We asked multiple evaluators from the AFC and NFC for their thoughts on the NFL's deepest rosters. 

A few patterns emerged quickly.

One, NFC teams dominated the discussion, with personnel men from both conferences particularly fancying the depth of a handful of the National Football Conference's top teams.

Two, teams looking to improve their depth right now are probably out of luck, with the ranks of capable veteran free agents rather thin. (The emergence of the UFL, whose players can't sign with NFL teams until the season ends in late November, doesn't help matters.) As the season drags on, even finding veterans still in reasonable playing shape can become a challenge, one evaluator told PFW, though he noted that fitness didn't figure to be a concern for UFL players looking for NFL work later in the year.

Three, the importance of a team's overall depth can be superseded by the matter of whether a team is weak, or strong, at quarterback.

"When you get to the teams without good quarterbacks," one experienced evaluator said, "they might have good (overall) depth, but you wouldn't notice."

Here are our panel's thoughts on the NFL's deepest teams. All respondents participated on the condition of anonymity:

1. New York Giants — This is far and away the NFL's deepest team, according to those polled. They have two starting-caliber running backs (Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw). The WR corps is loaded with talent, giving the Giants the luxury to bring promising rookie Hakeem Nicks and capable veteran Domenik Hixon off the bench. And the defensive line? It's absolutely loaded, with DE Mathias Kiwanuka and DTs Chris Canty and Rocky Bernard all capable of starting for other clubs. When Canty returns from a calf injury, the group will be all the more formidable.

2. Minnesota Vikings — Their depth on offense is exceptional. They have three game-breaking threats at wide receiver: Bernard Berrian, Percy Harvin and Sidney Rice. Their backup running back, Chester Taylor, was a solid starter earlier in his career. What's more, backup QBs Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels fit very well in their current roles. On defense, the Vikings might be strongest along the defensive line, which boasts solid backups in addition to a star-filled starting four.

3. New Orleans Saints — Here's another NFC team with a variety of reliable performers on offense. RBs Pierre Thomas, Reggie Bush and Mike Bell have all come up big in Saints victories this season. A different receiving star seems to emerge every week. But the biggest boost from the bench might have come from backup OLT Jermon Bushrod, who has capably filled in for the injured Jammal Brown and drew widespread praise for his play in the Saints' Week Six rout of the Giants. Bushrod, a third-year player from Towson, didn't start a game in his first two NFL seasons. The Saints also boast capable depth along the defensive line and in the secondary.

4. Arizona Cardinals — "They can lose somebody at any position and get by for a few weeks," one personnel man said of the Cardinals, who have quietly built a very strong roster. Arizona's depth might be best at wide receiver, as Steve Breaston, who could be a primary target on other clubs, is an excellent complement to starters Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin. The Cardinals have a stout, and deep, front seven, which might be best reflected in their run defense. Arizona, which surrendered 110.3 rushing yards per game in 2008, is allowing just 67.5 yards per game on the ground this season.

5. Philadelphia Eagles — Their defensive depth has been put to the test this season with mixed results, particularly at linebacker, where they have struggled to replace Stewart Bradley in the middle. But they have a wide array of weapons on offense, especially at wide receiver now that rookie Jeremy Maclin has emerged opposite second-year wideout DeSean Jackson. And the Eagles' QB depth behind Donovan Mc­Nabb is enviable, with third-year pro Kevin Kolb and Michael Vick perhaps the NFL's best backup passing duo. 

Honorable mention — Pittsburgh Steelers, Indianapolis Colts, New England Patriots.

PFW has launched its brand-new NFL Draft Newsletter series, with the first issue now ready for mailing. Produced by PFW's player personnel department under the direction of Nolan Nawrocki, the series consists of four information-packed issues. For more info or to subscribe — click here for PDF e-pub or here for print format.