ESPN recently ranked all 32 NFL rosters from top to bottom. To be among one of the best rosters in the league, a team had to have a franchise quarterback as well as an elite supporting cast. Hundreds of voters were asked to evaluate each team and the Seattle Seahawks ended up as the top roster in the NFL.
"Number of Players in the Top 100: 9
"Highest ranked player: CB Richard Sherman (8)
"No team had more representation in #NFLRANK than the Seahawks, as they stood above the rest with nine players (Dallas and Green Bay each had six)," ESPN NFL Insider Field Yates wrote. "'My opinion is teams with top QBs are in the race every year. But roster-wise, I always look at OL/DL and think you can fill in pieces around that but cannot do it vice versa. So my top depth teams would be: Seattle, Baltimore, Philly, Dallas,' one NFC coach said. Seattle not only has a loaded roster - with an excellent, young quarterback - but also has pieces that fit its scheme. The biggest hurdle the Seahawks might have now (aside from question marks along the offensive line) is the roster is too good. Safety Kam Chancellor remains a holdout while seeking a new contract, and defensive end Michael Bennett has publicly commented on his desire for a new deal too."
Sherman leads the NFL in interceptions with 24 since entering the league as a fifth-round pick in 2011. Wilson, meanwhile, is coming off a season in which he set career bests in passing yards (3,475), interceptions (7), rushing yards (849) and rushing touchdowns (6). Running back Marshawn Lynch is also the only ball carrier in the league to rush for at least 1,200 yards and double digit touchdowns in each of the last four seasons. Impressive.
But as Yates mentions, the surrounding team played exceptionally as well. The Seahawks finished last season as the No. 1 overall defense (267.1 yards allowed per game), No. 1 pass defense (185.6), No. 3 rush defense (81.5) and No. 1 rushing offense (172.6). With rankings like that, it's no surprise that Seattle was voted the top roster in the NFL.
