When analyzing NFL rosters, it's important to remember that it's all relative. It's easy to say a team is in "good shape" or is "loaded" at a particular position, but the fact is, each unit is only as good as it is relative to the league's other 31 teams.
That might seem like common sense, but it's surprising what you can learn and how your opinions are adjusted by objectively grading and/or ranking each positional unit of all 32 teams. This is a project I have done (and updated) each of the past several offseasons -- which has led to many interesting revelations, including the likely breakouts of teams such as the 2016 Raiders, 2017 Jaguars, 2017 Eagles, 2018 Browns, 2020 Buccaneers and 2022 Eagles.
Here are position-by-position unit rankings for all 32 teams covering the 10 key offensive and defensive positions. At the end, an overall ranking is shown, which is a weighted consensus based on positional importance. For example, being elite at quarterback is obviously more important than being elite at running back.
Also included for each position is a brief outlook on the best and shakiest units, as well as one intriguing unit worth keeping a close eye on. Note that these are 2023 rankings, not long-term outlooks.
Let's take a look, starting at QB:
Jump to a position:
QB | RB | WR | TE | OL
DL | EDGE | LB | CB | S
OVERALL
Quarterback
Best: Kansas City Chiefs
We'll kick this thing off with an uncontested layup. Patrick Mahomes has won the league MVP, Lombardi Trophy and the Super Bowl MVP two times each. He achieved all three last season without wide receiver Tyreek Hill (who was traded to the Miami Dolphins), cementing Mahomes as the league's best player. At only 27 years old, Mahomes' dominant reign is far from over. Longtime backup Chad Henne retired this offseason, so the Chiefs added veteran Blaine Gabbert to back up Mahomes.
Shakiest: Washington Commanders
Washington seems to have an eyebrow-raising amount of confidence in Sam Howell -- a 2022 fifth-round pick who attempted 19 passes as a rookie. Perhaps the Commanders have found a diamond in the rough, but he's obviously an unknown. Jacoby Brissett was brought in as veteran competition and while he's coming off a career year, the 30-year-old is more stopgap than solid starter.
Unit to watch: Pittsburgh Steelers
Year 2 is the breakout season for quarterbacks and Kenny Pickett was the only QB selected in the first round in 2022. The Pitt product underwhelmed as a rookie, but that's been the case for many QBs who went on to emerge as good-to-great pro starters. The Pittsburgh offense was better than the scoreboard suggested last season (18th in offensive EPA) and added some upgrades during the offseason, including guard Isaac Seumalo and WR Allen Robinson II.
Running back
Best: San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers have arguably the league's best all-around RB in Christian McCaffrey. The ex-Panther has finished his last three full seasons no lower than fourth among backs in snaps, touches and yards. Elijah Mitchell, who split carries with McCaffrey when healthy last season, is an excellent complement/backup and Kyle Juszczyk is arguably the league's best fullback.
Shakiest: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Rachaad White is the new lead back in Tampa Bay following the offseason release of Leonard Fournette. White is actually one of my favorite breakout players for 2023, but he's unproven as a No. 1 back and depth is lacking, whereas most teams have established talent and quality secondary options. White ranked 11th among RBs with 50 receptions as a rookie last season, but his 3.7 yards per carry was near the basement. Chase Edmonds, who failed to work out in Miami and Denver last season, Ke'Shawn Vaughn and undrafted Sean Tucker are competing for backup duties.
Unit to watch: Detroit Lions
Detroit's running backs finished fourth in scrimmage yards (2,568) and first in touchdowns (27) last season, but the unit may actually be better in 2023. Jamaal Williams and D'Andre Swift are out, and David Montgomery and first-round rookie Jahmyr Gibbs are in. Montgomery is a three-down option who proved to be a solid rusher and capable receiver during his four seasons as Chicago's lead back. Gibbs has electric speed (4.36 40-yard dash) and big-time receiving ability (104 college receptions at Alabama and Georgia Tech). Craig Reynolds adds depth.
Wide receiver
Best: Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals paced the NFL in receiving touchdowns (25) last season and that was despite superstars Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins both missing substantial game action. Chase, 23, and Higgins, 24, are early in their prime and form the league's best WR duo, whereas veteran Tyler Boyd remains one of the NFL's top slot receivers.
Shakiest: Atlanta Falcons
Drake London looked the part of a budding star as a first-round rookie in 2022, but Atlanta's depth at the position is extremely shaky. Journeyman newcomer Mack Hollins appears to be the favorite for No. 2 duties, but his main contributions figure to be as a run-blocker. The likes of KhaDarel Hodge, Penny Hart, Scott Miller and Frank Darby are next in line. Fortunately, wide receiver won't be a priority position in Arthur Smith's run-first scheme.
Unit to watch: Seattle Seahawks
DK Metcalf is top 10 in receiving yards and touchdowns over the past three seasons and Tyler Lockett has 1,000-plus yards and eight-plus TDs in five straight seasons. They form an elite duo, and the unit got even better when Seattle spent the No. 20 overall pick on electric rookie Jaxon Smith-Njigba. This could become the league's best trio by next season's end.
Tight end
Best: Kansas City Chiefs
Travis Kelce is the league's best tight end, having finished no lower than second at the position in receptions and yardage each of the past seven seasons. He's 33 years old but showed no signs of a decline during a 2022 campaign in which he produced career-high (and position-high) marks in targets (156), receptions (110), yardage (1338) and touchdowns (12). Noah Gray, Jody Fortson and Blake Bell provide solid depth.
Shakiest: Miami Dolphins
Miami had standout pass-catcher Mike Gesicki on the roster last season and still ranked 31st in tight end targets. Gesicki is gone, leaving Durham Smythe, Eric Saubert and Tyler Kroft to battle it out for snaps. The trio has a combined 227 catches in 250 career games (0.91 per game) and will spend a lot of time blocking in 2023. Fortunately, tight end isn't a priority position in Mike McDaniel's offense.
Unit to watch: Atlanta Falcons
Kyle Pitts is entering his third pro season after a 2022 season in which he ranked second among tight ends in target share (27%), but missed seven games with a knee injury. Pitts, who produced 1,026 yards as a 20-year-old rookie in 2021, remains one of the league's top offensive prospects, but his health will be a topic of discussion leading into Week 1. Atlanta also added Jonnu Smith, who had his best NFL season when he and coach Arthur Smith were both in Tennessee in 2020.
Offensive line
Best: Philadelphia Eagles
Four starters return, with Jordan Mailata and Lane Johnson forming an elite duo at tackle, Jason Kelce back for one more season at the pivot and Landon Dickerson locked in at left guard. Isaac Seumalo was the only offseason departure, but GM Howie Roseman was ready, with Cam Jurgens (2022 second-round pick) and Tyler Steen (2023 third-round pick) set to compete for the right guard job.
Shakiest: Tennessee Titans
Tennessee inexplicably handed former first-round pick Andre Dillard a three-year, $29 million contract to man left tackle after he failed to make an impact in four seasons in Philadelphia. Right tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere underwhelmed as a third-round rookie last season and will miss the first six games due to suspension for violating the NFL's gambling policy. The team will be asking a lot of first-round rookie guard Peter Skoronski, especially since center Aaron Brewer and right guard Daniel Brunskill don't move the needle.
Unit to watch: San Francisco 49ers
Left tackle Trent Williams is an absolute superstar, but that's where the certainties end on this line. Interior linemen Aaron Banks, Spencer Burford, Jon Feliciano and Jake Brendel all posted below-average PFF grades last season, and only starting center Brendel was above average in pass and run block win rates. Right tackle is a major question mark, with 2020 fifth-round pick Colton McKivitz (145 snaps over the last two seasons) the favorite to replace free agent departure Mike McGlinchey.
Interior defensive line
Best: New York Giants
The Giants' defense struggled last season (28th overall and 29th against the run in EPA), which was disappointing considering they have one of the league's top interior D-lines on paper. Leonard Williams is a certified superstar and Dexter Lawrence II was arguably better in 2022 (only Chris Jones had a higher PFF grade). Rakeem Nunez-Roches and underrated A'Shawn Robinson were solid offseason additions and will play sizable roles.
Shakiest: Arizona Cardinals
The failure to replace offseason departure Zach Allen locks in this unit as shakiest in the league. Leki Fotu, Jonathan Ledbetter and L.J. Collier were three of the worst-graded defensive tackles at PFF last season and yet all three are positioned for substantial roles. Rashard Lawrence, Carlos Watkins, Kevin Strong and sixth-round rookie Dante Stills are also in the mix.
Unit to watch: Atlanta Falcons
Two-time Pro Bowler Grady Jarrett is the notable incumbent and anchor of this group. Six-time Pro Bowler Calais Campbell is 36 years old but is fresh off another strong season and will work from the edge and inside. New defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen brought David Onyemata over from New Orleans, and he'll play a substantial role. This is a big upgrade for a defense that was 29th in EPA last season.
Edge rusher
Best: Pittsburgh Steelers
T.J. Watt missed a chunk of last season, but the 28-year-old remained an impact player when healthy, with a 22.1% pass rush win rate, and leads the NFL with 70.5 sacks over the last five seasons. Running mate Alex Highsmith finished sixth in the league with 14.5 sacks last season and was rewarded with a four-year, $68 million extension in July. Underrated veteran Markus Golden (who has three 10-plus sack seasons) and youngsters DeMarvin Leal and Nick Herbig provide solid depth.
Shakiest: Los Angeles Rams
Rams fans might want to look away from this point forward. This defense is in shambles and that includes an edge rusher room that lost Leonard Floyd and includes only one player who handled more than 70 snaps last season (Michael Hoecht). Third-round rookies usually start out as depth, but Byron Young might be the team's top edge rusher option right out of the gate. Recent late-round picks/undrafted fliers Keir Thomas, Daniel Hardy, Nick Hampton and Ochaun Mathis will compete for significant roles.
Unit to watch: Las Vegas Raiders
Maxx Crosby has emerged as one of the league's best edge rushers, with 37.5 sacks during his first four seasons. Chandler Jones is now 33 years old and wasn't quite as dominant in 2022, but he's still a difference-maker. Even if Jones takes another step back, waiting in the wings is first-round rookie Tyree Wilson. The rest of this defense is shaky, so this trio will have a lot on its shoulders.
Off-ball linebacker
Best: San Francisco 49ers
Fred Warner has established himself as one of the league's best linebackers, having accrued at least 118 tackles in each of his five NFL seasons -- his total of 633 tackles ranks fourth in the league during that span. Running mate Dre Greenlaw recovered from an injury-plagued 2021 by racking up a career-high 127 tackles last season. Depth is a mild concern after the offseason departure of Azeez Al-Shaair, though Oren Burks and Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles are viable options.
Shakiest: Los Angeles Rams
Bobby Wagner's one-year stint in L.A. is over, leaving Ernest Jones to lead the off-ball linebacker room. Jones, a 2021 third-round pick, played 693 snaps (66%) last season, which is most by a returning Rams' defender. He might prove this defense's best player not named Aaron Donald. The rest of this unit is a massive concern, as everyone else went undrafted and only Christian Rozeboom has played a single NFL snap (he's played seven snaps since 2020).
Unit to watch: Chicago Bears
Chicago made inside linebacker a major offseason priority, handing free agents Tremaine Edmunds (four years, $72 million) and T.J. Edwards (three years, $19.5 million) big contracts. The duo will step into substantial roles in place of departures Nicholas Morrow (free agent) and Roquan Smith (traded last season) in coach Matt Eberflus' defense and will be counted on to cover up very suspect DL/edge rooms.
Cornerback
Best: New York Jets
Reigning defensive Rookie of the Year and first-team All-Pro Sauce Gardner is arguably the league's best corner. Gardner wasn't tasked with shadowing top receivers as a rookie, but that's because he didn't need to with D.J. Reed -- one of the league's most underrated defensive backs -- on the other side of the field. Former fifth-round flier Michael Carter has developed into a solid slot man.
Shakiest: Los Angeles Rams
The only somewhat-noteworthy veteran offseason addition made to the Rams' defense was journeyman Ahkello Witherspoon. The problem is that 28-year-old Witherspoon (who has never played more than 13 games in a single season) might be this team's best corner. Ramsey, Troy Hill and David Long Jr. are gone, leaving recent Day 3 draft picks Cobie Durant, Derion Kendrick, Robert Rochell and Tre Tomlinson (a sixth-round rookie) as the top contenders for starting jobs.
Unit to watch: Houston Texans
Houston will be expecting a big leap from 2022 No. 2 overall pick Derek Stingley Jr., who was a Day 1 starter but missed half of his rookie campaign with a hamstring injury. Fellow perimeter starter Steven Nelson is one of the league's most underrated corners, and versatile Desmond King II continues to lock down the slot. Newcomer Shaquill Griffin would start on many teams, and he joins Tavierre Thomas as solid competition and depth.
Safety
Best: Buffalo Bills
Veteran depth/role players for their prior teams, Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer have been nothing short of elite since teaming up in Buffalo in 2017. Both are 32 years old and missed substantial time in 2022, so perhaps a slip in play could be in store, but Buffalo will have a healthy Damar Hamlin and newcomer Taylor Rapp (who played 90% of the Rams' defensive snaps in 2022) as quality depth.
Shakiest: Indianapolis Colts
Three of the Colts' top-four defenders in terms of 2022 snaps departed during the offseason, one of which was safety Rodney McLeod. Former third-round pick Julian Blackmon tops the depth chart and while he's been an every-down player since arriving in Indianapolis in 2020, he has yet to play a full season, missing 14 games over the past two seasons. Rodney Thomas II was forced into a full-time role as a seventh-round rookie for most of last season and will battle fellow second-year safety Nick Cross (118 snaps as a third-round rookie) for a starting gig.
Unit to watch: Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati's safety position is in transition after standouts Jessie Bates III and Vonn Bell both departed during free agency. The succession plan will include 2022 31st-overall pick Dax Hill (141 snaps as a rookie), ex-Rams starter Nick Scott and third-round rookie Jordan Battle. The future might be bright, but some development will be required.
Overall
Best roster: Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles had several notable defensive departures during the offseason, but when you weigh positional importance, this roster is still arguably best in the league. Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Dallas Goedert and the NFL's best line lead an elite offense.
Cornerback (Darius Slay, James Bradberry, Avonte Maddox) and edge rusher (Haason Reddick, Josh Sweat, Brandon Graham, Derek Barnett, first-round rookie Nolan Smith) are arguably the two most important defensive positions and Philadelphia is stacked at both. There is also elite upside at defensive tackle (Fletcher Cox, Jordan Davis and rookie Jalen Carter).
Those three loaded positions should help mask concern/unproven spots at linebacker and safety. The Eagles are well-positioned for another Super Bowl run.
Shakiest roster: Los Angeles Rams
The Rams have no regrets in how they managed to win the Lombardi Trophy, but the check has come due for all the picks they traded away for short-term boosts. I'm not exaggerating when I say that this defense is the shakiest and most unproven I've seen on paper since entering this industry.
Six defenders played 700-plus (67%) snaps for this team last season and none remain on the roster. In fact, Jones (693) and Donald (593) are the only players remaining who played more than half the snaps. Incredibly, the Rams didn't sign a notable veteran replacement until August (safety John Johnson III) and will rely on rookies and recent Day 3 fliers for a majority of their defensive snaps. It's hard to imagine this not being the league's worst defense ... and that's with superstar Donald in the fold.
The offensive line is also problematic, which means big rebound seasons from 35-year-old QB Matthew Stafford and 30-year-old WR Cooper Kupp and a historic coaching job from Sean McVay will be what this team needs to compete for a wild-card spot. If not, there's a good chance Los Angeles will be locking down its QB of the future with the No. 1 overall pick of the 2024 NFL draft.
But luckily for the Rams, they aren't the only team with an underwhelming roster, as divisional foe Arizona Cardinals nearly tie them for this spot.
Team to watch: Miami Dolphins
At least according to my Unit Grade methodology, the Dolphins check in with the league's sixth-best roster (they were third before Jalen Ramsey's injury). Even if you feel that's too high, it's hard to argue that this team isn't stacked.
It starts with a defense that will be led by one of the league's best defensive coordinators in Vic Fangio. Ramsey (who could return in a few months) and linebacker David Long Jr. were key offseason additions to an ascending group led by defensive tackle Christian Wilkins, edge rusher Jaelan Phillips, linebacker Jerome Baker and cornerbacks Xavien Howard and Jevon Holland. Oh, and LB Bradley Chubb is entering his first full season with the team.
Offensively, Miami has one of the league's best WR duos in Hill and Jaylen Waddle and, while the line is imperfect, it includes a few good-to-great players including Terron Armstead, Connor Williams and Robert Hunt. The big question will, of course, be the health of QB Tua Tagovailoa. Tagovailoa was terrific last season (second in QBR and first in yards per pass attempt), but missed several games because of multiple concussions. If Tagovailoa holds up and continues to play well, McDaniel's club will be a legitimate contender in the AFC.