The term "triplets" usually refers to a teams' trio of offensive stars at quarterback, running back and wide receiver, but it can also be applied to the defensive side of the ball.
A defensive trio - with a lineman, linebacker and defensive back - may be even harder to keep in tact from year to year. Teams who can retain star players, especially those on all three levels of the defense, are best equipped for success.
In Sports Illustrated's latest ranking of these triplets around the league, the Baltimore Ravens earned as much praise as any for their core of stars.
Baltimore is ranked having the second-best defensive trio with lineman Nnamdi Madubuike, linebacker Roquan Smith and safety Kyle Hamilton leading the Ravens flock.
They were second only to the Philadelphia Eagles tandem of Jalen Carter, Zack Baun and Quinyon Mitchell.
"Smith and Hamilton remain two of the best at their respective positions," writer Gilberto Manzano said. "Madubuike dropped off a bit from his breakout 2023 season, but his presence in the middle of the defensive line provided favorable matchups for his teammates. All three were named to the Pro Bowl last year, with Smith and Hamilton making All-Pro teams."
Madubuike, a former third-round pick in 2020, is coming off back-to-back Pro Bowl nods despite that aforementioned dip in production from his Second Team All-Pro selection. Regardless, the last two seasons have seen Madubuike come into his own as a foundational piece on the Baltimore D-line.
Last season, he finished with 6.5 sacks (half as much as 2023), 43 tackles and one forced fumble.
Smith is entering his fourth year with the Ravens and has continued to be one of the NFL's best linebackers this deep into his career. The seven-year vet is on a streak of two consecutive First Team All-Pro honors.
In 2024, Roquan led the Ravens in tackles with 154. He also added one forced fumble, fumble recovery, interception and four pass deflections.
Hamilton, much earlier in his career, has also turned into a perennial All-Pro. A recent article puts him atop the safeties ranking in the NFL after just his third year in the league.
The Notre Dame product finished with less interceptions and sacks than his 2023 year, but he played all 17 games for the first time in his career, helping set a career high with 107 tackles.
As a whole, Baltimore wasn't as productive defensively as its stellar 2023 season, but with these three anchoring the group on all levels, the Ravens are poised to control the AFC North for years to come.