Creating an AFC South All-Star team with the best position groups in the division

NASHVILLE – Pro Football Focus recently conducted an exercise in which they created "the perfect AFC South team" by picking between every position group in the division.  PFF made decision using PFF Grade. The highest rated team at every position group is sending their players to this…AFC South All-Star team, so to speak. But as […]

Sam Phalen
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NASHVILLE – Pro Football Focus recently conducted an exercise in which they created "the perfect AFC South team" by picking between every position group in the division. 

PFF made decision using PFF Grade. The highest rated team at every position group is sending their players to this…AFC South All-Star team, so to speak.

But as always, I think you can poke some holes in some of the decisions PFF made. So I thought I'd go down the list and make my own. You name a position group, and I'll tell you which aFC South team has the best unit in 2024.

Quarterbacks – Texans

Who would have thought the AFC South would become one of the NFL's best divisions when it comes to quarterback play? But here in the year 2024, that is the reality.

Both Will Levis and Anthony Richardson showed promise as rookies, and yet one of them will more than likely end up being the worst QB in the division this fall. That's going to be a fun storyline to watch for the next few years.

Texans QB C.J. Stroud was on another level as a rookie. He led the NFL in passing yards per game and interception percentage (1.0 percent). He won AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, was an MVP contender, and is hands down the best QB in the AFC South.

Running Back Unit – Titans

PFF chose the Indianapolis Colts as the team with the best running backs in 2024, but that title absolutely belongs to the Tennessee Titans. In my eyes, the dynamic duo of Tyjae Spears and Tony Pollard is the most well-rounded in the division. 

Spears and Pollard are both capable 1,000-yard rushers as the primary back in an offense. But together, the Titans should be able to maximize each player's efficiency and keep fresh legs in the game at all times.

You could argue that Jonathan Taylor is the best running back in the division and I wouldn't put up too much of a fight, but Indy ran the ball at 4,3 yards per carry behind one of the best offensive lines in the league. The Taylor-Moss tandem excites me far less, and I think they're less interchangeable than the duo in Nashville.

Receiving Corps – Texans

This was a close call between the Texans and the Titans. Houston added Stefon Diggs in a blockbuster trade this offseason while the Titans spent big in free agency to acquire Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd.

Ultimately, it comes down to youth and depth. The fact that Noah Brown is Houston's fourth-best wide receiver is ridiculous. It's even crazier when you realize that John Metchie III and Robert Woods are even further down the depth chart.

I love both DeAndre Hopkins and Calvin Ridley. They compliment each other nicely. But Tennessee just does not have the depth Houston does in the receiving corps. Diggs, Collins, Dell, Brown, Metchie, Woods, etc….sheesh.

Tight Ends – Texans

There's not a tight end room in this division that truly stands out. None of the league's best play in the AFC South, but Dalton Schultz is the most proven NFL tight end in the division.

Brevin Jordan is a versatile blocker as the backup. The Texans also added former Ohio State tight end Cade Stover in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

Offensive Line – Colts

While most AFC South teams made an effort to improve their offensive line this offseason, nobody is on the same level as the Indianapolis Colts.

Left tackle Bernhard Raimann had a breakout sophomore season in 2023, starting all 17 games and allowing only four sacks. Raimann's 81.3 PFF grade in pass blocking was the 8th best among left tackles. Indy also has perennial Pro Bowl talents like Quenton Nelson and Ryan Kelly returning on the interior. 

The right side of the line is a bit more up in the air, but Braden Smith did not allow a sack in over 500 snaps at right tackle last season and the Colts added some intriguing talent in the 2024 NFL Draft. Tanor Bortolini and Blake Freeland (both fourth-round picks) are contenders to start at some point this season.

Defensive Line – Texans

Houston and Indianapolis both have a case for the best defensive line in the division, but it's hard for me to ignore the high-end pass rushers the Texans will have in 2024.

Will Anderson Jr., who had seven sacks as a rookie, will be joined by Danielle Hunter and Denico Autry up front. Both Hunter (16.5) and Autry (11.5) are coming off of career-best seasons in which they combined for 28 sacks.

Foley Fatukasi is a decent run stopper while veterans Jerry Hughes and Mario Edwards Jr. provide Houston with some experienced depth behind their elite starters.

Linebacker Unit – Jaguars

The best linebacker duo in the division is unquestionably in Jacksonville.

Foyesade Oluokon led the NFL in tackles in 2021 and 2022. He also led the league in solo tackles in 2022 and 2023. No AFC South linebacker received a better coverage grade than Oluokon last season.

Devin Lloyd was a first round pick in 2023 that has 242 tackles in two NFL seasons. Lloyd was the highest graded AFC South linebacker against the run in 2023 (4th best in NFL) and the 3rd highest graded linebacker in coverage,

Secondary – Titans

The Titans made two massive offseason addition to their secondary that now gives them the best unit in the division.

L’Jarius Sneed is one of the top cornerbacks in the game, Chidobe Awuzie is an above-average starter that will excel in Dennard Wilson’s physical defense, and Roger McCreary is an underrated slot corner still on a rookie contract.

You could poke holes in Tennessee’s secondary when you look at the safety position, but I think Amani Hooker is better than his statistics suggest. They also might not be done adding to that group.

Specialists – Titans

At 39 years old, Nick Folk led all kickers in field goal percentage with the Titans in 2023. Folk was 29 of 30 on the year and surprisingly sharp from 50+.

Ryan Stonehouse suffered a brutal knee injury that sideline him for five games and will carry over into 2024. But I’d like to remind everyone that Stonehouse broke the long-standing NFL record for yards per punt (53.1) as a rookie. Before going down, he was on the exact same historic pace in 2024.

Tennessee long snapper Morgan Cox is a five-time Pro Bowler.

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