Best pass rushers in the AFC South
By: Jake Rajala
The AFC South boasts many elite pass rushers. They have young, old, versatile, and consistent pass rushers. With that said, I’m going to rank the best pass rushers in the AFC South.
7. Arden Key
Arden Key isn’t an elite pass rusher, but he can wreak havoc and be a modest edge rusher. He has 12.5 sacks over the past two seasons combined. He also had a personal-best 11 tackles for loss in 2024. He also had a pair of forced fumbles. Arden Key hasn’t lived up to his potential, as a third round pick. He is also 29, so I don’t imagine he will unveil a Pro Bowl season moving forward.
6. Kwity Paye
Kwity Paye can be a B- player, but he won’t be an A- player anymore. He still has 16.5 sacks in his past two seasons combined. He also had 12 QB hits, which was a career-high. He should be able to unleash hell in an average division.
5. Deforest Buckner
Deforest Buckner registered 14.5 sacks in his past two seasons combined. This is impressive given that he constantly faces double teams. Furthermore, he only played in 12 games last season. He was bound to have one of his best seasons, until the injury bug got him.
4. Josh Hines-Allen
Josh Hines-Allen was a Top-5 edge rusher in 2023 with 17.5 sacks, 33 QB hits, and 17 TFLs. However, he took a bit of a step back last season with 8 sacks, 19 QB hits, and a couple of pass deflections. PFF handed Hines-Allen an 82.7 grade for last season.
3. Will Anderson Jr.
Will Anderson has done a fine job of matching CJ Stroud’s excellence. Of course, they were chosen in the same draft. Anderson Jr has untwined 11 sacks, 19 QB hits, and even 16 TFLs. He only managed to record 4 sacks in his rookie season, so it’s fantastic to see the growth.
2. Travon Walker
Travon Walker needs to keep pace with Aidan Hutchinson. If Hutch didn’t get injured, he would have likely led the league in sacks. Walker has recorded 20.5 sacks in his past two seasons combined. He is a better athlete than Hutch, but he needs to work on his pass-rush moves.
1. Danielle Hunter
Let’s cut to the chase: Danielle Hunter is a Top-5 edge rusher and he’s a darkhorse DPOY candidate, too. He had 16.5 sacks in 2023 and then 12 sacks last season. He has had six seasons of 10 or more sacks. PFF gave Hunter a grade of 82.7 for his last season.
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