Besides the quarterback position, which player is the best on each AFC team for the 2025 NFL Season? We'll make it hard on ourselves for this exercise and look at the best non-quarterback for each AFC team for the 2025 season.
The regular season is rapidly approaching - it's now less than one month away, so we're truly almost there, and actual football is almost back. Before we get there, though, we've got to get through another couple of weeks of preseason action.
Let's look at the best non-quarterback on each AFC team for the 2025 NFL Season.
Each AFC team's best non-quarterback for 2025
Baltimore Ravens - Derrick Henry
At this rate, Derrick Henry might end up in the Hall of Fame when it's all said and done. He just barely missed out on another 2,000-yard season. How much longer before Henry starts to decline, though?
Cincinnati Bengals - Ja'Marr Chase
Winning the WR triple crown in the 2024 NFL Season, Ja'Marr Chase could be the best receiver in the NFL and is already on a very early future Hall of Fame pace as well. Chase and Joe Burrow form the best duo in the NFL.
Pittsburgh Steelers - TJ Watt
While his production is slowly starting to to dip, TJ Watt is still a top-5 pass rusher and one of the best in the game at what he does. He's won the Defensive Player of the Year award.
Cleveland Browns - Myles Garrett
Myles Garrett has also won the DPOY, and it's not hard to be the best non-quarterback the Cleveland Browns.
Houston Texans - Danielle Hunter
A very good pass rusher and someone who has been doing it for a high level for years now, Danielle Hunter just keeps racking up the pass rush numbers and clearly has multiple years of good football left in the tank.
Jacksonville Jaguars - Brian Thomas Jr
Brian Thomas Jr's rookie season was quite special, and now that he's paired up with Travis Hunter, he could flourish even more.
Indianapolis Colts - Quenton Nelson
Quenton Nelson is a top-5 guard in the NFL and is likely protecting for Anthony Richardson in the 2025 NFL Season. Nelson has been the best draft pick of the failed Chris Ballard era.
Tennessee Titans - Jeffery Simmons
Maybe the one team in the NFL with the least star-power, I am struggling to find a notable player outside of Jeffery Simmons who could be considered the 'best' non-quarterback.
Buffalo Bills - Dion Dawkins
Dion Dawkins has been a high-end left tackle in the NFL for quite some time. He's been protecting Josh Allen's blindside for years now and is the Buffalo Bills' best player not named Josh Allen.
New York Jets - Sauce Gardner
Sauce Gardner might be the best cornerback in the NFL right now depending on who you ask. The New York Jets do have a sizeable amount of non-QB talent, but the main issue here is that the franchise is lacking at the QB position.
Miami Dolphins - Tyreek Hill
Tyreek Hill is still a top-flight receiver in the NFL and is going to easily eclipse 1,000 yards in the 2025 NFL Season if Tua Tagovailoa is on the field for a majoirty of the season. While he's likely entering the final few years of his NFL career, Hill is still a very good player.
New England Patriots - Christian Gonzalez
An up-and-coming player, Christian Gonzalez finally appears to have a competent group of players around him, so he could become a household name in 2025.
Denver Broncos - Patrick Surtain II
Patrick Surtain II won the Defensive Player of the Year award in the 2024 NFL Season, and that is quite the task for a defensive back. With the Denver Broncos adding even more talent to their secondary this offseason, could Surtain make a run at repeating?
Los Angeles Chargers - Joe Alt
Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater were again poised to be one of the best tackle duos in the NFL for 2025, but Slater suffered a season-ending knee injury and is going to miss all of 2025. We'll throw Joe Alt in as the best non-QB, as he was borderline elite on the right side in 2024.
Kansas City Chiefs - Creed Humphrey
It honestly feels like a scam that the Kansas City Chiefs were able to draft Creed Humphrey. He's the best center in the NFL and now is the best member of their offensive line with Joe Thuney no longer in the picture.
Las Vegas Raiders - Brock Bowers
Arguable the best tight end in the NFL right now, Brock Bowers is likely to again cross the 1,000-yard mark with Geno Smith at QB in 2025.