Synergistic Player Combos

[mayoclinic]

There are lots of needs to be filled in the draft: EDGE, OT, LB, S, TE, WR.

We will not fill them all.

Instead of spreading across as many needs as possible, what about focusing on 1 or 2 areas and making it a position of overload/dominance? What kind of players combos might create such dominant groups? Which combos would have a synergistic effect? Would this possibly be worth ignoring some other areas of need?

Here are some of my favorites:

1. DL overload: Akheem Mesidor + Caleb Banks. Total pressure and overload, in addition to what we already have. Kayden McDonald, TJ Parker, Malachi Lawrence, Gabe Jacas, DDS, Keyron Crawford and Lee Hunter are alternates, but Banks and Mesidor would create a supremely disruptive defensive front.

2. OL overload. Max Iheanachor/Blake Miller + Keylan Rutledge. Incredible athleticism and violence.

3. Blitz overload.Jake Golday + Keionte Scott. Both these guys can create havoc blitzing and in coverage. Like having Jamie Collins + Devon Witherspoon. Pressure does not have to come from the DL alone.

4. TE overload. Sam Roush/Will Kacmarek + Eli Stowers/Oscar Delp.

5. Physical skill players. Some combination of Sam Roush + Chris Bell + Mike Washington. Guys who can punish defenders and also make big plays.

6. 2nd/3rd level versatility overload. Treydan Stukes + Kyle Louis. So many ways to disguise coverage and wreak havoc.

7. Secondary overload. Treydan Stukes + Keionte Scott + Devin Moore. CJ Demmings, Ephesians Prysock and VJ Payne other options. A dominant secondary can lead to Lombardi trophies (2013 Seahawks, 2014 Patriots).

8. LB overload. Jake Golday/Jacob Rodriguez/CJ Allen + Kyle Louis/Kaleb Elarms-Orr.

Dominant units win championships, not above-average units across the board. The 2007 and 2011 Giants DL, for example.

Not all of these will be achievable, but this draft will be very unpredictable. It's good to be open to possibilities. Chance favors the prepared mind.

Any favorites? Other suggestions? RLKAG?

 

[OldEngland]

Been playing with BPA mocks for a while now so really enjoyed this post. Like your options 1), 2), 5) and 6), they would make the spine of a great draft. Ones I've noted when I've been playing around with consensus and PFSN include:

1) 2nd level upgrade. I've had Rodrigeuz and Scott as 1/2 in a few mocks recently as a second level upgrade. Improve the weakness in tight end and running back coverage, with players who excel against the run and who can blitz. Both of those two play quick as well, defence would be nasty given the DL and DBs. Even got DDS in the 3rd on some mocks with this.

2) Same as your OL revamp. Miller or Iheunachor and Rutledge /Dunker /Farmer/ Wright. It does nothing for 26 though and I do wonder what Onwenu and Moses would think knowing the entire right side of the line is going to be replaced in 27. Rutledge seems to be moving up beyond 63 as well which is a shame as him and Iheunachor would be a mean right side.

3). Maye targets. Maybe more controversial, but a WR double dip is another given only Doubs, Williams and Chism are signed for 27. Concepcion and Hurst as 1/2 would be wild; or Bell and Cyrus Allen/Heidenreich, but there are a dozen combinations you could pick given the WR depth in this draft. A WR/recieving TE would also work.

 

[mayoclinic]

My getting greedy combos:

A.
31. Max Iheanachor, OT
63. Jake Golday, LB
3. Best available EDGE (DDS preferred)
4. Best available TE (Sam Roush preferred)
4-6. Double up at TE

A trade up may be required in the 3rd or 4th rounds

A strong EDGE prospect combined with a versatile LB like Golday who can also be a situational pass rusher.

B.
31. Max Iheanachor, OT
63. Keylan Rutledge, IOL (alternate: Emmanuel Pregnon)
3. Best available EDGE (DDS preferred)
4. Best available TE (Sam Roush preferred)
4-6. Double up at TE

A trade up may be required in the 3rd or 4th rounds

A variant of the above, but doubling up on OL. OL rebuild would be completed in 2026, Mike Onwenu cut or traded.

 

[manxman2601]

2. OL overload. Max Iheanachor/Blake Miller + Keylan Rutledge. Incredible athleticism and violence.

Keylan Rutledge + Travis Burke might be the most violent option available on the OL.

 

[mayoclinic]

Keylan Rutledge + Travis Burke might be the most violent option available on the OL.

Yes, though Rutledge + Iheanachor far more nimble, and Iheanachor plenty violent.

 

[stelfans]

I really like 1 but as you say could be with other players. Im all for some combination of Jacas and Kaleb Proctor for example.
2 and 3 are my favorites.

 

[mayoclinic]

I played with 2 (greedy combo B) in my Offseason Plan thread.

It has a very low probability of happening but imagine our first 4 beings being:

31. Max Iheanachor
63. Keylan Rutledge
*** Trade 95 and 131 to Miami for 87
87. EDGE: DDS/Keyron Crawford/Derrick Moore
125. TE: Sam Roush/Oscar Delp/Eli Rarodon/Will Kacmarek

Then you fill in the holes with 171, 191, 198, 202, 212, 247 and UDFAs.

Finally, trade for AJ Brown if not ridiculously exorbitant.

The offense wpuld be 90% done, including QB, OL, WR. Maybe a 2027 TE and RB.

Defense would be a focus for 2027. Jelani McDonald and Ben Edwards, please.

 

[manxman2601]

Just thinking about player combos driven by who we pick in the first.

1. Edge rusher

Nothing obvious. I think going edge rusher in the first allows us a luxury pick in the 2nd with no obvious RT available.

2. RT

For me it has to be Keyron Crawford in the 2nd.

3. Keylan Rutledge

A sneaky favourite option. Pick Travis Burke in the 3rd and have the meanest right side of the OL.

4. WR

My least favourite option in light of the likely trade for Brown. I'd be looking at Crawford again in the 2nd.