8 NFL Stars Who Could Make Great Premier League Goalkeepers

There is a lot of banter these days about athletes who are convinced they could play another professional sport.

Whether it's Usain Bolt tweeting that he could play for Manchester United, or LeBron James and his ambitions of playing in the NFL, this is definitely a fun conversation.

One position in soccer seems particularly conducive to the athleticism and skill set of the other football: goalkeeper.  Be it because of their dexterous and brilliant hands, assured feet or superior raw power and jumping ability, there is a good chunk of NFL players who, had they been trained properly, could be excellent Premier League goalkeepers.

No surprise to see that wide receivers dominate the list.  A few running backs, some defensive players and even a quarterback sneaks in as well. 

Calvin Johnson, with his massive frame, ludicrous leaping ability and smooth hands, has the dream set of skills for a goalkeeper.

In fact, if one were to build a robot prototype designed specifically to be a great goalkeeper, Johnson's traits would be ideal in the planning process.

Johnson broke Jerry Rice's record for most receiving yards in an NFL season with 1,964.

He is a physical receiver but also possesses pure downfield speed and quickness.

Best Goalkeeping Traits 

Owning the box on aerial challenges.  Any team that has Johnson in goal would feel confident in his ability pick off cross after cross on set pieces, corners and in open play.  His size, vertical superiority and hands would make this task a cinch.

Considered by experts to be the best corner in the game, Darrelle Revis and his intelligent positioning would translate perfectly to the goalkeeper position.

Revis reads the mind of NFL quarterbacks better than most.  He anticipates where a ball is apt to be thrown and is quick enough to intercept passes.

He is another player with exceptional hands. 

Best Goalkeeper Trait

Shot-stopping and positional awareness.  Revis would be smart enough to cut off angles at the right times.  He would be perfectly situated to turn away to most dangerous of chances.  He would know exactly where to be in and around his goal.

Colin Kaepernick exploded onto the NFL landscape this season, doing things that most quarterbacks could not even dream of doing.

Goalkeepers and quarterbacks are similar in terms of their leadership responsibilities.  Kaepernick would have no issues demanding quality from his back line.  He would be a natural at barking orders to his defenders, specifically telling them where to be and who to mark.

Kaepernick has a strong arm, too, so there is no question he has to have good hands.  His pure speed would help him cover ground in the box.

Best Goalkeeping Traits

Vocal leadership with his back line.  Accurate and long distribution by throwing the ball from his hands and sparking the counter attack. 

Adrian Peterson's pure force and agility would make him an exceptional shot-stopper in the Premier League.

Peterson's ability to cut and explode would do wonders in between the posts on a soccer field.  He could dive great distances to low balls while at the same time be capable of reaching the upper corners with ease. 

His stamina and ability to take a beating would make Peterson a durable goalkeeper.  Constantly hitting the ground to save shots would be second nature to Minnesota's running back.

Best Goalkeeping Trait

Shot-stopping.  Getting down to the bottom corners and covering the upper-90s, Peterson's would have no issues ensuring that the entire frame of the target was reachable.

Steve Weatherford would be the perfect addition to any Premier League team that likes to play with more of a direct style. 

As a punter, Weatherford's ability to boot the ball far down the pitch would be a nice asset for long-ball tactics. 

Attend any New York Giants game in person, and Weatherford's quirky personality becomes crystal clear.  He paces the sidelines, mutters to himself and refuses to be distracted.  This sort of behavior is similar to that of a goalkeeper.

Punters and goalkeepers require a mental fortitude that is unique to most positions in sport.  It takes a short memory and the ability to perform after not being part of the game for extended periods of time.

Best Goalkeeping Trait

Distribution.  Needless to say, Weatherford's punts and goal kicks would align perfectly with any Premier League team looking to extend the pitch and turn the game into an aerial battle. 

Dez Bryant, the mercurial receiver for the Dallas Cowboys, might be the best jumper in the entire NFL. 

This attribute alone would make Bryant an appetizing Premier League goalkeeper.  Throw in a world-class pair of hands and the ability to take a hit, and Bryant might well have everything a manager would want from his goalkeeper. 

Bryant has a bit of a brazen streak about him, too.  A certain cockiness.  This attitude would fit in nicely between the pipes on a Premier League team.  Goalkeepers thrive off taking it personally when they concede a goal.  They need to believe they are the best in the world.

Best Goalkeeping Trait

Catching crosses on dangerous service and punching away corners and free kicks. 

Vince Wilfork might not be an obvious choice to be a Premier League goalkeeper but his massive frame would take up a nice chunk of the goal.

Wilfork is deceptively agile for such a big guy, too.  He has very strong legs and has experience jumping high to knock down passes.  He can get down on the ground when necessary and has the lower body strength to lunge himself at the ball.

The New England Patriot is as tough as nails, fearless and a natural leader.

Best Goalkeeping Trait

Taking up a sizable section of the goal based on pure size alone in addition to effective communication skills with the defenders in front of him.

Larry Fitzgerald is another freakishly good leaper and could absolutely own an 18-yard-box in the Premier League. 

Apart from other-worldly athleticism, Fitzgerald is not afraid of big moments.  He made some critical plays in Super Bowl XLIII, including two touchdown catches.

He would not shrink in pressure situations during a soccer match.

Best Goalkeeping Trait

Penalties.  Fitzgerald's ability to be clutch in crunch time would make him a natural at stopping penalty kicks.