Instead of waiting until the end of the 2020s to anoint an all-decade team, why can’t we create a squad now, with what we’ve seen to this point? We’ve reached the halfway point of the decade after all.
So we bring to you the “half-decade” team — essentially, an All-NFL first team for the past five seasons (2020-24). It’s modeled after the Associated Press All-Pro teams announced every year — 12 offensive players (including three wide receivers), 12 defenders (three inside linebackers) and six special teamers (placekicker, punter, kick returner, punt returner, core special teamer and long snapper).
The squad skews heavily toward those who’ve played at least four seasons over the past five years, with honorees selected based on (subjective) greatness and personal accolades. Naturally, the young NFL superstars you don’t see on this list will be candidates for the future “half-decade” team projection (2025-29), which will be released later this week.
Here’s our half-decade team:
OFFENSE
Mahomes’ individual numbers have regressed the last couple seasons — the Chiefs have been less explosive offensively — but he’s still the “GOAT” of this era with four Super Bowl appearances (two rings) and two Super Bowl MVPs in the last five years. Since 2020, his regular-season record, total passing yards, passing yards per game and passing touchdown marks top elite peers like Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen and Joe Burrow.
Henry has rushed for at least 1,900 yards twice in the last five years (2020 with Titans, 2024 with Ravens), establishing himself as the preeminent bell-cow back of his era. He may not have the pass-catching ability of other running backs in recent years, but his consistent dominance stands out at a position where the window for elite play can be so small. The former second-round pick is averaging 102.6 rushing yards per game over the last six seasons.
A do-everything offensive weapon for the Niners, Juszczyk is the gold standard for fullbacks. He’s been named to nine straight Pro Bowls, and has earned AP All-Pro honors in each of the two seasons that the fullback position has been recognized by Associated Press voting. Juszczyk’s closest peer at the position is the Ravens’ Patrick Ricard, who’s been named to four fewer Pro Bowls.
Since entering the NFL in 2020, Jefferson leads all wideouts in receiving yards and AP All-Pro honors. He’s the league’s best receiver by production and consistency over the last half-decade. But right there is Chase, his LSU teammate who joined the league in 2021. The Bengals’ star this past season accomplished the rare receiving triple crown.
Between his time with the Chiefs and Dolphins, the speedy Hill has been one of the NFL’s most dynamic playmakers over the last several years. Before 2024, he had four straight seasons of at least 1,200 receiving yards.
The Niners’ George Kittle has an argument as the better all-around or blocking tight end, but Kelce’s dominance in receiving at the position sets him in a stratosphere of his own. His 12,151 receiving yards are the third-most ever for a tight end. His 2,078 receiving yards in the postseason trails only Hall-of-Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice for the most all-time.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs is tempting here, but Williams gets the edge. The latter was named a first-team All-Pro in four consecutive seasons (2020-23), and he was the highest-graded run blocker among qualified offensive tackles from 2020-22 (min. 10 games per season), according to Pro Football Focus. Over the last five years, his 7% pressure rate allowed ranks second among qualified OTs (first is Wirfs), per Next Gen Stats.
Thuney had the highest pass-blocking grade among qualified guards each season from 2021-23 and ranked second in 2024, per PFF.
Kelce retired before last season, but he had six AP first-team All-Pro selections in the last seven years of his Eagles career, including three in a row from 2021-23.
A future first-ballot Hall of Famer, Martin is regarded as one of the best offensive linemen of his era. Before being held to 10 games last season, the recent retiree was named an AP first-team All-Pro selection three years in a row. He allowed just a 5.2% pressure rate from 2020-24, the best mark among guards in that span, per Next Gen Stats.
Johnson, 35, has earned AP All-Pro honors four straight seasons (two apiece on first and second team).
DEFENSE
Garrett and Watt have been the gold standard for edge rushers over the last half-decade, dominant in both the pass and run game. Both have earned a defensive player of the year award in the last five years.
Since 2020, Watt leads all edge rushers in sacks (73.5), tackles for loss (90) and pressures (207), according to Sportradar. Garrett has 72 sacks, 84 tackles for loss and 135 quarterback hits over the same span.
Donald retired after 2023, but he played at a Hall-of-Fame level through the end of his career. He was an AP first-team All-Pro in his last year, earning the honor in eight of his 10 seasons (including three times from 2020-23). He leads all defensive tackless in tackles for loss in the half-decade despite not playing last season (59), per Sportradar.
Jones has been an AP All-Pro honoree and Pro Bowler every year since the start of the decade, and has taken Donald’s crown as the league’s best defensive tackle. The former second-round pick’s 47.5 sacks and 200 pressures pace all defensive tackles over the past five years, per Sportradar.
Warner burst into his prime at the start of the decade, earning AP first-team All-Pro honors four times in the last five years. The Niners‘ superstar is a complete linebacker for the modern era, able to diagnose and react to running plays well while still being able to cover at a high level.
Smith is also in the conversation for the best at his position. The former Bears standout has been a first-team All-Pro selection three times since he was traded to Baltimore in 2022.
The 34-year-old Wagner is past the peak of his prime — he was named to the NFL’s All-Decade team of the 2010s — but he has remained a Pro Bowl-caliber player in the late stages of his career. He’s been a first- or second-team AP All-Pro honoree for 11 straight years.
A two-time first-team All-Pro selection, Surtain has arguably been the most consistently great cornerback since the start of the decade (he entered the league in 2021). He’s the only player at his position to win an AP defensive player of the year award in the last five seasons.
The 30-year-old Ramsey, currently on the trading block, has four Pro Bowls and two first-team All-Pros since 2020.
Moore slides under the radar nationally — he’s been named to the Pro Bowl just once (2021) — and he may not be universally regarded as the best player at his position right now. But his combined production over the last five years stands apart among pure slot defenders. Since 2020, he’s had four seasons of at least three interceptions.
Baker hasn’t registered a pick in back-to-back seasons, but he’s played at a consistently high level relative to some of his star counterparts at safety. He’s made six straight Pro Bowls and has three All-Pro nods since 2020, when he made the first team.
Simmons has also been elite over the last several years, including 2022, when he registered a league-high six interceptions. Among qualified safeties, he ranks first in interceptions (21) and fourth in passes defended (43) in the last five seasons, per Sportradar.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Tucker’s career in Baltimore came to an unceremonious end this offseason, following a career-worst season and sexual misconduct allegations. Before 2024, he made five straight Pro Bowls. He’s made three All-Pro teams (first or second) since the start of the decade. His career 89.1% field goal rate ranks No. 1 in league history among qualified kickers.
Cole has averaged at least 50 yards per punt three times since the start of the decade, and had a league-best 83-yard punt in 2023. He’s been a first-team All-Pro selection two times in the last five years.
Nixon paced the league in kickoff returns and kickoff return yardage in both 2022 and 2023, when he earned back-to-back first-team All-Pro nods.
The 30-year-old Raymond led the NFL with 413 punt return yards in 2024. He also has two punt return touchdowns over the last three seasons, a span in which he’s been a second-team All-Pro twice.
Gray has played 1,691 special teams snaps over the last five years, a span in which he’s made two All-Pro teams (first team in 2021, second team in 2024) and a Pro Bowl.
The 37-year-old DePaola is a two-time first-team All-Pro selection and three-time Pro Bowler since 2022.
Ben Arthur is an NFL reporter for FOX Sports. He previously worked for The Tennessean/USA TODAY Network, where he was the Titans beat writer for a year and a half. He covered the Seattle Seahawks for SeattlePI.com for three seasons (2018-20) prior to moving to Tennessee. You can follow Ben on Twitter at @benyarthur.
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