🏈 All-Time "What-If" NFL Team: Players who could’ve been all-time greats if not for injuries, off-field issues, early retirement, tragedy, or other. QB: Andrew Luck Retired at 29 in his prime due to repeated injuries. Already a 4× Pro Bowler with 39 TDs in 2014. Who knows how high his ceiling was? RB: Bo Jackson Freak athlete whose hip injury ended his NFL career early. Still averaged 5.4 yards per carry — imagine a full decade of Bo. WR1: Josh Gordon Led the NFL in receiving in 2013 despite missing two games — but off-field issues derailed what could’ve been a Hall of Fame career. WR2: Sterling Sharpe Five-time Pro Bowler with three All-Pro selections before a neck injury ended his career at 29. He was on a Jerry Rice-level pace. TE: Jordan Reed Elite talent and route runner who couldn’t stay healthy. When healthy, he was nearly unguardable. LT: Tony Boselli First-ever draft pick of the Jaguars. Hall of Fame talent who played just 7 seasons due to shoulder injuries. LG: Mike Utley Promising Lions guard paralyzed during a 1991 game. Showed major potential before tragedy struck. C: Damien Woody Two-time Super Bowl champ whose career was cut short due to injuries — versatile and dominant when healthy. RG: Kyle Turley Played multiple OL positions and was solid, but mental health issues and post-career struggles left his story feeling incomplete. RT: Erik Williams Was on a Hall of Fame trajectory with the Cowboys before a car accident in 1994 altered the rest of his career. DE1: Jevon Kearse “The Freak” had 14.5 sacks as a rookie and seemed destined for greatness. Injuries slowed him down just as he was taking off. DT: Marcus Stroud A force in Jacksonville who dealt with back injuries that limited his prime. Could've been a dominant long-term interior player. DE2: Aldon Smith 42 sacks in his first 43 games — a historic pace — before off-field problems and suspensions derailed him completely. LB1: Jaylon Smith Was a top prospect before a major injury in his final college game. Never fully returned to what he could’ve been. LB2: Patrick Willis Still a Hall of Fame player, but retired at 30 while still dominant. A longer career and he’s in the GOAT linebacker conversation. LB3: Myles Jack Flashed elite talent early, but injuries and inconsistency kept him from ever becoming a perennial star. CB1: Antonio Cromartie Had moments of brilliance — led the league with 10 INTs in 2007 — but inconsistency and off-field distractions always followed. CB2: Jason Verrett Incredible talent, elite in coverage when healthy, but injuries destroyed what could’ve been a Pro Bowl-filled career. S1: Sean Taylor A generational talent and fan favorite whose career — and life — was tragically cut short at 24. S2: Bob Sanders 2007 Defensive Player of the Year but could never stay healthy. A true game-changer when on the field.