An NFL roster is made up of 53 players, but there are a few core playmakers who serve as the cornerstones for every team. And some of these cores are better than others. We set out to rank them, as is our legal obligation for all June football musings.

A core was defined as the five most important players to a team — the guys each roster is built around. The ranking is for 2023, but there was a consideration of age in deciding which players made each team’s core. For some teams, there were too many good candidates to choose from, while even getting to five was tough for others.

Let’s dive into the rankings. Average ages were calculated by taking each player’s age as of Sept. 7, 2023 — when the Lions and Chiefs are set to kick off the 2023 NFL season.

Jump to a team:
ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN
CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND
JAX | KC | LV | LAC | LAR | MIA | MIN
NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF
SEA | TB | TEN | WSH

Roster core: QB Patrick Mahomes, TE Travis Kelce, DT Chris Jones, C Creed Humphrey, G Joe Thuney

Average core age: 28.6

It’d be very possible for another NFL team to have a better five-man core than the Chiefs if they were solely relying on Mahomes; the 27-year-old QB is a true star, but many rosters are loaded with young talent. But finding a core better than one with Mahomes, Kelce and Jones? That would be awfully tough. Having the league’s clear top quarterback, a high-end receiving threat and an elite interior pass-rusher is just too big an advantage for the Chiefs to rank anywhere but No. 1 overall.

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Roster core: QB Joe Burrow, WR Ja’Marr Chase, WR Tee Higgins, DE Trey Hendrickson, OT Orlando Brown Jr.

Average core age: 25.6

Burrow isn’t the second-best quarterback on this list, but an exceptional 1-2 punch at receiver, a high-end pass-rusher and a strong offensive tackle boosts the Bengals to first in the non-Mahomes division. Of the group, Hendrickson is perhaps most overlooked but is very deserving to be here, ranking fourth in pass rush win rate among edge rushers last season.

Roster core: QB Jalen Hurts, WR A.J. Brown, OT Lane Johnson, OLB Haason Reddick, CB Darius Slay

Average core age: 28.8

The Eagles’ elite core checks every positional value box, with high-end players at quarterback, wide receiver, offensive tackle, edge rusher and corner. And in reality, this exercise undersells the strength of the Eagles as a whole, because there are very talented players left off the list, including cornerback James Bradberry, receiver DeVonta Smith and center Jason Kelce. But even just looking at the five above, it’s easy to see why the Eagles are favorites to win the NFC again.

Roster core: QB Tua Tagovailoa, WR Tyreek Hill, CB Jalen Ramsey, WR Jaylen Waddle, OT Terron Armstead

Average core age: 27.6

The Dolphins’ offensive core proved its potential in 2022. When all four of Tagovailoa, Hill, Waddle and Armstead were on the field, the team averaged a massive 0.24 EPA per play. For context, the Chiefs led the league with 0.17 EPA per play overall. Add Ramsey in to spice up the defense, and this core looks dangerous.

Roster core: QB Josh Allen, WR Stefon Diggs, OLB Von Miller, CB Tre’Davious White, LB Matt Milano

Average core age: 29.4

Allen is carrying the load in making the Bills a serious Super Bowl contender, because this core could be better. White and Miller suffered ACL injuries in 2021 and 2022, respectively. And while Milano is coming off a fantastic 2022 season, he’s still an inside linebacker, which is a devalued position. But this ranking just goes to show how far an elite QB and receiver can take you.

Roster core: QB Dak Prescott, LB Micah Parsons, WR CeeDee Lamb, G Zack Martin, CB Trevon Diggs

Average core age: 26.8

The Cowboys’ core is a clear display of why they are a true — perhaps even underrated — Super Bowl contender. Prescott isn’t at a Mahomes or Allen level, but he’s supported by a Defensive Player of the Year candidate in Parsons, a star No. 1 wideout in Lamb and a future Hall of Fame offensive lineman in Martin. And no player has more interceptions over the past two seasons than Diggs (14).

Roster core: QB Justin Herbert, OLB Joey Bosa, OT Rashawn Slater, WR Keenan Allen, S Derwin James Jr.

Average core age: 27.0

On paper, this should work. You have one of the game’s top young quarterbacks, a really good receiver and franchise left tackle on offense, paired with two defensive stars. This group hasn’t lived up to its potential, but the recipe is there for success. Bosa is overshadowed by his brother, Nick, in San Francisco, but don’t sleep on him as a superstar edge rusher. Over the past four seasons, Bosa’s 23% pass rush win rate at edge ranks fifth in the league — two spots better than his brother.

Roster core: QB Aaron Rodgers, CB Sauce Gardner, DT Quinnen Williams, WR Garrett Wilson, G Alijah Vera-Tucker

Average core age: 26.8

Questions will linger until the regular season regarding which version of Rodgers the Jets will get, but this group has unquestioned upside. Gardner is a true Defensive Player of the Year candidate, Wilson could easily ascend to a top-10 wide receiver after a strong rookie campaign and Williams is a top-five defensive tackle.

Roster core: QB Lamar Jackson, TE Mark Andrews, CB Marlon Humphrey, LB Roquan Smith, OT Ronnie Stanley

Average core age: 27.2

I doubt we’ll ever see the 2019 MVP version of Jackson again. But with the help of this relatively strong group of core players, it seems feasible that Jackson could return Baltimore to title contention. Andrews’ 86 Open Score in 2022 was the highest by any tight end in the history of ESPN’s receiving metric, dating to 2017.

Roster core: DE Nick Bosa, OT Trent Williams, RB Christian McCaffrey, TE George Kittle, LB Fred Warner

Average core age: 28.4

You could absolutely make the case for quarterback Brock Purdy to be on this list. But the 49ers are a great team because of what’s around their QB — whoever it might be. This exercise also sells them short, because there are just too many quality players on San Francisco’s roster; receiver Deebo Samuel and defensive tackle Javon Hargrave would make the core for almost every other team, and receiver Brandon Aiyuk might, too.

Roster core: QB Deshaun Watson, DE Myles Garrett, RB Nick Chubb, CB Denzel Ward, G Joel Bitonio

Average core age: 27.6

A few years ago this group could have challenged for the No. 1 spot in these rankings. But after Watson played so poorly in his return to football in 2022, posting a Total QBR of 38.0, it’s fair to wonder whether he holds the rest of the players on this list back going into 2023. If he gets back to his Houston level of play, Cleveland would fly up the list.

Roster core: QB Trevor Lawrence, WR Calvin Ridley, CB Tyson Campbell, OLB Josh Allen, WR Christian Kirk

Average core age: 25.2

Lawrence was better in 2022 than most give him credit for, succeeding despite a porous offensive line and weak receiver group. Ridley is a big boost for the latter, but Lawrence could still use more help from the rest of this roster, which is why the Jaguars are down at No. 12 despite the quarterback’s considerable upside.

Roster core: QB Kirk Cousins, WR Justin Jefferson, OLB Danielle Hunter, OT Christian Darrisaw, TE T.J. Hockenson

Average core age: 27.4

If you can’t have an elite quarterback, the next-best thing is an elite wide receiver. There’s perhaps no one better at the position than Jefferson, and he’s the primary reason the Vikings are in this spot.

Roster core: QB Geno Smith, WR DK Metcalf, WR Tyler Lockett, CB Tariq Woolen, OT Charles Cross

Average core age: 26.6

When Russell Wilson left Seattle, he struggled. When Smith stepped into the starting role in Seattle, he thrived. There were other factors, but I have to wonder if Metcalf and Lockett’s role in their quarterbacks’ success has been underrated. Plus, an A-plus draft in 2022 led by Woolen and Cross (but also including offensive tackle Abraham Lucas and running back Kenneth Walker III) means Seattle is well-stocked with young talent.

Roster core: QB Daniel Jones, DT Dexter Lawrence, OT Andrew Thomas, OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux, TE Darren Waller

Average core age: 25.4

Huge seasons from Lawrence — who managed to rank fourth among defensive tackles in pass rush win rate (17%) despite playing nose tackle — and Thomas mean the Giants have major talent in the trenches, with more upside available from Thibodeaux. Jones is coming off a career year but remains somewhat of a question mark.

Roster core: QB Derek Carr, WR Chris Olave, OT Ryan Ramczyk, CB Marshon Lattimore, LB Demario Davis

Average core age: 29.0

With a solid quarterback now under center, the top of the Saints’ roster looks pretty good. ESPN’s receiver tracking metrics suggest Olave is a franchise wide receiver after he tied for seventh in overall score during his rookie season. With better QB play via Carr, Olave’s box score stats will come. This ranking might oversell New Orleans, though — the roster drops off quite a bit from the core.

Roster core: QB Jimmy Garoppolo, WR Davante Adams, DE Maxx Crosby, OT Kolton Miller, RB Josh Jacobs

Average core age: 28.0

Adams and Crosby were top-20 players a season ago, Miller is a good pass-blocking left tackle and Jacobs led the league in rushing in 2022. The question of Garoppolo’s true ability — and ability to stay on the field — holds this group back, but the high end of Las Vegas’ non-QB roster is impressive. In fact, receiver Jakobi Meyers, one of the most underrated players in the league, didn’t make the cut.

Roster core: QB Jared Goff, WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, DE Aidan Hutchinson, OT Penei Sewell, WR Jameson Williams

Average core age: 23.6

I’m surprised I ended up with Detroit this low, but Goff still comes with questions. Think of what we thought of him 12 months ago! Hutchinson’s underlying numbers (including a 12% pass rush win rate) didn’t match his sack production (9.5), and Williams is unproven and will miss six games this season due to a suspension for violating the NFL’s gambling policy.

Roster core: QB Kenny Pickett, OLB T.J. Watt, S Minkah Fitzpatrick, DT Cameron Heyward, WR George Pickens

Average core age: 27.0

If Pickett hits, this group gets scary quick. While Heyward is 34 years old, Pickens is just getting going and combines with Diontae Johnson to make up a strong receiver duo for the young QB. And while injuries marred Watt’s 2022 season, he remains one of the league’s truly elite defenders.

Roster core: QB Russell Wilson, CB Pat Surtain II, WR Jerry Jeudy, S Justin Simmons, WR Courtland Sutton

Average core age: 27.4

This group hinges on whether Wilson can turn it around, but this ranking is based on there being some chance that Wilson can at least return to his 2021 level of play, if not better. Surtain is a star, and Jeudy led the league in yards per route run against man coverage last season, a sign of his breakout.

Roster core: QB Matthew Stafford, DT Aaron Donald, WR Cooper Kupp, LB Ernest Jones, G Steve Avila

Average core age: 28.6

Looking only at five-man cores certainly works in Los Angeles’ favor, yet the Rams’ list still turns to relatively unknown players after the first three. Even so, I have a hard time keeping a group that includes Kupp and this generation’s best defensive player too low on a five-player list.

Roster core: QB Ryan Tannehill, RB Derrick Henry, DT Jeffery Simmons, S Kevin Byard, OLB Harold Landry III

Average core age: 29.4

The Titans’ core is better than their actual roster, which looks bleak on offense. But you can do a lot worse than Tannehill at quarterback. His 49 QBR last year is partially due to having little help at receiver or along the offensive line. And even though Henry’s play has fallen off, he still remains an asset. Simmons, Byard and Landry are all valuable defensive players, too. The biggest question is how long all these players will remain on the roster.

Roster core: QB Bryce Young, DE Brian Burns, CB Jaycee Horn, DT Derrick Brown, OT Taylor Moton

Average core age: 24.8

The four names after Young are good-to-very-good players either entering or in their prime. But none are truly elite at their respective positions, so it’s hard to see Carolina being any higher here with a totally unproven quarterback, even if he was the No. 1 overall pick in April.

Roster core: QB Jordan Love, CB Jaire Alexander, OT David Bakhtiari, WR Christian Watson, OLB Rashan Gary

Average core age: 26.0

There’s risk and reward here. Can Bakhtiari stay healthy? Will Watson build on the strong second half of his rookie campaign? And can Love show why the Packers were ready to move on from Aaron Rodgers? If you answer “yes” to all three, there would be no rebuild in Green Bay. But none of those are guarantees.

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Roster core: QB Justin Fields, WR DJ Moore, LB Tremaine Edmunds, S Eddie Jackson, OT Braxton Jones

Average core age: 25.6

The Bears improved this offseason, but their non-QB core still doesn’t stack up against that of most NFL teams. In Fields, Chicago has a midlevel QB, though there is certainly a world where Fields ascends beyond that. But we haven’t seen it yet, as he ranked 17th in QBR last season and took sacks at an egregious 12.5% rate.

Roster core: WR Mike Evans, OT Tristan Wirfs, CB Jamel Dean, DT Vita Vea, OLB Shaquil Barrett

Average core age: 27.6

The Bucs have a strong non-QB core. But not having a quarterback in the mix hurts the Bucs’ ranking, and frankly, the prospect of Baker Mayfield or Kyle Trask doesn’t elicit much hope for 2023. If the Bucs had a little more at QB (Tannehill, perhaps?), they would be a sneaky dangerous team in a weak NFC South.

Roster core: QB Mac Jones, OLB Matthew Judon, S Kyle Dugger, OLB Josh Uche, G Mike Onwenu

Average core age: 26.4

It seems plenty plausible that Jones’ 2021 rookie season, in which he ranked 16th in QBR, is more indicative of the player he’ll become than what he did last season (28th) with Matt Patricia as his playcaller. Judon and Uche combined for 27 sacks in 2022, but this core lacks superstars.

Roster core: WR Terry McLaurin, DT Daron Payne, DT Jonathan Allen, DE Montez Sweat, DE Chase Young

Average core age: 26.4

Uncertainty at quarterback (and therefore, the lack of one on this list) dings Washington. But this is a solid collection of players in their prime, and the case could be made for the Commanders to rank higher. I believe Young can still be a good player, as he posted a 19% pass rush win rate at edge as recently as 2021.

Roster core: QB C.J. Stroud, OT Laremy Tunsil, OLB Will Anderson Jr., CB Derek Stingley Jr., RB Dameon Pierce

Average core age: 23.4

Talk about draft capital — the Texans have three core players selected with a top-three selection from the past two drafts! It means there’s major potential here, but the group is still totally unproven. Though the Texans paid too much to move up and draft him, Anderson scored incredibly well in my sack projections for prospects, even relative to top pass-rush prospects of recent seasons.

Roster core: QB Anthony Richardson, WR Michael Pittman Jr., G Quenton Nelson, DT DeForest Buckner, LB Shaquille Leonard

Average core age: 26.0

This is a tough group to figure out. Injuries forced Leonard out for most of last season, and Nelson wasn’t close to the same player he has been in the past, with a 91% pass block win rate at guard that ranked 41st out of 63 qualifiers. But of all the wild cards, we’re burying the lede in regard to Richardson. The Colts’ season — and future — will rest on his shoulders more than anyone else’s. Note that running back Jonathan Taylor also could have made this list.

Roster core: QB Desmond Ridder, WR Drake London, G Chris Lindstrom, DT Grady Jarrett, TE Kyle Pitts

Average core age: 24.8

London recorded a 63 overall score in our receiver tracking metrics last season, a very strong number for a rookie. Jarrett is a perpetually underrated player but is starting to decline, while Pitts still has major potential after a disappointing start to his career. Lindstrom is well regarded, though the pass and run block win rates aren’t anything special. But most of all, Ridder, a former third-round pick, remains a huge question mark. Safety Jessie Bates III was a candidate for the core, but I felt like the team made enough of a commitment to Ridder this offseason (by not pursuing real alternatives) to warrant putting him on the list over the veteran safety.

Roster core: QB Kyler Murray, WR Marquise Brown, S Budda Baker, OT Paris Johnson Jr., OT D.J. Humphries

Average core age: 26.0

We’re including Murray in the core even though we’re also working under the assumption that he will miss most of the 2023 season due a torn ACL in his right knee. That Johnson and Humphries made this list speaks to the lack of roster strength on this rebuilding team.