You might have played some popular board games before, right? One interesting game involves stacking blocks to build a tower, and as you pull pieces from it, the challenge is to keep everything standing. It’s a mix of strategy and caution, as you try to figure out which blocks to remove without toppling the whole structure.
Great Dave Damscheck occasionally likens this game to the NFL roster. He ponders which players are the essential ones—like the key blocks in a Jenga tower—without whom the entire team could collapse.
Sure, everyone knows that quarterbacks carry a lot of weight in a team’s success. They’re pivotal, undeniably so. But for this discussion, we’ll focus on those non-quarterbacks, which is, I think, intriguing.
A conversation unfolded between Michael Peterson and RJ Ochoa, discussing who might be the most crucial non-quarterback player in the entire NFL.
Justin Jefferson could be number one overall
RJ:
Excluding quarterbacks makes it seem like picking star wide receivers is a bit of a cheat, which is unfortunate.
Justin Jefferson stands out as the top wide receiver in the league and deserves a mention in this conversation. It’s worth noting that he’s currently working with a quarterback who is quite inexperienced, JJ McCarthy. That’s a lot of pressure on his shoulders.
To clarify, Jefferson is in a fortunate situation, playing alongside another outstanding receiver, Jordan Addison, and with head coach Kevin O’Connell. The Vikings have elements that could potentially elevate their game. Yet, without Jefferson, the team’s ceiling would definitely drop significantly.
Michael:
If Jefferson doesn’t top this list, then I’m not quite sure you grasp the situation outside of the elite quarterbacks.
He’s played alongside Kirk Cousins, who, while a solid quarterback, has had his share of ups and downs. The Vikings have had to rely on backup quarterbacks due to injuries in the past. But, regardless of who’s throwing the ball, Jefferson still manages to shine and put up impressive numbers.
Without him—along with Addison—this team would struggle offensively, and I completely agree with that point.
The Bowers hold the key for the Raiders’ passing game
Michael:
The Bowers made quite the impact last season as a rookie, being named to the First Team All-Pro.
As a rookie, that’s quite remarkable!
Typically, players take a season or two to adjust to the pro level. It’s fascinating!
This places the Bowers as vital components for the Raiders’ passing game. Now, with the addition of Ashton Jeanti in the recent draft, who has been described as essential for their offense, there lies a lot of expectation. Without the Bowers, new quarterback Geno Smith would find himself with a less capable group of targets. His likely top three receivers aren’t quite as impactful without this added talent.
Despite being newcomers, the Bowers still ranked fairly high overall.
RJ:
The Bowers indeed make for an intriguing choice. Sometimes teams that don’t seem great can surprise you—they’re often overlooked, but this question holds water here.
In a way, it’s like asking which player you’d want from various teams. Imagine taking a young fan to a Raiders game and asking which jersey they’d want to wear. Most would probably pick a Bowers jersey over anyone else before even considering Jeanti.
It’s unusual to rely so heavily on tight ends, but the Bowers are a rare find. The Raiders would really be at a loss without him, which is a curious statement for someone who just joined the roster.
Saquon Barkley deserves a spot in this talk
RJ:
This type of discussion is fascinating, mainly because, at least from where I sit, there are different tiers of importance.
Sometimes in Jenga, you can pull a block from the base, and everything then falls apart. Those could be seen as the more basic players.
But then you have those blocks in the middle, whose removal might lead to a collapse just as devastating. This is where I think Saquon Barkley fits in.
Admittedly, Barkley was somewhat underwhelming, and that’s perhaps why he seems like a mid-tier block. However, he was essential for the Eagles during their stretch to the Super Bowl.
There are many block types. While Saquon is talented, he is still somewhat alone in making an impact.
Michael:
While Barkley clearly played a key role in the Eagles’ success, there’s a fine line here. He’s not the foundational piece that would cause the roster to collapse, though he certainly strengthened it.
To put it plainly, he’s an elite talent surrounded by other elite talents. The Eagles have built a strong enough structure that they can approach this from multiple angles, and things are working out well for them.
Matthew Stafford is crucial for the Rams
Michael:
The Rams have consistently achieved double-digit wins over the last five years, except for one season—2022, when Stafford was sidelined for around six months due to injury. They ended up with a disappointing 5-12 record, including 2-6 without him. That’s quite a difference from the norm.
Stafford is an exceptional quarterback; he’s raised the performance of every team he’s played for. However, it seems the Rams might struggle if he isn’t on the field. If the quarterback isn’t a threat, defenses will swarm in, which can stress the offensive line.
Fortunately, the Rams have recently drafted talented players who can take on significant responsibilities each week.
RJ:
I should clarify that I’m not trying to start any debate, but I believe we should talk about Jared Goff’s evolution with the Lions.
Yes, the Rams won a Super Bowl with Stafford. Hard to believe that was four years ago!
To give credit, Stafford is indeed the vital piece for the Rams each year. Still, I’m not sure it carries much weight in the broader narrative. It’s an interesting point when discussing constructs like Jenga, but the Rams are still a puzzle I’d like to consider.
