The NFL was introduced to the term “triplets” by the 1990s Dallas Cowboys. Michael Irvin, Troy Aikman, and Emmitt Smith led Dallas to three Super Bowl titles while earning that distinction. Ever since, every NFL team has hoped to assemble its own version of the league’s iconic trio.
CBS Sports recently ranked each NFL team’s current triplets, using a quarterback, running back, and wide receiver as the criteria. As expected, there was a significant gap between the teams at the top and the bottom of the list.
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Here is Jared Dublin’s breakdown of those two teams:
Best Triplets: Cincinnati Bengals
Sep 15, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) restrains wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase (1) after an altercation with officials during the second half of the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images
“Burrow’s injury absence wasn’t enough to knock them off their perch, thanks in large part to his excellence but also the combination of him and Chase, and Brown’s emergence as a quality back in every situation except the one where Jake Browning is under center is also a contributor to the Bengals’ position at the top of the rankings.” Dublin wrote.
There isn’t much surprise here. In fact, there’s a legitimate argument that the Cincinnati Bengals boast the NFL’s best quartet. Even so, Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Chase Brown were more than enough to earn the number 1 ranking.
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Burrow and Chase have formed one of the NFL’s most dangerous duos since the former LSU teammates reunited in Cincinnati in 2021. Brown joined the Bengals in 2023 and quickly emerged as the team’s lead back after Joe Mixon’s departure. Since then, he has become a key part of Cincinnati’s offense, excelling as both a runner and a pass catcher. This trio is the standard by which every other team is measured.
Worst Triplets: Cleveland Browns
Shedeur Sanders
Nov 23, 2025; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) reacts at the end of the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
“Sanders was arguably the worst quarterback in the league, and it feels like this ranking is driven mostly by the expected production the Browns will get at that position because people have a pretty high opinion of Judkins despite his paltry 3.6 yards-per-carry average, and Fannin had a really nice rookie year.” Dublin wrote.
The Browns are no strangers to finishing near the bottom of the standings, especially in the AFC North. Still, failing to rank ahead of the Miami Dolphins only adds to the frustration. Shedeur Sanders entered the NFL as a projected first-round quarterback, but his development now faces the same instability that has plagued Cleveland Brown’s quarterback position for years.
There is at least some promise within this group. Quinshon Judkins showed potential before suffering a season-ending injury. Harold Fannin Jr. also emerged as a pleasant surprise, but he’s a tight end rather than a wide receiver. When a tight end fills one of your triplet spots, it highlights just how thin the receiving corps has become.