The Strongest NFL Team at Every Position Group

So often you hear, read or engage in those debates of who is the best player in the NFL. If not that, then the subject turns to who is the best quarterback, running back, linebacker, cornerback, etc.

Here we are looking at team units as a whole and giving our feelings in terms of which are the best in the league, with the next-best (honorable mention) as a mini-bonus.

We are taking into account the starters as well as depth at the position as well. We are not only looking back a bit but projecting forward as well.

Realistically, you could do a top five at each of the nine spots we are talking about here. For now, we’ll narrow it down to two per unit. So let the debates begin.

Quarterback: New England Patriots

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Key Players: Tom Brady, Jimmy Garoppolo

Unless there is a complete overturning of his four-game suspension, Tom Brady and Jimmy Garoppolo will be separated by “and” and not a comma this upcoming season.

According to Tom Pelissero of USA Today, the New England Patriots veteran signal-caller’s appeal hearing is set for June 23.

Regardless, we give a slight edge to the Pats over the Green Bay Packers when it comes to their overall quarterbacking situation. Brady continues to excel, and Garoppolo is a promising prospect who opened a lot of eyes last preseason.

Yes, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been the league’s MVP two of the last four seasons, and many would consider him the best quarterback in the NFL at the moment. However, we feel slightly better about the Patriots overall at the position.

Honorable Mention: Green Bay Packers

Running Back: Philadelphia Eagles

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Key Players: DeMarco Murray, Darren Sproles, Ryan Mathews

This was indeed a tough call, but we will lean ever so slightly to cheese steaks over chicken wings.

Both the Philadelphia Eagles and Buffalo Bills now feature new starters who were recent league rushing champions.

Eagles head coach Chip Kelly dealt running back LeSean McCoy, the 2013 NFL leader in rushing yards, to the Buffalo Bills this offseason and replaced him with free-agent runner DeMarco Murray, who piled up a league-high 1,845 yards on the ground in 2014 with the Dallas Cowboys.

Murray joins the versatile and explosive Sproles, who helps not only the offense but the punt-return game as well. Mathews, a former first-round pick with the San Diego Chargers, has had his share of injuries but is a two-time 1,000-plus-yard rusher. And a Kelly team wouldn’t be complete with a former Oregon Duck in Kenjon Barner.

Besides McCoy, the Bills also feature Fred Jackson, Anthony Dixon and Bryce Brown and drafted Karlos Williams in the fifth round last month. That's a formidable group, but we like the versatility of the Birds more.

Honorable Mention: Buffalo Bills

Wide Receiver: Green Bay Packers

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Key Players: Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, Davante Adams

In recent seasons, the Green Bay Packers have had their share of talented performers at the wide receiver position in the form of Donald Driver, Greg Jennings and James Jones. While Driver retired at the end of the 2012 season, the other two wideouts would eventually leave the organization via free agency.

Meanwhile, general manager Ted Thompson has done a great job of overhauling the position. Over the last four seasons, Nelson (300) and Cobb (227) have totaled a combined 527 receptions and 68 touchdowns, with 43 by Nelson. And both players went to their first Pro Bowl this past season.

Second-year pro Davante Adams (38 receptions for 446 yards and three touchdowns in 2014) is an emerging talent, while this year we could see more out of Jared Abbrederis and Jeff Janis and perhaps a smidge of talented rookie Ty Montgomery, a third-round pick this year.

Of course, that up-and-coming group in the Steel City is not a bunch of slouches either.

Honorable Mention: Pittsburgh Steelers

Tight End: Indianapolis Colts

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Key Players: Dwayne Allen, Coby Fleener

We have no problem saying that New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski is the best player at his position in the NFL, followed by Jimmy Graham, who is now a member of the Seattle Seahawks.

However, in terms of a one-two punch and two standouts at the position, it’s hard to argue Allen and Fleener and ignore the impact they have on quarterback Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts offense.

Both players, part of the franchise’s 2012 draft class, enjoyed solid years this past season. Fleener finished third on the team with 51 catches, good for 774 yards (15.2 average) and eight scores.

Allen, who was injured in Week 1 of 2013 and missed the remainder of that season, bounced back nicely this past season. He totaled 29 catches for 395 yards and tied Fleener for the team lead in touchdown receptions.

The Patriots, Seahawks and Philadelphia Eagles’ combination of Zach Ertz and Brent Celek all warrant consideration here, but you have to like where Allen and Fleener may be headed.

Honorable Mention: New England Patriots

Offensive Line: Dallas Cowboys

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Key Players: LT Tyron Smith, LG Ronald Leary, C Travis Frederick, RG Zack Martin, RT Doug Free

Is this a trick question?

All kidding aside, what offensive line played better than the Dallas Cowboys in 2014? Furthermore, which unit in the league offers more long-term success considering the overall youth of this group?

Smith (2011), Frederick (2013) and Martin (2014) are not all just recent first-round picks—all were named to the Pro Bowl this past season, and both Smith and Martin earned All-Pro honors.

According to Pro Football Focus, no offensive line was more efficient than this unit this past season, which also got contributions from Jermey Parnell (now with the Jacksonville Jaguars), who started in place of Free for five games.

Meanwhile, a group in the AFC North made some big-time strides in 2014 and bears watching this year.

Honorable Mention: Baltimore Ravens

Defensive Line: Buffalo Bills

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Key Players: DE Mario Williams, DT Marcell Dareus, DT Kyle Williams, DE Jerry Hughes

The sky could be the limit for the Buffalo Bills this upcoming season. There is a lot of optimism surrounding the team, and much of it focuses on a defensive unit that can bring the heat.

This past season, the Bills led the NFL with 54 sacks one season after finishing second in the league with 57 sacks. In each of these past two years, the club has had three players with at least 10 sacks.

Along with the ability to get after the quarterback, Buffalo defense improved to 11th in the league against the run this past season (after ranking 28th or worst five straight years from 2009 to 2013). Now enters head coach Rex Ryan, who may be able to do even more with this group.

On the other hand, there is that talent-laden group in the Gateway City as well.

Honorable Mention: St. Louis Rams

Linebacker: Baltimore Ravens

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Key Players: OLB Terrell Suggs, ILB C.J. Mosley, ILB Daryl Smith, OLB Courtney Upshaw, OLB Elvis Dumervil

The Baltimore Ravens have always been known for the defense, and as the franchise prepares for its 20th season in the league, head coach John Harbaugh has to feel good about his club and perhaps especially about his group of linebackers.

Just look at last year’s performances. And we won’t include Pernell McPhee, who left for the Chicago Bears via free agency this offseason. Mosley (133), Smith (128) and Suggs (61) were the Ravens’ top three tacklers, while Suggs (12) and Dumervil (17) combined for 29 of the team’s 49 sacks.

Mosley and Smith also combined for 17 passes defensed, while this quintet teamed for seven of Baltimore’s 22 takeaways.

While we are still waiting on former second-round pick Arthur Brown, Albert McClellan continues to provide depth, and the team added Za’Darius Smith (Kentucky) in the fourth round of this year’s draft.

Meanwhile, a team in the Bay Area still has a formidable group at its disposal, despite some notable retirements.

Honorable Mention: San Francisco 49ers

Secondary: Seattle Seahawks

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Key Players: CB Richard Sherman, CB Cary Williams, SS Kam Chancellor, FS Earl Thomas

While this is a secondary on the mend these days, it is hard to believe that any team in the NFL has more standouts in its last line of defense than the Seattle Seahawks.

While starters such as Brandon Browner and Byron Maxwell have departed via free agency the last two offseasons, Pete Carroll’s club remains loaded here due to some excellent drafting in the later rounds by general manager John Schneider.

Both Chancellor and Sherman are former fifth-round picks, while reserve Jeremy Lane was a sixth-round pick in 2012. Williams, a one-time Baltimore Raven who was released by the Philadelphia Eagles this offseason, is a nice addition to this group.

As for our runner-up, one club that was quite busy in free agency has turned a 2014 weakness into a team strength.

Honorable Mention: New York Jets

Special Teams: Philadelphia Eagles

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Key Players: PK Cody Parkey, P Donnie Jones, PR Darren Sproles, KR Josh Huff, ST Trey Burton, ST Chris Maragos

Who are we to argue with heralded writer Rick Gosselin, who does a better job than anyone of ranking special teams via his annual piece in the Dallas Morning News?

Parkey connected on 32 of his 36 field-goal attempts this past season and scored an NFC-high 150 points. Sproles led the NFL with 506 punt return yards and returned two for scores. Those two, along with special teams ace/undrafted rookie tight end Trey Burton, were all named to the Pro Bowl this past season.

The Eagles blocked four punts and returned three for touchdowns. Combine that with the efforts of Sproles and kickoff returns for scores by wideout Josh Huff and running back Chris Polk (now with the Houston Texans), and Philadelphia’s special teams scored seven touchdowns in 2014.

And there’s reason to believe they'll be just as good or better here this upcoming season.

Honorable Mention: New England Patriots

All free-agent information and player signings/transactions are courtesy of Spotrac. Depth chart information comes via Ourlads. Unless otherwise noted, all player and team statistics come from Pro Football Reference and ESPN.com.