Ranking NFL 2023 Triplets Part I Cardinals have worst group Steelers make slight leap from 2022

Just as we did andandand andand, the crew here at CBSSports.com recently set out to rank each "triplets." Why not, right? It's the middle of the offseason, and it's an offseason tradition around these parts.So in the space below, we're once again counting down the best QB-RB-WR/TE trios, grading the expected starters at quarterback and running back and their presumed top pa s-catcher for the 2023 season. For some teams, it was obvious who would fill each role. For others, le s so. Where we had to make judgment calls on which player would start at quarterback or who would be the top target, we did.In the space below, you'll see our rankings of these triplets. The first number in parentheses is the team's average ranking based on the votes of several of our staff writers and editors at CBSSports. Winnipeg Jets Jersey com, while the second number reflects the high and low end of where our staffers ranked that individual team.For example, our No. 32 team, the had an average ranking of 32.0, with a high ranking of 32 and a low of, well... 32. We have denoted tier breaks in any place where the difference between the average ranking of one team and another exceeded 1.5. For example, the had an average ranking of 28.1 and the had an average of 26.2, so the Panthers begin a new tier. The panel included myself, John Breech, Jeff Kerr, Tyler Sullivan, Jordan Dajani, Cody Benjamin, Shanna McCarriston, Chris Trapa so, Kevin Steimle, Brett Anderson, Garrett Podell, Joel Magaraci, Kyle Stackpole, R.J. White, Eric Kernish, and Eric Kay. The rankings reflect the collective wisdom of this crowd, while the corresponding analysis is mine.Today, we'll start with the bottom third of the league, then we'll continue tomorrow with the middle of the pack, and we'll finish up Thursday with the top tiers. Without further ado...32. Arizona Cardinals (Avg: 32.0, High: 32, Low: 32)Last year: 14th tore his ACL in December and the Cardinals have what is pretty clearly the worst roster in football, so there is zero incentive for them to bring him back at any point this season, let alone a significant portion of it. For that reason, we went with McCoy at quarterback, and the Cardinals were a unanimous pick in dead last by our panel. 31. (Avg: 30.2, High: 28, Low: 31)Last year: 5thThe downgrade from to Mayfield is perhaps the most significant expected drop in quarterback play in the league, even accounting for Brady's relatively subpar 2022 season. Even if we subbed in for Evans, I can't imagine the Bucs would have ranked much higher than this. As it is, they didn't get any votes above 28th.30. (Avg: Ondrej Pavelec Jersey 30.1, High: 28, Low: 31)Last year: 29thThis ranking begins a run on teams with young quarterbacks that mostly goes uninterrupted through the bottom third of the league. Stroud, the No. 2 overall pick in this year's draft, is supported in the backfield by a Day 3 pick from last year, and his presumed top wideout has 70 catches for 927 yards and three scores in two NFL seasons. The Texans have a chance to build things up in the future, but we shouldn't expect big things just yet.29. Washington Commanders (Avg: 28.1, High: 22, Low: 31)Last year: 22ndThe Commies are signaling much more confidence in Howell than our panel apparently has. I feel like this ranking would be quite a bit higher if were expected to start under center for Washington, but Mark Scheifele Jersey that's just an opinion. One of these days, McLaurin will hopefully have a surefire top QB throwing him the ball. He's capable of so much if he eventually gets that chance. 28.Carolina Panthers (Avg: 26.2, High: 21, Low: 29)Last year: 26thLike Stroud, Young is not exactly surrounded by a bevy of skill-position talent. He does have a stronger offensive line in front of him and a veteran back in Sanders, but his top receivers are likely Thielen and , barring rookie stepping in and immediately a serting himself as the best pa s-catching option. For that reason, this group ranks pretty low leaguewide, and barely escaped being ranked inside the bottom tier.27. (Avg: 25.9, High: 22, Low: 30)Last year: 21stHad Matt Patricia not been in charge of New England's offense last season, I think the Pats would probably be in the next tier, rather than sitting way down here. Mac Jones took such a significant step back a year ago that it's tough to place New England much higher than this, but Stevenson is a stud and Smith-Schuster is at least a semi-reliable slot target. Perhaps after a year under Bill O'Brien, the Patriots can take a step forward.26. (Avg: 25.9, High: 21, Low: 29)Last year: 32ndHow you feel about this ranking will likely depend almost entirely on how you feel about Ridder. Did you love him coming into last year's draft? Not much has happened to di suade you of that opinion. Were you not so high on him? Same story. Most quarterbacks drafted in the third round do not become starter-quality players, though, and it seems like our panel expects that to hold true with Ridder, which drags down the ranking of a team that has drafted two explosive weapons in the top 10 in recent years. 25. (Avg: 24.9, High: 20, Low: 29)Last year: 19thThe exception to the young quarterback run, we have the Titans in a clear period of transition. Nikolaj Ehlers Jersey It's entirely po sible that next year's triplets rankings include and alongside Burks. This definitely seems like a last hurrah for Tannehill and Henry.24. (Avg: 24.6, High: 16, Low: 30)Last year: 15thRichardson seems likely to be a star in short order given his outrageous athleticism and rushing ability, but he may take a while longer to come along as a pa ser. Armed with Taylor to augment his skills in the run game and Pittman (and ) on the outside to make contested catches and take advantage of YAC opportunities, though, the immediate floor might be a bit higher than people would think for a player with his skill set. (Still, one vote as high as No. 16 seems a bit optimistic.)23. (Avg: 22.8, High: 13, Low: 27)Last year: 13thI was shocked to see the Packers get a vote at No. 13, given how little we know about Love and how relatively unproven Watson still is. Jones is one of the NFL's most explosive backs, but he is also heading into his age-29 season, and running backs typically begin to decline well in advance of that age. We haven't seen signs of him slowing down all that much yet, but the cliff typically sneaks up on backs pretty quickly. 22. (Avg: 21.9, High: 15, Low: 25)Last year: 25thIf there is any team from this group that is most likely to make a significant jump this year, it might be the Steelers. Second-year quarterbacks typically Jack Roslovic Jersey take a step forward if they are going to end up being any good, and Pickett has an improved offensive line in front of him as well as both Johnson and , plus , , and in his pa s-catching corps. , the Steelers can certainly jump into the top half of the league.21. (Avg: 21.6, High: 19, Low: 27)Last year: 10thThis ranking seems like a show of faith that Sean Payton can get a lot more out of Wilson than did Nathaniel Hackett. That seems like a safe bet. Still, nobody even had the Broncos in the top half of the league, which is a big difference from last year, when they checked in 10th overall and didn't get any votes lower than 16th.