The NFL is blessed with loads of star power across the league, and a few talent even resides on the identical team. But finding a dynamic duo that helps a team win games may be difficult, especially in the event that they don’t play the identical position.
One of the best duos within the league do not have to play the identical position, but they need to contribute on the identical side of the ball. So what qualifies as a duo for every team? Here were the qualifications for this particular list:
- Play on the identical side of the ball
- Contribute to the team’s offensive or defensive success
- May be from the identical position, but not a prerequisite
- May be the 2 best players on that individual side of the ball
Listed below are the highest duos for every of the 32 NFL teams, all of which feature a few of the very best players within the league:
It’s pretty easy how good the Cardinals are when Hopkins is on the sector, and the way he impacts Murray’s game. Arizona was 8-2 when Hopkins played last yr and averaged 30.2 points per game. Murray’s game can be considerably higher when he has his No. 1 wide receiver.
Murray accomplished 71.6% of his passes and threw for 278.2 passing yards per game within the 10 games he played with Hopkins in 2021. He also had 19 touchdowns to nine interceptions with a 106.0 passer rating with Hopkins within the lineup (81.2 without Hopkins).
When Murray and Hopkins play, the Cardinals win.
The Falcons do not have a longtime duo, but Patterson and Pitts give Atlanta its best likelihood to win games. Patterson was the do-it-all skill player on the Falcons offense last yr, as he rushed for 618 yards and 6 touchdowns and caught 52 passes for 548 yards and and five touchdowns. The 1,166 yards from scrimmage and 11 touchdowns made Patterson a novel weapon for the offense.
Pitts was the very best receiver on the Falcons last yr, catching 68 passes for 1,026 yards and averaging 15.1 yards per catch — almost breaking Mike Ditka’s yardage record for rookie tight ends. He needs to be even higher in 2022, irrespective of who plays quarterback for Atlanta.
Humphrey and Peters are among the best cornerback duos within the NFL when healthy. The Ravens didn’t get to see that in 2021 when Peters was lost for the yr before the season even began. Together, each are playmakers on the sector. Peters has probably the most takeaways (39), interceptions (31), interception-return yards (814), interception-return touchdowns (six) and defensive touchdowns (seven).
Humphrey became the primary defensive back to register at the very least eight forced fumbles and a sack (2.5) in a single season in 2020. His 64 passes defensed since entering the league (2017) are fifth-most amongst all players. Like Peters, Humphrey also has multiple Pro Bowl appearances.
Baltimore’s pass defense was among the many worst within the league when those two weren’t on the sector. That should not be the case in 2022.
Allen’s game took off when the Bills traded for Diggs, who set an NFL record with 230 receptions in his first two years with a latest team. Diggs can be third within the NFL in receptions (230) and receiving yards (2,760) over the past two years.
Allen has develop into among the best quarterbacks within the NFL, totaling 88 touchdowns during the last two seasons (trailing only Aaron Rodgers), while his 135 total touchdowns trail only Dan Marino for probably the most by a player after his first 4 seasons.
The Bills won consecutive AFC East titles and have develop into Super Bowl contenders with Allen and Diggs leading the best way.
These two have only been together within the secondary for 3 games, however the impact was already felt in Carolina with such a small sample size. Carolina allowed just 146 pass yards per game, leading the NFL in that category after the primary three games of 2021 (when Horn and Chinn played).
Horn allowed only a 39.6 passer rating in coverage when he was the first defender, while Chinn is one among three players in franchise history (Jon Beason, Luke Kuechly) to have 100 tackles in each of their first two seasons with the Panthers.
The potential for Horn and Chinn together in yr two can carry the Panthers defense, as each players aren’t even near entering their primes.
The Bears made so many changes on their roster, it was hard to search out a consistent duo. Fortunately, general manager Ryan Poles kept Quinn and Smith around. Smith recorded 100-plus tackles in each of his first 4 seasons, becoming the primary Chicago player to accomplish that since Lance Briggs.
Quinn had 18.5 sacks last season, which set a franchise record and was second only to T.J. Watt. Quinn is one among eight lively players with 100 profession sacks (101), reaching double-digit totals five times. The 32-year-old Quinn is one among just five players with multiple seasons of 18-plus sacks (the NFL recorded sacks as an official stat in 1982). Reggie White, Michael Strahan, DeMarcus Ware, and J.J. Watt are the others.
If the Bears defense goes to perform in 2022, Quinn and Smith might be at the middle of its success.
One yr together and the Bengals made the Super Bowl. That is how impactful Burrow and Chase were in yr one. Chase had probably the most receiving yards in a season by a rookie within the Super Bowl era (1,455) and had eight receiving touchdowns of 30-plus yards — probably the most be any player in a season since Jordy Nelson in 2011.
Including the playoffs, Burrow led the league in completion percentage (70%) and yards per attempt (8.6), while ending second in passer rating (105.9). Burrow accomplished 61% of his passes, averaged 8.6 yards per attempt, and had a 92.4 passer rating when pressured — all of which led the NFL.
Burrow and Chase might be a dangerous duo for years to return
The Browns offense goes through Chubb and Hunt, arguably the very best running back duo within the league. Chubb leads all running backs with 5.23 yards per carry since entering the league. His 17 100-yard rushing games are second within the league during the last 4 years while his 3,557 rushing yards rank third.
Hunt, meanwhile, ranks eighth within the NFL in yards from scrimmage (4,593) and total touchdowns (37) since his rookie season in 2017, when he became the sixth rookie within the Super Bowl era to guide the league in rushing.
Chubb and Hunt proceed to supply at a high level and might be much more productive with a greater passing game in Cleveland.
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What each Parsons and Diggs did to remodel the Cowboys defense in 2021 was phenomenal. Parsons was the primary player with 13-plus sacks and 80-plus tackles in a single season since J.J. Watt in 2012 and was the primary rookie to have 30 quarterback hits in a season.
Diggs led the NFL with 11 interceptions and was second with 21 pass breakups, the one player within the league with 10-plus interceptions and 20-plus pass breakups. He’s one among just seven players since 1970 with eleven-plus interceptions in a season.
The Cowboys defense improved from ending twenty eighth in points allowed to seventh and led the league with 34 takeaways. Parsons and Diggs played an integral role in that.
Even with Russell Wilson within the fold, the Broncos need to salivate over having Williams and Gordon within the backfield one other yr. Williams got here on the scene in his rookie season, rushing for 903 yards and 4 touchdowns (4.4 yards per carry) and ending with 1,219 yards from scrimmage and 7 total touchdowns. He finished third amongst all rookies in rushing and third amongst rookie running backs in yards per carry — while ending up second amongst rookie backs in yards from scrimmage.
Gordon had 203 carries for 918 yards and eight touchdowns in 2021. He and Williams were the primary running back duo since 2011 to every have 900 yards rushing within the season. They’ll play a serious role in Russell Wilson’s success with the Broncos.
Williams hasn’t even played an NFL game yet, but he’ll make St. Brown’s life rather a lot easier as he heads into yr two. St. Brown had 90 catches for 912 yards and five touchdowns in his rookie season, but most of his production got here in his last six games. He caught 52 passes for 560 yards and five touchdowns during that stretch — all rating in the highest five within the NFL.
What Williams brings to the table within the Lions offense cannot be ignored, as 1,329 of his 1,561 receiving yards at Alabama got here when he was deemed open (per Pro Football Focus). He ranked fourth within the nation by averaging 9.3 yards after the reception. His nine catches of 50-plus yards last yr tied Ja’Marr Chase for probably the most by a player in an FBS season.
The Lions have a passing game with Williams and St. Brown, and the duo may be among the best wide receiver tandems within the NFL.
The Packers offense revolves around Rodgers, who has claimed the league’s MVP award in consecutive seasons. Rodgers leads the NFL in completion percentage (69.8%) and touchdown passes (85) while throwing just nine interceptions — the fewest within the league. His 116.7 passer rating also leads the league of quarterbacks who’ve thrown 1,000 passes.
With Davante Adams to Las Vegas, Rodgers’ top running mate is Aaron Jones — who’s ninth within the NFL in rushing yards (1,903) and fourth in yards per carry (5.1) during the last two years (minimum 300 carries). Jones has 2,649 yards from scrimmage during that stretch, seventh amongst running backs.
Jones is the highest option within the Packers offense not named Aaron Rodgers. He’s arrange for a giant yr in 2022.
The Texans do not have much to work with on their roster, but Mills was surprisingly good for them last season. Mills ranked third in NFL history amongst all rookie quarterbacks in completion percentage (66.8%) and had three games with a passer rating of 125 or higher — tied for the second-most amongst rookie quarterbacks because the 1970 merger.
Mills’ top goal was Cooks, who has six 1,000-yards season in his past seven years. Cooks has 7,367 receiving yards because the start of the 2015 season, seventh within the NFL. He had a career-high 90 catches last season, including 25 for 295 yards and three touchdowns in the ultimate five games (when Mills had a 102.4 passer rating).
If the Texans offense goes to be competitive, Mills and Cooks need to cleared the path.
Nelson and Kelly are among the best interior lineman duos within the NFL — and the pair line up right next to one another. Nelson has played 4,027 snaps in his profession, allowing as many sacks as Pro Bowls and All-Pro selections earned (4). Kelly has been to a few consecutive Pro Bowls and allowed only six sacks and 11 quarterback hits in 2,773 snaps.
The Colts offensive line has been among the best within the NFL due to Nelson and Kelly. Each players needs to be paired next to one another for years to return.
These running backs have never played together, but that is going to vary in 2022. Etienne left Clemson because the ACC’s all-time leader in rushing yards (4,952), scrimmage yards (6,107), rushing touchdowns (70), and scrimmage touchdowns (78) — yet didn’t play his entire rookie season as a consequence of injury.
Robinson is probably not back in time for the beginning of the yr, either, but he’s been productive since he’s entered the league. Robinson’s 1,414 scrimmage yards are probably the most scrimmage yards by an undrafted rookie in NFL history, and he followed up that campaign with 767 rushing yards and eight touchdowns in 14 games despite questionable coaching decisions by Urban Meyer.
Robinson may be the thunder to Etienne’s lighting in Doug Pederson’s offense, as each backs will play a pivotal role in Trevor Lawrence’s success.
There is probably not a greater duo within the NFL than Mahomes and Kelce, two players who’ve dominated at their respective positions and have taken the Chiefs deep within the playoffs 4 consecutive years. Mahomes leads the NFL in passing yards (18,707) and passing touchdowns (151) and is second in passer rating (106.2) amongst quarterbacks with 1,500 pass attempts because the 2018 season.
Kelce is second within the NFL in receiving yards (5,106), third in receptions (397) and tied for sixth in touchdowns (35) since Mahomes became the starting quarterback in 2018. These two have helped the Chiefs reach 4 consecutive AFC Championship Games, win two conference titles and secure a Super Bowl title.
With Tyreek Hill off to Miami, Kelce might be much more distinguished within the Chiefs offense. Mahomes and Kelce still have several more years of greatness.
The Raiders might be getting after the quarterback in 2022, especially in any case the havoc Crosby caused on the sting last season. Crosby had a league-high 92 pressures last yr and finished fourth within the NFL with 30 quarterback hits despite only having eight sacks.
Crosby’s sack totals should improve with the addition of Jones, who leads the NFL in sacks (107.5) and compelled fumbles (33) since entering the league in 2012. Jones has averaged 0.77 sacks per game, seventh-best in NFL history since sacks became official in 1982 (minimum 20 games).
With the talent of quarterbacks within the AFC West, the Raiders have the very best tandem to get pressure on them.
Justin Herbert belongs with this dynamic duo, however the Chargers superstar’s top wideouts are only as vital toward this team’s success. Allen has 1,000 receiving yards and 100 receptions in 4 of the past five seasons. Allen’s 507 catches are probably the most within the league during the last five seasons, and his 5,918 receiving yards are fifth within the league.
Williams is among the best deep threats within the NFL, hauling in 21 catches of 40-plus yards because the start of the 2018 season (second-most within the NFL). His 11 touchdowns of 30-plus yards because the start of 2018 are tied for second within the NFL. Williams had a profession yr in 2021, posting a career-high 76 catches for 1,146 yards.
With Williams back in Los Angeles for the subsequent several years, he and Allen might be vital within the Chargers’ quest toward the highest of the AFC.
One yr together and Stafford and Kupp were in a position to win a Super Bowl. Kupp became the primary player since 2005 to win the NFL’s triple crown, leading the league in receptions (145), receiving yards (1,947) and receiving touchdowns (16). He’s just the fourth player since 1970 to realize this feat. Kupp is the one player ever with 2,000 receiving yards in a season (including playoffs), ending with 2,425 on the yr.
Stafford threw for 4,886 yards and 41 touchdowns in his first season with the Rams, throwing for 14 touchdowns to zero interceptions with a 123.2 passer rating within the fourth quarter. He also led the Rams to the Super Bowl title in his first yr with the team, only the third quarterback in NFL history to realize this feat.
The Rams are Super Bowl contenders with Stafford and Kupp. That will not change in 2022.
Jones and Howard would be the league’s best cornerback duo, even when Jones had a down season in 2021. Jones didn’t record an interception and opposing quarterbacks targeting him had a 75.3 passer rating, but he’s still one among the highest cover corners within the league.
Howard is usually among the best cornerbacks in the sport, even when he allowed seven touchdowns last yr. Opposing quarterbacks only had a 64.0 passer rating when targeting Howard, who finished with five interceptions. Howard’s 23 interceptions are the second-most within the NFL over the past 4 seasons.
This can be a highly paid duo, but in addition a highly productive one when each are playing at a high level.
Cook and Jefferson are the house run hitters on the Vikings and two of the very best at their positions within the NFL. Cook has 3,851 rushing yards and 35 rushing touchdowns over the past three seasons, second-most within the NFL. His 4,955 scrimmage yards are also second-most within the NFL, trailing only Derrick Henry. He’s made the Pro Bowl in each of those three seasons.
Jefferson has 196 catches for 3,016 yards and 17 touchdowns over the past two years. He’s seventh in receptions, first in yards and tenth in receiving touchdowns over that span. His 10.39 yards per goal can be tenth within the league. Jefferson’s 196 catches are tied with Michael Thomas for probably the most within the league for players after their first two seasons, and his 3,016 yards are probably the most ever for a player in that span.
Irrespective of how the Vikings play, Cook and Jefferson are going to perform. Each players are cornerstones for the franchise — and can proceed to be for years.
The Patriots have typically had strong safety play under Bill Belichick, and that hasn’t modified with McCourty and Phillips controlling the back of the secondary. McCourty has recorded 900 tackles and 31 interceptions in his 12-year profession, earning 4 Pro Bowls and three second-team All-Pro selections. He has played probably the most defensive snaps since entering the NFL in 2010 with 11,446, and his 24 postseason starts are the fourth-most in NFL history. He can be just one among just seven players in league history to start out in at the very least five Super Bowls.
Phillips had a career-high 4 interceptions for the Patriots last season to go together with 92 tackles. Opposing quarterbacks targeting Phillips had only a 49.0 passer rating when he was the first defender in coverage, and he allowed just three touchdowns.
McCourty and Phillips proceed to guide the Patriots secondary, especially since J.C. Jackson has departed. They’re the glue to the unit in 2022.
Whoever pairs with Jordan typically has success on the Saints defense, which is predicted when Jordan is among the best pass rushers in the sport. Jordan finished with 12.5 sacks last season at age 32 and has 106 sacks because the start of the 2012 season, second-most within the NFL. His 136 tackles for loss are third within the league during that span while his 201 quarterback hits rank fifth. It doesn’t hurt that Jordan has 4 double-digit sack seasons within the last five years.
Davenport had a career-high nine sacks last season and matched a career-best three forced fumbles and 16 quarterback hits. He also finished with 40 pressures and notched a career-high 14.3% pressure rate.
Jordan and Davenport are a superb pass-rushing duo and are two explanation why the Saints defense is near the highest of the NFC.
The Giants do not have much to pick from, either, but Williams and Ojulari were productive in 2021. Williams had 43 pressures and 6.5 sacks in 2021 after a career-year with the Giants in 2020, but remains to be a consistent force off the sting.
Ojulari had 38 pressures and eight sacks in his rookie season for the Giants while adding 13 quarterback hits and a forced fumble. The Giants are counting on Ojulari to take the subsequent step in 2022 because the team’s top pass rusher.
Wink Martindale’s scheme is predicted to make Ojulari and Williams even higher, because the two might be relied upon to consistently get to the quarterback. Those two might be vital toward Latest York turning its defense around.
The Jets have built a powerful interior offensive line with the signing of Tomlinson, who was one among the highest guards within the league last yr. Tomlinson allowed just two sacks and 23 pressures in 565 pass-blocking snaps, becoming a mainstay in San Francisco for five seasons.
Tomlinson will play left guard for the Jets while Vera-Tucker moves over to right guard. Vera-Tucker allowed three sacks and 41 pressures during his rookie season, but learning from Tomlinson should help his development.
The Jets needs to be strong at guard for years to return.
Kelce and Johnson have been mainstays on the Eagles offensive line for nearly a decade — and so they are two of the very best within the league at their respective positions. Kelce already is at the highest of his game because the league’s premier center. An All-Pro selection in 2021, Kelce played 993 offensive snaps and allowed only one sack and 17 pressures (his lowest totals since 2018). Kelce is one among just 12 centers to earn 4 first-team All-Pro selections in NFL history. The opposite 11 are within the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Johnson also had a superb season in 2021, allowing only one quarterback hit and nil sacks. Of players who faced 1,000 pass blocking snaps during the last three seasons, Johnson has allowed just two sacks — fewest within the NFL.
Each Kelce and Johnson are of their 30s, but are linchpins on the Eagles offensive line.
There isn’t any need to clarify how good of a player T.J. Watt is, but I’ll do it anyway. Watt tied Michael Strahan’s NFL record for sacks with 22.5 in 2021, and his 116 quarterback hits over the past three seasons are 37 greater than every other player within the NFL. Watt led the NFL in sacks (22.5), quarterback hits (39), and fumble recoveries (three) last yr.
While Watt was the Defensive Player of the Yr, Heyward was a first-team All-Pro who finished with 89 tackles, 17 quarterback hits, 10 sacks and nine passes defensed.
The Steelers made the playoffs because of what Watt and Heyward did for his or her defense. Based on how well these two work together, they’ll match that production this yr.
Bosa and Warner are the stalwarts on the 49ers defense, one among the highest front sevens within the league. Bosa’s 21 tackles for loss last season tied T.J. Watt for probably the most within the NFL. He also had a career-high 15.5 sacks with 4 forced fumbles last yr — and finished third within the league in quarterback hits (32). Bosa already has probably the most sacks in 49ers postseason history (eight).
Warner is one among just three players within the NFL with 115-plus tackles in each of the last 4 years. He notched a career-high 137 tackles and a career-high three fumble recoveries in 2021, among the best seasons of his profession.
Bosa and Warner should lead San Francisco’s defense for a very long time.
Even without Russell Wilson, Lockett and Metcalf should still be one among the highest receiving duos within the NFL. Lockett had 73 catches for a career-high 1,175 yards and eight touchdowns last season — his third consecutive season with over 1,000 yards.
Metcalf has 216 catches for 3,170 yards and 29 touchdowns in his first three seasons — averaging 14.7 yards per catch. He’s one among only eight players in NFL history to have 200 catches, 3,000 yards, 25 receiving touchdowns and average greater than 14 yards per catch after his first three seasons — joining the likes of Randy Moss, Jerry Rice, Tyreek Hill and others.
Lockett and Metcalf are each in the highest 11 in receiving yards during the last three years and the highest seven in touchdowns. They’re arguably among the best receiving duos in football.
Evans and Godwin may give Lockett and Metcalf fight for the title of best receiving duo. Evans is the one player in NFL history to have 1,000-yard seasons in each of his first eight years and the one player to have 12 or more touchdowns in each of the past two years. He has probably the most touchdowns within the league during the last three years (35).
Godwin has averaged 81.9 receiving yards per game because the start of the 2019 season, fourth within the NFL. His 53 catches of 20-plus yards because the start of 2019 are third within the league and his 1,443 yards after the catch are fourth within the NFL. Among the finest slot receivers in the sport, Godwin has 152 catches (fifth in NFL), 2,082 yards (fourth), and 11 touchdowns (tied for eighth) from the slot for the last three years — despite missing nine games with injuries.
Evans and Godwin are each in the highest 10 in receiving yards over the past three years and each rank in the highest 13 in touchdowns. There’s also that Super Bowl title they won in 2020. Evans and Godwin could make the case they’re the very best receiving duo in the sport — and among the best overall duos within the league.
The Titans defense is anchored by two of the best players at their respective positions. A second-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection last yr, Simmons finished with 52 pressures and eight.5 sacks with 16 quarterback hits. He was just one among three defensive tackles to complete with 50 tackles, eight sacks and 15 quarterback hits last season — joining Aaron Donald and Jonathan Allen.
Landry had a breakout season with the Titans last yr as he finished with a career-high 75 tackles, 12 sacks and 22 quarterback hits — earning his first Pro Bowl appearance after 4 seasons within the league. Landry also recorded a career-high 57 pressures and finished with 41 hurries.
Each Simmons and Landry are 26 or under and needs to be anchoring the Titans’ pass rush for a very long time. One of the best is yet to return for this duo.
The ACL injury to Young hampered his 2021 season, but he has the potential to be one of the crucial productive edge rushers in the sport. Young’s 2021 season was a disaster (1.5 sacks), nevertheless it’s hard to disregard the game-changer he was in his rookie campaign.
Young was the standout of his rookie class, leading all rookies in sacks (7.5), tackles for loss (10), pressures (40) and tied for first in forced fumbles (4). He became the primary player to record at the very least two games with at the very least one fumble recovery, a forced fumble, a sack and a pass defensed because the stats were first recorded in 1999 — and was the primary rookie to perform the feat.
Sweat finished with nine sacks in that 2020 season and finished with just five last yr with 13 quarterback hits. If Young gets back to the shape he had in his rookie season, each he and Sweat should revert back to being one among the highest young edge rushing duos within the league.
