I’m sorry I have to chuckle a bit at your response as you purposefully ignore Patrick peterson’s availability, mathieu, Frostee , and veldheer, and more veteran players on defense and offense and the fact that not only did all of those guys in 2017 play together for years but also in the same schemes for years.
Veldheer was terrible in 2017. That was the year they moved him to the right side and then flipped him to the left side when Humphries got injured.
Frostee Rucker was replacement level player. You can make an argument that none of our current DEs are as good, but Philon would have been easily.
Mathieu was run out of town by this board so it's silly to use him as your statement piece. I would argue that Baker is playing close to the level Mathieu was that year.
Patrick Peterson is still on the roster. Yes he is suspended, but he is still part of the roster. Stuff happens. Palmer got injured in 2017 and played 7 games. You can argue his absence hurt that team more than Peterson's will hurt ours as Palmer was a QB.
You are comparing Dansby/Bucannon to Hicks/Reddick and the difference is minute.
Veldheer/DJ Humphries (5 games)/Wetzel vs Humphries/Murray/Gilbert (0 games). There might be a slight difference, but it is slight at best.
Kerwynn Williams vs Chase Edmonds
Fitz, John Brown, Jaron Brown, JJ Nelson vs Fitz, Kirk, KJohnson, Sherfield. Again...minute.
Tramon Williams vs Trumaine Brock...meh.
You speak like there is this vast gap in terms of talent between these two rosters and there just isn't. It is quibbling.