INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 20: Quarterback Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates a touchdown by teammate tight end Travis Kelce #87 against the Los Angeles Chargers during the second quarter at SoFi Stadium on September 20, 2020 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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A busy offseason filled with veterans swapping teams amidst cap-induced decisions has left the NFL landscape as unclear as it has ever been. The top of the AFC and NFC have big threats to win the Super Bowl. Some teams have excellent offensive units, while others are more stacked on defense.
We’re ranking the top 10 most talented NFL rosters across the league. While the quarterback position makes the biggest difference, these 10 teams have built something potentially special on at least one side of the ball. There’s no reason why teams on this list shouldn’t be contending for a playoff spot in 2021.
Impact starters and true stars can help carry a roster to a title. But the wrong deficiency can also hamstring the best of teams. Finding the right balance of elite talent and depth is the toughest task every general manager faces each offseason.
The free agency period and NFL Draft brought a ton of change. Let’s dive into the 10 best rosters across the league.
10.Chargers
One of the huge winners of the offseason was the Chargers. Already stacked with quality playmakers and young quarterback Justin Herbert, the Chargers had one clear task: protect Herbert with better blockers. The team was able to land three starters in Rashawn Slater, Corey Linsley, and Matt Feiler. Right tackle Bryan Bulaga is a solid presence in place, and left guard will have a competition between Oday Aboushi and Brenden Jaimes.
The offense just needs to stay healthy. There’s virtually no depth on the unit but the starters are excellent. Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Jared Cook, and Austin Ekeler are an analytics dream team. Herbert will need to push the ball downfield more than he did last year in order to keep the unit effective and not just about the highlights.
The defense has some question marks in the back seven after cutting cornerback Casey Hayward and losing Melvin Ingram to free agency. Can Uchenna Nwosu, Asante Samuel Jr., and Derwin James Jr. be impact starters in 2021? James must stay healthy as well, which is a massive issue for the freak athlete.
The Chargers are close to being a contender, but aren’t quite there yet until these issues are addressed. It’s possible their in-house options take care of the concerns but this snake-bitten franchise hasn’t had that sort of injury luck in many years.
9.Vikings
What we love about the Vikings’ roster is the way their young offense complements the coaching staff and each others’ strengths. It all starts with their uber-athletic and young offensive line.
General manager Rick Spielman rebuilt the line by using two first-round picks, two second-rounders and one third-rounder beginning in the 2018 class. The results have been outstanding, now boasting a premier bunch of dominant run-blockers and solid pass-blockers. Their presence allows their playmakers to create less on their own because the quarterback has time and running backs have lanes to sprint through.
Dalvin Cook and Justin Jefferson are superstars in their own right. Kirk Cousins is consistently solid and works well within this system. Adam Theilen and Irv Smith Jr. bring quality skill sets to round out one of the most impressive offenses in the league.
The defense has a strong front seven after being retooled this offseason. Dalvin Tomlinson, Danielle Hunter, Eric Kendricks, and Anthony Barr are each matchup nightmares for offenses. The secondary has work to do at cornerback, but veterans Patrick Peterson and Bashaud Breeland are capable, physical starters who fit the scheme.
The best case for the unit is for a young talent like Jeff Gladney or Cameron Dantzler breaks out in 2021 as a force. Safeties Harrison Smith and Xavier Woods are one of the better tandem in the league, as well.
8.Packers
Seeing this roster go 26-6 over the last two years is a credit to the coaching staff and stars on the Packers. While Green Bay has a well-built team that has generally drafted well and shrewdly signed free agents to the right deals, it’s certainly not a dominant core of playmakers. There’s a reason why Aaron Rodgers is discontent.
The headlining talent is undoubtedly strong. Rodgers is an All-Pro, and Davante Adams and Jaire Alexander have an argument for being the best player at their respective positions. Left tackle David Bakhtiari, safety Adrian Amos, and pass rushers Kenny Clark and Za’Darius Smith are impactful studs who are difference-makers. Running backs Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon are valued members of the offensive scheme as well.
It’s difficult to look elsewhere and see a consistent group of contributors. The receiving talent beyond Adams is lacking, and the offensive line has seen a dip in consistency as veterans have departed. The defense has holes at the end positions and linebacker, too.
Rodgers must be great for the Packers to be better than average. Luckily, he has been incredible for much of his career. The only way this team wins a Super Bowl, though, is for the several fringe starters on the roster to take large jumps forward so this group fits in more with the rosters ranked ahead of them.
7.Washington Football Team
The only reason WFT isn’t considered a real threat to win the Super Bowl is their limitation at quarterback. While veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick is certainly entertaining and brings a handful of big plays to the table, his physical skill set is among the worst in the league and he has trouble compensating for his arm talent. However, he’s an upgrade over what they had last year and the rest of the roster is ready to compete.
The defense has eye-opening talent on all three levels. There’s not a better defensive front thanks to stars Chase Young, Daron Payne, Jonathan Allen, Montez Sweat, and Matt Ioannidis. Their heavy investment into the unit has paid off handsomely with a premier set of trench bodies.
First-round pick Jamin Davis headlines the linebackers and he could win Defensive Rookie of the Year as he flies around the field. The secondary has more balance this season thanks to the acquisition of William Jackson. Safeties Kamren Curl and Landon Collins proved to be a quality pairing in 2020, filling a big need for the franchise.
The offensive facelift this offseason was huge as well. Injecting Curtis Samuel and Dyami Brown into the passing game to go with Terry McLaurin can change the unit’s outlook for the next handful of years. Tight end Logan Thomas has become one of the best pass catchers at the position too.
Running back Antonio Gibson also gives the offense a higher upside than most. He’s a dual-threat with excellent big-play potential. The offensive line is solid enough to help him and Fitzpatrick make the most of their individual capabilities.
6.Broncos
Like Washington, the Broncos are only held back by their quarterback position. Denver has a wild card in youngster Drew Lock at least, whereas Washington’s lack of a developing young talent hardcaps their upside. However, it’s possible Lock loses out to veteran Teddy Bridgewater and fails to fulfill his physical talent.
The rest of the roster is impressive, to say the least. Their playmaker corps is dripping with speed, size, and overall ability. Fourth-string receiver Tim Patrick could absolutely start for several teams across the league if given the chance.
Receivers Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, and tight end Noah Fant are difficult one-on-one matchups. Running backs Melvin Gordon and Javonte Williams are two of the most physical presences in any backfield. And the offense line has just one mediocre starter in Bobby Massie.
The defense should have a monstrous bounce-back year. Von Miller and Bradley Chubb must stay healthy, but can lead a unit with fantastic versatility and athleticism on all three levels. This is a championship-level defense thanks to their secondary overhaul.
Cornerbacks Kyle Fuller, Pat Surtain II, Ronald Darby, Bryce Callahan, and Michael Ojemudia make up the deepest corner room in the NFL. Safeties Justin Simmons and Kareem Jackson are uniquely built for Vic Fangio’s defense as well. This will be a must-watch team every week if the quarterback position is competent.
5.Bills
Here’s where having a star quarterback helps boost a team’s ranking. Buffalo has one of the better offensive rosters in the league, but their defense underperformed in 2020 after a stellar 2019. This team can win a Super Bowl this year if Josh Allen repeats his breakout year and the defense splits the difference of the two prior years and becomes solid overall.
Allen is, of course, the engine to the team’s success. He’s flanked by an excellent receiving corps, headlined by Stefon Diggs, Emmanuel Sanders, Cole Beasley, and Gabriel Davis. This is as well-balanced of a unit as there is in the league considering their unique skill sets.
The tight end and running back positions are lacking a stud right now, though. Neither Devin Singletary or Zack Moss move the needle. The Bills could trade for Zach Ertz, but otherwise have the developing Dawson Knox as the lone receiving threat at tight end.
The defense has great headlining talent between Tre’Davious White, Micah Hyde, and Tremaine Edmunds.Their depth was critical last year thanks to Jerry Hughes, Mario Addison, Matt Milano, Jordan Poyer, and Taron Johnson. It’s truly a fun unit because head coach Sean McDermott runs them in a unique way and few teams operate how the Bills do with their positional tasking.
However, the starpower needs to show. It’s time for Ed Oliver to fulfill his pre-draft potential as a pass rusher. Veteran Star Lotulelei must help stop the run. A second corner must emerge as a legitimate starter, too.
4.Chiefs
We’ve never seen a team completely attack a roster weakness in one offseason like the Chiefs aggressively overhauled their offensive line. General manager Brett Veach knew Patrick Mahomes couldn’t continue running for his life if this team were to win another Super Bowl. So he quickly addressed the concern by adding Orlando Brown, Joe Thuney, Austin Blythe, Creed Humphrey, and Kyle Long to the unit.
The offense isn’t perfect, even with Mahomes and a new line, but it’s almost as good as money can buy. The Chiefs tried to sign JuJu Smith-Schuster to replace Sammy Watkins, so it’s clear they know their WR2 position is a weakness. But it shouldn’t matter a ton as long as Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, and Mahomes are healthy.
The defense is short a few major assets. The uncertainty around Frank Clark is certainly alarming for a unit already lacking options. Clark’s been an underwhelming presence since coming from Seattle, and the potential rotation of Taco Charlton, Mike Danna, Joshua Kaindoh and Tim Ward as his replacements is abysmal.
Even with the limitation, the Chiefs could still add a veteran or two to the mix (a return of Justin Houston, anyone?) and solidify the unit. The linebackers are more promising thanks to the trio of Anthony Hitchens, Willie Gay Jr., and Nick Bolton. Gay in particular can ascend into a great subpackage player with his size and movement ability standing out.
The secondary has a chance to be the best positional group on the unit. We know Tyrann Mathieu is a superstar, but young corners L’Jarius Sneed and Charvarius Ward are on his heels as standout starters too. We could see the Chiefs’ secondary emerge as a force if Juan Thornhill returns to full strength and Mike Hughes starts to fulfill his pre-draft potential as a former first-rounder.
3.Ravens
There’s no such thing as a perfect roster, but the top-three of the NFL are no-brainers in terms of talent. The Ravens are one of three elite groups in the league. This coaching staff specifically works around their weaknesses to mitigate roster concerns capable of crippling other teams.
The offense injected significant receiving talent this offseason as veteran Sammy Watkins joined rookies Rashod Bateman and Tylan Wallce on the acquisition list. The playmaking corps has a ton of speed for Lamar Jackson to work with. Now the honus for improvement is on Greg Roman and Jackson to take a leap in the passing game, because there’s little question there’s significantly more depth and high-end talent at receiver in 2021.
We know the rushing offense is a bonafide machine already. Even after swapping out right tackle Orlando Brown for Alejandro Villanueva and seeing Mark Ingram depart, Jackson and his running back duo of JK Dobbins and Gus Edwards could total nearly 3,000 yards between them. The offense is capable of demoralizing foes as soon as they play with a lead because of their downhill violence.
The defense is where the roster-building is even more impressive. No team boasts a better secondary, as cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey and Marcus Peters terrorize offenses with their ball skills. Their depth is also insane at corner and safety, with playable talent likely being cut after training camp because of roster limitations.
The front-seven has been uniquely built. Baltimore prioritizes their secondary when spending assets, and instead schemes a consistent pass rush over paying one or two premier talents. The star of the front-seven is the defensive line.
Veterans Derek Wolfe, Brandon Williams, and Calais Campbell are huge-bodies who require multiple sets of hands to contain them. This opens pass rush lanes for Tyus Bowser and Pernell McPhee to dart through. It’s unconventional, but a cost-efficient way to spend elsewhere without losing the effect.
2.Browns
The Browns knew exactly what their weakness was and they attacked it with relentlessness this offseason. They threw most of their assets to their battered defense, replenishing the unit with youth and depth throughout. Every level of the unit is better entering 2021.
Getting star receiver Odell Beckham Jr. back in the fold on offense should help Baker Mayfield, Nick Chubb, and Kareem Hunt continue their own individual growth. Defenses are unable to key onto one playmaker because the offense is so diverse. Their coaching complements their array of talented receivers and quarterback.
Mayfield will be the critical piece on offense, of course. The Browns have an elite offensive line and tremendous run game. He must continue building on the flow he found over the second-half of 2020 and be even more dynamic outside of the structure Kevin Stefanski creates for him.
The defensive line has more bodies to rotate and a little more upside than 2020. Losing Olivier Vernon and Sheldon Richardson are painful, but Vernon isn’t healthy and Richarson was expensive for a snap-eater. Changes had to be made with reliability in mind.
Jadeveon Clowney was a smart low-risk pickup as someone who can play both end and tackle. He’s not a big pass rush threat, but he’s solid enough, and is a great run defender. Malik Jackson and Takkarist McKinley are better at creating pass rush as rotational talents.
The back-end of the defense got a major facelift. John Johnson III is a Swiss-Army knife at safety and will tremendously help the entire unit. They keyed in on him in free agency and knew all along he was their top target.
Corners Greg Newsome II and Troy Hill are productive additions to Denzel Ward’s corner room as well. Newsome must prove to be durable but his collegiate film and production was phenomenal. Hill is consistent and able to play in the slot or outside.
1.Buccaneers
No one should be too surprised the defending Super Bowl champions are atop this list. Although, it’s impressive the Buccaneers walked out of the offseason without losing any marquee free-agent despite facing real cap constraints. There’s no reason why the Bucs shouldn’t be at the forefront of the Super Bowl LVI discussion.
The offense is absolutely loaded once again. Everyone is back, and we’ll get to see another year of Tom Brady jelling with premier playmakers. There’s upside yet untapped in young receivers Scotty Miller, Jaelon Darden, and Tyler Johnson, plus the potential of OJ Howard assuming a bigger role.
The running back position received a facelift when Giovani Bernard was signed. The Bucs couldn’t unearth a reliable third-down back in 2020, but Brady will love Bernard. He’s a shiftier, more explosive version of James White, whom he loved to target in New England.
The defense remains stout and filled with the right blend of young studs and veteran presence. The sharp developmental curves for Carlton Davis, Antoine Winfield Jr., Jamel Dean, and Jordan Whitehead are an indication of something special occurring with the coaching staff and talent. If the unit is locked in post-title, we might see a truly devastating run in 2021 from this franchise.