We're on to the final offensive entry of our All-NFC South Team of the 2020s, having already highlighted the best quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, and tight ends of the decade so far -- which means it's time for the big men up front to shine. This time we're putting the division's top blockers in the spotlight. It's been a difficult transition for the New Orleans Saints, going from one position coach (Brendan Nugent in 2020 and 2021) to the next (Doug Marrone in 2022 and 2023), and changing again (John Benton in 2024) before circling back (to Nugent for 2025, who remains the offensive line coach in 2026). So how many Saints will fill out the list along with their rivals on the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers?
We've tried a couple of different formats between the All-2010s Team and their predecessors on the All-2000s Team, so let us know which you prefer. Fitting almost a dozen players into a single article isn't easy.
Methodology
One 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 offensive line
- OT Jake Matthews, Atlanta Falcons (2020 to present). Score: 111
- OG Chris Lindstrom, Atlanta Falcons (2020 to present). Score: 85
- C Erik McCoy, New Orleans Saints (2020 to present). Score: 35
- OG Cesar Ruiz, New Orleans Saints (2020 to present). Score: 22
- OT Tristan Wirfs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2020 to present). Score: 45
Wirfs is the highest-scoring player on the All-NFC South Team of the 2020s, having received an AV of 71 to go with five Pro Bowl appearances, two placements on the All-Pro first team, and an All-Pro second team nod, too. That's good for a combined score of 111. He's been an outstanding blocker for the Buccaneers on both sides of the line, spending his first three years at right tackle before moving to the left side, where he hadn't started a game since Sept. 28, 2019 at Iowa. Matthews has remained an ironman for Atlanta; the left tackle hasn't missed a start since his rookie season way back in 2014. While he hasn't received the Pro Bowls and All-Pro recognition he may deserve, he is a reliable piece in Atlanta at one of the sports' most challenging positions. His score is 45.
Lindstrom has set the standard for guard play in the NFC South by making four consecutive Pro Bowls to go with four straight All-Pro second team appearances; combine that with his AV (53) and you get a score of 85. He's a very physical blocker with rare movement skills for the position. You can say the same thing about Erik McCoy, but injuries have cost the two-time Pro Bowler a lot of time in recent years. He would be up there with Lindstrom and Wirfs as the division's highest-scoring linemen if his body would allow it. As it stands, McCoy's score (35) is closer to his teammate Cesar Ruiz (22) than other players who better match his skill level. Ruiz has a big chip on his shoulder after regressing in 2025 and could find himself in a competition for his starting job if he continues to struggle.
Second team offensive line
- OT Taylor Moton, Carolina Panthers (2020 to present). Score: 42
- OG Ali Marpet, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2022 to present). Score: 19
- C Ryan Jensen, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2020 to 2022). Score: 22
- OG Andrus Peat, New Orleans Saints (2020 to 2023). Score: 19
- OT Ryan Ramczyk, New Orleans Saints (2020 to 2023). Score: 37
- Honorable mention: OT Kaleb McGary, Atlanta Falcons (2020 to 2024). Score: 36
All three of our second-team offensive tackles play on the right side, and Moton has been the best of the bunch -- partly due to durability, but his AV of 42 is still impressive. Ramczyk's body broke down due to a degenerative knee condition, but he still earned second-team All-Pro recognition in 2020 (taken with his AV of 32, that's good for a score of 37). He battled through the pain to stay on the field but eventually had to accept an early retirement. His division rival McGary was also forced to retire due to a knee injury suffered during Atlanta's 2025 training camp. With an AV of 36, McGary's career was trending well until he was cut down.
Injuries cutting careers short is an unfortunately common theme here. Jensen earned a trip to the 2021 Pro Bowl and was a linchpin of the Bucs' offensive line, setting the tone and frustrating opponents by playing through the whistle. He was able to return in time for the 2022 playoffs after a summer knee injury but it flared up again in 2023 and he ultimately had to retire. His teammate Marpet was also a Pro Bowler but chose to walk away from the game with his health, having won a Super Bowl and consistently performed as one of the division's best linemen. Peat, a left guard like Marpet, was a turnstile but saved the team's 2023 season by unexpectedly moving back to left tackle, his college position. Peat did earn another Pro Bowl nod in 2020 and has kept his career going since the Saints let him go.
More All-NFC South Team of the 2020s
- Quarterbacks
- Running backs
- Wide receivers
- Tight ends
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: All-NFC South Team of the 2020s: Durability defines the offensive line
