Brandt's Bests

Long-time scout for the Dallas Cowboys, forever observer of football, and soon-to-be Pro Football Hall of Famer Gil Brandt was recently asked on Twitter to list the best player he's even seen at each position. As he often does, Brandt answered.

QB: Tom Brady

RB: Jim Brown

WR: Jerry Rice

TE: Tony Gonzalez

OT: Jim Parker

OG: John Hannah

C: Jim Otto

DE: Reggie White

DT: Bob Lilly

LB: Lawrence Taylor

S: Emlen Tunnell

CB: Deion Sanders

K: Justin Tucker

P: Shane Lechler

LS: Cullen Loeffler

There's no real surprises. Jim Otto stands out a bit. Perhaps I expected Mike Webster or Dwight Stephenson. Otto sailed into the Pro Football Hall of Fame after his career so he's hardly a surprise pick. I've often seen and heard historians and football people say that Jim Parker was a better guard than tackle. He was fantastic at both. Perhaps John Hannah helped influence Parker's position.

I've liked that Brandt has often spoken highly of the skills of former Minnesota Vikings long snapper Cullen Loeffler. Unless a snap goes sailing or there's some other obvious error it's often tough to judge that position from a comfy sofa. I always thought that he was very good at what he did. Brandt says that he was better than that. 

Brandt's answers immediately had me thinking about the best players that I've ever seen at each position

QB: Aaron Rodgeres

RB: Adrian Peterson

WR: Jerry Rice

TE: Rob Gronkowski

OT: Jonathan Ogden

OG: Randall McDaniel

C: Dwight Stephenson

DE: Reggie White

DT: Alan Page

LB: Lawrence Taylor

S: Ed Reed

CB: Mike Haynes

K: Justin Tucker

P: Ray Guy

LS: Cullen Loeffler

I always want to pick Randy Moss for lists like this. He's the most physically gifted receiver that I've ever seen. He's probably the most physically gifted receiver to ever play the game. But after watching Jerry Rice do what he did for as long as he did it's impossible for me to pick any other player for the receiver position.

Fun list. Football is fun.