Shout out to Swanty for the cheat sheet he compiled of all unprotected players, which is what I used to compile this. This is mostly player-based (TPE, draft class, active/inactive), not user-based. Also I may not be completely up to date on who has, or who is planning to retire. Or if people are actually inactive or are still around but just hadn't updated recently (it happens). I split each position into a win-now list and a plan-for-the-future list, as it was basically just two hard to make one composite ranking when considering two different draft strategies.
Quarterbacks
Win Now
1. Easton Cole
2. Wolfie McDummy
3. Reginald Covington III
4. Sim SnowBow
For the Future
1. Easton Cole
2. Wolfie McDummy
3. Reginald Covington III
4. Sim SnowBow
[Note: I wrote this before the Trautner trade]
The quarterback situation for the expansion teams is going to be dire. Wolfie has already announced his pending retirement. Cole may or may not be doing the same. Also, JoeK is a GM, but didn't protect himself, so I'm not quite sure what this situation is. However, with both of them diving even further into regression next season, they only have likely one season as a viable starter remaining, retired or not. There is also the factor to consider of the users. woelkers and bwestfield know infinite well. But would they drag him away from Colorado in his final season? Will the expansion GMs force Joe to leave Austin?
On the other hand, Covington and SnowBow are the only other options. While both are much younger, they are also unfortunately inactive. They are also both below 350 TPE, meaning they will be far from viable starters, and won't be getting any better.
I'm not sure what the play will be for the expansion teams to find an immediate medium-to-long term solution at QB, but trades or position switches may be required.
Running Backs
Win Now
1. Mathias Hanyadi
2. Rando Cardrissian
3. Julio Tirtawidjaja
4. Ashley Owens
5. Fuzzy Dotson
6. Sam Torenson
For The Future
1. Joseph Petrongolo
2. Rando Cardrissian
3. Julio Tirtawidjaja
4. Mathias Hanyadi
5. 3' Jeffrey
6. Running Back
With his recent suspension, Hanyadi is (I think?) stopped from earning TPE for a few weeks. There is also the matter of him specifically being asked to not be drafted by an expansion team, which means we would maybe try to get out as soon as possible. But he is far ahead of the rest of the unprotected RBs in terms of TPE and obviously has had a lot of sim success, which can't be ignored if you're looking for short term success. Beyond that, Owens, Dotson, and Torenson can be viable for a bit but are slipping further into regression.
I originally had Cardrissian over Petrongolo as a long term solution, because even though Joe is a better earner it would still probably take about 3 seasons to surpass Cardrissian at their current rates. But I kind of talked myself out of that with Petrongolo having the advantage of being two whole seasons younger than Cardissian. Hanyadi makes the Future list even as he dips into regression, as he will have a handful of viable seasons left, and also because my definition of 'future' fluctuated quite a bit while doing this. Thubba Bumper slotted into the Future list before his early retirement.
Wide Recievers
Win Now
1. Sean O'Leary
2. Rayne Gordon
3. Bender B. Rodriguez
4. Ed Barker
5. Saba Dount
6. Thomas Passman
7. Leeroy Jenkins
8. Net Gaines
For The Future
1. Sean O'Leary
2. Ed Barker
3. Rayne Gordon
4. Thomas Passman
5. Jackson Kingston
6. Leeroy Jenkins
7. Garfield Despactio Jr.
8. Susan Cash Jr.
O'Leary and Gordon were surprise unprotecteds, as 1000+ TPE players with another whole season left before regression. Rodriguez is also over 1000, but is entering regression. Passman, Kingston, Jenkins are all roughly in the same spot in terms of youth/earning (Cash as well, but he has been less active recently). Barker is in a bit of middle ground between those groups.
Tight End
Win Now
1. Leon McDavid
2. Jeffrey Phillips
3. Earl Sauce
4. Tree Gelbman
5. Von Hayes
For The Future
1. Leon McDavid
2. Jeffrey Phillips
3. Von Hayes
4. Tree Gelbman
5. Clark Boyd
McDavid is the top guy here. Sauce has the edge on TPE at the moment, but McDavid will surpass him after regression. Phillips has had loads of sim success and is one season younger than McDavid, though hasn't earned as well as him. Gelbman and Hayes are solid young options as well.
Offensive Line
Win Now
1. Givussafare Rubbe
2. Bruce Buckley
3. Julio Jones
4. Dorfus Jimbo Jr.
5. Calvin Golladay
For The Future
1. Julio Jones
2. Bruce Buckley
3. Calvin Golladay
4. Dorfus Jimbo Jr.
5. Byron Dolls
Rubbe is the highest TPE player available and is the favorite for this season's Offensive Lineman of the Year. Much like the group of wide receivers, after the top TPE guy, the group of Golladay, Jimbo Jr., and Dolls is in similar standing, with Jones being a younger and more active option, making him the top pick for the future, and Buckley is a bit of a middle ground.
Defensive End
Win Now
1. Sandro Ryeu
2. Mario VonPebbles
3. Steco Ocewilder
4. Son Goku
5. Jayson Kearse
6. Logan Noble Jr.
For The Future
1. Sandro Ryeu
2. Mario VonPebbles
3. Son Goku
4. Mike Karpaasi
5. Jayson Kearse
6. Arik Eller
Ryeu and VonPebbles are essentially equal. Ryeu has a very slight edge in TPE. I didn't actually look at contracts for this thing, but since these two are so close I took a peek, and Ryeu has a slightly larger contract. I still put Ryeu over VonPebbles, mostly due to homerism (I drafted Ryeu in London). Goku is one season younger and possibly a better earner, so has a claim at the top spot as well. Water Chestnut III would have made the lists but recently retired.
Defensive Tackle
Win Now
1. Claude Miller II
2. Rapid Eagle
3. Hank Steele
4. Big Edd
5. Yuuto Kira Cloudera
6. Nuniq Annastesia
For The Future
1. Claude Miller II
2. Hank Steele
3. Big Edd
4. Rapid Eagle
5. Yuuto Kira Cloudera
6. Nuniq Annastesia
Rapid Eagle is the top TPE defense tackle available, but is inactive. Miller is active, younger, and should pass Eagle in TPE by next season, making him the best intermediate and long term option. Steele, Edd, Cloudera, and Annastesia are all young and active, and with the relatively low TPE threshold for defensive lineman viability, can contribute right away.
Linebacker
Win Now
1. Maurice Virtanen
2. Tyron Brackenridge
3. Warren Stephens
4. Mack Arianlacher
5. Mike Hockhertz
6. George "Corpse Grinder" Fisher
For The Future
1. George "Corpse Grinder" Fisher
2. Warren Stephens
3. Jack Banks
4. Hingle McCringleberry
5. Spike Suzuki
6. Ugarth the Dissector
Here we see quite a bit of difference between the win now and the plan for the future groups, as nearly all of the top TPE players available are in regression. The 'future group' is a pretty solid group. McCringleberry is the youngest option here, but others have the edge in TPE. This is another case where this probably depends on the definition of 'future'.
Cornerback
Win Now
1. Lord Beerus
2. Tyler Oles Jr
3. Dermot Lavelle Jr
4. HeHateMe PickSix
5. Xavien Adams
6. Matt Krause
7. Lesean Paris Crooks
8. Cadillac Harris
For The Future
1. Tyler Oles Jr.
2. Lord Beerus
3. Lesean Paris Crooks
4. Matt Krause
5. Cadillac Harris
6. Atlas Quin
7. Tomage McGullager
8. Atlas Quin
Beerus is over 1000 TPE and still has another season before regression. Oles is young and has earned well making him the best all-around option. Beyond that, Lavelle is deep into regression but should have about 2 seasons left. As for the younger guys...
Wait. Uh oh.
Didn't Crooks just post that he is going to test free agency? If his contract is going to be up is he ineligible for expansion? Why did it take me until this late into the post to run into this? Is the whole post prior to this flawed? Well, too bad, I'm not changing it now.
Safety
Win Now
1. Pete Parker
2. Thor Kirkby
3. Gregor Macgregor
4. Magnus Valdyr
5. Eric Richards
6. Beat
For The Future
1. Eric Richards
2. Magnus Valdyr
3. Gregor Macgregor
4. Thor Kirkby
5. Brendan Lanier
6. Mac Griddle
Richards just moved teams this past season from Chicago to Sarasota, and may be on the move again as one of the best expansion options at safety. The Colorado duo of Parker and Kirkby may be the best options for the short term, but Parker enters regression, and Kirkby is only semi-active.
Kicker/Punter
Win Now
1. Venus Powers
2. Dougie Smalls
3. Silver Banana
4. Sam Sidekick
For The Future
1. Venus Powers
2. Dougie Smalls
3. Sam Sidekick
4. Silver Banana
Based on earning, age, and the TPE needs of kickers, Powers will be a usable kicker for a very long time. Smalls, Banana, and Sidekick are all solid options as well. I'm sure teams will ask if Powers will position switch, but I doubt that will happen.
Quarterbacks
Win Now
1. Easton Cole
2. Wolfie McDummy
3. Reginald Covington III
4. Sim SnowBow
For the Future
1. Easton Cole
2. Wolfie McDummy
3. Reginald Covington III
4. Sim SnowBow
[Note: I wrote this before the Trautner trade]
The quarterback situation for the expansion teams is going to be dire. Wolfie has already announced his pending retirement. Cole may or may not be doing the same. Also, JoeK is a GM, but didn't protect himself, so I'm not quite sure what this situation is. However, with both of them diving even further into regression next season, they only have likely one season as a viable starter remaining, retired or not. There is also the factor to consider of the users. woelkers and bwestfield know infinite well. But would they drag him away from Colorado in his final season? Will the expansion GMs force Joe to leave Austin?
On the other hand, Covington and SnowBow are the only other options. While both are much younger, they are also unfortunately inactive. They are also both below 350 TPE, meaning they will be far from viable starters, and won't be getting any better.
I'm not sure what the play will be for the expansion teams to find an immediate medium-to-long term solution at QB, but trades or position switches may be required.
Running Backs
Win Now
1. Mathias Hanyadi
2. Rando Cardrissian
3. Julio Tirtawidjaja
4. Ashley Owens
5. Fuzzy Dotson
6. Sam Torenson
For The Future
1. Joseph Petrongolo
2. Rando Cardrissian
3. Julio Tirtawidjaja
4. Mathias Hanyadi
5. 3' Jeffrey
6. Running Back
With his recent suspension, Hanyadi is (I think?) stopped from earning TPE for a few weeks. There is also the matter of him specifically being asked to not be drafted by an expansion team, which means we would maybe try to get out as soon as possible. But he is far ahead of the rest of the unprotected RBs in terms of TPE and obviously has had a lot of sim success, which can't be ignored if you're looking for short term success. Beyond that, Owens, Dotson, and Torenson can be viable for a bit but are slipping further into regression.
I originally had Cardrissian over Petrongolo as a long term solution, because even though Joe is a better earner it would still probably take about 3 seasons to surpass Cardrissian at their current rates. But I kind of talked myself out of that with Petrongolo having the advantage of being two whole seasons younger than Cardissian. Hanyadi makes the Future list even as he dips into regression, as he will have a handful of viable seasons left, and also because my definition of 'future' fluctuated quite a bit while doing this. Thubba Bumper slotted into the Future list before his early retirement.
Wide Recievers
Win Now
1. Sean O'Leary
2. Rayne Gordon
3. Bender B. Rodriguez
4. Ed Barker
5. Saba Dount
6. Thomas Passman
7. Leeroy Jenkins
8. Net Gaines
For The Future
1. Sean O'Leary
2. Ed Barker
3. Rayne Gordon
4. Thomas Passman
5. Jackson Kingston
6. Leeroy Jenkins
7. Garfield Despactio Jr.
8. Susan Cash Jr.
O'Leary and Gordon were surprise unprotecteds, as 1000+ TPE players with another whole season left before regression. Rodriguez is also over 1000, but is entering regression. Passman, Kingston, Jenkins are all roughly in the same spot in terms of youth/earning (Cash as well, but he has been less active recently). Barker is in a bit of middle ground between those groups.
Tight End
Win Now
1. Leon McDavid
2. Jeffrey Phillips
3. Earl Sauce
4. Tree Gelbman
5. Von Hayes
For The Future
1. Leon McDavid
2. Jeffrey Phillips
3. Von Hayes
4. Tree Gelbman
5. Clark Boyd
McDavid is the top guy here. Sauce has the edge on TPE at the moment, but McDavid will surpass him after regression. Phillips has had loads of sim success and is one season younger than McDavid, though hasn't earned as well as him. Gelbman and Hayes are solid young options as well.
Offensive Line
Win Now
1. Givussafare Rubbe
2. Bruce Buckley
3. Julio Jones
4. Dorfus Jimbo Jr.
5. Calvin Golladay
For The Future
1. Julio Jones
2. Bruce Buckley
3. Calvin Golladay
4. Dorfus Jimbo Jr.
5. Byron Dolls
Rubbe is the highest TPE player available and is the favorite for this season's Offensive Lineman of the Year. Much like the group of wide receivers, after the top TPE guy, the group of Golladay, Jimbo Jr., and Dolls is in similar standing, with Jones being a younger and more active option, making him the top pick for the future, and Buckley is a bit of a middle ground.
Defensive End
Win Now
1. Sandro Ryeu
2. Mario VonPebbles
3. Steco Ocewilder
4. Son Goku
5. Jayson Kearse
6. Logan Noble Jr.
For The Future
1. Sandro Ryeu
2. Mario VonPebbles
3. Son Goku
4. Mike Karpaasi
5. Jayson Kearse
6. Arik Eller
Ryeu and VonPebbles are essentially equal. Ryeu has a very slight edge in TPE. I didn't actually look at contracts for this thing, but since these two are so close I took a peek, and Ryeu has a slightly larger contract. I still put Ryeu over VonPebbles, mostly due to homerism (I drafted Ryeu in London). Goku is one season younger and possibly a better earner, so has a claim at the top spot as well. Water Chestnut III would have made the lists but recently retired.
Defensive Tackle
Win Now
1. Claude Miller II
2. Rapid Eagle
3. Hank Steele
4. Big Edd
5. Yuuto Kira Cloudera
6. Nuniq Annastesia
For The Future
1. Claude Miller II
2. Hank Steele
3. Big Edd
4. Rapid Eagle
5. Yuuto Kira Cloudera
6. Nuniq Annastesia
Rapid Eagle is the top TPE defense tackle available, but is inactive. Miller is active, younger, and should pass Eagle in TPE by next season, making him the best intermediate and long term option. Steele, Edd, Cloudera, and Annastesia are all young and active, and with the relatively low TPE threshold for defensive lineman viability, can contribute right away.
Linebacker
Win Now
1. Maurice Virtanen
2. Tyron Brackenridge
3. Warren Stephens
4. Mack Arianlacher
5. Mike Hockhertz
6. George "Corpse Grinder" Fisher
For The Future
1. George "Corpse Grinder" Fisher
2. Warren Stephens
3. Jack Banks
4. Hingle McCringleberry
5. Spike Suzuki
6. Ugarth the Dissector
Here we see quite a bit of difference between the win now and the plan for the future groups, as nearly all of the top TPE players available are in regression. The 'future group' is a pretty solid group. McCringleberry is the youngest option here, but others have the edge in TPE. This is another case where this probably depends on the definition of 'future'.
Cornerback
Win Now
1. Lord Beerus
2. Tyler Oles Jr
3. Dermot Lavelle Jr
4. HeHateMe PickSix
5. Xavien Adams
6. Matt Krause
7. Lesean Paris Crooks
8. Cadillac Harris
For The Future
1. Tyler Oles Jr.
2. Lord Beerus
3. Lesean Paris Crooks
4. Matt Krause
5. Cadillac Harris
6. Atlas Quin
7. Tomage McGullager
8. Atlas Quin
Beerus is over 1000 TPE and still has another season before regression. Oles is young and has earned well making him the best all-around option. Beyond that, Lavelle is deep into regression but should have about 2 seasons left. As for the younger guys...
Wait. Uh oh.
Didn't Crooks just post that he is going to test free agency? If his contract is going to be up is he ineligible for expansion? Why did it take me until this late into the post to run into this? Is the whole post prior to this flawed? Well, too bad, I'm not changing it now.
Safety
Win Now
1. Pete Parker
2. Thor Kirkby
3. Gregor Macgregor
4. Magnus Valdyr
5. Eric Richards
6. Beat
For The Future
1. Eric Richards
2. Magnus Valdyr
3. Gregor Macgregor
4. Thor Kirkby
5. Brendan Lanier
6. Mac Griddle
Richards just moved teams this past season from Chicago to Sarasota, and may be on the move again as one of the best expansion options at safety. The Colorado duo of Parker and Kirkby may be the best options for the short term, but Parker enters regression, and Kirkby is only semi-active.
Kicker/Punter
Win Now
1. Venus Powers
2. Dougie Smalls
3. Silver Banana
4. Sam Sidekick
For The Future
1. Venus Powers
2. Dougie Smalls
3. Sam Sidekick
4. Silver Banana
Based on earning, age, and the TPE needs of kickers, Powers will be a usable kicker for a very long time. Smalls, Banana, and Sidekick are all solid options as well. I'm sure teams will ask if Powers will position switch, but I doubt that will happen.