Thanksgiving football marks the beginning of the final stretch of the NFL regular season in many ways. The weather is getting colder, the playoff picture is forming and every game starts to feel a little more important.

It's the kind of excitement that likely has retired players around the league missing their glory days.

Case-in-point, Shaquil Barrett recently applied for reinstatement from his retirement. The Dolphins chose not to activate him, but it sparked the question: If you could add one retired player to your favorite NFL team for the rest of this season, who are you adding?

Here, we'll tackle that question.

Here were some ground rules that were considered when making the selections:

• Player is hypothetically being added in their prime. 
• Player had to have played within the last 25 years (1999 season)
• Player had to play a significant portion of their career with the team.
• Team needs were taken into consideration. We're looking for which retired player would be the best addition for the team's situation right now, not necessarily the team's best player over the last 25 years. 

Let's get to it.

AFC East

Buffalo Bills: DT Kyle Williams

The Bills just missed out on a couple stars with the 25-year cutoff. Bruce Smith, Thurman Thomas and Andre Reed would all be great additions, but they played their final season in Buffalo in 1999. That led to a much more functional pick in Kyle Williams. The defensive tackle was a six-time Pro Bowler in the middle of the Bills defense.

Pairing him with Ed Oliver would give offensive lines fits and minimize the Bills need for depth on the edges. Williams was far from a dominant pass-rusher, but he had over 100 tackles for loss.

Miami Dolphins: Edge Jason Taylor

Cameron Wake was also a consideration here, but there's no doubt the Dolphins could use one of their best historic pass rushers. Taylor gets the nod here with three All-Pro seasons. The Hall of Famer had 131 sacks and 137 tackles for loss coming off the edge for the Dolphins.

He would have no problem utilizing his speed and knack for forcing fumbles to create much-needed havoc for a Dolphins defense that has dealt with injuries to Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips.

New England Patriots: TE Rob Gronkowski

It was tempting to solve the Patriots left tackle conundrum with Matt Light or Nate Solder in this spot. Both were strong left tackles who kept Brady's blindside clean, neither were Hall of Fame talents like Rob Gronkowski.

The whole goal for the Patriots right now is to help Drake Maye develop. Throwing to one of the most unique talents in NFL history in Gronk could go a long way in building some confidence. The Patriots have a young core of weapons they are hoping will grow with Maye, but Gronkowski would give him a dependable target the rest of the season.

New York Jets: CB Darrelle Revis

Let's be honest, the Jets season isn't salvageable at this point. The cornerbacks are not the reason for the Jets struggles, but Revis is the most fun player to think about on the current Jets.

Revis's 2009 season is the stuff of legend. He clamped some of the best receivers of an era for under 35 yards, including Andre Johnson, Randyt Moss (twice) and Terrell Owens (twice) .

The Jets remaining schedule would include D.K. Metcalf, Tyreek Hill (twice) and Cooper Kupp. Those matchups would make the Jets final stretch much more watchable.

NFC East

Dallas Cowboys: Edge DeMarcus Ware

It would be nice for the Cowboys to get some competent quarterback play from Tony Romo to end the season. That's probably better than watching Cooper Rush finish out the year, but the Cowboys are out of contention anyway.

It woud be much more fun to let prime DeMarcus Ware pair up with Micah Parson and see if the Cowboys can win games 6-3 like the SCLSU Mud Dogs. Ware is the Cowboys all-time sack leader with 117, but MParsons is already making a dent in that lead with 47.

New York Giants: QB Eli Manning

The Giants season is definitely over, but we're still going with a quarterback here. The Giants quarterback situation has been a mess since Eli Manning retired. The Daniel Jones era is officially over and it's pretty clear that Drew Lock isn't the answer either.

Bringing back Eli Manning won't result in a third Super Bowl, but it would allow us to see what Malik Nabers can do with a competent quarterback. Nabers is already showing how electric he can and is second among all rookie in receiving yards. That's with Daniel Jones, Tommy DeVito and Drew Lock throwing him the ball. He could do much better with Manning.

Philadelphia Eagles: DT Fletcher Cox

You don't have to look too far into history to find the retired Eagle they'd like to bring back. Fletcher Cox is in his first year of enjoying retirement and they could use the prime version of Cox to fill out their defensive line. Milton Williams and Jalen Carter are among the team's leaders in sacks, but the version of Cox that earned six Pro Bowl nods from 2015-2020 could still clearly help the team.

The Eagles don't have many holes, but Cox could help take the defense to an even higher level.

Washington Commanders: Edge Ryan Kerrigan

The Commanders have completely turned around their fortunes in Dan Quinn's first season as head coach. Much of that has to do with the partnership of rookie Jayden Daniels and new offensive coordiantor Kliff Kingsbury, but Quinn has helped elevate the Commanders defense to league average in many categories.

They could definitely use another corner, but pass-rusher Ryan Kerrigan would also help elevate the unit. Kerrigan was on the Washington roster from 2011 to 2021 and only got to experience three winning seasons. He was also one of the franchise's few bright spots with four Pro Bowl apperances and 95.5 career sacks.

AFC North

Baltimore Ravens: S Ed Reed

The Ravens have struggled to find their answers in the safety room this season. They just released Eddie Jackson and they excel in three-safety personnel packages. While Ray Lewis would also be a nice addition, they already have Roquan Smith roaming the middle of the defense.

Ed Reed, who logged 61 interceptions as a Raven, would be the perfect addition to get this Ravens defense ready to contend for a Super Bowl.

Cincinnati Bengals: DT Geno Atkins

Atkins spent the entirety of his 11-year career terrorizing interior offensive linemen for the Bengals. He was a Pro Bowler in all but three of those seasons, racking up 75.5 sacks and 100 tackles for loss.

Cincinnati could sure use his presence on the inside of their defense now. The Bengals are giving up 26.9 points per game and they have just one player with more than two sacks on the roster.

Cleveland Browns: OT Joe Thomas

The Browns don't have a deep pool to choose from over the last 25 years, but it doesn't matter. Joe Thomas is one of the best to ever do it at left tackle and the Browns desperately need help there.

Jedrick Wills and Dawand Jones have both gone down with injuries and forced Germain Ifedi into the lineup. Inserting Thomas into the lineup would give the Browns a chance to see what the offense can really do with Jameis Winston at quarterback.

Pittsburgh Steelers: QB Ben Roethlisberger

Russell Wilson is making it work in Pittsburgh right now. He's 4-1 as the starter and has thrown seven touchdowns to two interceptions. But the Steelers defense is giving them a chance to make a run at the Lombardi.

Adding Hines Ward or Antonio Brown would certainly boost the receiver room, but Roethlisberger in his prime was so much better than this version of Wilson that it's a no-brainer to see if Big Ben could take this team to the promised land.

NFC North

Chicago Bears: C Olin Kreutz

The biggest question for the Bears right now is just how good Caleb Williams can be. One of the biggest obstacles to finding out is the fact that he's taken 10 more sacks (49) than any other quarterback in the league. Some of that is him holding onto the ball too long. Some of it falls on the offensive line.

Olin Kreutz was a six-time Pro Bowler who once went 1,107 snaps without giving up a sack, according to PFF. He was named to the All-Decade 2000s team and would certainly help stabilize the Bears front now.

Detroit Lions: WR Calvin Johnson

Calvin Johnson is one of the greatest receivers of all time and the Detroit Lions managed to go 49-86 with him in the lineup. This is a franchise that knows a lot of pain. Now that they are one of the league's best teams, it would be awesome to see Johnson suit up for a winner. The Lions went to the playoffs twice in his nine year career and lost in the wild card round each time.

Wide receiver isn't the biggest need for the Lions, but letting Megatron team up with Amon-Ra St. Brown would be a death knell for opposing secondaries.

Green Bay Packers: EDGE Clay Matthews

The Packers are 9-3 and right in the thick of the NFC race but have some clear faults on defense. One is that they are 17th in pressure percentage and 27th in pass rush win rate. They could use help at cornerback, but adding prime Clay Matthews to this defense is too good of an oppportunity to pass up.

Matthews was a six-time Pro Bowler and racked up 83.5 sacks in his 10 years with the Packers. His versatility to drop back into pass coverage would be a welcomed addition as well.

Minnesota Vikings: WR Randy Moss

Is wide receiver the Vikings biggest need? Not even close. But no one is passing on watching a prime Randy Moss and Justin Jefferson on the same team.

Moss is arguably the best receiver ever. He racked up six Pro Bowls, 4 All-Pro nominations and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018. There are other retired Vikings who could address some needs the Vikings have, but Moss's electricity carries the day here.

AFC South

Houston Texans: DL J.J. Watt

This wasn't an easy pick. The Texans receiving corps has taken on som injuries and the idea of pairing Andre Johnson with C.J. Stroud and Nico Collins was considered.

However, J.J. Watt is one of the greatest defensive players of all time. Getting him to team up with Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter could create a defense capable of getting the Texans back in the conversation as one of the best teams in the AFC. Watt was a five-time All-Pro selection and had two seasons with 20.5 sacks.

Indianapolis Colts: QB Peyton Manning

Adding Peyton Manning to the Colts for the rest of the season wouldn't help find out if Anthony Richardson can become the franchise quarterback, but it would tell us a whole lot about his supporting cast. Manning is one of the most prolific quarterbacks in NFL history.

If adding him to the lineup didn't automatically make the Colts a threat to the Texans in the AFC South and at least a wildcard team, then we would know that the Colts offensive woes aren't all on the quarterback.

Jacksonville Jaguars: CB Rashean Mathis

This exercise isn't kind to the Jaguars because a lot of the best players they've had in history aren't retired yet. Prime Calais Campbell and Jalen Ramsey would both help this defense tremendously, but they are still finishing out their careers elsewhere.

Rashean Mathis didn't end up having the same type of career of those two, but his prime with the Jaguars gets overlooked. He 20 interceptions in his first four years with Jacksonville before injuries slowed him down. Adding him to one of the league's worst secondaries would help.

Tennessee Titans: DL Jurrell Casey

The Titans defense is already doing a lot of the heavy lifting in Tennessee, but Jurell Casey is still the best pairing of team need and retired player. Casey was a consistent anchor in the middle of the Titans defensive line for the better part of a decade. He worked his way into becoming a consistent Pro Bowler and earned five consecutive Pro Bowl nominations from 2015-2019.

That doesn't even inlude his second-team All-Pro season in 2013 where he noteched 10.5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss. Pairing him with Jeffery Simmons would give the Titans one of the best interior duos in the league.

NFC South

Atlanta Falcons: Edge John Abraham

John Abraham had a rare career arc. Injuries marred the first part of his career with the New York Jets. He was electric when on the field, but missed large swaths of multiple seasons. But from 2006-2012, he was able to stay mostly healthy and go on an absolute tear with the Falcons. He had 68.5 sacks in seven years and earned All-Pro honors.

Falcons fans didn't know how good they had it back then. Vic Beasley (15.5 in 2016) is the only other player to have more than 10 sacks since Abraham left after the 2012 season. That curse has continued. Grady Jarrett and Matt Judon are tied for the team-lead in sacks with 2.5.

Carolina Panthers: LB Luke Kuechly

Not even 2015 Cam Newton could save this Carolina Panthers offense. The defense isn't much better. So if the Panthers could bring one guy out of retirement than Kuechly should be the choice this season. The linebacker was the best at his position for most of his career with five first-team All-Pro selections and another two second-team honors. The only year he wasn't an All-Pro he was the rookie of the year.

Unfortunatley his career was cut short after eight seasons as he retired due to concerns over concussions.

New Orleans Saints: WR Marques Colston

It doesn't feel like Marques Colston really got enough credit for his role in some of the Saints best offenses in the Drew Brees era. He wasn't invited to a single Pro Bowl let alone any All-Pro nominations, yet he had at least 1,000 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in six of his first seven seasons.

With Chris Olave out with his second concussion of the year, it would be good to see Colston dropped into today's offense headed up by Derek Carr. With Ryan Ramczyk and Michael Thomas not officially retired, Colston is the best offensive player that fit the paramters who could help.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: CB Ronde Barber

Tom Brady wasn't with the Bucs long enough to really qualify for this list and the Buccaneers offense isn't the problem anyway. The fact that the Bucs are giving up a 101.4 passer rating to opposing quarterbacks will end their playoff aspirations before anything else.

Bringing back a prime Ronde Barber would help with that. Barber was a three-time All-Pro selection and led the league with 10 interceptions in 2001. He was also an active defender in the grun game, making 398 tackles over four seasons from 2003-2006.

AFC West

Denver Broncos: TE Shannon Sharpe

We're bending the rules a bit here because Sharpe only played two seasons for the Broncos after the 1999 cutoff, but he's also exactly what Denver could use right now. Before Sharpe spent his days yelling his opinions loudly at Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless he was actually an elite tight end.

Sharpe was an eight-time Pro Bowler, four-time All-Pro selection and three-time Super Bowl champion for the Broncos. Bo Nix is emerging as the future franchise quarterback for the Broncos. Courtland Sutton has played a huge role in that ascension, but adding Shannon Sharpe to the mix would give him a massive upgrade at tight end.

Kansas City Chiefs: RB Jamaal Charles

Jamaal Charles' peak wasn't very long, but it was dynamic. Isiah Pacheco does some good things in the Chiefs offense, but Charles was All-Pro twice and approached 2,000 total yards in 2010 and 2013. His breakaway speed made him a threat to score every time he touchded the ball.

The Chiefs could use a left tackle and their receiving corps could certainly use a boost. But the opportunity to give Andy Reid one of the most explosive playmakers in the Chiefs arsenal over the last 25 years is too good to pass up.

Las Vegas Raiders: CB Charles Woodson

The Raiders season is already over. There was some consideration for Rich Gannon here. The former MVP could at least help the Raiders figure out which parts of the supporting cast are right for the quarterback of the future. But he might actually be good enough to elevate this Raiders team to a few more wins over the course of the season which isn't what they want at this point.

Ultimately, Woodson would bring some nostalgia and attitude to a Raiders defense that has underperformed. Woodson's best seasons may have actually occured in Green Bay but he was a Raiders for the vast majority of his career, playing 11 years in the Silver and Black. He had 27 interceptions, 84 passes defended and 18 forced fumbles.

Los Angeles Chargers: RB LaDainian Tomlinson

The sting of J.K. Dobbins recent knee injury would feel much less severe if a prime LaDainian Tomlinson was waiting in the wings for the Chargers. Tomlinson was the Chargers offense for much of the time he was on the team and he'd undoubtedly make a huge impact on a team coached by Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman.

Tomlinson went over 2,000 total yards three times in his career and set the record for most total touchdowns in a season with 31. Giving Justin Herbert that kind of weapon with the kind of defense the Chargers are playing would be a recipe for a contender.

NFC West

Arizona Cardinals: WR Larry Fitzgerald

There's a case to be made that three-time Pro Bowler Darnell Dockett would give the Cardinals d-line a much needed boost, but it's hard to pass up on Larry Fitzgerald. The 11-time Pro Bowler was a model of consistency and he had a few truly elite seasons to go with it.

Fitzgerald will be a no-brainer Hall of Famer when his time comes. While the Cardinals don't have a massive need at receiver it would be hard for any defense to cover Trey McBride and Marvin Harrison Jr. with Fitzgerald thrown in the mix.

Los Angeles Rams: DT Aaron Donald

A defense with Aaron Donald in the middle doesn't give up 255 rushing yards to Saquon Barkley. That alone is reason to make Donald the pick here.

Just to review, the recently retired Donald is one of the greatest players of all time. He was a three-time Defensive Player of the Year and eight time All-Pro. He was one of the league's top pass-rushers regardless of position and made the Rams a dangerous team on defense ever year. Their interior defenders are alright now, but Donald is still a no-brainer.

San Francisco 49ers: LB Patrick Willis

The Niners season has not gone at all the way they'd hoped. The Super Bowl hopefuls are now at serious risk of not even making the playoffs. Injuries have certainly played a role and the defense is still ailing with Dre Greenlaw still making his way back from an injury he suffered last year and Nick Bosa out of the lineup last week.

Adding Patrick Willis to the defense would certainly be an injection of new life. Much like Kuke Kuechly, Patrick Willis had an impactful, yet short-lived, career. He was a first-team All-Pro pick as a rookie in 2007 and racked up four more All-Pro selections before reiring after eight years with the Niners. Pairing him with Fred Warner would at least give the Niners an exciting defense over the home stretch.

Seattle Seahawks: OT Walter Jones

The Seahawks offense is a tragedy right now. Geno Smith has the arm to make any throw you could want. Offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb wants to chuck the ball down field. The Seahawks just don't have the offensive line that can hold up and give Smith time to be optimal in a vertical passing offense.

Adding Walter Jones to the line could help. It would have to kick Charles Cross over to right tackle. He's not really been part of the problem, but the Seahawks just need offensive line help however they can get it at this point. Jones is a Hall of Famer with nine Pro Bowls and four All-Pro selections to his name. He'd help unlock the Seahawks passing attack.