Ranking the most important non-QBs in every AFC North team feat. Pittsburgh Steelers' T.J. Watt
The AFC North is arguably the best division in the NFL and had three teams in their division appear in the 2023 playoffs, with all four teams boasting a winning record. The Baltimore Ravens (13-4), Cleveland Browns (11-6), Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7), and the Cincinnati Bengals (9-8) combined for a 43-25 record last season.
The Ravens, the AFC North winner, were one of the best teams in all of football last season and the Browns made a sneaky run behind veteran quarterback Joe Flacco. The Steelers made a late regular season run, winning their final three games to clinch a playoff berth. The Bengals almost appeared in the playoffs even after losing Joe Burrow for the last seven games of the regular season.
As the 2024 season approaches, all four teams from the AFC North have well-rounded rosters across the board. From quarterbacks to edge rushers, the division has some of the best players in the NFL. Let's take a look at each team's most important player in the AFC North that's not a quarterback heading into the 2024 season.
Most important non-QBs in every AFC North team
Pittsburgh Steelers - T.J. Watt, edge rusher
Edge rusher is the most important position on the defense, and there may not be a better one out there than T.J. Watt. The 2021 Defensive Player of the Year has made six straight Pro Bowls from 2018-2023 and is a force on the defense.
When Watt arrived in the AFC North with the Steelers as a rookie in 2017, he had seven sacks to start his career. In the next five out of six seasons, he recorded at least 13 or more sacks in each, while tying Michael Strahan's single-season sack record with 22.5 in 2021.
Watt is without a doubt Pittsburgh's most dominant force in their defense and is a matchup nightmare for tackles on the edge. Watt is constantly bringing the pressure, as he's led the league in sacks and quarterback hits in three seasons each.
Cleveland Browns - Myles Garrett, edge rusher
Speaking of pass rushers, Cleveland Browns Myles Garrett is another disruptive rusher edge rusher in the AFC North. While Watt is the slimmer, quicker edge rusher of the two, Garrett is a more powerful, athletic edge rusher who may be one of the best two-way edge rushers in the NFL.
Garrett won Defensive Player of the Year this past season, as he recorded 14 sacks, 42 tackles, three pass deflections, four forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery this past season. In the last six seasons, Garrett has combined for 71.5 sacks and is Cleveland's best player on defense.
Garrett was a big part of Cleveland having this year's best defense. Coming off of his first DPOY, Garrett should be in store for another big season in 2024.
Cincinnati Bengals - Ja'Marr Chase, wide receiver
Pretty soon, Ja'Marr Chase will become a top-five highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL. Chase has become one of the best wide receivers in the NFL since entering in AFC North division as a member of the Bengals 2021.
Chase won the 2021 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year after a career season catching 81 balls for 1,455 yards, and 13 touchdowns, all of which are career highs. During the 2022 season, Chase was on pace to outperform his rookie season, but he suffered a hairline fracture in his hip, which resulted in him missing five games. He still wound up with over 1,000 receiving yards and nine touchdowns.
This past season he set a career high in receptions (100) after losing Joe Burrow for seven games. While the Bengals have a good duo of receivers in Chase and Tee Higgins, Chase is the most important player outside of Burrow who will need to have a big season in 2024 for the Bengals.
Baltimore Ravens - LB Roquan Smith
The Baltimore Ravens showed how important linebacker Roquan Smith is to them in when they traded for him at the 2022 trade deadline. They sent the Chicago Bears linebacker A.J. Klein, a 2023 second-round pick, and a 2023 fifth-round pick.
It paid dividends as Smith was named a Pro Bowler and First-Team All-Pro during the 2022 season. Smith's productive first season with Baltimore earned him a five-year $100 million contract extension.
As a leader of Baltimore's defense, Smith made the Pro Bowl and was a First-Team All-Pro for a second-straight season, recording 158 tackles. Over the last three seasons, he has had 150 plus tackles in each season.
With linebacker Patrick Queen signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers this off-season, Smith will have an even more important role in the linebacker core for the Ravens.