31 position codes · 2026 season

NFL depth chart key.

Every code that appears on an NFL depth chart, what it actually means, and — the part most pages skip — what a depth chart does not tell you.

What a depth chart is not

The single most common misreading, and it is worth getting out of the way first.

A depth chart is the ordering a team publishes. It is a statement of intent, not a record of playing time and not a projection. A player listed first can take 40% of snaps; a player listed third at running back can out-touch the player above him. The ordering is genuinely useful — it is the club’s own view of its roster, which nobody else can tell you — but it answers “who does the team say is ahead”, not “who will play”. For the second question see snap share, which is what actually happened, and start/sit for what it means this week.

Offense

10 position codes. “Teams” is how many clubs currently list it.

Offense position codes
Code	Position	Teams
C	Center	32
LG	Left Guard	32
LT	Left Tackle	32
QB	Quarterback	32
RB	Running Back	32
RG	Right Guard	32
RT	Right Tackle	32
TE	Tight End	32
WR	Wide Receiver	32
FB	Fullback	13

Defense

15 position codes. “Teams” is how many clubs currently list it.

Defense position codes
Code	Position	Teams
FS	Free Safety	32
LCB	Left Cornerback	32
LDE	Left Defensive End	32
NB	Nickel Back	32
RCB	Right Cornerback	32
RDE	Right Defensive End	32
SLB	Strongside Linebacker	32
SS	Strong Safety	32
WLB	Weakside Linebacker	32
LILB	Left Inside Linebacker	19
NT	Nose Tackle	19
RILB	Right Inside Linebacker	19
LDT	Left Defensive Tackle	13
MLB	Middle Linebacker	13
RDT	Right Defensive Tackle	13

Special teams

6 position codes. “Teams” is how many clubs currently list it.

Special teams position codes
Code	Position	Teams
H	Holder	32
KR	Kick Returner	32
LS	Long Snapper	32
P	Punter	32
PR	Punt Returner	32
PK	Place kicker	31

Why the defensive codes differ by team

23 codes appear for all 32 clubs. 8 depend on the front.

19 teams run a 3-4, 13 teams run a 4-3. A 3-4 front lists a nose tackle between two inside linebackers, so you see NT, LILB and RILB. A 4-3 lists two defensive tackles and a middle linebacker — LDT, RDT and MLB. Neither set is more correct; they describe different defences, which is why a position that exists for 13 clubs is absent for the rest. The counts above are read from the charts themselves, so they move when a team changes coordinator.

Common questions

What does NB mean on a depth chart?

Nickel back — the third cornerback, who covers the slot. Nickel is the most common defensive personnel in the modern NFL, so the NB is on the field for a majority of snaps even though he appears in no base formation.

What is the difference between LCB and RCB?

Side, not rank. LCB and RCB are the left and right cornerbacks — both starters. They are not CB1 and CB2.

Does a depth chart tell you who will play?

No. A depth chart is the ordering a team publishes. It is a statement of intent, not playing time — snap share is what actually happened.

Why do some teams list a nose tackle and others a left defensive tackle?

Because the base front differs. 19 teams run a 3-4, and 13 teams run a 4-3. A 3-4 lists a nose tackle between two inside linebackers; a 4-3 lists two defensive tackles and a middle linebacker.

Where the charts come from. Each team’s own published depth chart, via the nflverse open dataset (CC-BY-4.0), re-pulled on a schedule — the date on each chart is the date the team set it. Browse all 32 teams, or see every chart on one page.