The NFL's best position groups entering the 2026 season

It is a bit odd to include a Cardinals group here, but Arizona -- health-permitting -- may have the league's best backfield. It is certainly worth arguing the Cardinals should have passed on Jeremiyah Love to take a higher-value position at No. 3 overall, but the dynamic Notre Dame talent joined a running back stable that already included James Conner and free agency addition Tyler Allgeier. Both players have 1,000-yard seasons on their resumes, though Conner is coming off a lost 2025 season due to injury. One of the veterans seems like trade bait for a rebuilding team, but for now, this RB corps is unnecessarily deep.

A "when healthy" disclaimer is required, but the last time we saw the Buccaneers' starting front at full strength, they were top six in both pass and run block win rate. The best left tackle in football may play in Tampa, as Tristan Wirfs is building a Hall of Fame resume. The Bucs have a nice supporting cast, and they showed confidence in right tackle Luke Goedeke by extending him last year. The unit also houses former first-round center Graham Barton, ex-second-round RG Cody Mauch and dependable veteran Ben Bredeson (LG). This quintet returns together for a third season. Its health will determine the futures of Todd Bowles and Baker Mayfield in Tampa.

Adding Jaylen Waddle via trade gives the Broncos six combined 1,000-yard receiving seasons on their roster. Waddle is just 27, providing a younger option alongside the consistent Courtland Sutton. The Denver pass game has depended on the 30-year-old pillar for years, and with Waddle aboard, the Broncos feature a strong top two with depth. Troy Franklin showed improvement last season, finishing with 709 receiving yards and eight scores (two two-point conversions). The Broncos also saw 2025 third-rounder Pat Bryant prove useful. Waddle may reduce Marvin Mims' role, but the 2023 second-rounder is an All-Pro returner who has flashed in key moments as a receiver.

Milton Williams became one of the biggest potential-over-production bets in free agency history last year, and the ex-Eagle delivered. The Patriots' monster Williams contract paid off in Year 1, and he teamed with holdover Christian Barmore to form an elite defensive tackle duo. Mike Vrabel's come-with guy Harold Landry still anchors New England's pass rush, while versatile nomad Dre'Mont Jones -- a free-agent addition -- will give the defending AFC champions options. The team also used its second-round pick on Illinois edge rusher Gabe Jacas, who will attempt to shake off an injury that kept him out of the team's offseason program.

Converting to a full-on 3-4 scheme this offseason, the Raiders saw their edge-rushing group receive an unexpected boost via the Ravens nixing the Maxx Crosby trade. This obviously miffed the Raiders, but their OLB corps is in better shape as a result. Crosby anchors a unit that includes Kwity Paye and Malcolm Koonce -- both signed before it became known Baltimore would 86 the trade -- and the team spent to fortify its inside linebacker crew. NFC imports Quay Walker and Nakobe Dean signed eight-figure-per-year contracts to beef up a thin ILB cadre in Vegas. This placement is tenuous, though, with a Crosby re-trade a possibility.

The Lions have assembled a strong, complementary cadre of receivers. Again flanking midrange demon Amon-Ra St. Brown will be deep threat Jameson Williams and size-speed project Isaac TeSlaa. Williams has a 1,000-yard season on his resume, while TeSlaa scored six touchdowns -- some of the acrobatic variety -- as a rookie. The Lions also brought in slot cog Greg Dortch, who worked with new OC Drew Petzing in Arizona. On a Hall of Fame trajectory, St. Brown has four 1,000-yard years -- the most recent three featuring at least three TD receptions. 

This space's top quarterback has not enjoyed quality wide receiver play since the Stefon Diggs trade, but Josh Allen benefits from a reliable O-line. The Bills ranked first in run block win rate last season, paving the way for a James Cook rushing title, while they were fourth in pass block win rate. Buffalo lost left guard David Edwards but returns its other four starters, including All-Pro LT Dion Dawkins. The Bills re-signed guard-turned-center Connor McGovern and have solid pieces at RG (O'Cyrus Torrence) and RT (Spencer Brown). Swingman Alec Anderson is the early favorite to replace Edwards, but veteran G/C Austin Corbett represents insurance.

We need to group the Giants' linebackers here, as they have a key asset expected to play a hybrid role. No. 5 overall pick Arvell Reese gives the Giants four first-round pass rushers and five first-rounders at linebacker in total. With Brian Burns, Abdul Carter and Kayvon Thibodeaux (for now) rostered, New York plans to use Reese as an off-ball 'backer in base sets. Thibodeaux is a trade candidate, but until he's moved, the former top-five pick is blocking Reese and giving the Giants an EDGE surplus. Rounding out the linebacking contingent, free agency addition Tremaine Edmunds -- a 2018 first-rounder -- is still just 28 despite entering a ninth season. 

Last season showed this was more than Patrick Surtain and an anonymous supporting cast. The Broncos complemented their cornerback ace with Talanoa Hufanga, who shook off two injury-plagued years to earn a second All-Pro nod. Denver also saw slot corner Ja'Quan McMillian complete a breakthrough season, one culminating with an all-time postseason INT -- the seminal divisional-round theft of Brandin Cooks -- while safety Brandon Jones is probably a bit underrated. No. 2 corner Riley Moss has struggled with penalties, and while he has also shown talent, 2025 first-round pick Jahdae Barron will have a chance to unseat the former second-rounder. 

One of the Rams' only weaknesses last season was the cornerback group, which came up short in an NFC championship shootout. The Rams moved aggressively to address this issue, trading for the Chiefs' CB starters. Los Angeles sent Kansas City four draft picks, including its 2026 first-rounder, for All-Pro Trent McDuffie and then signed his longtime K.C. sidekick (Jaylen Watson) in free agency. L.A. re-signed solid safety Kamren Curl, keeping its all-Kamren safety setup (alongside Kamren Kinchens) in place. Nickel Quentin Lake rounds out what looks like one of the NFL's most improved position groups.

Should the Rams fall short as the Super Bowl LXI favorite, detractors could point to the team's draft choice of Ty Simpson as a turning point. The team considered USC wideout Makai Lemon, who went to Philly seven spots later. The Rams, however, still have one of this era's top duos at the position. All-Pros Davante Adams and Puka Nacua will team up again. Adams led the NFL with 14 TD grabs last season, while Nacua paced the league in receptions (129). Adams is now 33, and off-field headlines have followed Nacua. Both players are in contract years. Tutu Atwell's departure leaves the group thin on depth, but the team's deep tight-end array helps compensate.

The rare team with five eight-figure-per-year O-line contracts, the Broncos have the same starting quintet in place for a third year. The veteran group pairs with Bo Nix's rookie deal, now that Russell Wilson's dead money is in the past. Two first-team All-Pros -- left tackle Garett Bolles, right guard Quinn Meinerz -- anchor this unit, which also has solid vets at left guard (Ben Powers) and right tackle (Mike McGlinchey). Third-year center starter Luke Wattenberg landed a $12 million-per-year extension last November. The Broncos even gave their sixth O-lineman -- Alex Palczewski -- a notable offseason deal. He looms as a successor to 2027 Powers.

A sizable chasm formed in the Seahawks' receiving yardage column last season, with Offensive Player of the Year Jaxon Smith-Njigba's 1,793 yards a staggering 1,200 more than Seattle's next-best receiver (Cooper Kupp). But the defending champs return Kupp to join JSN, who has a clear trajectory to the Steve Largent tier in franchise WR annals, and they re-signed midseason trade pickup Rashid Shaheed. The deep threat/returner will be a bigger part of Seattle's offense in Year 2, and he showed alongside Chris Olave potential to make an impact there. The Seahawks also matched a Jaguars RFA offer sheet to retain No. 4 wideout Jake Bobo this offseason.

A mainstay on this Yardbarker summer list, the Bengals' top two wideouts are going into Year 6 together. Widely thought to be on his way out of Cincinnati in 2025, Tee Higgins benefited from a persistent Joe Burrow lobbying campaign. Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase signed big-ticket extensions together, though Chase's is far more player-friendly. Higgins provides good size while Chase brings elite explosiveness. This duo will go down as one of the best in NFL receiver lore. No. 3 option Andrei Iosivas has back-to-back 400-plus-yard seasons, totaling eight touchdowns in that span. With Chase 26 and Higgins 27, not too many targets will be available for Cincy's WR3.

Although Jordan Addison is not viewed as a Tee Higgins-level wingman for Minnesota's LSU-developed superstar, his pre-J.J. McCarthy numbers (1,786 yards, 19 touchdowns) place him as a potent WR2. Justin Jefferson may well remain the NFL's premier wide receiver, but a season of McCarthy, Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer brought a blip for the future Hall of Famer. Somehow, Jefferson reached just 1,048 yards in 17 games (he topped that in 10 contests in 2023). The Vikes have the Bengals edged out for the No. 3 spot; however, Jauan Jennings' free agency was underwhelming enough that he accepted a one-year Vikings pact. 

In a chicken-and-egg arrangement, the Texans' secondary benefits from the team's pass rush and vice versa. While only one All-Pro (Derek Stingley Jr.) resides in Houston's secondary -- compared to two on the D-line -- he may be the NFL's second-best cornerback. The Texans found a quality Stingley sidekick as well, tabbing Kamari Lassiter in the 2024 second round. Lassiter might be a No. 1 corner on several teams. Houston has slot cog/safety Jalen Pitre offering versatility, and Calen Bullock is one of the NFL's best young safeties. The team added ex-Eagles Super Bowl starter Reed Blankenship to round out the group. 

A rare May trade created the NFL's best receiver duo. Although the Steelers were once well known for giving up on the right receivers, their decision to pick up Pickens looks shortsighted. Aging worse than when Pittsburgh allowed Emmanuel Sanders to defect to Denver and unlock another gear, the Pickens trade gave the Cowboys a dominant pair. Pickens exploded for 1,429 receiving yards en route to a 2026 franchise tag. Dallas has already paid CeeDee Lamb upper-crust WR money, but Pickens proved too effective to let walk in free agency. Dallas also saw 2024 sixth-rounder Ryan Flournoy take a big step forward last season, while All-Pro returner KaVontae Turpin remains in the gadget category.

A year after the Eagles' deep D-line overwhelmed the Chiefs, the Seahawks used theirs to expose the Patriots as an underqualified Super Bowl entrant. That group did lose a piece with Boye Mafe's departure to Cincinnati, but the other key parties are back. Interior D-linemen Leonard Williams and Byron Murphy headline the defending champs' pass rush, while three edge rushers -- DeMarcus Lawrence, Uchenna Nwosu and the recently extended Derick Hall -- provide support. Second-stint Seahawk Jarran Reed works as a solid third interior option up front. Despite the Texans' dominance and Broncos' record sack push, the Seahawks led the NFL in scoring defense last year.

This will include Philadelphia's edge rush contingent, as the NFL is a sub-package league, but the team's front three drive the bus. Jordan Davis represents an imposing presence, one the team just rewarded with a near-top-market extension, and Jalen Carter is one of the league's most talented interior D-linemen. Former seventh-round pick Moro Ojomo showed considerable promise replacing Milton Williams, ranking 11th among interior D-linemen in 2025 pass rush win rate. The Eagles received a Jalyx Hunt breakthrough season (24 QB hits), and although Jaelan Phillips left, trade-get Jonathan Greenard has three double-digit sack seasons and is in his prime.

The Broncos took aim at a 41-year-old sack record last season, falling four shy of the 1984 Bears' single-year record. Denver is slated to return most of its troops from that push. All-Pro edge rusher Nik Bonitto joins All-Pro interior D-lineman Zach Allen. The latter's 131 QB hits since 2022 are eight more than anyone else. Only Myles Garrett (123) is within 20 of Allen's number. The Broncos bring back nose tackle D.J. Jones and have young edge options Jonah Elliss and 2025 draftee Que Robinson. John Franklin-Myers' departure stings, and if the team retains starting OLB Jonathon Cooper, a personal conduct suspension appears likely after two summer arrests. 

Becoming the first team since the 2016 Broncos to place two cornerbacks on the All-Pro first team, the Eagles improved their 2025 group this offseason. Philadelphia added Riq Woolen from Seattle. Woolen's underwhelming market enabled the Eagles to swoop in with a one-year commitment, and Woolen provides an upgrade at the boundary position opposite rising star Quinyon Mitchell. Slot standout/burgeoning safety Cooper DeJean remains Mitchell's wingman. Neither Mitchell nor DeJean is extension-eligible until 2027. Philly also signed versatile vet Jonathan Jones in free agency.

The Texans have assembled a smothering defense. While Derek Stingley Jr. is an All-Pro cornerback, he benefits from an all-world D-end tandem. Danielle Hunter's two-year Texans stay has strengthened his Hall of Fame case, and he has provided high-level support to blossoming star Will Anderson Jr. The latter became the NFL's first $50 million-per-year defender after an All-Pro 2025 season. The team re-signed Sheldon Rankins, added ex-Buccaneers second-rounder Logan Hall, and drafted Ohio State's Kayden McDonald in Round 2. A higher DT ceiling would strengthen the NFL's scariest defense.

It looks like 2026 will be the final year of the Steelers' T.J. Watt-Alex Highsmith-Nick Herbig trio. The team now has each of them on veteran contracts, extending Herbig on a deal far north of Highsmith's re-up. Herbig's $25 million-per-year accord suggests he'll be a core Steeler for a while. Even if Highsmith (or Watt) could be on the way out next year, the trio brings a formidable punch. This will also be Year 10 for the Watt-Cam Heyward duo. Each headed toward Canton, the Pittsburgh cornerstones have a combined 11 All-Pro nods. The Steelers also have contract-year DT Keeanu Benton and 2025 first-rounder Derrick Harmon rounding out the front.

Last year's top pick in this Yardbarker summer list, Philly's O-line ran into injury trouble. The group also lost longtime position coach Jeff Stoutland, which could pose a significant complication for an Eagles offense transitioning to a young coordinator (Sean Mannion; this was a big coaching cycle for ex-backup QBs). The Eagles return four Pro Bowlers up front -- Jordan Mailata, Lane Johnson, Landon Dickerson, Cam Jurgens -- and have right guard Tyler Steen coming back. Johnson's injuries bring annual concern, but the likely Hall of Famer anchors a proven group -- one the Eagles are counting on returning to form after another odd-year offensive letdown.

The Rams already fielded one of the NFL's best pass-rushing contingents; they have now added a two-time Defensive Player of the Year. Upgrading on Jared Verse was not exactly necessary for the Rams, but they are back to their "eff them picks" ways. Myles Garrett could become a top-five all-time edge rusher through his Rams contributions, as the NFL's single-season sack kingpin should have more rush chances than he did in Cleveland. The Rams used Verse in the package to acquire Garrett, but they still have a formidable young trio in OLB Byron Young and D-linemen Braden Fiske and Kobie Turner. Garrett's arrival bolsters this group's potential to a chilling degree.