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The best non-QB on every NFL team
By Seth Trachtman,
18 hours ago
The quarterback is the most important player on an NFL roster, but creating a winning team takes more talent than just the guy under center. These are the best non-quarterbacks for all 32 teams entering the 2024 season.
Arizona Cardinals: Budda Baker, S (1 of 32)
Joe Rondone / USA Today Sports Images
Baker is the one constant in a franchise that continues to rebuild. He made his sixth Pro Bowl in seven seasons in 2023, despite missing five games to a hamstring injury. Baker is on a Hall of Fame trajectory, with over 700 tackles so far in his career.
Atlanta Falcons: Matthew Judon, EDGE (2 of 32)
Tommy Gilligan / USA Today Sports Images
Judon was recently traded to a Falcons team loaded with veteran talent after playing only four games in New England during 2023 due to injury. However, Judon established himself as an elite pass rusher before last year, with four consecutive Pro Bowls and a career-high 15.5 sacks in 2022. He joins a defense that also has veteran stars like Grady Jarrett, Jessie Bates, Justin Simmons, and A.J. Terrell.
Baltimore Ravens: Kyle Hamilton, S (3 of 32)
Jessica Rapfogel / USA Today Sports Images
Through only two seasons, Hamilton has arguably become the top safety in the game and an anchor on the elite Ravens defense. He was first-team All-Pro and a Pro Bowler last season after recording 81 tackles and four interceptions in 15 games. Hamilton is one of many elite players on the Ravens defense, including Nnamdi Madubuike, Michael Pierce, Roquan Smith, and Marlon Humphrey.
Buffalo Bills: Dion Dawkins, LT (4 of 32)
Mark Konezny / USA Today Sports Images
Dawkins has done a tremendous job protecting Josh Allen's blindside, making three consecutive Pro Bowls as a stalwart on the offensive line. He's a perfect fit for a Bills team that likes to play hard-nosed football as the weather gets colder in the winter months.
Carolina Panthers: Derrick Brown, DE (5 of 32)
Jim Dedmon / USA Today Sports Images
While the Panthers moved on from star pass rusher Brian Burns in the offseason, Brown remains. Now the face of the defense, he made his first Pro Bowl last season after recording 103 tackles and two sacks.
Chicago Bears: D.J. Moore, WR (6 of 32)
Jamie Sabau / USA Today Sports Images
Moore is the leader of what is now an incredibly talented wide receiver corps in Chicago, with Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze joining the Bears during the offseason. The wideout is coming off a career year with 96 catches for 1,364 yards and eight touchdowns last season.
Cincinnati Bengals: Ja'Marr Chase, WR (7 of 32)
Sam Greene / USA Today Sports Images
Joe Burrow's top target in college continues to be that in the NFL, with a historic start to his NFL career. Over three seasons, Chase has over 3,700 yards and 29 touchdowns in 45 games. Cincinnati also has elite talent on the defensive side of the ball, led by Trey Hendrickson.
Cleveland Browns: Myles Garrett, DE (8 of 32)
Ken Blaze / USA Today Sports Images
Garrett is the face of what has become an elite Cleveland defense. He won Defensive Player of the Year in 2023 after recording 14 sacks in 16 games, along with 30 quarterback hits. Incredibly, Garrett already has 88.5 sacks over seven seasons and has made five Pro Bowls.
Dallas Cowboys: Micah Parsons, EDGE (9 of 32)
Joe Rondone / USA Today Sports Images
Parsons has been one of the game's best defensive players since he was drafted in 2021, making the Pro Bowl each seasons with 40.5 total sacks. Not coincidentally, the Cowboys defense ascended immediately upon his addition.
Denver Broncos: Pat Surtain II, CB (10 of 32)
Nathan Ray Seebeck / USA Today Sports Images
Surtain is following in the footsteps of his Pro Bowl father as one of the top cornerbacks in football. He's made the Pro Bowl in back-to-back seasons and was an All-Pro in 2022.
Detroit Lions: Aidan Hutchinson, DE (11 of 32)
Junfu Han / USA Today Sports Images
The Lions have been consistently building talent through the draft, with Hutchinson helping lead the way. He's quickly become the face of Detroit's defense, with 21 sacks over two seasons and his first Pro Bowl last year.
Green Bay Packers: Kenny Clark, DT (12 of 32)
Dan Powers / USA Today Sports Images
The Packers have several defensive players who could make strong arguments as the best on the team, but Clark's track record of consistency gives him the nod. He made his third Pro Bowl last season with a career-high 7.5 sacks and has 34 career sacks in eight years.
Houston Texans: Laremy Tunsil, LT (13 of 32)
Troy Taormina / USA Today Sports Images
The Texans are now loaded with talent on both sides of the ball, including pass rushers Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter. However, Tunsil's critical role on the offensive line and elite play makes him as important as anyone. He's made the Pro Bowl in four of the last five seasons.
Indianapolis Colts: DeForest Buckner, DT (14 of 32)
Bob Donnan / USA Today Sports Images
Buckner has consistently been one of the NFL's top interior pass rushers, making the Pro Bowl for the third time last season with eight sacks. He has 61 career sacks in eight seasons, including 32.5 sacks in four seasons since joining the Colts.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Josh Hines-Allen, DE (15 of 32)
Reinhold Matay / USA Today Sports Images
Hines-Allen has been a key defensive player for the Jaguars since he was drafted in 2019. He made his second Pro Bowl last season with a career-high 17.5 sacks.
Kansas City Chiefs: Chris Jones, DT (16 of 32)
Denny Medley / USA Today Sports Images
Future Hall of Fame tight end Travis Kelce will likely win the popularity contest as the top player on the Chiefs not named Patrick Mahomes, but his slight decline last season gives Jones the crown as their top complementary player. Jones made his fifth consecutive Pro Bowl and second first-team All-Pro designation last year with 10.5 sacks in 16 games.
Las Vegas Raiders: Davante Adams, WR (17 of 32)
Stephen R. Sylvanie / USA Today Sports Images
Adams didn't make the Pro Bowl last season but proved he could produce in spite of sub-par quarterback play with his fifth season of over 1,100 yards receiving. The veteran's streak of six consecutive Pro Bowls ended, but he remains one of the top players in the league at wideout. The Raiders also have an elite player on defense in Maxx Crosby.
Los Angeles Chargers: Khalil Mack, OLB (18 of 32)
Kirby Lee / USA Today Sports Images
Mack had a relative resurgence last season, with a career-high 17 sacks while making his eighth career Pro Bowl. He now has 101.5 sacks in his 10-year career.
Los Angeles Rams: Puka Nacua, WR (19 of 32)
Kirby Lee / USA Today Sports Images
With Cooper Kupp battling injury, Nacua thrust onto the scene to make the Pro Bowl as a rookie in 2023. He finished his campaign with 105 catches for 1,486 yards and six scores, quickly becoming the go-to weapon in the Rams offense.
Miami Dolphins: Tyreek Hill, WR (20 of 32)
Jasen Vinlove / USA Today Sports Images
Hill continues to be almost impossible to cover as arguably the top wide receiver in football. He's made the Pro Bowl in all of his eight seasons, and has back-to-back 1,700 yard campaigns. Hill led the NFL in 2023 with 1,799 yards receiving and 13 touchdowns.
Minnesota Vikings: Justin Jefferson, WR (21 of 32)
Matt Krohn / USA Today Sports Images
After winning Offensive Player of the Year in 2022, Jefferson ran into some injuries last season and played only 10 games. He still managed to reach 1,000 yards for the fourth time in his four seasons despite the limited play on the field.
New England Patriots: Christian Barmore, DT (22 of 32)
Eric Canha / USA Today Sports Images
Barmore had a breakout year on the Patriots defense last season, recording 8.5 sacks and 64 tackles. Unfortunately, he suffered a scare early in training camp with a blood clotting issue that leaves him questionable for the 2024 season.
New Orleans Saints: Demario Davis, LB (23 of 32)
Troy Taormina / USA Today Sports Images
Davis has seen quite a late-career surge with the Saints since joining the team in 2018. He's now made back-to-back Pro Bowls and been a second-team All-Pro in four straight seasons after making first-team in 2019. He continues going strong in his mid-30s, recording 121 tackles and 6.5 sacks last season.
New York Giants: Brian Burns, EDGE (24 of 32)
Lucas Boland / USA Today Sports Images
The Giants paid up for Burns in the offseason and for good reason. The former Panther has 46 sacks in five seasons, making two Pro Bowls as an elite pass rusher.
New York Jets: Quinnen Williams, DT (25 of 32)
Vincent Carchietta / USA Today Sports Images
A former first-round pick, Williams has come into his own over the last two seasons. He's made the Pro Bowl both years and now has 33 sacks over five seasons.
Philadelphia Eagles: A.J. Brown, WR (26 of 32)
Brad Mills / USA Today Sports Images
Brown continues to show off elite performance for the Eagles, making the Pro Bowl in both seasons since he was traded to Philly. He had 106 catches for 1,456 yards and seven scores last year, making second-team All-Pro for the second straight year.
Pittsburgh Steelers: T.J. Watt, OLB (27 of 32)
Tommy Gilligan / USA Today Sports Images
Watt is following in the footsteps of his future Hall of Fame brother, J.J. Watt, as one of the top defensive players in the game. T.J. won Defensive Player of the Year in 2021 and has been an All-Pro in four of the last five seasons. He's also led the league in sacks in three of the last four years, including 19 sacks last season.
San Francisco 49ers: Trent Williams, LT (28 of 32)
Darren Yamashita / USA Today Sports Images
Williams' incredible career continues as arguably the best offensive lineman of his generation. He was an All-Pro for the third straight year and Pro Bowler for the 11th consecutive time last season for the 49ers.
Seattle Seahawks: D.K. Metcalf, WR (29 of 32)
Joe Camporeale / USA Today Sports Images
The consistent Metcalf is coming off another great season in Seattle, with over 1,000 yards for the third time in five years. He finished last season with a career-high 16.9 yards per reception and has scored 43 times in his career.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Tristan Wirfs, LT (30 of 32)
Brett Davis / USA Today Sports Images
A great player before last season, Wirfs took his game to another level by moving from the right side to the left side of Tampa Bay's offensive line. He's made the Pro Bowl in three consecutive seasons as an elite offensive lineman.
Tennessee Titans: Harold Landry, OLB (31 of 32)
Andrew Nelles / USA Today Sports Images
Landry successfully rebounded from injury last season, recording 10.5 sacks as Tennessee's top pass rusher. He also made the Pro Bowl in 2021 with 12 sacks.
Washington Commanders: Terry McLaurin, WR (32 of 32)
Kirby Lee / USA Today Sports Images
Despite the merry-go-round at quarterback in Washington, McLaurin continues to produce. He had his fourth consecutive 1,000-yard season in 2023, and hasn't missed a game in the last three years.
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