Bay must have loved when the Lions played the Seahawks because we got a matchup of Calvin Johnson (aka “Megatron”) against Sherman, who was also known as “Optimus Prime.” The outspoken leader of Seattle’s “Legion of Boom” secondary is the NFL’s leader with 35 interceptions in the decade, including a league-leading eight in 2013. The five-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro also appeared in back-to-back Super Bowls.
53. Micah CB1 - Darrelle Revis - Although his decline came suddenly and hit hard, Revis was easily the best cornerback in the league during his prime. His interception numbers weren’t always impressive, but that can be attributed to quarterbacks completely ignoring his side of the field. “Revis Island” was a first-team All-Pro three times this decade, including 2014, when he captured his only Super Bowl ring with the Patriots.
54. Richie CB1 - Patrick Peterson - One of the more underrated corners in the NFL, Peterson has been named to eight Pro Bowls and three All-Pro teams in nine years. Before this season, he has never missed a game while anchoring the Arizona secondary. He missed six games this season due to a PED suspension, but Peterson has 25 career interceptions and 83 passes defensed and is also dangerous on punt returns.
55. Richie CB2 - Chris Harris - My next pick is another under-the-radar corner. Drafted in 2011, Harris has been a reliable option for Denver over the past nine seasons. He has 20 interceptions and 86 passes defensed over his career. To add to his accolades, Harris is a four-time Pro Bowl recipient and earned first team All-Pro honors in 2016. Harris was yet another star defender on the 2015 Denver Broncos team, which won Super Bowl 50 in Peyton Manning’s last season. With age catching up to him, Harris will look to stay consistent throughout his 30s.
56. Micah CB2 - Marcus Peters - Peters burst into the scene in 2015, snagging a ridiculous eight interceptions and winning Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. Over the next two years, he added 11 more picks, bringing his total to 19 over his first three seasons, five more than anyone else in the league during that span. His play fell off of a cliff after he failed to mesh with the Rams system in 2018, but he rejuvenated his career after being traded to Baltimore in the middle of this past season. He finished the year with a first-team All-Pro selection for the second time in his career. He’s only played half the decade, but the ballhawking Peters is tied for fourth in interceptions in that span.
57. Kevin CB2 - Stephon Gilmore - While I gave some thought to Brent Grimes at this spot, Gilmore is the best option. After five quality seasons with the Bills, Gilmore took his game to another level with the Patriots. The three-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro had 24 interceptions in the decade, including six in 2019, which tied him for the league lead. He also has 374 tackles and 111 passes defensed in his eight-year career, which also includes two Super Bowl appearances.
58. Kevin S1 - Earl Thomas - There should be no surprise that members of Seattle’s “Legion of Boom” are the best at their respective positions. I pair Sherman with Thomas, who has 30 interceptions in 10 seasons with the Seahawks and Ravens. He is a seven-time Pro Bowler, a three-time All-Pro and a two-time Super Bowl participant (in back-to-back years in the middle part of the decade). “Deuce” has also amassed 713 tackles, 71 passes defensed and 12 forced fumbles.
59. Micah S1 - Eric Weddle - It was a tough choice between the two Erics (Berry being the other), but Weddle’s longevity pushes him ahead. He started 157 games over the course of the decade, missing just three games in the 2015 season. After a nasty breakup with San Diego, he made Pro Bowls in each of the next three seasons with Baltimore. The five-time All-Pro finished the decade with 916 tackles and 25 interceptions.
60. Richie S1 - Kam Chancellor - It’s crazy to think that two of the top safeties of the decade were on the same team, but that was the case for the Seahawks, who boast both Earl Thomas and “Bam Bam Kam.” The four-time Pro Bowler drew fear into receivers coming across the middle for eight seasons, totaling 12 interceptions, 607 tackles and 44 passes defensed. In 2013, Chancellor was a part of the “Legion of Boom,” defense that dominated on its way to a 43-8 win over the Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII. The lack of longevity to his career may keep him out of the Hall of Fame, but he should still be regarded as one of the best safeties this decade.
61. Richie S2 - Devin McCourty – He is one of the few guys on the Patriots defense that has stuck around for many years. In 10 seasons, McCourty has been one of the more unheralded guys but has been a model of consistency and a leader on New England’s defense. In his career, McCourty has 26 interceptions and 86 passes defensed. He is also a two-time Pro Bowler and a three-time Super Bowl champion. McCourty, who has played with his brother, Jason, the past two seasons, is now a free agent, and it should be interesting to see if he stays with New England, or tests the market.
62. Micah S2 - Eric Berry - I was debating between Berry and Eric Weddle for my top safety spot, but turns out I was able to get both. Berry is best known for fighting to return to the gridiron after a bout with cancer, but it should also be noted that he became one of the game’s top safeties upon return. One of his three first-team All-Pro selections came in his comeback season. His 14 interceptions this decade are a bit underwhelming, but his 374 return yards off of them is extremely impressive. Berry was out of football this past season, but he’s already done enough to warrant a spot on the All-Decade team (and he’s shown interest in returning for 2020).
63. Kevin S2 - Harrison Smith - The choice here was between Smith and Cincinnati’s Reggie Nelson. I went with Smith, who is one of the hardest hitters in the league and a starter in the 2017 NFC Championship Game. Smith is a five-time Pro Bowler, a member of the 2012 All-Rookie Team and a 2017 All-Pro. He has 23 interceptions with four returned for touchdown, as well as 658 tackles, 56 passes defensed and 13 sacks.
64. Kevin D-FLEX - Fletcher Cox (DT) - The defensive flex position will allow us to choose whether we want to employ a 4-3, a 3-4 or a nickel back setup. I choose the former and select Cox, who was a champion with the Eagles in Super Bowl LII. He has gone to the past five Pro Bowls and was an All-Pro in 2018 after setting a career high with 10½ sacks. Cox joined my last pick, Smith, on the 2012 All-Rookie Team. He has totaled 48 sacks, 367 tackles, 11 forced fumbles and 11 fumble recoveries.
65. Micah D-FLEX - Gerald McCoy (DT) - To finish up my 4-3, I’ll take former Buccaneers stud Gerald McCoy. Most of his success came in the first part of the decade, but he’s still been a solid player over the latter half. McCoy racked up 38½ sacks from 2012-16, a five-season stretch in which he made four All-Pro teams and five Pro Bowls.
66. Richie D-FLEX - Haloti Ngata (DT) - To finish off my defense is tackle Haloti Ngata. Before retiring in 2018, Ngata had a storied career, mainly with the Ravens, but also with the Lions and one year with the Eagles. His career accolades include five Pro Bowls, two All-Pro selections, and a Super Bowl championship with Baltimore in 2012. He controlled the trenches for 13 years, posting 32½ sacks and 517 tackles in his career.
67. Richie K - Justin Tucker - It’s hard to go with anyone else at kicker besides Tucker. The four-time All-Pro has made 90.8 percent of his field goal attempts, which is the best in NFL history. With the game on the line, there is nobody else I’d rather take than Tucker to hit a game-winning field goal.
68. Micah K - Stephen Gostkowski - Tucker is clearly the crème de la crème of NFL kickers, but Gostkowski is as good as it gets for consolation prizes. After losing the legendary Adam Vinatieri, Gostkowski allowed New England to completely forget about the clutch kicker for the next 14 years. He boasts a field goal percentage of 88.3 since 2010, good for sixth in the NFL. He has three Super Bowl rings in addition to his two All-Pro and three Pro Bowl selections this decade. From 2007-15, he hit an NFL record 479 straight extra points (a number that balloons to more than 500 when you factor in the postseason).
69. Kevin K - Matt Bryant - My counterparts grabbed the two obvious options, so I had to choose between five potential candidates. David Akers was a two-time Pro Bowler and a 2011 All-Pro, who led the NFL in scoring twice, but played just four seasons in the decade. Greg Zuerlein was a Pro Bowler, an All-Pro and a Super Bowl participant who led the league with 158 points in 2017. Dan Bailey had seven seasons with 100 or more points and was a Pro Bowler in 2015. Matt Prater also had seven 100-point campaigns, with a high of 150 in 2013, one of his two Pro Bowl seasons (2016 was the other). Instead, I chose Bryant, who had the most points of the bunch (1,132) and was a seven-time 100-point scorer with Atlanta. He made his only Pro Bowl in 2016 when he led the NFL with 158 points and helped the Falcons reach Super Bowl LI.
70. Kevin P - Johnny Hekker - While my kicking choice was difficult, this selection was definitely easy. Hekker is a four-time Pro Bowler who has four first-team and two second-team All-Pro selections. He led the league in yards twice, punting average in 2015, and he also holds the record with a 65-yard punt in Super Bowl LIII.
71. Micah P - Brett Kern - Although he’s been in the league since 2008, Kern wasn’t considered one of the best in the game until 2017. He has made the Pro Bowl in each of the past three seasons and has been selected as an All-Pro twice. Kern was actually the first player Bill Belichick spoke about when giving his report on Tennessee before their Division Round matchup in the 2019 playoffs and he later sunk New England with a beauty of a punt near the conclusion of the game. Pat McAfee’s early retirement prevented me from selecting him here.
72. Richie P - Shane Lechler - One of the greatest punters since this century is Lechler, who played for the Oakland Raiders and the Houston Texans throughout his 18-year career. While his best seasons were before this decade, he is still one of the best. He earned seven Pro Bowl and six All-Pro selections overall, including two Pro Bowl berths and an All-Pro nod in the 2010s.
73. Richie RET - Devin Hester - While he didn’t play throughout the whole decade, it is hard to make a case for taking anyone besides Hester here. Arguably the greatest returner of all-time, Hester was a three-time All-Pro selection and four-time Pro Bowler. In his career, mostly with the Chicago Bears, Hester returned an NFL-record 19 punts and kickoffs for touchdowns. He should be a lock for the Hall of Fame when he is eligible, since there have been few returners that can do what he did.
74. Micah RET - Cordarrelle Patterson - He never lived up to his billing as a first-round receiver, but made up for it by becoming one of the most electrifying returners of all-time. The six-time All-Pro has racked up 6,110 yards throughout his seven-year career, almost exclusively on kick returns. Patterson also holds the record for the longest kickoff return touchdowns in NFL history (109 yards as a rookie in 2013).
75. Kevin RET – Andre Roberts - Much like my kicker selection, I had plenty of worthy options, including Leon Washington, Jacoby Jones, Darren Sproles, Patrick Peterson and Tyreek Hill. However, I will go with Roberts, who was dangerous despite playing for six teams in the decade. After strong seasons with the Redskins (2014), Lions (’16) and Falcons (’17), he made his first Pro Bowl and was also named a first-team All-Pro in 2018 with the Jets after leading the league with 1,174 kickoff return yards. He added 324 punt return yards and two total scores. Roberts followed that with another Pro Bowl berth in 2019 after 664 kick and 223 punt return yards with the Bills. He has 4,745 kickoff return yards and two touchdowns, as well as 1,477 punt return yards and three scores.
-By: Richie Dordas, Micah Jimoh and Kevin Rakas
Richie Dordas- Writer/Interviewer
Micah Jimoh- Writer/Interviewer
Kevin Rakas- Writer