Every now and then some NFL players line up in different positions or formations to attempt trick plays. We have seen defensive ends try out their quarterback skills while some signal callers take to playing wide receiver.
Whether the end result of the trick play is successful or not, fans always get a thrill.
Keeping in mind this article is meant to be fun and is based on certain guys’ physical attributes and versatile talents.
Here are 10 NFL players we would love to see try out other positions.
Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers: linebacker
Newton knows all about taking tackles and getting hit — a lot. After all, he has endured 256 career sacks in his seven season of play. And, he’s used to getting chased down by some of the league’s top defenders. Wouldn’t it be cool to envision Newton out there on the opposite side of the field at the linebacker position?
At 6-foot-5 and 245 pounds, Super Cam could stand to do real damage to an opposing team’s run game. He’s also quick on his feet and has a career average of 5.2 yards per carry. Easily, Newton could win in a foot race, and he’s not afraid to get physical, either.
Jalen Ramsey, Jacksonville Jaugars: wide receiver
Ramsey is excelling in the NFL, already having recorded four interceptions and 17 defended passes in 2017. He is one of the league’s top defensive backs. Ramsey has also taken to dishing out the trash talk. We won’t forget his epic brawl last season with Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green. The young corner was bold enough to call Green “soft and weak” when he owned him in coverage.
Athletic and clearly capable of catching passes intended for receivers, Ramsey would make for great pass-catcher himself. It would be entertaining to see him on the quarterback’s side of the field tangoing with some of the league’s other fine cornerbacks.
Julian Edelman, New England Patriots: quarterback
Speaking of quarterbacks, Edelman played this position during his three years at Kent State. That was a while back, but the now Patriots receiver passed for 4,997 yards and 31 touchdowns during his college tenure.
Plus, it was just a few seasons back that Edelman helped orchestrate a trick play when he threw a 51-yard touchdown to former teammate, Danny Amendola. That score helped seal a win against the Baltimore Ravens in the 2014 playoffs.
On top of that, Edelman’s former experience was enough that he actually served as a Patriots backup quarterback when Tom Brady was serving his four-game suspension in 2016. Perhaps the Buffalo Bills with their dicey quarterback situation should take note.
Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers, running back
Brown is one of the best at his position and has the skills of a wide receiver nailed to a “T.” The Steelers also employ running back Le’Veon Bell who often lines up as a receiver. So, what if the team was to test out Brown as a running back on situational plays?
AB is certainly fast and shifty enough, and often elusive when on the run. He also averaged 7.4 yards per carry at Central Michigan on 72 attempts while scoring four rushing touchdowns. That was some years ago, but Brown has only improved with time. Watching him switch things up on offense would make for even better must-see Steelers TV.
Kevin Byard, Tennessee Titans, wide receiver
Byard truly thrived in his sophomore season as the Titans’ top defensive back. The safety played lights out when he nabbed a league-high eight interceptions as well as 16 defended passes. In all, Byard created nightmares for opposing offenses throughout the season and gained 130 yards on his takeaways.
As such, he would be a thrill to watch lineup as a quarterback’s best friend in passing. At 5-foot-11 and a solid 212 pounds, he would be a handful to tackle, yet shifty while running routes.
The Titans could use somebody to step up and help poor Marcus Mariota out in the passing game, right?
Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots: defensive end
This just has a wonderful ring to it already. Gronk is a physical beast and ridiculously difficult to beat in coverage. That is because he is 265 pounds of sheer muscle and stands 6-foot-6 in height.
Just imagine him joining the defensive side of the field, lined up to rush the passer. As we can imagine, things might not go so well for said quarterbacks opposing Gronk. He is fast, extremely strong and would make sacking quarterbacks look like stealing candy from a child.
Maybe Gronk aught to consider a positional change rather than potentially retiring next year.
Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks: running back
In 2017, Wilson was the Seahawks leading rusher after he recorded 586 yards and three touchdowns. Might we also add that Wilson ran at a speedy pace of 6.2 yards per carry on average. What quarterback signs up for this job?
Wilson could easily be any team’s top running back with his versatile skills, should he ever decide to migrate to that position. After all, he has averaged 546 rushing yards per season throughout his six years in Seattle.
For obvious reasons tied to dollar signs, Wilson is not going to give up quarterbacking. But most can’t argue that he would rock as a running back.
Nick Foles, Philadelphia Eagles: wide receiver/tight end
Sadly, after earning Super Bowl MVP honors and catching that game-changing touchdown, we likely will see Foles stashed away on the sidelines in 2018. This is provided quarterback Carson Wentz remains healthy and all goes according to plan.
But, that’s awfully boring for Foles’ fans, who would love to see him in action. Foles testing out his receiving skills on occasion would be a exciting thing to watch. Perhaps Foles would even excel as a tight end. He is a big guy at 6-foot-6 and 243 pounds and could certainly handle some blocking duties. Plus, we know he can be a threat in the red zone.
Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals: defensive back
This 34-year-old Cardinals gem has been outfoxing cornerbacks for the last 14 seasons. So, Fitzgerald knows a thing or two about how things operate on the other side of the field.
Fitz’s speed and knack for making some fabulous and tricky catches would make him an intriguing option as a defensive back. As one of the most talented pass-catchers in the league, with tons of experience reading quarterbacks, Fitzgerald would certainly create some headaches for those at his current position.
Joey Bosa, Los Angeles Chargers: tight end
A big dude registering in at 6-foot-5 and 280 pounds, Bosa would be fascinating to watch take his talents to the offensive side of the ball. What better position to envision Bosa playing than a big, burly tight end? He would be the near combination in size and weight of both the aforementioned Gronk and Green Bay Packers tight Jimmy Graham.
Physically talented, explosive and quick, he wowed last year tallying 12.5 sacks. Bosa would be a force in the red zone. Coincidentally enough, Bosa’s Chargers could use some help at the tight end position.