Which pro football players would be the best pro baseball player and vise-versa?

BASEBALL PLAYERS THAT WOULD BE GOOD FOOTBALL PLAYERS

Carl Crawford had an option to play college football as an option quarterback at Nebraska, USC, Oklahoma, Florida, and Tulsa. He had originally signed a letter of intent to play football for Nebraska but he turned down both offers in favor of a baseball career.

Todd Helton was QB at Tennessee is Junior year until he hurt his knee and was replaced by his backup, Peyton Manning.

Jamie Burke, Washington Nationals catcher, was a kicker on Oregon State's football team.

Mark DeRosa graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in the class of 1997, where he started at quarterback in the 1993-95 seasons.

Joe Mauer played football, basketball, and baseball for Saint Paul's Cretin-Derham Hall Raiders. In his senior year he became the only athlete ever to be selected as the USA Today High School Player of the Year in two sports (football in 2000 as a quarterback and baseball in 2001 as a catcher). In 2000, Mauer completed 178 of 288 passes (62% completion percentage), for 3,022 yards, 41 touchdowns and 5 interceptions.

Jeff Samardzija was an All American WR at Notre Dame. He emerged as a star in the 2005 season, ending the regular season with 77 catches, 15 of them for touchdowns, for 1215 yards. He set single-season school records in both receiving yardage and touchdown receptions. Samardzija made 78 catches for 1,017 yards and 12 touchdowns in 13 games in the 2006 season to finish as the all-time Fighting Irish leader in reception yards with 2,593.

Josh Fields earned 3 letters at Oklahoma State University in football as a QB. He led the team to two bowl games, including setting the Cotton Bowl Classic record with 307 passing yards against the University of Mississippi.

FOOTBALL PLAYERS THAT WOULD BE GOOD BASEBALL PLAYERS

Denver WR Eric Decker was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 39th round of the 2008 draft and the Minnesota Twins in the 27th round of the 2009 draft as an OF.

Another Denver WR, Quan Cosby, was drafted in the 6th round in 2001 and played 4 years in the Angels farm system before switching to football. http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cg...

New England QB Tom Brady was drafted by the Montreal Expos in the 18th round of the 1995 Draft out of High School as a catcher.

Backup Steeler QB Dennis Dixon was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 20th round of the 2003 draft and the Atlanta Braves in the 5th round of the 2007 draft. He played as an OF for two seasons in the Braves farm system. http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cg...

Minnesota RB Toby Gerhart Gerhart was a starting outfielder for the Stanford baseball team. He passed up the opportunity to play professional baseball after the 2009 season to return for his senior year at Stanford.

Titan QB, Jake Locker played outfield for the Bellingham Bells of the West Coast Collegiate Baseball League during summer of 2008, where he was named by Baseball America as the league's top prospect. He was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the 10th round of the 2009 draft

Matt Moore, current quarterback for the Miami Dolphins, was drafted in the 22nd round of the 2004 MLB draft by the Los Angeles Angels as a third baseman and also played in a Southern California semi-pro baseball league.

Michael Vick was drafted in the 30th round of the 2000 draft by the Colorado Rockies as an OF.

Ricky Williams was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 8th round of the 1995 Draft and spent 4 years in their minor league system as an OF before his NFL career. http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cg...

I think it is hard to transpose football players to baseball players because throwing a football is a whole different animal than pitching. There have been plenty of pitchers who can throw hard and fast, but couldn't get anyone out. I have no doubt Rodgers could throw hard and a strike....right down the middle. Think he could paint a corner? Not so sure....and Matthews? He could block the plate, but, part of being a catcher is throwing down to second (never seen Matthews throw) and batting? Do you think Matthews can get around on a mediocre fastball? If so, what evidence do you have of this?

However, I think many baseball players could make excellent special teams players on a football team. I would love to see Carl Crawford running down on kick coverage to blow up the wedge. Or, Jacoby Ellsbury I think fielding a punt or kick off is analogous to playing centerfield. And, we know he can run.

Joe Mauer was heavily recruited as a quarterback. With his athleticism, he'd probably be in the NFL right now if he'd followed that path.