Ranking the most important non-QBs in every AFC South team feat. Jacksonville Jaguars' Josh Hines-Allen
The AFC South division had a sucessful year during the 2023-2024 NFL season, with three teams ending up with winning records on the season. The Houston Texans were AFC South champs, going 10-7 as both the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Indianapolis Colts went 9-8 respectively. The Tennessee Titans finished last, with a 6-11 record.
The Texans saw the emergence of rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud, who won Offensive Rookie of the Year, becoming the youngest starting quarterback to win a playoff game at 22 years old. The Jaguars had a hot start to the season, going 8-3 in their first 11 games, but lost five of their last six games and missed the playoffs. The Colts were without their rookie first-round quarterback, Anthony Richardson, who missed 13 games last season with a shoulder injury.
The AFC South is a young division, with all four teams looking to win the division in 2024. As the 2024 season nears, let's take a look at each of the division's most important non-QBs in the AFC South division heading into the 2024 season.
Most important players in the AFC South that are non-QBs
#4 Jacksonville Jaguars - Josh Hines-Allen, edge rusher
Jacksonville Jaguars edge rusher Josh Hines-Allen set history this past season, setting the single-season record for most sacks with 17.5. With the star edge rusher hitting the free agent market after having a career season, the Jaguars quickly franchise-tagged Allen before agreeing to a five-year extension worth $150 million, including $88 million guaranteed.
Allen became an effective edge rusher for the Jags in his rookie season, recording 10.5 sacks. He failed to reach 10+ sacks the next three seasons and enjoyed a big season heading into a contract year.
While the Jaguars defense played inconsistently and not as good in the second half of the season, Allen was still an effective rusher, and grew into his first-round talent that the Jaguars saw from him coming out of college.
#3 Tennessee Titans - Jeffery Simmons, defensive lineman
The Tennessee Titans are looking for a stronger season in the AFC South in 2024.
Defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons has been their best defensive player for the last few seasons. Drafted in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft, Simmons has recently arrived onto the scene, earning back-to-back Pro Bowls in 2021 and 2022.
Simmons looked to have a career year this past season, but missed five games as he was placed on injured reserve for the last five games.
The Titans have a lot of question marks and a lot to prove in some postions on their team, but Simmons is the rock of their defense.
#2 Houston Texans - Laremy Tunsil, offensive tackle
One of the best and most conistent offensive tackles in the NFL since 2016 is Laremy Tunsil.
The Texans traded for wide receiver Kenny Still and Tunsil in 2019 with the Miami Dolphins in exchange for two first-round picks, a second-round pick, Johnson Bademosi, and Julien Davenport.
Tunsil has made the Pro Bowl in each of the last four seasons and has become the leader of the Texans' offensive line. He's one of the most important players on the Texans because he's quarterback C.J. Stroud's main protector and will be swinging for newly-acquired running back, Joe Mixon.
#1 Indianapolis Colts - Michael Pittman Jr., wide receiver
The Indianapolis Colts lost their first round quarterback for almost all of last season. In the four games that he played in, Anthony Richardson completed 59.5% of his passes for 577 yards, three touchdowns, and threw an interception. He also rushed for four touchdowns on the ground.
Year 2 will be huge for Richardson's devolpment, and will depend on his combination with the Colts' number one receiver is Michael Pittman Jr. Pittman Jr. has been consistent since entering the AFC South as a member of the Colts in 2020, and has become their No. 1 wide receiver. Even last season, with backup Gardner Minshew throwing him the ball, he eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards for a second time in his career.
Pittman Jr. signed a three-year, $71.5 million contract extension with $46 million guaranteed this off-season with the Colts, and will have to continue his play of being a consistent, No. 1 wide receiver for Indy.