All-Itty-Bitty Team

ESPN’s Jeff Legwold recently released his All-Short-Guys Team. Football players are expected to be big guys. Some of them aren’t. At least by NFL standards they aren’t. Legwold came up with this team to recognize players that aren’t big (by NFL standards). Some of them are among the best in the game. One might even be the best in the game.

All-Itty-Bitty Team (All-Short-Guys Team)

Offense

Quarterback

Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints (6-0)

QB Backups:

Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals (5-10)

Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks (5-11)

Running Backs

Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers (5-9)

RB Backups:

Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Kansas City Chiefs (5-7)

Phillip Lindsay, Denver Broncos (5-8)

Devin Singletary, Buffalo Bills (5-7)

Mark Ingram, Baltimore Ravens (5-9)

Receivers 

Jamison Crowder, New York Jets (5-9)

Cole Beasley, Buffalo Bills (5-8)

KJ Hamler, Denver Broncos (5-9)

WR Backups:

Isaiah McKenzie, Buffalo Bills (5-8)

Deonte Harris, New Orleans Saints (5-6)

Jakeem Grant, Miami Dolphins (5-7)

Olamide Zaccheaus, Atlanta Falcons (5-8)

Tight Ends

Irv Smith Jr., Minnesota Vikings (6-2)

TE Backups:

Jordan Reed, San Francisco 49ers (6-2)

Anthony Firkser, Tennessee Titans (6-2)

Trey Burton, Indianapolis Colts (6-2)

Left Tackle

Chuma Edoga, New York Jets (6-3)

Left Guard

Will Hernandez, New York Giants (6-2)

Center

Rodney Hudson, Las Vegas Raiders (6-2)

Right Guard

Damien Lewis, Seattle Seahawks (6-2)

Right Tackle

Mike Onwenu, New England Patriots (6-3)

OL Backups:

Brett Jones, Minnesota Vikings (6-2)

Shaq Mason, New England Patriots (6-1)

Jermaine Eluemunor, New England Patriots (6-4)

Nate Davis, Tennessee Titans (6-2)

Brian Allen, Los Angeles Rams (6-2)

Defense 

Defensive Ends

Shelby Harris, Denver Broncos (6-2)

Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams (6-1)

Defensive Tackles

Grady Jarrett, Atlanta Falcons (6-0)

Poona Ford, Seattle Seahawks (5-11)

DL Backups:

Ed Oliver, Buffalo Bills (6-1)

Brandon Williams, Baltimore Ravens (6-1)

Mike Daniels, Cincinnati Bengals (6-0)

Brandon Graham, Philadelphia Eagles (6-2)

Linebackers

Bobby Wagner, Seattle Seahawks (6-0)

Eric Kendricks, Minnesota Vikings (6-0)

LB Backups:

Roquan Smith, Chicago Bears (6-1)

Anthony Hitchens, Kansas City Chiefs (6-0)

Danny Trevathan, Chicago Bears (6-0)

Shaun Dion Hamilton, Washington (6-0)

Cornerbacks

Bryce Callahan, Denver Broncos (5-9)

Darious Williams, Los Angeles Rams (5-9)

Mike Hilton, Pittsburgh Steelers (5-9)

Safeties

Antoine Winfield, Jr., Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-9)

Tyrann Mathieu, Kansas City Chiefs (5-9)

DB Backups:

Avonte Maddox, Philadelphia Eagles (5-9)

Buster Skrine, Chicago Bears (5-9)

Amik Robertson, Las Vegas Raiders (5-8)

Tavon Young, Baltimore Ravens (5-9)

Lamarcus Joyner, Las Vegas Raiders (5-8)

Special Teams

Kick Returner

Deonte Harris, New Orleans Saints (5-6)

Punt Returner

Jakeem Grant, Miami Dolphins (5-7)

Kicker

Younghoe Koo, Atlanta Falcons (5-9)

Punter

Cameron Johnston, Philadelphia Eagles (5-11)

Special Teams Backups:

Diontae Spencer, Denver Broncos (5-8)

Tarik Cohen, Chicago Bears (5-6)

Cairo Santos, Chicago Bears (5-8)

Rigoberto Sanchez, Indianapolis Colts (6-0)

***

It wasn’t long ago that Geno Atkins was the only diminutive defensive tackle in the game. Now, there’s a bunch and they’re ripping up offensive backfields. Was it Atkins that opened the door for “little” guys on the interior of the defensive line? Or was it John Randle? If Atkins and/or Randle opened the door, Aaron Donald ripped the door off it’s hinges. 

Three Vikings made the team:

Irv Smith Jr.

Eric Kendricks

Brett Jones

Jones is a backup on on this team. He’s also a backup for the Vikings. A very good backup. He only started two games for the Vikings this year as an injury replacement. Considering the season-long play of Dakota Dozier at left guard, Jones should’ve been a full-time starter. 

There’s room for short guys in the NFL.