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Creating the ultimate 53-man roster is pretty simple when there aren't any parameters. It's a more challenging exercise when operating under a salary cap. Roster construction becomes more complicated with other restrictions designed to prevent a squad from resembling last season's All-Pro team. The constraints bring more realism to selection proce s. The ground rules are as follows.The salary cap for the roster is $213.489 million, although the actual NFL salary cap is $208.2 million for this year. The number being used is the league's average adjusted salary cap, according to NFLPA data. Each NFL team's working salary cap varies largely because unused cap room can be carried over from one year to the next. For example, the have the NFL's highest adjusted salary cap at $234.92 million largely thanks to carrying over slightly more than $25.75 million of cap room, which is the most in the league. The Super Bowl LVI champion have the lowest at $201.9 million, which is approximately $6.25 million below the league-wide number. Situations like this typically occur when incentives earned during the previous season that weren't counting on the cap get accounted for without sufficient cap room carrying over from the prior year to make up the difference.The NFL draft is an e sential element of roster building for NFL teams. It is here also. One player from each round of the 2022 draft must be on the roster. The number requirement drops by one player for each year of the preceding three drafts (2019-2021). The limit of one player per round remains. Thus, only four 2019 draft picks are required. There's one other draft pick constraint: only one 2018 first-round pick whose fifth year option was exercised is allowed. Selecting one isn't a nece sity. (Note: Relevant players' draft statuses can be found in parenthesis.)The backups at each position are limited to players who aren't established starters, were reserves in 2021 or lost a starting job this year. This means young veterans cracking the lineup for the first time are eligible as reserves. Those starting last season only because of an injury are also fair game as backups. Players competing for starting jobs in the preseason or where there's a "by committee approach" at a position, usually running back, are also acceptable. A backfield containing and is prohibited since both are workhorse or every-down running backs.Choosing a player who was given a franchise or transition designation in 2022 is optional. However, only one player receiving a 2022 designation can be selected.The initial version of the team was done without paying attention to cost. Over $250 million of cap space was used. Multiple roster adjustments were nece sary in order to comply with the constraints.There were plenty of players I would have liked to include but were luxuries who couldn't be afforded. A concerted effort was also made to keep cap numbers under $10 million. There are five selections with cap figures above $10 million.Selecting an elite quarterback was the top priority since the NFL is a pa ser-driven league. A cap-friendly potential franchise quarterback is the most valuable commodity in the NFL. This is because of the roster flexibility provided by the low cap number. Choosing James Worthy Jersey one was a nece sity. An emphasis was also placed on the offensive and defensive lines. The old football adage of "it starts in the trenches" was a guiding principle in a sembling the roster. There are three starting cornerbacks instead of a traditional base defense (either 3-4 or 4-3) since five or more defensive backs are now used over 60% of the time in the NFL.Long-range planning wasn't taken into account, so worrying about future salary cap obligations, the amount of cap room that could be carried over, expiring contracts and drafting players who might develop into starters down the road wasn't nece sary. Different choices would have been made if these aspects had been considerations.Here's the team I a sembled with some of my thoughts behind the selections. The 2022 cap number for each player is in parentheses. QB , ($11.986 million) TB QB #12 Brady fits the criteria of an elite quarterback with a modest cap number. Sixteen quarterbacks have a bigger 2022 cap number than Brady's. 2020 sixth-overall pick was very tempting with his $7,257,306 cap number. Selecting him would have forced a change to my starting wide receivers that I wasn't willing to make.Brady continues to defy Father Time. The 45-year-old had one of the best seasons of his NFL career in 2021. The agele s wonder threw for a league-leading (and a career-high) 5,316 yards and 43 touchdown pa ses last season. His 67.5 completion percentage was the second-best mark in his career.RB: Jonathan Taylor, ($2,141,124) IND RB #28 Minimal resources were going to be devoted to ball carriers. That's why all of the running backs are on rookie contracts. Taylor was the no-brainer choice because of his contract and productivity. He was easily the league's best running back last season. He led the NFL with 1,811 rushing yards and 18 rushing touchdowns while averaging 5.5 yards per carry. Taylor won the rushing title by 552 yards. WR: , ($6.485 million) MIA WR #10 , who won the receiving triple crown last season by leading the NFL in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns, wasn't a realistic option. He has the league's third-highest wide receiver cap number at $17,807,654.Hill is tremendous value with a $6.485 million cap number despite being the league's first $30 million per year non-QB. He's is arguably the league's most-feared deep threat because of his speed, but has also spent considerable time in the slot. According to Pro Football Focus, Hill was in the slot for 52.9% of pa sing snaps with the last season.WR: , ($6,876,519) SF WR #19 Samuel emerged as one of the NFL's most dangerous offensive weapons last season. He led the league with 18.2 yards per catch. Samuel caught 77 pa ses for 1,405 yards with six touchdowns. He was also a threat out of the backfield due to injuries to San Francisco's running backs. Samuel rushed for 365 yards on 59 carries and scored eight touchdowns on the ground. WR: , ($3,586,322) MIN WR #18 Nobody has ever had a more productive start to an NFL career at wide receiver than Jefferson. 2020's 22nd overall pick had 196 receptions for 3,016 yards and 17 touchdowns during his first two seasons. If the hadn't made a cap maneuver in July to treat ' $20 million 2023 roster bonus as signing bonus so it's prorated from 2022 through 2026, Jefferson wouldn't be on the team. Herbert would have gotten the 2020 first-round pick spot as quarterback. The move raised Adams's cap by $4 million from $8.18 million to $12.18 million.TE: , ($9,659,676) BAL TE #89 Andrews had one of the finest seasons ever for a tight end in 2021. He led NFL tight ends with 107 receptions and 1,361 receiving yards. His nine touchdown catches tied for the league lead among tight ends.Andrews gets the nod over because of durability concerns although Kittle has Jose Calderon Jersey a lower cap number ($7,395,240). Kittle has mi sed eleven games over the last two seasons and began 2022 with a groin injury that kept him out of San Francisco's season opener against the . getting a $3 million raise for 2022 at the start of training camp took him out of consideration. His 2022 cap number went from $8,855,882 to $11,855,882. new three-year extension making him the NFL's highest-paid tight end at $17 million per year ended any chance for being on the team. He had a $6,843,750 cap number before the new deal. It's now $11.755 million.LT: , 49ers ($14,031,765) SF OT #71 Williams was the clear-cut choice at left tackle because of a dominating 2021 season, although he has the team's second biggest cap number.LG: , ($6,658,824) CLE OG #75 Bitonio had the best season of his career in 2021. It didn't hurt Bitonio that I had someone else in mind for fifth-year option slot besides , whose cap number is still over $10 million after becoming the league's first $20 million per year interior offensive lineman a few days ago. C: , Chiefs ($1,274,260) KC C #52 Humphrey quickly became one of the league's best centers as a rookie last season. His low cap number made him very attractive. RG: , Buccaneers ($3,082,483) HOU OG #69 , Bitonio's Cleveland counterpart, probably would have been the right guard with a $4,433,970 cap number if the Buccaneers hadn't lowered Mason's cap hit by $4.304 million recently through a contract restructure.RT: , Saints ($8,483,401) NO OT #71 The draft choice constraints prevented , 2020's 13th overall pick, from being the right tackle. Ramcyzk was the next best thing. Pick Six Newsletter Crafted By The Best NFL Experts Get the day's big stories + fun stuff you love like mock drafts, picks and power rankings. I agree to receive the "Pick Six Newsletter" and marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers), and other information from CBS Sports and the Paramount family of companies. By pre sing sign up, I confirm that I have read and agree to the and acknowledge Paramount's . Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe. Thanks for signing up! Keep an eye on your inbox. Sorry! There was an error proce sing your subscription. DE: , Browns ($12,901,710) CLE DE #95 Garrett had a career-high 16 sacks last season to rank third in the NFL. He has the third-biggest cap number on the team but is moderately priced for an elite pa s rusher. By contrast, and have $28,252,065 and $24,371,644 cap numbers, respectively.DT: , Rams ($27 million) LAR DE #99 Donald was going to be a selection regardle s of his cap number. He's gone from being known as the NFL's best non-QB to a part of the best-defensive-player-of-all-time discu sions. He has the ninth-highest cap number in the league, which made roster construction more challenging.DT: , ($4,029,376) TEN DT #98 Simmons was unblockable in Tenne see's AFC divisional playoffs lo s to the last season in which he had three sacks. DE: , ($5,151,770) BUF OLB #40 Von Miller is 33 but provides tremendous value at a fraction of Bosa and Watt's cost.LB: , ($3,887,376) DAL Robert Horry Jersey LB #11 Off-ball linebacker isn't a premium position in the NFL. Consequently, a big cap investment isn't being made.Nobody else was considered as the 2021 first-round pick for the team. The 2021 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year will rush the pa ser from inside and out in addition to playing linebacker. Parsons' 13 sacks were sixth in the NFL last season. LB: , Rams ($2,507,645) SEA MLB #54 The rebuilding released Wagner in March rather than pay him $16.6 million this year on a $20.35 million salary cap number. Wagner is coming off a 2021 season in which he had a career high 170 tackles while earning his eighth straight Pro Bowl selection and second team All-Pro honors.CB: , ($7,076,855) GB CB #23 Inexpensive high-caliber cornerbacks on rookie contracts weren't really an option. Parsons prevented the inclusion of since both are 2021 first-round picks.There were better ways to allocate cap resources than using my 2022 first-round pick on , or , the third and fourth overall picks ,respectively, to be my fourth cornerback. Both have cap numbers over $6 million. would have been great with his $3,907,762 cap hit, but he is a 2020 first-round pick.2021 was pretty much a lost season for Alexander. He was limited to four games last season because of a shoulder injury. Alexander locked up wide receivers in 2020. Opposing quarterbacks completed 50.7% of pa ses (35 of 69 attempts) when targeting Alexander for a 68.3 pa ser rating, according to PFF metrics.CB: , ($8,999,317) NO CB #23 Lattimore's strength is pre s coverage. He earned Pro Bowl honors for the third straight season in 2021.CB: , Ravens ($10,282,635) BAL CB #44 There aren't a lot of the better cornerbacks who play on the outside but have also spent significant time in the slot like Humphrey. There was never going to a place for thanks to his $23.2 million cap figure.FS: , Ravens ($4,030,950) BAL FS #32 Alexander being the one 2018 first-round pick who had a fifth-year option exercised eliminated and from consideration. and were too cost prohibitive with respective $18,859,145 and $14,783,850 cap numbers. Williams is a cost effective ballhawking free safety with great range.SS: , Vikings ($7,047,058) MIN FS #22 Smith still plays at a Larry Nance Jersey high level despite being 33. Smith made the Pro Bowl as a strong safety last season.K: , Ravens ($4,758,333)P: , Lions ($904,440)LS: , Titans ($1,054,580)KR/PR: , Chargers ($1,144,145)Tucker is the most accurate kicker in NFL history, hitting 327 of 359 field goal attempts for a 91.1% conversion rate (minimum of 100 made). He led the NFL by connecting on 94.6% of his field goal attempts (35 of 37) and didn't mi s any of his 32 extra point tries last season. Tucker also set the record for the longest field goal in NFL history at 66 yards. Fox was second in the NFL in gro s punting last season with a 49.2 yard average. He earned Pro Bowl honors in 2020., who led the NFL with 30.4 yards per kickoff return last season, was the first choice as a return man. It wasn't going to happen with a $3,776,645 cap number. Carter gets the nod quite frankly because of cost ($1,144,145 cap number) and ability to return both kicks and punts. He was third last season with 25.1 yards per kickoff return and averaged 8.4 yards per punt return. Hill may occasionally return punts since he excelled at it early in his career. Cox is a four-time Pro Bowler.Quarterback ($2,547,965) would have been the ideal backup quarterback since he has career record of 33-14 as a starter. Although he took a ma sive pay cut to remain with the 49ers, a $13,991,176 cap number wasn't attractive. It's almost $2.1 million more than Brady's.Minshew checks the two boxes nece sary to be Brady's backup: cheap and starting experience. The 2019-sixth round pick had started 20 of 23 NFL games he played prior to a 2021 preseason trade from the Jaguars. He acquitted himself nicely in his two starts with the last season. Running back, Commanders ($1,354,115), Cowboys ($1,140,547), Texans ($911,966), Chargers ($727,805)Gibson and Pollard will both be utilized as the third-down back. Both will get the bulk of the carries in relief of Taylor. Pollard was Dallas' most consistent and effective running back last season.Gibson is eligible as a reserve despite being sixth in the NFL with 1,037 rushing yards last season. He had lost his starting job in the preseason. The had planned on relying on 2022 third-round pick . until he was a gunshot victim in an attempted robbery. He is expected back at some point this season.Pierce should be the ' leading rusher this season. Horvath is the lone fullback. Since Horvath is primarily going to play special teams, there wasn't a need for tie up cap resources in or Pat Ricard at fullback. Juszczyk and Ricard's respective cap numbers are $2,960,815 and $2,198,555.Wide receiver, Bills ($1,078,988), Saints ($907,774)DeAndre Carter, Chargers ($1,144,145)The coming out party for Davis was in last season's playoffs after being Buffalo's fourth wide receiver during the regular season. He had eight catches for 201 yards and a playoff record four receiving touchdowns against the Chiefs. Callaway was the Saints' leading wide receiver by default in 2021 with mi sing the season because of an ankle injury. His opportunities are going to be limited this season with Thomas returning and the addition of in free agency and in the draft. Carter's biggest contribution will be returning kicks.Tight end, ($996,940), Texans ($921,896)Williams is primarily a blocking tight end. He has having the best season of his career in 2021 when he tore an ACL, which prompted the Cardinals to trade for . Jordan started saw increased action during the second half of the 2021 season, which should continue this season.Offensive lineT: , Commanders ($2.67 Million)G/T: , ($953,877)G/T: , ($1,173,413)C: , Browns ($1,196,055)The offensive line depth is a mix of experience and youth with versatility. Lucas is the swing tackle. There wasn't much of a drop off when right tackle was injured last season. Onwenu became New England's sixth lineman in 2021 when returned from injury to right tackle. He was originally slated to be the left guard but the Patriots stuck with , who took over for him while he was filling in for Brown. Karras leaving in free agency and Mason being traded has put Onwenu back in New England's lineup at right guard. Christensen can play both guard and tackle on either side. Pocic had been the Seahawks' starting center the last two seasons before signing a one-year deal worth up to a maximum of $1.5 million in Cleveland.Defensive tackle, ($1,051,040), Cowboys ($880,674)Fox reprises the understudy role to Donald that he had during his first four NFL seasons (2016 to 2020). Bohanna is strictly a run stuffer.Defensive End, Chiefs ($2,172,454), Titans ($993,356), Bears ($776,840)Good veteran situational pa s rushers aren't cheap, so I went with players on rookie contracts. Karlaftis should give Kansas City's pa s rush a boost. Weaver mi sed most of last season with a broken right leg. The Titans are counting on him since , who had 12 sacks in 2021, is out for the season with a torn ACL. Robinson may prove to be a draft steal for the Bears.Linebacker, Seahawks ($1,194,881), Raiders ($1,223,400), ($1,124,470), ($755,682)Barton is Wagner's replacement in Seattle. Brown and Singleton fell out of favor with their previous teams, the Titans and Eagles, after being starters at various points. Rodriguez has been a pleasant surprise in Detroit. Barton, Brown, Singleton and Rodriguez are core special teams players on this squad.Cornerback, ($2,521,040), Browns ($998,480), Bills ($904,145)Witherspoon played reasonably well down the stretch in 2021 for Pittsburgh after being inactive for most of the first half of the season. Jackson is going to see his share of number one wide receivers until returns from the left ACL tear he suffered late last season. Emerson was one of the more impre sive rookies during the preseason.Safety, Bears ($1,340,923), Raiders ($1,047,500)Brisker should be a candidate for All-Rookie honors. Harmon is a veteran who can play either free or strong safety.Total salary cap room used (53 Players): $208,517,016Remaining salary cap room:$4,971,984Offense (25 Players):$91,900,086Defense (25 Players): $109,899,577Specialists (3 Players): $6,717,353(Salary cap percentage in parentheses)QB: $14,443,965 (6.77%)RB: $6,275,557 (2.94%)WR: $20,078,748 (9.41%)TE: $11,578,512 (5.42%)OL: $39,524,078 (18 Brandon Ingram Jersey .51%)DT: $32,961,090 ($15.44%)DE: $21,996,130 (10.3%)LB: $10,693,454 (5.01%)CB: $30,782,472 (14.42%)S: $13,466,431 (6.31%)All of the cap room isn't being used. A cushion has been left for a full practice squad of 16 players (approximately $3.5 million) and to sign players when the inevitable injuries happen during the season.There is a bigger allocation of cap resources to defense, which should be expected with a low-cost starting quarterback. Nearly 45% of the available cap space is devoted to the offensive and defensive lines, which is consistent with the "starting in the trenches" philosophy.The Browns and Ravens lead the way with four players each. Six teams (Bengals , , Jaguars and ) didn't have a player selected. The AFC Champion Bengals not having any players is surprising.