All-NFC South Team of 2020s: Who are the division's best edge rushers?

We're shifting gears and moving onto the defense for our all-NFC South Team of the 2020s, starting with the edge rushers. It's been Cameron Jordan's show during the decade so far despite some down years -- he'll be quick to remind anyone listening that it was because the New Orleans Saints hired Todd Grantham to coach him at the time. Now he's poised for one last run before retiring and waiting for that knock at the door from the Pro Football Hall of Fame. So who joins him on our list? The Atlanta Falcons were shut out, but some big-time production in 2025 means they won't be missing for long.

MethodologyOne key stat we're relying on is Approximate Value from Pro Football Reference, which PFR defines as "an attempt to put a single number on the seasonal value of a player at any position from any year." In practice, that means giving higher numbers to player who start more games, play more snaps, and do more to help their team win by racking up yards, scoring touchdowns, creating turnovers and sacking quarterbacks, and so on. We're also assigning point values to being named a first-team All-Pro (ten points), second-team All-Pro (five points), and Pro Bowler (three points). And then we're adding those numbers together. Remember, these are all-decade teams for the NFC South, which didn't exist until 2002, and only contributions on the four teams in the division factor into our formula. So Drew Brees earning a Pro Bowl nod with the San Diego Chargers in 2005 doesn't help him, for example.

First team: Cameron Jordan

Team: New Orleans Saints (2020 to present) • >AV: 62 • >Awards: Pro Bowler (3) • >Score: 71Jordan only produced six sacks between 2023 and 2024, but he was productive every year outside of that (and, again, he blames it on his former coach mismanaging the position group) with 52 tackles for loss, 39 sacks, 13 pass deflections, and seven forced fumbles across 65 games. He's built a compelling argument to be inducted to the Pro Football Focus Hall of Fame someday. Time will tell if someone catches up to him on this All-Decade Team through the next four years.

First team: Brian Burns

Team:Carolina Panthers (2020 to 2023) • >AV: 35 • >Awards: Pro Bowler (2) • >Score: 41Burns was a slam-dunk first-round pick back in 20019, but the Panthers didn't want to sign him to a lucrative contract extension after he racked up 54 tackles for loss, 38.5 sacks, 13 pass deflections and seven forced fumbles in 64 games. If they had held onto him, he might have replaced Jordan in the top spot on our first team. Instead, he's remembered as a two-time Pro Bowler who gave Carolina a real presence out on the edge which they have struggled to replace.

Second team: Shaquil Barrett

Team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2020 to 2024) • >AV: 31 • >Awards: Pro Bowler • >Score: 34Barrett was an underrated pass rusher earlier in his career with the Denver Broncos, but he started getting his flowers once he came to Tampa Bay and started finishing pressures with sacks (19.5 of them in 2019, leading the league). He remained a key part of the Buccaneers' rotation in the 2020s even after a season-ending Achilles injury cut his 2022 season short.

Second team: Carl Granderson

Team: New Orleans Saints (2020 to present) • >AV: 30 • >Awards: N/A • >Score: 30Here's a guy who could climb this list in the back half of the decade. Granderson might be the best all-around edge rusher the Saints have right now, even if he isn't recording double-digit sacks each year. He's a respected defender against the run and the coaches value his ability to drop into coverage when need be. His overall production -- 51 tackles for loss, 33.5 sacks, 10 passes defensed, and five forced fumbles with two recoveries -- speaks for itself. That he has appeared in 97 games this decade speaks to his durability.

More All-NFC South Team of the 2020sQuarterbacks • >Running backs • >Wide receivers • >Tight ends • >Offensive lineThis article originally appeared on Saints Wire: All-NFC South Team of 2020s: Who are the division's best edge rushers?