We’re deep into the offseason lull now, so it’s only right that we take some time to hand out some flowers across the league. We talk about NFL players a lot – obviously – and use terms like “best in the league” or “elite” frequently, but rarely do we actually quantify who the best players on each team are. Until now.

The criteria is pretty simple. We’re not projecting ahead and thinking long-term. This is strictly: who is the best player on each team right now? After finishing up with the NFC, we’re carrying on with the AFC. Today, we’re taking a look at the Afc South, starting in Houston with a team on the up.

Houston Texans: Laremy Tunsil, Offensive Tackle

   The Texans are on the ground floor of a mega rebuild. The roster has been devoid of elite talent for the last few seasons and while they’re still a ways away from competing, there’s hope that some of the additions to the roster can help elevate the play this season and beyond. C.J. Stroud has the tools to be the franchise quarterback for the next decade, but it’s early days for him yet. The real strength of the Texans is up front on the offensive line. 

   And it starts with Laremy Tunsil. He’s been a Pro Bowl calibre Tackle since being drafted by the Miami Dolphins in 2016 and his play didn’t slow down once he was traded to the Texans – even if he played only 5 games in 2021. However, Tunsil took it up a notch in 2022. He was PFF’s highest graded pass-blocking tackle and allowed just 17 pressures in 676 pass-blocking snaps. One of the best in the NFL is easily the best in Houston.

Indianapolis Colts: Quenton Nelson, Offensive Guard

   Two years ago, this was a total no-brainer. Nelson was a perennial All-Pro player and on track to have a Hall of Fame career – the list of guards better than Nelson was short, so short it might have only been a one man list. Now? Nelson’s status as one of the best in the NFL is under scrutiny. He missed four games through injury in 2021 and didn’t look the same player upon returning in 2022 – giving up 5 sacks and 31 pressures.

   We’ll give him the benefit of the doubt, though. Nelson’s track record is just too good to ignore. A season of bad play isn’t enough to discount four years of elite play. But it’s clear that Nelson wasn’t at his best last season and has to be better in 2023. For now, he’s still the best player on the Colts roster. But it’s tentative.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence, Quarterback

   What a difference a year can make. One year ago, people were – wrongly – wondering if Trevor Lawrence could be all he was hyped up to be. After all, he was the prince who was promised. Lawrence’s rookie year was an abject failure, but there aren’t many more untenable positions for a rookie quarterback to be in. Urban Meyer was a disaster from the word go and couldn’t see out the season. 

   That turned out to be the best thing that could have happened to Lawrence. He was electric in his second season under new head coach Doug Pederson. He was everything that was promised. Cool, calm, and composed in the pocket with heaps of arm talent and athleticism. Lawrence was a changed man. By the time the end of the season rolled around, he was comfortably a top 10 quarterback. How high can he climb?

Tennessee Titans: Jeffery Simmons, Defensive Tackle

   While Lawrence is still climbing, the Tennessee Titans are poised to be heading in the wrong direction. The 2022 season ended with the Titans first losing record since 2015, snapping a streak of six seasons with at least 9 wins. That sort of consistency needs to be applauded first of all. But the near future is murky and the Titans offense might be one of the worst in the NFL in 2023. Though, the same can’t be said for the defense. That’s where the talent lies. That’s why we’re picking Jeffery Simmons.

   The former No. 19 pick has grown to become one of the NFL’s better defensive tackles over the last three years and was rewarded with a 4 year, $94 million contract extension this offseason. Simmons has proven to be one of the best pass-rushers in the NFL, racking up 19 sacks and 163 pressures across the last three seasons. He’s a game-wrecker on the interior, capable of doing the work that not many others can: eating double-teams, beating them, and squashing the quarterback on a regular basis.

-Thomas Valentine

Twitter: @tvalentinesport

Photo: All-Pro Reels. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.

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