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Best and worst NFL positional groups

 
1 of 25

BEST: Cowboys offensive line

BEST: Cowboys offensive line
Brian Bahr/Getty Images

If there was ever a rookie set up for immediate success, it's Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott. Elliott will have three All-Pro linemen blocking for him in Tyron Smith, Zack Martin and Travis Frederick. Throw in a future Pro Bowler in La’el Collins at left guard and the always reliable Doug Free at right tackle, and it becomes abundantly clear why the Dallas Cowboys have what is widely considered the best offensive line in the NFL.

 
2 of 25

WORST: Broncos quarterbacks

WORST: Broncos quarterbacks
John Leyba/Getty Images

The defending Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos have somehow gone from being led into battle on Sundays by Peyton Manning to having Mark Sanchez lead the charge. Granted, Manning was objectively a poor quarterback at the end of last season and Brock Osweiler’s departure was a shock, but surely Broncos GM John Elway could have done better this offseason than Mark Sanchez and unproven second-year player Trevor Siemian. Although the Broncos do have their quarterback of the future in Paxton Lynch, he’ll need time to develop, and this Broncos team is built to win now.

 
3 of 25

BEST: Seahawks secondary

BEST: Seahawks secondary
Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

With three All-Pro players in the back, the Seattle Seahawks have boasted the NFL’s best secondary the past several seasons. Cornerback Richard Sherman is one of the most complete pass defenders in the NFL, while safeties Earl Thomas' and Kam Chancellor's combination of speed and power allows them to put fear into the hearts of receivers crossing over the middle and make an impact against the run as well. Simply put, the “Legion of Boom” can do everything a football coach could ever want from a secondary.

 
4 of 25

WORST: Rams wide receivers

WORST: Rams wide receivers
Richard Mackson/USA Today Images

With the pressure on No. 1 overall pick Jared Goff sky-high in the Rams' first season back in the Los Angeles, GM Les Snead hasn’t done a whole lot to help out his rookie quarterback in terms of players to throw to. The Rams' best receiver, Tavon Austin, is more of a gadget and special teams whiz than anything else, while Kenny Britt and Brian Quick don’t exactly inspire confidence outside the numbers. Perhaps rookie wideout Pharoh Cooper can make an impact, but from one look at the names listed at wide receiver on the L.A. depth chart, it’s obvious that the team has one of the weakest receiving corps in the NFL.

 
5 of 25

BEST: Panthers offensive line

BEST: Panthers offensive line
Jeremy Brevard/USA Today Images

Perhaps the most surprising part of the Carolina Panthers' 15-1 regular-season record last season was just how good their offensive line was. Michael Oher proved to be a worthy replacement for longtime left tackle Jordan Gross, guard Trai Turner developed into a Pro Bowl player, center Ryan Kalil had another First-Team All-Pro season, and both Andrew Norwell and Mike Remmers never missed a beat. With the same starting five intact, expect the Panthers' offensive line to once again be one of the best in the trenches this upcoming NFL season.

 
6 of 25

WORST: Bears offensive line

WORST: Bears offensive line
Mike Dinovo/USA Today Images

Having lost starting center Hroniss Grasu for the season due to a knee injury, the Chicago Bears' offensive line is in trouble. Outside of Kyle Long, the Bears don’t have a single proven player starting for them along their line. And with a starting quarterback like Jay Cutler, pass protection of the highest order is needed for success. This could turn out to be another season to forget in Chicago.

 
7 of 25

BEST: Patriots tight ends

BEST: Patriots tight ends
Jim Rogash/Getty Images

At this point we’re all aware that the New England Patriots have the No. 1 tight end in pro football with Rob Gronkowski. For head coach Bill Belichick, however, having the best tight in the game just wasn’t enough, so the Pats' front office went out and acquired former Pro Bowl tight end Martellus Bennett from the Chicago Bears this offseason. Expect the Patriots to line up in countless two tight end formations this season and for opposing defenses to be torched all over the field by Gronkowski and Bennett.

 
8 of 25

WORST: 49ers quarterbacks

WORST: 49ers quarterbacks
John Heftl/USA Today Images

As of today, the San Francisco 49ers' starting quarterback is Blaine Gabbert, a fact that should frighten fans of the city by the bay. Gabbert, the 10th overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, is one of the biggest busts at the quarterback position of the last five years, but head coach Chip Kelly has decided to roll the dice with him. To make matters even worse for 49ers fans, the team still has faded star Colin Kaepernick on their roster, but arm troubles have prevented the quarterback who led the franchise to an appearance in Super Bowl XLVII from playing in the preseason, leading to the team signing Christian Ponder. Simply put, the San Francisco 49ers have the biggest mess in the NFL to deal with at the quarterback position.

 
9 of 25

BEST: Broncos linebackers

BEST: Broncos linebackers
Joe Amon/Getty Images

Despite losing middle linebacker Danny Trevathan in free agency, the Denver Broncos still have the best linebacking corps in the NFL. Led by pass-rushing extraordinaire and Super Bowl 50 MVP Von Miller, the Broncos trot out future Hall of Famer DeMarcus Ware, speedy inside linebacker Brandon Marshall, and two up-and-coming players in Shane Ray and Shaquil Barrett. It seems every linebacker on the roster is capable of putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks and wrapping up runners.

 
10 of 25

WORST: 49ers wide receivers

WORST: 49ers wide receivers
Wesley Hitt/Getty Images

Outside of Torrey Smith, whose own career has been marred with inconsistency, the San Francisco 49ers don’t have a proven NFL wide receiver on their roster. As or right now, third-year player Bruce Ellington is listed as the Niners' other starting receiver, but he only has a total of 13 career catches. Backup veterans Quinton Patton and Jerome Simpson have never been great playmakers, and beyond them, no other receiver on the roster has ever caught a pass in a regular-season game. Don’t expect the 49ers' passing game to light up other teams this upcoming year.

 
11 of 25

BEST: Broncos secondary

BEST: Broncos secondary
Mark J. Rebilas/USA Today Images

As if the Broncos didn’t have an embarrassment of riches at linebacker, Gary Kubiak’s team also has an elite secondary. Cornerbacks Chris Harris Jr. and Aqib Talib are both capable of shutting down opposing receivers on the outside, while Pro Bowler T.J. Ward is one of the hardest-hitting safeties in the NFL. Additionally, Bradley Roby, a former first-round pick out of Ohio State, is no slouch as well playing corner.

 
12 of 25

WORST: Texans tight ends

WORST: Texans tight ends
Wesley Hitt/Getty Images

While DeAndre Hopkins will surely give opposing defenders fits outside the numbers, don’t expect the same from the Houston Texans' tight ends. Starting tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz has just 24 career catches, while fourth-year backup Ryan Griffin has just 20 of his own. Truth be told, the Texans' best tight end is actually star defensive end J.J. Watt, who has more career receiving touchdowns on offense than every tight end on the roster combined. Although it makes Watt’s abilities all the more impressive, it doesn’t reflect well on the tight ends currently employed by the Texans.

 
13 of 25

BEST: Panthers defensive line

BEST: Panthers defensive line
Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Panthers GM Dave Gettleman has made good on his philosophy of building his defense from the inside-out. The Panthers have the best all-around defensive line in the NFL, as the line is both able to shut down the run and collapse the pocket to sack opposing quarterbacks. The D-line is led by stud defensive tackles Kawann Short and Star Lotulelei and flanked by the always underrated Charles Johnson and future Pro Bowl pass rusher Kony Ealy. Any offensive line forced to go up against the Carolina D-line is in for a long day in the trenches.

 
14 of 25

WORST: Colts linebackers

WORST: Colts linebackers
Stacy Revere/Getty Images

The Indianapolis Colts come into the 2016 season with one of the least impressive groups of linebackers the team has had in recent memory. Robert Mathis, Trent Cole and D’Qwell Jackson are all well past their primes, while Sio Moore and Erik Walden are mediocre players at best. Considering the Colts play a 3-4 defense, which relies heavily on linebackers, head coach Chuck Pagano’s team could struggle mightily on defense this upcoming season.

 
15 of 25

BEST: Panthers linebackers

BEST: Panthers linebackers
Bob Donnan/USA Today Images

As if having an unreal defensive line wasn’t enough, the Panthers' starting linebackers combine with their teammates along the line to form the NFL’s best front seven. 2013 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Luke Kuechly is easily football’s top middle linebacker, veteran Thomas Davis was named to his first All-Pro team last season as a 32-year-old and second-year weak-side linebacker Shaq Thompson has the look of a future star. Simply put, the Carolina Panthers don’t have a single weak link among their front seven.

 
16 of 25

WORST: Giants running backs

WORST: Giants running backs
Elsa/Getty Images

Although Rashad Jennings, Shane Vereen and Andre Williams are all serviceable running backs, at this point in their careers opposing teams know exactly what they are. None of them are game-breaking players or runners that defenses need make any special preparations for. Maybe rookie Paul Perkins can develop into something special at some point for the Giants, but at this point in time, it’s hard to look at the G-men's running backs and feel impressed.

 
17 of 25

BEST: Cardinals wide receivers

BEST: Cardinals wide receivers
Joe Camporeale/USA Today Images

The Arizona Cardinals are the only team in the NFL that have three potential No. 1 wide receivers in Larry Fitzgerald, Michael Floyd and John Brown. What makes this trio so dangerous, however, is that each of them is spectacular at different things. Fitzgerald, a future Hall of Fame player, is a precise route runner, almost never drops a pass and is an excellent blocker. Floyd is your classic “jump-ball” wide receiver and a deadly target in the red zone. Finally, the diminutive Brown makes up for what he lacks in size with pure speed. One of the best deep ball route runners in the NFL, Brown can make a game-breaking play at any moment.

 
18 of 25

WORST: Titans secondary

WORST: Titans secondary
Joe Robbins/Getty Images

Outside of cornerback Jason McCourty, the Tennessee Titans' secondary is full of question marks. Fellow corners Perrish Cox, Antwon Blake and Brice McCain are all cast-offs from other teams, and starting safeties Da’Norris Searcy and Rashad Johnson are average players at best. Rookie Kevin Byard could develop into a quality starter at some point, but he’ll need time to hone his game. As currently constructed, expect opposing quarterbacks to feast on the Titans' secondary once the 2016 season commences.

 
19 of 25

BEST: Rams defensive line

BEST: Rams defensive line
Billy Hurst/USA Today Images

Sundays in Los Angeles this fall will showcase one of the most complete defensive lines in the football. The Rams' D-line is led by First-Team All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald. Donald is both a expert at collapsing the pocket and stuffing run, and at 25 years old he is just coming into his prime. Along with Donald, the Rams feature defensive end Robert Quinn, who recorded 19 sacks in 2013, and the always reliable Michael Brockers.

 
20 of 25

WORST: Titans wide receivers

WORST: Titans wide receivers
Andy Lyons/Getty Images

While quarterback Marcus Mariota could develop into a Pro Bowl level signal caller, his current receiving corps isn’t going to exactly help that cause. The Titans' current starters at wide receiver are Rishard Matthews and Tajae Sharpe. Matthews, a fifth-year player, has never garnered more than 662 receiving yards in a season, while Sharp is a rookie fifth-round draft pick out of Massachusetts. These aren’t the types of players opposing defensive backs ever fear. Also, in addition to Kendall Wright's lack of development, the Titans just traded away their most talented wide receiver, Dorial Green-Beckham, to the Eagles. Marcus Mariota’s options on the outside are severely limited at the moment.

 
21 of 25

BEST: Vikings running backs

BEST: Vikings running backs
Scott Cunningham/Getty Images

All NFL fans know the greatness that is Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, but Minnesota also has several capable ball carriers behind the future Hall of Famer on the depth chart. Jerick McKinnon is a small but speedy runner who is also a threat in the passing game, while Matt Asiata is your classic power running back, specializing in short-yardage situations. Regardless of the situation, starting quarterback Teddy Bridgewater will have a quality running back behind him when under center this season.

 
22 of 25

WORST: Jaguars special teams

WORST: Jaguars special teams
Logan Bowles/USA Today Images

Expect the Jacksonville Jaguars to be an improved football team this season, just not on special teams. The Jags employ one of the least reliable kickers in the NFL with Jason Myers, who missed a league-leading seven extra points last season. Punter Brad Nortman is decent enough, but having a player like Myers who is prone to missing such easy kicks is a major liability.

 
23 of 25

BEST: Jets wide receivers

BEST: Jets wide receivers
Kevin Jairaj/USA Today Images

The New York Jets feature one of the NFL’s top receiving tandems in the form of Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker. Marshall and Decker are two of the most well-rounded wideouts in pro football and both extremely difficult to defend one-on-one. Additionally, the Jets also have a rising playmaker on the outside in 2015 second-round pick Devin Smith.

 
24 of 25

BEST: Ravens special teams

BEST: Ravens special teams
Patrick Smith/Getty Images

He might not be most accurate kicker in the NFL (although he only missed one field goal from inside 50 yards last season), but Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker is probably the most trusted at his position in the NFL. Tucker seems to thrive in high-pressure situations, making him a unique specimen for his position. The Ravens also have Pro Bowl punter in Sam Koch.

 
25 of 25

BEST: Patriots special teams

BEST: Patriots special teams
Elsa/Getty Images

Over the past several seasons, Stephen Gostkowski of the Patriots has been pro football’s top kicker. The NFL’s scoring leader in each of the past four seasons, no other kicker in the NFL has the combination of power and accuracy that Gostkowski has. Along with their All-Pro kicker, the Pats have an excellent punter in Ryan Allen, a dangerous return man in Julian Edelman and a five-time Pro Bowl special teams selection as gunner in wide receiver Matthew Slater.

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