It's all relative, which is something that's often overlooked when NFL rosters are analyzed. Sure, Washington's Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen form a potentially lethal defensive tackle duo, but look around the league; the DT position is absolutely loaded with proven stars. It's easy to say Washington has a "good" or even "great" duo, but the fact is, it's only as good as it is relative to the league's other 31 units.
That might seem like common sense, but you'd be surprised what you can learn and how your opinions are adjusted by actually sitting down and objectively (to the best of your ability) grading and/or ranking each positional unit of all 32 teams. This is a project I've done (and kept updated) each of the past several offseasons, which has led to several interesting revelations, including the likely breakouts of teams such as the 2016 Raiders, 2017 Chargers, 2017 Jaguars, 2017 Eagles and 2018 Browns.
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 (being elite at quarterback is obviously more important than being elite at running back, for example). Positional value was a major driving force in determining the weighting. Note that these are 2019 rankings, not long-term outlooks.
Jump ahead: QB | RB | WR | TE
OL | DT | Edge | LB
CB | S | Overall
Quarterbacks
Best quarterback units
1. New England Patriots: The Patriots have played in the AFC Championship Game each of the past eight seasons and Tom Brady is the primary reason why. Many have come and gone as threats for the top spot, but none have been able to sustain elite production the way Brady has over the years. Brian Hoyer is a good backup.
2. New Orleans Saints: An improved defense and balanced offensive playcalling have taken some pressure off Drew Brees in recent years, but he has been nothing short of exceptional when called upon. Brees has ranked no lower than third in completion percentage and no lower than seventh in YPA each of the past four seasons. Teddy Bridgewater is a terrific backup.
3. Kansas City Chiefs: I wouldn't throw a fit if you felt reigning NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes should be first, but I was careful here not to overreact to a small sample and what could eventually go down as the best season of Mahomes' career. Regardless, it's fair to say Kansas City has the league's best long-term quarterback situation. Now 34, Chad Henne is a competent, albeit uninspiring backup.
Shakiest quarterback units
32. Denver Broncos: Joe Flacco and second-round pick Drew Lock will handle most of the 2019 snaps for this team. Flacco hasn't cleared 20 passing touchdowns in a season since 2014 and his 6.3 yards per attempt over the past four seasons is worst in the league. Of Lock, coach Vic Fangio recently said, "He's not a quarterback yet."
31. Miami Dolphins: Ryan Fitzpatrick and Josh Rosen are battling for this gig. Fitzpatrick is as boom/bust as you'll find, pacing the league in YPA (9.6), but finishing worst in interception rate (4.9%) last season. There's still hope for 2018 first-rounder Rosen, but he was ditched by Arizona after struggling to a 55% completion rate, 5.8 YPA and 14 picks in 14 rookie-season games.
30. Washington Redskins: Veterans Case Keenum and Colt McCoy are competing with first-round pick Dwayne Haskins for this gig. Haskins is obviously an unknown, Keenum was one of the league's shakiest full-time starters last season (6.6 YPA, 62% completion percentage) and McCoy has thrown 65 regular-season passes over the past five seasons.
Running backs
Best RB units
1. New York Giants: It's 2019, not 1989, so Saquon Barkley's outstanding pass-catching ability is a key reason why the Giants sit atop this list. The 2018 second overall pick finished third or better at the position in rushing attempts, rushing yards, pass routes, receptions, touches, scrimmage yards and total touchdowns as a rookie. Wayne Gallman, Paul Perkins and Rod Smith add depth.
2. Cleveland Browns: The Browns have a terrific duo in Nick Chubb and Duke Johnson Jr. and also get half credit for Kareem Hunt, who will join them after an eight-game suspension. Chubb ranked top 10 in yards per attempt and yards after contact as a rookie, while elite pass-catching back Johnson leads the position in receiving yards over the past four seasons.
3. New Orleans Saints: Alvin Kamara has yet to clear 200 carries in a season, but he has caught 81 passes during each of his two pro seasons. His efficiency (5.1 YPC, 9.5 YPR) has been terrific in both areas. Mark Ingram II is gone, but Latavius Murray is one of the league's better complementary backs.
Shakiest RB units
32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Peyton Barber did very little (3.7 yards per carry, 3.3 yards per touch) with a lot (254 touches) last season, but is expected to lead this backfield again in 2019. A potential second-year leap from Ronald Jones is possible, but it's hard to expect much after he managed 77 yards on 30 touches in 2018.
31. Miami Dolphins: Kenyan Drake is an effective rusher (career 4.7 YPC, 2.1 YAC), but has thus far been limited to committee work. New running mate Kalen Ballage posted some brutal efficiency numbers at Arizona State, and aside from one long touchdown run, he struggled in limited rookie-season work. Mark Walton and/or Myles Gaskin could become factors.
30. Kansas City Chiefs: Damien Williams flashed, at times, in one of the best offenses we've ever seen last season, but the 27-year-old back has struggled with efficiency throughout his career (career 4.0 YPC, 1.4 YAC) and has never cleared 50 carries in a single season. Carlos Hyde is an intriguing rebound candidate, but his play has slipped in recent seasons.
Wide receivers
Best WR units
1. Los Angeles Rams: Coach Sean McVay loves the "11" personnel package and it's easy to understand why. The trio of Brandin Cooks, Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp has been nearly unstoppable. Consider that during the seven full games they played together last season, all three were top-11 fantasy wide receivers. That's incredible production. Josh Reynolds has proved to be a solid fourth option.
2. Atlanta Falcons: Fun fact: Mohamed Sanu led Falcons wide receivers in snaps last season. And he's expected to be the team's No. 3 this season. Atlanta is in outstanding shape with superstar Julio Jones and second-year riser Calvin Ridley outside and reliable veteran Sanu in the slot.
3. Minnesota Vikings: Whereas the Rams and Falcons have terrific trios, the Vikings have arguably the league's best wide receiver duo. Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs were two of only 11 NFL players who cleared 100 receptions last season. Depth is a bit shaky with Chad Beebe, Jordan Taylor and Laquon Treadwell among those competing for spots.
Shakiest WR units
32. Baltimore Ravens: Willie Snead IV, Chris Moore and Seth Roberts are this team's top veteran wide receiver options. First-round speedster Marquise Brown is still recovering from a foot injury, and fellow youngsters Miles Boykin, Jordan Lasley, Jaleel Scott and Antoine Wesley have combined to play zero NFL snaps.
31. Washington Redskins: Josh Doctson simply hasn't developed into a star since being selected in the first round back in 2016. He'll work opposite Paul Richardson, who is a decent player but has struggled badly with injuries throughout his career. Last year's Mr. Irrelevant Trey Quinn and rookies Terry McLaurin and Kelvin Harmon will also push for snaps.
30. Buffalo Bills: Zay Jones and Robert Foster made some noise in the final month of the 2018 season, but they are far from proven commodities. Buffalo signed John Brown (a career situational deep threat in Arizona and Baltimore) and Cole Beasley (who cleared 700 yards just once during seven seasons as the slot man in Dallas) to form a relatively undistinguished quartet.
Tight ends
Best TE units
1. Philadelphia Eagles: Zach Ertz set the NFL single-season record for receptions by a tight end last season, and he's joined by 2018 second-year Dallas Goedert who, by all accounts, appears to be developing into an eventual star.
2. Kansas City Chiefs: The league's best tight end, Travis Kelce has finished in the top two at the position in receptions and receiving yardage each of the past three seasons. The depth is a bit shakier here with Demetrius Harris gone and Neal Sterling and Blake Bell next on the depth chart.
3. San Francisco 49ers: George Kittle set the NFL single-season record for receiving yardage by a tight end last season, just his second year in the league. Levine Toilolo, Garrett Celek and sixth-round pick Kaden Smith are the depth.
Shakiest TE units
32. Jacksonville Jaguars: Geoff Swaim, James O'Shaughnessy and Ben Koyack are career backups with a combined 105 career receptions, but this is the trio that will handle a majority of the team's tight end snaps this season. Third-round pick Josh Oliver could also emerge as a factor.
31. Oakland Raiders: With Jared Cook gone, the team will look to 26-year-old converted wide receiver Darren Waller (16 career receptions) to pick up the slack. Journeymen Luke Willson and Derek Carrier, as well as fourth-round pick Foster Moreau, are among those also in the mix.
30. Buffalo Bills: Offseason signing Tyler Kroft spent four seasons as a blocking specialist in Cincinnati and actually fell to third on the team's depth chart last season. Fellow newcomers Lee Smith (blocker) and Dawson Knox (third-round rookie) also will be major factors.
Offensive line
Best OL units
1. Philadelphia Eagles: The Eagles' terrific 2018 unit remains in place with Jason Peters, Isaac Seumalo, Jason Kelce, Brandon Brooks and Lane Johnson set as starters. First-round draft pick Andre Dillard adds some much-needed security behind the aging Peters.
2. Dallas Cowboys: Elite center Travis Frederick is expected back healthy this season. He'll be surrounded by Tyron Smith and Connor Williams to the left and La'el Collins and Zack Martin to his right. Williams will be pushed by third-round pick Connor McGovern.
3. New England Patriots: A majority of this line remains in place in the form of David Andrews, Joe Thuney, Shaq Mason and Marcus Cannon. That's a terrific foursome, though left tackle is a major concern area. Trent Brown is gone, leaving 2018 first-round pick Isaiah Wynn as the favorite to cover Tom Brady's blind side.
Shakiest OL units
32. Miami Dolphins: Laremy Tunsil is back at left tackle, but otherwise this line is a work in progress. With Josh Sitton, Ja'Wuan James and Ted Larsen gone, Daniel Kilgore, Jesse Davis, Jordan Mills and third-round pick Michael Deiter are probable starters for the rebuilding Dolphins. This line is going to take a while to repair.
31. Cincinnati Bengals: The Bengals fall to 31st after the season-ending injury to first-round pick Jonah Williams, as well as the surprise retirement of potential left guard starter Clint Boling. Cordy Glenn and Bobby Hart are the tackles and Billy Price the center, leaving John Miller, John Jerry and Christian Westerman among those competing at guard.
30. Houston Texans: No player was sacked more often than Deshaun Watson last season (62). To Houston's credit, they have a lot more options this season, including early-round rookies Tytus Howard and Max Scharping, as well as veteran signing Matt Kalil. Julie'n Davenport, Seantrel Henderson, Martinas Rankin, Senio Kelemete, Nick Martin and Zach Fulton are also competing.
Interior defensive line
Best interior DL units
1. Carolina Panthers: Carolina signed Gerald McCoy during the offseason and, combined with Kawann Short, the team now has arguably the league's best duo at the position. Dontari Poe is a solid nose tackle and will get a ton of work between McCoy and Short in the team's new 3-4 front. Kyle Love and former first-round pick Vernon Butler are quality depth.
2. Detroit Lions: Damon Harrison is nothing short of an elite run-stuffer and still in his prime heading into his age-30 season. After a terrific rookie season, Da'Shawn Hand appears to be a gem find in the fourth round. Former second-round pick A'Shawn Robinson is entering his fourth NFL season but is still only 24 years old. The rich got richer last week when Detroit signed former Packer Mike Daniels.
3. Los Angeles Rams: Aaron Donald is the best player in the NFL, and you could make the case the Rams should be No. 1 here due to his presence alone. Of course, with Ndamukong Suh gone, Michael Brockers is back to second in line and the rest of the depth chart, including fourth-round pick Greg Gaines, has a total of six NFL snaps on their résumés.
Shakiest interior DL units
32. Dallas Cowboys: There are a lot of quality defensive tackles in the league right now, so even the "worst" teams here have at least one decent option. That's the case for Dallas, who, with David Irving gone, figures to lean heavily on versatile Tyrone Crawford in the interior. The likes of Antwaun Woods, Maliek Collins and Christian Covington are next up, with second-rounder Trysten Hill likely to play a substantial rookie-season role.
31. Los Angeles Chargers: Corey Liuget and Darius Philon both departed during the offseason, leaving 34-year-old run-stuffer Brandon Mebane as the top returning veteran. First-round pick Jerry Tillery and 2018 third-rounder Justin Jones offer some upside here, but both are unproven.
30. Miami Dolphins: Davon Godchaux and Akeem Spence are the top returning veterans, with first-round pick Christian Wilkins the main attraction if he's up to the task. The rookie figures to have a lot on his plate for the rebuilding Dolphins this season.
Edge rushers
Best edge rusher units
1. Houston Texans: It's not possible to do much better than a J.J. Watt-Jadeveon Clowney duo on the edge, but add Whitney Mercilus to the mix and you have yourself the league's best trio. Watt and Clowney combined for 25.0 sacks in 2018.
2. Jacksonville Jaguars: The Jaguars' defense has ranked fourth or better in points allowed each of the past two seasons thanks in big part to the presence of Calais Campbell -- one of the league's best defensive linemen over the past decade -- and Yannick Ngakoue. The two combined for 20.0 sacks last season and will be joined on the edge by 2019 first-round pick Josh Allen this season.
3. Cleveland Browns: Myles Garrett is emerging into one of the league's most dominant players, registering 13.5 sacks in 2018. In 2019, he'll be joined by Olivier Vernon, who ranked 10th in sacks (8) and ninth in pressures (46) when active last season. Genard Avery and Chris Smith add depth.
Shakiest edge rusher units
32. Miami Dolphins: Miami finished 29th in sacks (31) last season and hasn't finished better than 19th in the category since 2014. It's possible that the team's sack total could actually get worse this season after the offseason departures of Cameron Wake, Robert Quinn, William Hayes and Andre Branch. Atop the depth chart are Charles Harris, Jonathan Woodard, Tank Carradine and Nate Orchard. The four combined for 2.0 sacks last season.
31. New York Giants: The Giants ranked 30th in the league in sacks last season (30), but still made the decision to trade away their top pass-rusher (Vernon) during the offseason. He'll be replaced atop the depth chart by 28-year-old Markus Golden, with Kareem Martin, Lorenzo Carter and rookie Oshane Ximines next in line. That group combined for 8.0 sacks last season.
30. New York Jets: After finishing 16th or worse in sacks each of the past three seasons, the Jets tried to shore up their pass rush with Anthony Barr during the offseason. That didn't work out, leaving the team with third-round rookie Jachai Polite as its probable best option on the edge. Returning incumbents Frankie Luvu, Jordan Jenkins and Brandon Copeland combined for 15.0 sacks in 1,614 snaps last season.
Off-ball linebackers
Best off-ball LB units
1. Seattle Seahawks: Bobby Wagner is one of the league's best players and the main reason a Seattle defense with many holes stayed afloat in 2018. He'll be joined in the lineup by K.J. Wright, who was limited to 278 snaps by injuries last season. Mychal Kendricks is a good third option, and youngsters Shaquem Griffin, Cody Barton and Ben Burr-Kirven add upside on the bench.
2. Dallas Cowboys: Recent early-round picks Jaylon Smith and Leighton Vander Esch both enjoyed breakout 2018 seasons, with the latter posting the 11th-most tackles ever for a rookie. Sean Lee is now 33 years old, but you could obviously do much worse for your third linebacker.
3. Carolina Panthers: Luke Kuechly is one of the league's top defensive players and is still in his prime at 28 years old. Shaq Thompson is a quality second starter in the team's new-look 3-4 base defense. Jermaine Carter, Andre Smith and Jared Norris are the depth.
Shakiest off-ball LB units
32. New York Giants: Alec Ogletree soaked up over 800 snaps last season, but has struggled with effectiveness since his days with the Rams. B.J. Goodson, Tae Davis, Nate Stupar and fifth-round rookie Ryan Connelly are competing for significant snaps in the Giants' 3-4 base.
31. Baltimore Ravens: C.J. Mosley and his 579 tackles in five seasons are gone. That leaves Patrick Onwuasor and 2018 undrafted free-agent signing Chris Board atop the depth chart. The latter will be pushed hard by 2018 fourth-round pick Kenny Young. This group combined to play 822 snaps last season, whereas Mosley played 892 on his own.
30. Cincinnati Bengals: With Vontaze Burfict now in Oakland, Nick Vigil and Preston Brown are the Bengals' top veteran options at the position. Malik Jefferson and Jordan Evans are also in the mix, and the team is hoping 2019 third-rounder Germaine Pratt can make an immediate impact.
Cornerbacks
Best CB units
1. Los Angeles Chargers: Los Angeles sports one of the league's best one-two punches at the position in the form of stud shadow/perimeter corner Casey Hayward and third-year slot Desmond King. Trevor Williams and Michael Davis have flashed at times and will compete for the other perimeter job. Versatile CB/S Jaylen Watkins is back from a torn ACL.
2. Jacksonville Jaguars: Speaking of outstanding cornerback duos, the Jaguars are arguably best in the league in the category with Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye. D.J. Hayden did his best Aaron Colvin impression and held down the fort in the slot last season. Depth is a concern here with Tre Herndon and Quenton Meeks next up.
3. Los Angeles Rams: Marcus Peters' career in Los Angeles got off to a rocky start, but the former Chief settled in as the season progressed. He will rejoin Aqib Talib on the perimeter, with one of the league's top slot corners, Nickell Robey-Coleman, working inside. Troy Hill and third-round rookie David Long are the top backups.
Shakiest CB units
32. Seattle Seahawks: Shaquill Griffin and Tre Flowers return as the Seahawks' perimeter corners. Justin Coleman fled to Detroit, leaving the likes of Kalan Reed, Akeem King, Jamar Taylor and fourth-round pick Ugo Amadi to battle for slot and/or reserve duties. Reed has played 21 career NFL snaps, and the other four veteran corners all allowed a QB rating over 100.0 last season. Seattle's defense ranked eighth worst in yards per play allowed, and was middle of the pack or worse in most pass defense efficiency metrics last season.
31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: A 2018 second-round pick, Carlton Davis is an intriguing second-year breakout candidate. The team also has Day 2 rookies Sean Murphy-Bunting and Jamel Dean in the mix, although obviously all of these players are unproven at the pro level. Brent Grimes is gone and Vernon Hargreaves is back from injury, although the latter has been picked on often and struggled with efficiency so far in his career.
30. New York Jets: Trumaine Johnson is a solid No. 1 corner, but the offseason departures of Morris Claiborne and slot Buster Skrine leaves 2018 reserve Darryl Roberts and newcomer Brian Poole (slot) ticketed for major roles in 2019. The likes of Parry Nickerson, Derrick Jones and Jeremy Clark are uninspiring depth.
Safeties
Best safety units
1. Los Angeles Rams: A gem find in the third round of the 2017 draft, John Johnson III has emerged into one of the league's best safeties. Lamarcus Joyner is gone, but the team is arguably better off in the short term after signing 34-year-old Eric Weddle. Second-round pick Taylor Rapp adds some upside on the bench.
2. Baltimore Ravens: Newcomer Earl Thomas has missed 19 games over the past three seasons, but he remains one of the league's most impactful defensive players when healthy. Solid veteran Tony Jefferson will be his running mate, with Anthony Levine, Chuck Clark and DeShon Elliott the primary reserves.
3. Chicago Bears: Speaking of home run middle-round draft picks, Eddie Jackson has been a star since Chicago snagged him in the fourth round back in 2017. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix is on his third team in less than a year, but he is a serviceable replacement for Adrian Amos. Deon Bush has held his own as a third safety.
Shakiest safety units
32. Jacksonville Jaguars: The pressure is on 2018 third-round pick Ronnie Harrison to emerge as this team's No. 1 safety after the departures of 2018 starters Barry Church and Tashaun Gipson. Jarrod Wilson -- undrafted in 2016 -- has played 290 career snaps, but is currently penciled in at free safety. Journeyman Cody Davis (10 snaps last season) is the third safety.
31. San Francisco 49ers: Jaquiski Tartt, Jimmie Ward, Antone Exum, Adrian Colbert, Marcell Harris and D.J. Reed each played 310-plus snaps, but only Exum (558) cleared 424 last season. Injuries and ineffectiveness have been rampant, which makes this a tricky situation to project, but for now, Tartt and Ward are the favorites to start.
30. Dallas Cowboys: A 2017 sixth-round pick, Xavier Woods has settled in as the team's top free safety. Jeff Heath cleared 1,000 snaps last season, but he doesn't move the needle much. George Iloka, Darian Thompson and sixth-round rookie Donovan Wilson are the top reserves.
Overall
Best overall roster
1. New Orleans Saints: The Saints come in above average at eight of the 10 positions and their worst ranking -- interior defensive line -- is affected by Sheldon Rankins' torn Achilles tendon, which figures to cost him a chunk of the season. Drew Brees and Sean Payton are well-positioned for another Super Bowl run.
2. Philadelphia Eagles: Cornerback and running back show up as the Eagles' only obvious weak spots, although they have a lot of young depth at the former and revamped the latter with Jordan Howard and Miles Sanders. The key to their 2019 chances will be the health and production of Carson Wentz.
3. Los Angeles Rams: The Rams are weaker than most at edge rusher and linebacker, but they won the NFC with similar roster construction last season. Coach Sean McVay's ability to maximize scoring opportunities will be key to keeping Los Angeles near the top of the league.
Shakiest overall roster
32. Miami Dolphins: Aside from a pretty good secondary that includes one of the league's top young cornerback duos in Xavien Howard and Eric Rowe, the Dolphins' 2019 outlook is bleak at nearly every position. Similar to Cleveland a few years back, Miami has its eyes on competing for a Super Bowl title down the road.
31. Washington Redskins: Washington has built a potentially dominant defensive line, but it's hard to find many other short-term positives. There are more questions than answers on offense (including a seemingly wide-open quarterback competition between Case Keenum and Dwayne Haskins) and the back end of the defense has major depth concerns behind Josh Norman and well-funded box safety Landon Collins.
30. Buffalo Bills: The Bills sport a top-10 defense and coach Sean McDermott has shown he can maximize talent on that side of the ball. The problem is an offense that made a ton of offseason signings, but few that really seem to move the needle. The big question will be whether this team can consistently win games with an inaccurate, mobile quarterback in Josh Allen who will need to overcome a shaky supporting cast.