While examining Super Bowl roster construction recently, I noticed how often elite squads and key plays rely on players at the bottom of the depth chart.

Recall David Tyree and Malcolm Butler, both reserves who delivered two of the biggest moments in Super Bowl lore. The Philly Special featured Eagles backup quarterback Nick Foles catching a score from third-string tight end Trey Burton. Last year, the Seahawks recorded three sacks in their championship victory against the Patriots thanks to reserves Derick Hall and Rylie Mills.

Everyone prefers healthy and effective starters throughout the year, yet that rarely occurs in the NFL. All clubs depend on backups to contribute regularly each week. This led me to consider: Could a full roster of top reserves compete against standard teams, even without any opening-week starters? What insights would it offer about roster depth or weaknesses leaguewide?

I assembled a 53-man group of backups. Several serve in rotational roles, and some may earn starting spots by season's end. Still, each has others projected ahead of them on the Week 1 depth chart. When choices arose between comparable options, I selected the player less likely to see the majority of snaps in that group.

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I set a few guidelines. To gain a broad view across the league, I required at least one backup from every club but no more than two. For a realistic roster, I prioritized players active on special teams to complete the lower roster spots. Specialists are included, such as a long snapper. The squad follows current NFL patterns with multiple tight end formations on offense and a Vic Fangio-inspired defense to generate pressure from the front four while reducing explosive plays in the secondary. (Note: Big plays will happen anyway.)

Rookies were added by selecting one player from each round of the 2026 draft, provided they are not slated to start immediately. This approach added one potential standout, whom I will discuss shortly.

I will review selections team by team for what I term Team Backup and explain their fit. The complete roster and my assessment of its competitiveness appear at the end.

Jump to backups selected from:
ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN
CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND
JAX | KC | LAC | LAR | LV | MIA | MIN
NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF
SEA | TB | TEN | WSH

Jump to:
The full Team Backup roster
Could this roster contend in the NFL?

AFC EAST

Buffalo Bills

C Lloyd Cushenberry III, TE Jackson Hawes

Since strong teams often start with the lines, we begin in Buffalo with two key blockers. The center position remains thin leaguewide, particularly when seeking nonstarters. Cushenberry signed a major free agent deal in Tennessee years ago, but an Achilles tear slowed his progress and led to his release this offseason. We will try him at center for 2026.

Hawes arrived as a fifth-round selection last year due to his blocking skills, enabling the Bills to move beyond six-lineman packages used with Alec Anderson in 2024 toward more 12 and 13 personnel in 2025. Hawes serves as our main blocking tight end, and continued efficiency could bring him targets.

Miami Dolphins

OT Jamaree Salyer, K Zane Gonzalez

The kicker position is addressed first. The Dolphins carry two veteran kickers, making Gonzalez a straightforward choice after converting 86.4 percent of attempts last season in Atlanta. Salyer provides swing tackle depth and performed adequately at left tackle as a rookie in 2022 with the Chargers; experience on the blind side adds value.

New England Patriots

WR DeMario Douglas, DT Cory Durden

Douglas could rank as our top wide receiver, highlighting concerns at the position for Team Backup. He posted the 13th-best receiver score in ESPN metrics last year with efficient play as a fourth option for the Patriots. Durden, previously on practice squads, proved useful to general manager Eliot Wolf as a nose tackle with five tackles for loss in 383 snaps.

New York Jets

Edge Kingsley Enagbare

The Jets feature depth at edge with Enagbare, Joseph Ossai, Will McDonald IV and second-round pick David Bailey, so one joins here. Enagbare signed a one-year, $9 million deal this offseason after 11.5 sacks across four reserve seasons in Green Bay. He posted 25 tackles for loss in that stretch, showing run defense value. He will handle early-down duties in our edge rotation.

AFC NORTH

Baltimore Ravens

C/G Danny Pinter

Pinter's starting status at center remains uncertain. Baltimore may consider 2025 backup Corey Bullock or veteran Ethan Pocic. Pinter brings experience at multiple interior spots, useful since stars will be absent up front.

Cincinnati Bengals

QB Joe Flacco

Our veteran quarterback option is Flacco. At 41, he has performed well across teams the past three years with a 45.5 QBR while securing wins for the Browns, Colts and Bengals. He may throw costly interceptions, yet he retains arm strength, avoids sacks effectively and manages under-center play. He offers a solid short-term solution.

Cleveland Browns

WR Cedric Tillman, TE Joe Royer

Tillman appeared ready for a breakout after entering the starting lineup mid-2024 and gaining 330 receiving yards over five games, but a concussion ended his season. Hamstring issues limited him further in 2025. He receives an opportunity here.

Royer marks our initial rookie choice. After setting a school record at Cincinnati for tight end receptions in 2024, the fifth-round pick should serve as the fourth tight end for the Browns.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Edge Nick Herbig, RB Rico Dowdle

In an expansion-style draft, Herbig would rank first. Behind T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith in Pittsburgh, he earned more snaps last year by leading edge rushers in pass rush win rate at 25.0 percent. He recorded 7.5 sacks, 18 quarterback knockdowns and 13 tackles for loss over 610 snaps. He could start if the Steelers trade Highsmith, but he remains our top pass rusher for now.

Dowdle delivered strong stretches, including 206 and 183 rushing yards in back-to-back games versus the Dolphins and Cowboys. An efficient zone runner who sheds tackles at the second level, he lacks ideal pass blocking skills. He fits as a change-of-pace option behind Jaylen Warren in Pittsburgh and will hold the same role here.

AFC SOUTH

Houston Texans

OT Trent Brown, LB Aiden Fisher

Brown carries an injury history, completing just three full seasons in 11 professional years. He performed well at right tackle for the Texans last season and has left-side experience. Fisher, a seventh-round selection from Indiana, led his national championship team in 2025 and should contribute on special teams.

Indianapolis Colts

WR Ashton Dulin, DT Adetomiwa Adebawore

Dulin adds special teams value as a fourth or fifth receiver. An ACL tear limited his receiver path, though he has made occasional deep catches and returned kicks. Adebawore posted four sacks in 2025 while filling in for DeForest Buckner and shows burst plus short-area quickness for interior disruption.

Jacksonville Jaguars

OT Walker Little, S Jalen Huskey

Little stands as an obvious selection. He served mainly as a swing tackle early but earned a three-year, $40.5 million extension after left tackle work in 2024. Performance dipped under Liam Coen in 2025, and Cole Van Lanen secured the job after an injury. Little remains the sixth lineman and starts at left tackle for us.

Huskey, a third-round pick from Maryland, recorded 11 interceptions in college and will compete at box safety.

Tennessee Titans

KR/PR Chimere Dike, C/G Pat Coogan

Dike functions primarily as a returner after earning first-team All-Pro honors and boosting the Titans' special teams ranking. He may see gadget plays at wide receiver but sits behind Calvin Ridley, Carnell Tate and Wan'Dale Robinson in Tennessee.

Coogan offers positional flexibility on the line and comes from the championship Indiana squad.

AFC WEST

Denver Broncos

G Alex Palczewski, DT Eyioma Uwazurike

Palczewski starts at guard after filling in effectively for Ben Powers across 10 starts last season. Quality interior linemen remain scarce. Uwazurike's role grows after John Franklin-Myers departed; the 2022 fourth-round pick posted 3.5 sacks in a career-high 409 snaps in 2025 and may improve further despite being 28.

Kansas City Chiefs

CB Kristian Fulton

Fulton receives a chance after strong play under Jesse Minter with the Chargers in 2024 and a two-year, $20 million deal with Kansas City. Injuries limited his first season there, and he saw limited snaps under Steve Spagnuolo. With the Chiefs rebuilding their corner group, options like Mansoor Delane, L'Jarius Sneed and Nohl Williams rank higher, leaving room for Fulton.

Las Vegas Raiders

QB Fernando Mendoza, Edge Malcolm Koonce

This selection follows the Indiana theme. Mendoza is not expected to start Week 1 behind Kirk Cousins, allowing him to serve as our first-round pick. If Mendoza