Darrell Baker Jr.

"The offseason can really look like one big game of musical chairs. After teams pick up the pieces of last season, they begin building towards tomorrow. As they chart through the offseason, clubs use free agency, the NFL Draft and an array of trades to infuse their rosters with more talent, which can make the league look wildly different year over year. With that in mind and the 2026 season on the horizon, we use this juncture to take the temperature of where every roster in the NFL clocks in -- on paper. Below, CBS Sports' Jordan Dajani and Tyler Sullivan examined every team's roster and attempted to rank the starting lineups around the league. They also identified one good aspect of the roster, one bad aspect, and one lingering question. Here are their first rankings, from No. 32 to No. 17. 32. Miami DolphinsDepth ChartThe good: Running backs -- De'Von Achane has established himself as one of the premier running backs in the NFL, and led the league with 5.7 yards per rush last season. He actually has the second-most career yards per rush (5.62) by a running back in NFL history. Achane will be called upon to lead this offense, but he's got some intriguing running mates as well. Jaylen Wright possesses legitimate speed and ran a 4.38 40-yard dash at the combine, while Ollie Gordon III is a bigger back that weights at least 20 pounds more than Achane and Wright, but is athletic in his own way. The bad: Secondary -- This Dolphins secondary, on paper, looks like the worst in the league. On their first depth chart, JuJu Brents, Jason Marshall Jr. and rookie Chris Johnson are listed as the starting cornerbacks, while Zayne Anderson and Dante Trader Jr. are the starting safeties. Storm Duck and Darrell Baker Jr. are expected to play roles this year as well, but they are sidelined with injuries. The question: Quarterback -- Malik Willis is going to get his opportunity to prove he's a franchise quarterback. The former third-round pick out of Liberty was impressive during his stint with the Green Bay Packers, although he made just three starts. His one start last year against the Baltimore Ravens was fantastic. He completed 18 of 21 passes for 288 yards and one touchdown, while also leading the team in rushing with 60 yards and two more touchdowns. So, is he a rising star in this league? 31. Arizona CardinalsDepth ChartThe good: Tight end -- Trey McBride has a claim to be considered the top tight end in the entire NFL after the season he just put together in 2025. The 26-year-old notched 126 receptions, 1,239 yards and 11 receiving touchdowns last season. Those receptions were the most by a tight end in a single season all-time. He's an anchor to what Arizona plans to do in the passing game. The bad: Quarterback -- Jacoby Brissett will likely start after the franchise officially moved off of Kyler Murray. While Brissett put up solid numbers in his 12 starts in 2025, Arizona went 1-11 in those games. Meanwhile, the organization took Carson Beck at the top of the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft. At some point, they'll probably turn the keys over to him to see what they have in the rookie, but he isn't truly viewed as a future franchise centerpiece at the moment. The question: Running back -- Initially, the backfield was looked at as a strong area of the Cardinals' offense, especially after using the No. 3 overall pick on Jeremiyah Love. However, Love has since suffered a high ankle sprain, which puts his prospects to begin the season in doubt. While they have veteran Tyler Allgieir, who they signed this offseason, the depth is dwindling as James Conner is working his way back from an ankle injury and fellow back Trey Benson has a knee ailment. If Love can get healthy at the start of the year, this unit should be fine, but it's a bit clouded at the moment. 30. Cleveland BrownsDepth ChartThe good: Front seven -- We could just put "defense" here, and we are still going to cheat by listing the front seven. Even without Myles Garrett, the Cleveland Browns have a solid group. First-round pick Mason Graham and Maliek Collins are holding down the interior, with Jared Verse on the edge. Alex Wright, unfortunately, went down with a torn Achilles, but the Browns did add former first-round pick Derek Barnett to come in and help. Verse, who is a two-time Pro Bowler and former Defensive Rookie of the Year, has taken it upon himself to be a leader for this unit despite being a newcomer. At linebacker, the Browns have veteran Quincy Williams, Easton Mascarenas-Arnold -- who is admittedly an unknown-- and reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year Carson Schwesinger. So, Cleveland has the last two Defensive Rookies of the Year on its front seven. The bad: Quarterback -- The Browns may have the worst quarterback room in the NFL. Deshaun Watson has been the worst starting quarterback in the league since he was traded over from Houston, ranking worst in completion percentage, yards per attempt, and TD-INT ratio, while Shedeur Sanders led the NFL in interceptions after his NFL debut in Week 11. His completion percentage (57%) and passer rating (68.1) ranked second-worst in the league as well. Watson is the starter, for now.The question: Offensive line -- The Browns are the only team since 1970 to lose their top five offensive line starters all in the same offseason. This unit wasn't very good in 2025 and was hit hard by injuries, so the question is: can this new group keep the quarterback upright? First-round pick Spencer Fano is expected to start at left tackle, Zion Johnson at left guard, Elgton Jenkins at center, Teven Jenkins at right guard and Tytus Howard at right tackle. 29. Atlanta FalconsDepth ChartThe good: Running back -- Of course, Bijan Robinson is the headliner here. The Falcons superstar enters 2026 as arguably the league's best back and just inked a three-year, $66.8 million extension this summer. Robinson led the NFL with 2,298 scrimmage yards last season, while finding the end zone 11 times. His 5,648 career scrimmage yards are the fourth-most in a player's first three seasons in NFL history. While Robinson will command the lion's share of the touches, there is solid backfield depth. With Tyler Allgeier signing with Arizona this offseason, the Falcons inked Brian Robinson Jr. to a one-year deal. Robinson has been a starter in the past but will now take on the role of Allgeier's primary backup. The bad: Edge rushers -- Atlanta's pass-rushing unit was initially looked at as a strength, especially after double-dipping at the 2025 NFL Draft by taking Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. in the first round. However, those two pillars have since crumbled as it relates to 2026. Walker suffered a season-ending ACL tear during training camp, and Pearce was just slapped with an eight-game suspension for violating the league's personal conduct policy. That's forced the Falcons to dip their hand in the free agent pool and lure 33-year-old Za'Darius Smith out of retirement.The question: Quarterback -- Atlanta is in the midst of a quarterback battle between incumbent Michael Penix Jr. and new arrival Tua Tagovailoa, who signed a one-year deal following his release from the Dolphins. Doctors just cleared Penix for 11-on-11s as he continues to work his way back from a torn ACL. Meanwhile, Tagovailoa has yet to truly grasp the job. If it is Tagovailoa who wins out, is he the latest veteran quarterback to enjoy a career resurgence with a change of scenery? Or will he continue to post subpar results? If it's Penix, can he stay healthy and put together more efficient numbers? Atlanta invested heavily in their skill-position players this offseason, but it'll only pay dividends with some stability under center. 28. Tennessee Titans Depth ChartThe good: Wide receiver -- We'll see if it's the most talented, but this appears to be potentially the deepest wide receiving corps in Tennessee Titans history. Mike Borgonzi selected Ohio State standout Carnell Tate with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and signed Wan'Dale Robinson to a four-year deal in free agency. He racked up 1,014 yards receiving last season for the New York Giants, the most by a player 5-foot-8 or shorter since 1989. The Titans also have Calvin Ridley, who has reached 1,000 receiving yards in each of the last three seasons in which he played at least eight games. Plus, some talented second-year pass-catchers in Elic Ayomanor, who has been making waves in training camp after catching 41 passes for 515 yards and four touchdowns as a rookie, and Chimere Dike, who was named a First Team All-Pro last year as a returner after breaking the NFL rookie record for most all-purpose yards. That's a solid five right there. The bad: Offensive line -- The Titans' offensive line has been subpar for years now. Left guard Peter Skoronski, who just signed the largest contract for an offensive guard in NFL history, is the lone bright spot. Left tackle Dan Moore Jr. hasn't exactly lived up to the $82 million deal he signed last offseason, while right tackle JC Latham hasn't lived up to his No. 7 overall draft billing. The Titans signed Austin Schlottmann to take over at center, while fifth-round pick Fernando Carmona is the frontrunner to start at right guard.The question: Quarterback -- Cam Ward's rookie season was tough to evaluate. He started slow with five total touchdowns and 11 turnovers in his first nine starts, but eventually found his footing, accounting for 12 total touchdowns and just three turnovers in his final eight starts. Tennessee didn't have much structure in 2025, but that's expected to be different in 2026. Not only did the Titans hire one of the best defensive minds in football, Robert Saleh, as head coach, but they also brought in an experienced offensive mind in Brian Daboll. So, the question is, can Ward run an offense? Can he operate out of structure and be accurate enough to keep the offense on the field? If he takes a second-year jump, this No. 28 overall ranking is too low. 27. Las Vegas RaidersDepth ChartThe good: Tight end -- Kirk Cousins and Fernando Mendoza have some fun passing-game security blankets to utilize at tight end. Brock Bowers, of course, is a lot more than just a check-down option, as the versatile weapon will likely lead the Las Vegas Raiders in receiving this year if he can stay healthy. Former second-round pick Michael Mayer is a solid option in the receiving game as well, and caught the first touchdown of the preseason for Vegas. Ian Thomas and Albert Okwuegbunam Jr. are nice depth options, too. The bad: Wide receiver -- The Raiders had one of the worst wide receiving corps in the NFL last year, and all they added to it this offseason was Jalen Nailor and rookie Malik Benson. Vegas does have Tre Tucker, who led the team with 696 yards receiving and five touchdowns last year, and is hoping for big second-year jumps from Jack Bech and Dont'e Thornton Jr. Bowers is going to be a pillar of this passing attack, but this wide receiver room is questionable at best. The question: Offensive line -- This unit was the worst in the NFL last year, but has a couple of new faces in center Tyler Linderbaum and left guard Spencer Burford. The Raiders made Linderbaum the highest-paid interior offensive lineman in free agency in NFL history with $27 million per year, while Burford comes over after four seasons spent with the San Francisco 49ers. How improved will this unit be? It needs to be much better if Cousins and Mendoza are going to find success. 26. New York JetsDepth ChartThe good: Wide receivers -- New York sneakily assembled a fascinating wide receiver room. Garrett Wilson remains the top option and one of the more skilled players at the position in the league, despite lackluster play at quarterback. He's looking to bounce back after being limited to just seven games in 2025. Behind him, Adonai Mitchell, who New York acquired as part of the Sauce Gardner trade with Indy, showed flashes last season. Then, there's 2026 first-round pick Omar Cooper Jr., who recorded the second-most receiving touchdowns (13) in the Big Ten last season. That's not a bad trio, provided someone can get them the football. The bad: Quarterback -- Geno Smith returning to MetLife Stadium doesn't exactly get the juices flowing. While the veteran stabilized his career in Seattle, his latest stop in Las Vegas left little to be desired, including a league-leading 17 interceptions. The Jets ranked last in passing yards per game (140.3) last season, and Smith's arrival should improve those metrics, but doesn't give them a high ceiling. The question: Pass rush -- Lost in the embarrassment of not recording a single interception last season was New York's inability to get after the quarterback. They ranked last in pressure rate (28%) and 31st in total sacks (26). To fix that, they used the No. 2 overall pick on edge rusher David Bailey and signed defensive end Joseph Ossai to a $36 million free-agent deal. Are Bailey and this new group of free agents that New York brought in to improve the defense able to apply pressure to the quarterback? If so, they might be able to finally create turnovers. 25. New Orleans SaintsDepth ChartThe good: Offensive line -- The New Orleans Saints have a solid offensive line in front of Tyler Shough. Left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. was the best rookie offensive lineman last year, PFF claims. Free-agent addition David Edwards fits in at left guard, and center Erik McCoy is a two-time Pro Bowler. Right guard Cesar Ruiz is definitely more of a question mark, but former first-round pick Taliese Fuaga is set to make a jump at right tackle if he can remain healthy. It's worth mentioning that this unit doesn't appear to be very deep, but the starting five is solid. The bad: Special teams -- The Saints showcased one of the worst special teams units in 2025, and it remains to be seen if the issue has been resolved. New Orleans gave former Minnesota Vikings punter Ryan Wright $14 million to come in and boot the ball. However, he shanked a punt that went just 15 yards in his first preseason game. He did bounce back Saturday against the Los Angeles Rams.Saints kickers converted on 71.4% of their field goals last year. If we combined Charlie Smyth and Blake Grupe into one kicker, their average ranked 38th in the NFL. New Orleans was hosting a kicker battle between Smyth and Tanner Brown this preseason, but signed Daniel Carlson on Monday. Brown missed a 39-yard field goal on Saturday after going 2/2 last week, and Smyth missed a 52-yarder in Week 1 of the preseason. The question: Weaponry -- We could list the Saints' weaponry as the best part of this roster, but we can't exactly say that with running back Alvin Kamara (MCL sprain) and rookie wideout Jordyn Tyson (hamstring) both expected to miss at least a month! Is Chris Olave going to have to carry the wide receiver room again? Can Travis Etienne Jr. live up to his contract? I would feel pretty good about Shough's weaponry if it weren't for injuries. So will his group of playmakers remain healthy enough to help the Saints be the sleeper so many envision they are this year? 24. Carolina PanthersDepth ChartThe good: Cornerbacks- I like the Carolina Panthers' top two cornerbacks in Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson. Horn, who has made two straight Pro Bowls, recorded a career-high five interceptions last season, while Jackson is clearly underrated and tied for the league lead in passes defensed with 19, to go along with a career-high four interceptions last year.The bad: Tight end -- The Panthers have been trying to find a legitimate starting tight end for years now. They drafted Tommy Tremble in 2021, Ja'Tavion Sanders in 2024, and Mitchell Evans in 2025, but none have been legitimate threats in the passing game. If you want to know how Carolina feels about its tight end room, the Panthers just signed soon-to-be 34-year-old Darren Waller to come in and help. The question: Offensive line -- A team not having its starting left and right tackles to begin the season would spell disaster for most teams, but not the Panthers. Free-agent addition Rasheed Walker will fill in for Ickey Ekwonu at left tackle, while first-round pick Monroe Freeling replaces Taylor Moton on the right side. Carolina also has a new center in Luke Fortner, who takes over for Cade Mays. This unit was pretty good when healthy. How will it look with three new faces? 23. New York GiantsDepth ChartThe good: Pass rushers -- The New York Giants are going to find success pressuring the quarterback this season. Brian Burns ranked in the top four in the NFL in sacks (16.5), QB hits (31) and tackles for loss (22) last year, and Abdul Carter is a former No. 3 overall pick who got better as his rookie season went on, recording 3.5 sacks in his final five games. New York has another top-five pick in the fold with Kayvon Thibodeaux, who has gotten to the quarterback 23.5 times over four years. I'm also excited to see another top-five pick in linebacker Arvell Reese be deployed as a blitzer. The bad: Defensive interior -- With Dexter Lawrence II gone, Shelby Harris, DJ Reader and Darius Alexander are set to start on the interior. Remember, this Giants team allowed a league-high 5.3 yards per carry last season. The massive Reader was the most double-teamed player in the NFL last year, according to Next Gen Stats. He's 32-years-old now, and didn't record a sack in 2025. The Giants have been managing his workload, as they are with the 35-year-old Harris. Alexander, on the other hand, is the young buck at 25 years old, but has been far from a standout in the two preseason games. So, will this run defense be improved in 2026?The question: Quarterback -- Jaxson Dart is a fun quarterback, but can he be a good quarterback? He became just the third rookie to ever throw 10 touchdowns while rushing for eight more scores, but he is also about to start paying rent to the blue medical tent. Apart from needing to play smart, Dart's completion percentage also ranked outside the top 20 at 63.7%, and J.J. McCarthy and Spencer Rattler threw for more yards per game than Dart did. He'll need to be better as a passer, but he is certainly capable. 22. Washington CommandersDepth ChartThe good: Quarterback -- Jayden Daniels looked like he was about to take over the entire league as a rookie, as the No. 2 overall pick took the lowly Washington Commanders from 4-13 to 12-5 with an NFC Championship appearance. He became the second quarterback all-time to throw for 4,000 yards and rush for 1,000 yards in a season, including playoffs, and scored more touchdowns (37) than any rookie ever. Daniels needs to stay healthy, as he missed 10 games last season with multiple ailments while Washington crashed back to earth at 5-12. Daniels' absence wasn't the only reason Washington struggled, as the defense finished dead last for the second time in the last three years. Marcus Mariota, on the other hand, is regarded as one of the best backup quarterbacks in the NFL, and I've got a level of interest in rookie Athan Kaliakmanis as well. The bad: Cornerback -- Washington's cornerback room is a bit worrisome. The likely starters are Trey Amos, who played 10 games in his NFL career and broke his leg last year, Amik Robertson, who comes over from the disappointing Lions secondary, and Mike Sainristil, who, while feisty, is not exactly Darrell Green. I do like the veteran Rasul Douglas, who will likely play a role on this team in 2026. The question: Left side of the offensive line -- The Commanders lost star left tackle Laremy Tunsil to a torn triceps, and former left tackle Brandon Coleman gets the first crack to replace him. Coleman was battling Chris Paul for the starting left guard spot, so I'm curious if Coleman can be a legitimate starting left tackle, and if Paul can hold down left guard effectively. Washington also has Andrew Wylie as a backup option if Coleman struggles. 21. Indianapolis ColtsDepth ChartThe good: Offensive line -- If this unit remains healthy, the Indianapolis Colts' offensive line could be one of the best in the AFC. Bernhard Raimann is cemented at left tackle after he signed a $100 million deal last offseason, left guard Quenton Nelson is one of the best linemen in the league, center Tanor Bortolini was PFF's No. 3-graded center last year, right guard Matt Goncalves is a former tackle moved inside who is improving, and right tackle Jalen Travis is a second-year player also expected to make a jump. The bad: Linebacker -- With Zaire Franklin gone, the Colts are relying on second-round pick CJ Allen to replace him at linebacker. The Georgia product was viewed as a physical, versatile playmaker as a prospect, but can he be a consistent force at the second level as a rookie? His running mate figures to be Akeem Davis-Gaither, who made 117 tackles last year for the Cardinals. However, he was released by the club this offseason. Is this unit really an upgrade over Franklin and Germaine Pratt? The question: Wide receiver -- We could easily go quarterback here, but let's look a little deeper. The Colts gave Alec Pierce more money than any team has ever given a wide receiver in free agency, with $114 million over four years. He led the NFL in yards per reception in back-to-back seasons, but he will have to prove he can be a legitimate No. 1 wideout and is still not healthy. Indy made a notable addition last week in Keenan Allen, but he is now 34-years-old. Josh Downs has flashed in spots, but averaged 35.4 yards per game with four touchdowns in 16 games last season. Behind that top three are Ashton Dulin, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Anthony Gould, Laquon Treadwell and Deion Burks. Tight end Tyler Warren is going to play a big role in the passing game, but the Colts' wide receiving corps is a bit of a question mark to me. 20. Tampa Bay BuccaneersDepth ChartThe good: Defensive line -- With Vita Vea's trade request rescinded after agreeing to an extension with the Bucs, Tampa Bay now has one of the better defensive fronts in the league. Vea is coming off a 2025 campaign where he posted 51 total pressures and 4.5 sacks. He'll be working alongside Calijah Kancey, who is looking to rebound after an injury-plagued 2025 season where he was limited to just two games. Back in 2024, the former first-rounder did break out with 7.5 sacks and 39 pressures. On top of those two, the Bucs have Yaya Diaby (seven sacks in 2025) and Rueben Bain Jr. (No. 15 overall pick in 2026) headlining the defense off the edge. The bad: Cornerback -- The Bucs are slated to start Zyon McCollum and Benjamin Morison at outside corner in 2026 after Jamel Dean left in free agency this offseason. Morrison was a second-round pick in 2025, but his rookie season saw him play just 61% of the defensive snaps (10 games played and three starts) due to injury. When he was on the field, he surrendered a passer rating of 112.2 when targeted. Meanwhile, McCollum, who is entering his fifth season in the NFL after being a fifth-rounder in 2022, has been a full-time starter for the Buccaneers over the past two seasons. Last year, he struggled a bit, allowing a career-high six touchdowns in coverage and a passer rating of 100.9 when targeted. The question: Quarterback -- As he enters a contract year, what version of Baker Mayfield will the Bucs get in 2026? At the start of last season, Mayfield was on an MVP trajectory, leading Tampa to a 5-1 record while notching 12 touchdowns and just one interception for a 108.5 passer rating. Things went haywire after that, in part due to injuries, and his passer rating fell to 80.6, and the Bucs went 3-8, missing the playoffs. If Mayfield can get back to his old self, Tampa Bay should be firmly in the mix to win the NFC South. 19. Pittsburgh SteelersDepth ChartThe good: Edge rusher -- The pass rush is still the bread and butter of the Steelers. T.J. Watt remains one of the more feared edge rushers in the league, even as his sack total dipped to seven in 2025. In 14 games, he still had 46 total pressures. Meanwhile, Alex Highsmith is coming off a 9.5-sack season in just 13 games played, and 2023 fourth-round pick Nick Herbig broke out with a career-high 7.5 sacks last year. The bad: Safety -- There are some durability concerns with this group. Pittsburgh inked Jaquan Brisker to a one-year deal in free agency, and while he played in all 17 games for Chicago last season and broke up eight passes, he has a history of concussions. Meanwhile, DeShon Elliott was limited to five games last year due to injury. To compound the concern surrounding their injury history is the lack of depth behind them. After Brisker and Elliott, the Steelers have seventh-round rookie Robert Spears-Jennings, Jack Henderson and veteran Rayshawn Jenkins. The question: Quarterback -- Aaron Rodgers already announced this season as his last, and it stands to wonder what Pittsburgh will get out of the 42-year-old. While his 24-7 touchdown-to-interception ratio was inside the top-10 in 2025, Rodgers' numbers beyond that were middling. He was 16th among 33 qualified QBs in completion percentage, 15th in passing yards and 27th in yards per attempt. Does that improve, decline, or stay the same in 2026? 18. Minnesota VikingsDepth ChartThe good: Wide receiver -- Kyler Murray has some nice weaponry to work with in Minnesota. Justin Jefferson is one of the best receivers in the NFL, having racked up more receiving yards (5,464) than any other player over the last four years. Jordan Addison is a great No. 2, recording 911 yards and 10 touchdowns as a rookie in 2023, 875 yards and nine touchdowns in 2024, then 610 yards and three touchdowns with the struggling J.J. McCarthy in 2025. The Vikings also have one of the best "No. 3s" in the NFL with Jauan Jennings. He emerged as a trusted target of Brock Purdy in San Francisco. Believe it or not, Jennings tied George Kittle for the most receiving touchdowns on the team over the last two years, and had the most receptions (47) and receiving yards (546) by a 49er on third down over the past two seasons. In fact, he led the team in red-zone (34), fourth-quarter (50), and third-down targets (69) over the last two years. Underrated. The bad: Safety -- The Vikings are beginning a new era on the back end with Harrison Smith now gone. Joshua Metellus and Jay Ward are slated to be the starters at safety. Metellus is entering his seventh season with Minnesota, and he recorded back-to-back 100-tackle seasons in 2023 and 2024. Ward has started in just five of 50 career games played for Minnesota and has one career pass deflection and zero interceptions. He did have that electric sack of Jaxson Dart in the first preseason game of the year, though. Then there's third-round pick Jakobe Thomas out of Miami, who I think could be a legitimate sleeper. Maybe he can quell concerns at safety immediately. The question: Quarterback -- If Murray returns to Pro Bowl form and is rejuvenated by this change of scenery, then the Vikings are a legitimate NFL sleeper. However, he has to prove that. Murray has missed 30 out of a possible 68 games over the last five years, and Jacoby Brissett looked like an upgrade over him in Arizona last year. Murray is also running a different style of offense, but Kevin O'Connell is encouraged by what he can be in this scheme. 17. Chicago BearsDepth ChartThe good: Tight end -- Colston Loveland is knocking on the door of superstar status entering his sophomore season. Chicago selected the Michigan product with the 10th overall pick at the 2025 NFL Draft, and he started to truly emerge down the stretch of his rookie campaign. From Week 9 to Week 18 (10 games), Loveland caught 47 balls for 597 yards and six touchdowns. That put him on a 1,000-yard, double-digit touchdown pace over the course of a full regular season. He carried that into the playoffs as well, catching 12 of his 25 (!) targets over two games for 193 yards. Meanwhile, backup Cole Kmet is no slouch and has a 73-catch season on his résumé. The Bears also took Stanford tight end Sam Roush in the third round (69th overall) of the 2026 NFL Draft this past spring. The bad: Center -- One of the true stunners of the offseason was the retirement of Drew Dalman. He was (literally) at the center of Chicago's revamped offensive line and was a key piece to Caleb Williams' leap in Year 2. While the interior of the offensive line still has guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson to help Williams stay upright, there are some questions as to how the center spot will shake out. The Bears traded for veteran Garrett Bradbury, who was solid for New England last season, but doesn't have nearly the ceiling as Dalman. They also selected Logan Jones in the second round, giving them options at center. The question: Wide receiver -- The Bears traded away DJ Moore to the Bills, leaving the wide receiver room to the youngsters Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III. The projections suggest that this should be quite the duo for Caleb Williams, but we're still in a wait-and-see phase. Odunze was limited to 12 games in his second season in 2025, and Burden was more of a complementary piece as a rookie, starting just five of his 15 regular-season games. If both of these players hit as they adopt a larger target share within the offense, they could each break out in 2026."

"Mike ClayAug 21, 2026, 06:15 AM ETCloseMike Clay is a senior writer for fantasy football and the NFL at ESPN. Mike is a member of the FSWA Hall of Fame. His projections power the ESPN Fantasy Football game, and he also appears on "Fantasy Football Now" and the Fantasy Focus Football podcast.Multiple AuthorsWhen 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 "loaded" at a particular position, but each unit is only as good as it is relative to the league's 31 other teams.That might seem like common sense, but you would be surprised by what you can learn sitting down and objectively grading and/or ranking each positional unit of all 32 teams. This is a project I've done each offseason, which has led to many interesting revelations, including the likely breakouts of teams such as the 2020 Buccaneers, 2022 Eagles and 2023 Dolphins.Here are position-by-position unit rankings for all 32 teams this season covering the 10 key offensive and defensive groups. At the bottom, I've included an overall ranking weighted based on positional importance (for example, it's more crucial to be elite at quarterback than at running back). I also gave brief outlooks on the best and shakiest units at each position, as well as intriguing groups worth keeping an eye on. Note that these are 2026 rankings rather than long-term outlooks.Let's take a look, starting at quarterback.Jump to: QB | RB | WR | TE | OL DT | Edge | LB | CB | S Overall outlookQuarterbackBest: Buffalo BillsAfter having Baltimore's Lamar Jackson in this spot last year, I'm giving the edge to 2024 NFL MVP Josh Allen this time around. Allen has finished no lower than seventh in QBR in each of the past six seasons (third or better in four of them). He remains a major factor with his legs, leading all QBs in carries, rushing yards and rushing TDs last season. Incredibly, only running back Derrick Henry (44) has more rushing TDs than Allen (41) over the past three seasons.Shakiest: Arizona CardinalsKyler Murray is gone, leaving Jacoby Brissett as the probable Week 1 starter. Brissett racked up the counting stats in 12 starts last season (3,366 passing yards, 23 TDs), but Arizona throwing at a league-high rate (partially due to always being behind) was a primary factor. Brissett finished 24th among 28 qualified quarterbacks in QBR (41.2). Gardner Minshew II and third-round rookie Carson Beck could also get some run if Brissett struggles.Unit to watch: Atlanta FalconsOutside of Cleveland, the only QB battle around is between Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa. The No. 8 overall pick in 2024, Penix has yet to emerge as a capable starter. He has totaled 14 touchdown passes in 14 games, and he had a league-low 23.1% off-target rate before his ACL tear in Week 11 of last season. Meanwhile, Tagovailoa has flashed at times during his career, but Miami took on a record $99.2 million in dead money to move on from him after a disappointing 2025 season.Running backBest: Indianapolis ColtsClose one here, but Jonathan Taylor gets the nod. He's one of the league's best backs and handles a massive bulk of the team's touches. Taylor had a terrific 2025 campaign in which he led the NFL in carries (323) and touchdowns (18), while also finishing third in rushing yardage (1,585). Once a minimal part of the Colts' passing game, Taylor also ranked the top-10 among backs in routes, targets, catches and receiving yards, setting career highs in each. This all happened despite a big dip in production after quarterback Daniel Jones was injured in Week 14.Shakiest: Jacksonville JaguarsThere's upside here, but this group is unproven. With Travis Etienne Jr. gone, 2025 Day 2 picks Bhayshul Tuten and LeQuint Allen Jr. will team up with journeyman Chris Rodriguez Jr. to form a three-headed committee. Tuten made some highlight plays as a rookie, but he was limited to 83 carries and 14 targets. Rodriguez has been effective as a rusher (career 4.6 yards per carry), but the sample is small (198 carries) and he's not a receiving option (six career catches). Expect Allen (23 carries, 11 targets as a rookie) to see occasional work in passing situations.Unit to watch: Seattle SeahawksSuper Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III signed with the Chiefs and Zach Charbonnet tore his ACL in January, leaving Seattle's backfield with a much different look in 2026. Rookie Jadarian Price -- the final pick of the first round -- could emerge as a breakout, but he's obviously an unknown and has minimal experience as a pass catcher. Holdover George Holani and journeyman Emanuel Wilson will battle for reps until Charbonnet makes his return.Wide receiverBest: Cincinnati BengalsThere were a few strong candidates here, but none can match Cincinnati's duo of Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. In 2024, Chase became the first player in league history to reach 1,700 receiving yards and 17 TD catches in a single season. Last season, he became the third receiver to produce 120-plus catches and 1,400-plus yards in multiple campaigns. Higgins is arguably the league's best WR2, and he had the fourth-most TD catches in the league over the past two seasons (21). Andrei Iosivas is a capable No. 3 option; fourth-round rookie Colbie Young is already making a play for a Year 1 role.Shakiest: Miami DolphinsThe Tyreek Hill/Jaylen Waddle era is over in Miami, leaving the rebuilding Dolphins with a major short-term hole at the position. I say "short term" because they invested 2026 draft resources into the position: Chris Bell (Round 3), Caleb Douglas (Round 3) and Kevin Coleman Jr. (Round 5). But it's hard to project the Year 1 impact for these rookies, especially since Bell is returning from a torn ACL. The likes of Malik Washington and newcomers Tutu Atwell and Jalen Tolbert are best suited for situational/depth roles, but they could be the Dolphins' starting trio most of this season.Unit to watch: Tennessee TitansThe Titans invested heavily at the position during the offseason, signing Wan'Dale Robinson (one of four receivers with 90-plus catches each of the past two seasons) to a four-year, $70 million deal and selecting Carnell Tate with the No. 4 pick in April. That duo will team up with veteran Calvin Ridley in the starting lineup, second-year players Chimere Dike and Elic Ayomanor should add solid depth.Tight endBest: Las Vegas RaidersAn injury-riddled 2025 campaign is not enough for us to overlook superstar Brock Bowers. The 2024 first-round pick began his career with an elite statline of 112 receptions, 1,194 receiving yards and five touchdowns. He was just as dominant despite missing five games in 2025, posting 64 receptions, 680 receiving yards and seven touchdowns -- all three of which ranked top 10 at the position. The 23-year-old is a strong bet for a big bounce-back with Kirk Cousins and/or Fernando Mendoza under center in 2026. Michael Mayer and former Carolina starter Ian Thomas add terrific depth.Shakiest: Miami DolphinsGreg Dulcich was solid for this team down the stretch last season, but the reality is that he's a 26-year-old journeyman with 67 career receptions who would be a depth piece on most rosters. Instead, he'll work as the Dolphins' top receiving option at the position. Rookies Will Kacmarek (Round 3) and Seydou Traore (Round 5), as well as fourth-year veteran Ben Sims, will be in the mix for snaps.Unit to watch: Los Angeles RamsCoach Sean McVay has pivoted his scheme to rely heavily on the tight end position, so it's no surprise that the team used its past two second-round picks at the position (Terrance Ferguson in 2025 and Ohio State's Max Klare in 2026). Tyler Higbee is back for his age-33 campaign, while veterans Colby Parkinson and Davis Allen will also get run. Don't be surprised if Ferguson finishes third on the team in catches this season.Offensive lineBest: Denver BroncosThis was an easy call after the Broncos led the NFL in both pass block and run block win rate in 2024 prior to finishing top-eight in both categories last season. Incredibly, Denver will have the same starting five for the third straight season: LT Garett Bolles, LG Ben Powers, C Luke Wattenberg, RG Quinn Meinerz and RT Mike McGlinchey. All five players posted pass block win rates well above league average in the past two seasons; four of the five posted good-to-great run block win rates.Shakiest: Houston TexansThis group remains a major concern after finishing last in run block win rate (68.4%) and 30th in pass block win rate (55.5%) in 2025. Three of their starters -- LT Aireontae Ersery (2025 second-rounder), C Jake Andrews and G Ed Ingram -- remain, though the latter two will face substantial competition from Wyatt Teller, Evan Brown and first-round pick Keylan Rutledge. Braden Smith was signed as a potential upgrade over Trent Brown at right tackle.Unit to watch: Los Angeles ChargersLast season, LT Rashawn Slater (patellar tendon) missed every game and RT Joe Alt (ankle) was limited to 294 snaps. Both are expected to be healthy for 2026, which is massive news for a Chargers team that finished last in pass block win rate (53.9%) and 31st in run block win rate (68.9%) in 2025. Their return is also important considering Los Angeles' underwhelming guard situation. The team is replacing Zion Johnson and Mekhi Becton with free agent Cole Strange and second-round rookie Jake Slaughter. Tyler Biadasz was signed to solidify the center position, but he is out indefinitely after an ACL injury in practice Tuesday.Interior defensive lineBest: Seattle SeahawksThe defending champs get this nod for the second year in a row. Seattle allowed a league-low 17.2 points game last season and finished third in the league in run stop win rate (32.5%). The team remains stacked upfront, with Leonard Williams (18.0 sacks over the past two seasons) still playing at a high level at 32. Byron Murphy II made a big Year 2 leap (fourth among interior linemen with 7.0 sacks in 2025) and Jarran Reed remains a quality rotational player.Shakiest: Las Vegas RaidersThe good news is that the Raiders have some continuity up front, returning all three interior linemen who played at least 50% of their defensive snaps last season. The bad news is that none of the three -- Adam Butler, Jonah Laulu and Thomas Booker IV -- were especially good last season, combining for 12 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks. Free agent addition Benito Jones, 2025 fourth-rounder Tonka Hemingway and 2025 sixth-rounder JJ Pegues also struggled last season and will compete for snaps up front.Unit to watch: New York JetsNew York's defense quietly improved during the offseason, and the interior defensive line is a big part of the progression. Underrated T'Vondre Sweat was acquired from Tennessee and veteran David Onyemata was signed from the Falcons. The duo joins incumbents Harrison Phillips and Jowon Briggs, as well as fourth-round rookie Darrell Jackson Jr.Edge rusherBest: Pittsburgh SteelersThe Steelers top the edge list for the second consecutive year. Last season, they ranked fourth in the NFL with a 41.3% pass rush win rate and were sixth with 48 sacks. T.J. Watt is not coming off his best campaign, but he was an All-Pro in each of his past five healthy seasons. Alex Highsmith is a terrific running mate with 37.0 sacks over the past four seasons. Nick Herbig registered a career-high 7.5 sacks last season, and his 24.7% pass rush win rate since entering the league in 2021 is second to only Micah Parsons.Shakiest: Miami DolphinsInjuries have derailed this position for Miami in recent seasons, but this time the personnel doesn't quite stack up. Third-year Chop Robinson is the headliner, and he saw a slip in playing time, sacks and pass-rush efficiency from Year 1 to 2. Robinson has the potential to improve in 2026, but his running mates have generally worked as depth/rotational players, including Josh Uche, Clelin Ferrell, Cameron Goode and David Ojabo. Those four players combined for 5.5 sacks last season -- 4.0 of which were from Ferrell.Unit to watch: New York GiantsThe Giants' 41.3% pass rush win rate ranked fifth in the NFL last season, and their edge trio is all back for 2026. Brian Burns is the headliner after finishing second to only Myles Garrett with 16.5 sacks last season. Abdul Carter was as advertised as a rookie, finishing seventh in the NFL with 53 pass-rush wins. Kayvon Thibodeaux's production was down with the addition of Carter, but he is as good as you'll find for a third edge. No. 5 overall pick Arvell Reese will focus on off-ball linebacker, but he should get some pass-rush work and would be the top edge rusher on a lot of teams.Off-ball linebackerBest: New York JetsThe 37-year-old Demario Davis is back after ranking 10th in the NFL with 143 tackles last season. He has now cleared 100 in nine consecutive seasons, totaling 36.5 sacks during that span. The future Hall of Famer will team up with Jamien Sherwood, whose 308 tackles over the past two seasons ranked second most in the NFL.Shakiest: Indianapolis ColtsThe Colts weren't as aggressive as expected in upgrading their linebacker room after ranking 30th in pass rush win rate (29.1%) and 25th in run stop win rate (29.2%) last season. Zaire Franklin and Germaine Pratt departed, and the team is hoping to replace them with journeyman Akeem Davis-Gaither, second-round pick CJ Allen and fourth-round pick Bryce Boettcher. Davis-Gaither has played situationally during most of his six NFL seasons, but he and the rookies will battle for every-down work in 2026.Unit to watch: Buffalo BillsTerrel Bernard remains the team's top LB, but he has battled injuries (nine total games missed) and ineffectiveness (poor Pro Football Focus grades) in each of the past two seasons. Running mate Dorian Williams has generally been a situational player, but he might need to play an expanded role this season. Fourth-round rookie Kaleb Elarms-Orr and special-teamer Joe Andreessen are his primary competitors for snaps. Due to its LB situation, Buffalo could lean a bit more on three-safety looks in the post-Sean McDermott era.CornerbackBest: Houston TexansDerek Stingley Jr. is one of the league's top cornerbacks, ranking first at the position in both passes defensed (46) and interceptions (14) over the past three seasons. He's joined on the perimeter by 23-year-old Kamari Lassiter, whose 17 passes defensed last season ranked sixth in the NFL. Jalen Pitre is among the league's most versatile and productive defenders, operating as Houston's primary slot corner and handling safety duties in base coverage. Jaylin Smith -- a 2025 third-round pick -- also adds upside from the bench.Shakiest: Miami DolphinsIt's Miami for the second year in a row. On paper, this is arguably worse group than the one that allowed a 58.3 QBR last season (fifth worst). First-round rookie Chris Johnson does offer some hope, as he figures to immediately step in as an every-down starter. Storm Duck, slot Jason Marshall Jr., Darrell Baker Jr. JuJu Brents and Marco Wilson should battle for substantial roles.Unit to watch: Dallas CowboysThe Cowboys' roster is looking pretty solid, so an unproven cornerback room very well could make or break their season. It's an area that must be better after Dallas finished dead last in defensive EPA, allowed a 58.4 QBR (29th) and generated only six INTs in 2025. DaRon Bland battled injuries last season but remains the clear star of this group. Ex-Rams Cobie Durant and Derion Kendrick were signed this offseason, battling second-year man Shavon Revel Jr. (last among CBs in PFF grade in 2025), fourth-round rookie Devin Moore and others for starting roles.SafetyBest: Baltimore RavensKyle Hamilton is one of the league's best defenders and only entering his age-25 season. He led all NFL safeties in pass-rush attempts last season; he finished top 10 at the position in tackles, passes defensed and tackles for loss. Hamilton is joined in the back end by 2025 first-round pick Malaki Starks, who was solid as a rookie. And the Ravens signed Jaylinn Hawkins, who was solid as an every-down player for the Patriots last season. All three players played at least 950 snaps in 2025.Shakiest: Miami DolphinsWith Minkah Fitzpatrick and Ashtyn Davis gone, 2025 fifth-rounder Dante Trader Jr. and journeyman Lonnie Johnson Jr. are strong candidates to start. Trader racked up 48 tackles as a rookie in 2025, but he was limited to a situational role for 15 games. Johnson is best as a depth piece and hasn't appeared in more than nine games in a season since 2021. Rookie Michael Taaffe (Round 5) and veteran Zayne Anderson (141 defensive snaps in four seasons) are also in the mix.Unit to watch: Philadelphia EaglesThe Eagles were a strong candidate for "shakiest." Reed Blankenship signed with Houston, which positions second-year man Andrew Mukuba (who missed half of his rookie season with a fractured ankle) and Marcus Epps (a backup for most of 2025) as the team's top full-time options. Cooper DeJean should also get some run at safety, but he is the team's primary slot corner.OverallBest: Los Angeles RamsSimply put, the Rams have one of the best teams on paper of the past decade. It starts with reigning NFL MVP Matthew Stafford and reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett, but it goes much deeper than that.Offensively, the team has a terrific line, a formidable running back duo, an elite wide receiver duo, and a five-deep tight end room that includes a pair of second-round picks. It's hard to find a weak spot defensively, as Garrett joins a terrific front seven and Trent McDuffie -- one of the league's top corners -- helps upgrade the secondary. Add in an elite coach Sean McVay and the Rams are a good bet to be playing at home in Super Bowl LXI.Shakiest: Miami DolphinsThis should not be a surprise considering Miami had the shakiest unit at half of the positions on this list. A last-place case could've also been made for quarterback, where 27-year-old starter Malik Willis has just 155 pass attempts to his name.Running back De'Von Achane is a baller, but he has little help and has to run behind a shaky offensive line. The defense has a few solid players, including linebacker Jordyn Brooks and defensive tackle Zach Sieler, but there are weak spots all over the unit. Needless to say, the Dolphins are in full-on rebuild mode with new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and new coach Jeff Hafley. The only way for them to be competitive is if Willis emerges into a star.Team to watch: Dallas CowboysThe Cowboys haven't been to the Super Bowl since the 1994 season, but perhaps they make their best push since with this competitive roster. Quarterback Dak Prescott has a solid offensive line in front of him, as well as an elite wide receiver duo in CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens. The defense was a massive problem in 2025, allowing a league-high 30.1 points per game, but there's plenty of hope for it to be better this season.Rashan Gary, Dee Winters, Cobie Durant and Jalen Thompson were savvy additions, while first-round rookies Malachi Lawrence and Caleb Downs should also be big factors. Along with Quinnen Williams, Kenny Clark, Donovan Ezeiruaku, DeMarvion Overshown, Bland and Malik Hooker, you suddenly have what looks like a solid unit. With a productive offense and serviceable defense, Dallas should be squarely in the NFC playoff mix."