While the AFC South is considered one of the weaker divisions in the NFL, its defensive linemen are among the best. Despite that, there hasn’t been a Defensive Player of the Year from the division since 2015 (J.J. Watt). Overall, the division may look bad because opposing quarterbacks struggle against this group of defensive linemen, considering two of the four AP first-team All-Pros on the line came from the AFC South. Heading into 2026, the AFC South defensive linemen are among the best, so let’s give it our best shot to rank these greats.
Ranking The Top AFC South Defensive Linemen For 2026
5. DeForest Buckner, Indianapolis Colts
Kicking us off is the old man of the group, DeForest Buckner. Despite the fact that he’s entering his 11th season in the NFL, Buckner can still get after it. The only issue has been his injuries. Over the last two seasons, he missed 12 games due to injury, thus suppressing his impact overall.
Even then, as a defensive tackle, Buckner amassed 30 tackles, nine tackles for loss, 13 quarterback hits, and four sacks last year in just 10 games.
The last time he had a fully healthy season, he earned Pro Bowl honors off an eight-sack, 11-tackle for loss season. He finished the season with 36 pressures, the 22nd-most in the NFL, and earned a 74.0 grade from PFF, good for 16th.
That age/injury cliff may be coming, but when he’s healthy, Buckner has been one of the best AFC South defensive linemen without a doubt.
4. Josh Hines-Allen, Jacksonville Jaguars
You could probably have either Josh Hines-Allen or Travon Walker here, but we went with the former. In ESPN’s ranking of the EDGE rushers in the NFL, an anonymous NFC scout put it perfectly when it comes to Hines-Allen: “Not elite but consistently very good, with a quality power-rush game.”
His impact tends to be less reflected on the stat sheet, unfortunately for him. Over the course of his seven-year career, he’s amassed 61 sacks and 75 tackles for loss. Among active players, he has the 28th-most sacks in the league, but he has only hit double-digit sacks twice. However, he creates havoc.
According to NextGenStats, when left one-on-one, Hines-Allen created 60 pressures last year, the fourth-most in the NFL. In total, over the last two seasons, he’s second only to the incomparable Myles Garrett with 158 pressures.
He’s not as flashy as some of the others here, but there’s no denying Hines-Allen has the juice.
3. Danielle Hunter, Houston Texans
Another elder statesman on this ranking, Danielle Hunter has been one of the quietest elite players in the NFL. Spoiler alert, but Last Word on NFL put together our own top 50 rankings, and Hunter earned a generous placement (stay tuned for that).
Heading into his 12th season in the NFL, Hunter has been as consistent as can be. Despite missing the entire 2020 season, Hunter notched double-digit sacks seven times, including in each of his last four. Not many active players can say the same.
The Texans have the best one-two punch at EDGE; there isn’t much debate.
2. Jeffery Simmons, Tennessee Titans
One of the best defenders – not just defensive tackles – in the NFL is Jeffery Simmons. He’s an absolute nightmare to game plan against, just as any NFL offensive coordinator. He wrecks the offense with ease; usually, most teams can’t adjust. Remember that AFC Divisional Round game against the Bengals after the 2021 season? While the Titans may have lost, Simmons sacked Joe Burrow three times. It wasn’t his fault they lost that one.
It’s not often you see a defensive tackle have his best season in his seventh year, but that’s exactly what Simmons did last year. In 15 games, he put up 67 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 21 quarterback hicks, and 11 sacks. Not to mention his three pass breakups and three forced fumbles.
His 64 pressures were the second most among interior defenders, and his 88.3 PFF grade was third. Simmons isn’t going anywhere and would likely have been number one here if not for a perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate.
1. Will Anderson Jr., Houston Texans
Another oddly quiet elite EGDE rusher from the Texans, Will Anderson Jr. doesn’t really get the respect he deserves. As part of the best EDGE duo in the NFL, he was on par with most of the top-tier players at his position.
The Texans traded up in the 2023 draft to pick C.J. Stroud and Anderson back-to-back. It paid off as both players won their respective Rookie of the Year awards. Stroud has struggled a bit of late (thanks to having Wal-Mart greeters as an offensive line), but Anderson has been elite.
Last year, he put up 54 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 23 quarterback hits, 12 sacks, three pass breakups, three forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries, one of which he took back for a touchdown.
Going back to PFF, his 92.6 overall grade was the second-best among EDGEs, and his 93 total pressures were third. He earned his first All-Pro nod last year while finishing second to Garrett in Defensive Player of the Year voting.
