10 NFL Players to Build your Franchise Around that Are Not Quarterbacks
This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.
Building an NFL franchise in 2025 isn’t just about finding the next superstar quarterback. While QBs dominate headlines, plenty of non-quarterback players are just as valuable—and in some cases, even more essential to building a long-term contender. These are the athletes who change games with elite athleticism, leadership, versatility, and consistent production, regardless of position.
In this article, we break down 10 non QB NFL players you can confidently build a franchise around, highlighting why their skill sets, age, durability, and on-field impact make them true cornerstones.
Let’s take a look at 10 NFL players you’d want to build your franchise around that are not quarterbacks.
Can you build a winning NFL franchise with these 10 players?
Joe Alt, OT (Los Angeles Chargers)
Want to know an easy way to see a player’s true value? Watch what happens when he’s not on the field.
Joe Alt is just 22 years old and an absolute force. In fact, the former 5th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft out of Notre Dame, in just his second season, is already playing like one of the best left tackles in football. Well, he was…
Then he went down with a high ankle injury that required season-ending surgery at the beginning of November.
And wouldn’t you know it, the Chargers’ offense has looked completely different. Herbert’s time to throw shrank. The pressure rate spiked. The entire offensive rhythm changed because the player protecting the quarterback was gone. That’s the kind of impact a franchise left tackle has… You don’t fully appreciate it until it’s not there anymore.
Obviously, the injury concerns are real. But Alt comes from NFL bloodlines as the son of Pro Bowl tackle John Alt. In just a season and a half, he’s obviously the real deal.
Alt’s got the athleticism and technique to dominate for the next decade-plus. The ankle injury is likely going to be a footnote… a temporary setback.
22 years old and already playing at the highest level among older NFL players? That is a franchise building block. You can tell the Chargers know it by how they talk about the guy.
Penei Sewell, OT (Detroit Lions)
Let’s talk about another young offensive tackle who’s already dominating.
Penei Sewell is 25 years old. He’s earned back-to-back First-Team All-Pro selections, and he’s the best run-blocking tackle in football.
Over the past two seasons, Sewell has posted elite run-blocking grades, and when you watch Lions games, you see exactly why. He’s physically overwhelming defenders at the line of scrimmage, opening massive running lanes, and setting the tone for an offense that wants to impose its will.
At his size, he is an absolute freak of an athlete, too. The Lions even feature him in gadget plays.
But more importantly, over the past couple of years, Detroit’s offensive line has become one of the best units in the league, and Sewell is the centerpiece.
Offensive tackles don’t get the headlines, but they’re critical to building a championship roster. You need someone who can protect your quarterback and dominate in the run game. Sewell does both at the highest level as an NFL player.
He is the kind of generational talent that you can absolutely build an offense… and even a team around.
Myles Garrett, EDGE (Cleveland Browns)
Myles Garrett just made history, and he’s still not getting the respect he deserves.
Garrett is the first player since 1982 to record four consecutive seasons with 14-plus sacks—dominance at the most valuable non-quarterback position in football.
What separates Garrett from other pass rushers is his combination of power, speed, and relentless motor. He’s not just winning with one move… he’s got counter moves, he’s setting up tackles with his hands, and he’s finishing plays when other guys would quit on the rep.
At 29 years old, Garrett is still in his prime, and he’s the only reason the Browns remain competitive despite the chaos surrounding that organization.
When you have someone who can single-handedly wreck an opponent’s game plan, you build around them… which, unfortunately, is something Cleveland has not proven it knows how to do.
But I digress!
If Cleveland ever figures out its quarterback situation and gets its offense anywhere close to league average, it will be a dangerous team.
Garrett is the kind of anchor that can carry you deep into the playoffs. Until then, he’s doing everything he can to keep them relevant.
Brock Bowers, TE (Las Vegas Raiders)
Brock Bowers is the youngest player on this list. He’s arguably off to the best start to his career of any of them!
The former UGA tight end is 22 years old and coming off a rookie season in which he broke the single-season rookie records for receptions with 112… regardless of position… and set the single-season record for receiving yards by a tight end with 1,194.
Now in his second year, he’s squarely in the discussion for best tight end in football.
What makes Bowers so special is his versatility. He’s a legitimate receiving threat who can line up in the slot, run routes like a wide receiver, and make plays down the field. But he’s also willing and capable as a blocker, which makes him a complete tight end in an era where most are one-dimensional.
With years of dominance ahead, Bowers isn’t just a foundation piece. He’s a generational talent at his position. Let’s not forget… Bowers entered the NFL and immediately became the best player at his position before he could legally rent a car!
Tristan Wirfs, OT (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Here’s a stat that tells you everything you need to know about Tristan Wirfs: He’s the first player in NFL history to earn First-Team All-Pro honors at BOTH tackle spots. He made it at right tackle in 2021, then switched to left tackle and made it again in 2024.
That’s unprecedented versatility at the most important position on the offensive line.
Oh, and he’s a Super Bowl champ!
Wirfs is 26 years old and entering his sixth season, and he’s the number one offensive tackle in the NFL.
His pass protection numbers are absurd… he posted a 95.9 pass block win rate last season, which led all tackles, and he allowed pressure on just 1.9% of his pass-blocking snaps.
When you have a blindside protector this good, everything else on offense gets easier. Your quarterback has time to go through progressions, your running backs have cleaner lanes, and your entire offensive line benefits from having a dominant anchor on the edge.
There’s a reason that Baker Mayfield has had a renaissance in Tampa… Wirfs is the kind of blindside protector every team dreams of for an NFL player. It’s that simple.
Ja’Marr Chase, WR (Cincinnati Bengals)
Ja’Marr Chase just did something only four other receivers have accomplished in the last 30 years… and he’s the youngest to do it since the 1960s.
In 2024, Chase won the receiving Triple Crown with 127 receptions, 1,708 yards, and 17 touchdowns. He was named First-Team All-Pro, and he did it all while drawing constant double coverage because defenses know he’s the most dangerous weapon on the field.
Chase is still just 25 years old, he’s a proven playoff performer, and he can take over a game at any moment. We’ve seen him torch defenses in the regular season, and we’ve seen him dominate in the postseason. He has big-game experience, big-game production, and the pedigree that comes with being a former national champion at LSU.
His edge is in his ability to win in every situation. Chase doesn’t like losing. He’s not just a deep threat… he’s winning on intermediate routes, he’s making contested catches, he’s turning short throws into explosive gains with his run-after-catch ability. He’s a complete receiver.
Cincinnati’s offense runs through Joe Burrow, but let’s be honest… Chase makes Burrow look better, not the other way around. When you have a receiver this talented, you can build an entire offensive scheme around getting him the ball.
Chase is the kind of franchise player who can anchor your offense for the next decade.
Jonathan Taylor, RB (Indianapolis Colts)
Through 10 games of the 2025 season, Jonathan Taylor is leading all NFL players with 1,139 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns.
Let’s start there, because in an era where running backs are supposedly devalued, Taylor is proving that elite backs still matter. He just broke Edgerrin James’ franchise record with his 65th career touchdown, he was named AFC Offensive Player of the Month in October, and he is rewriting what it means to be a franchise running back in the modern era.
Taylor is 26 years old, signed to a 3-year, $42 million extension, and he’s the engine that makes Indianapolis’ entire offense function. When Taylor is on the field, defenses have to respect the run, which opens up play-action, which gives the Colts’ passing game room to operate. He’s not just putting up numbers… he’s making everyone around him better.
If you needed any further proof, how about the fact that he’s enabled Daniel Jones to look like one of the better quarterbacks in the league!?
Patrick Surtain II, CB (Denver Broncos)
Having a true shutdown corner is a game-changer for a defense… really a team. And Patrick Surtain II, at just 25 years old, is just that for Denver.
He’s the reigning Defensive Player of the Year. He’s the best cornerback in football and is the straw that stirs the drink for the Broncos’ D.
This isn’t a debate. In ESPN’s recent survey of NFL executives, coaches, players, and scouts, Surtain received 90% of first-place votes as the top cornerback in the league.
He’s made three Pro Bowls and earned two First-Team All-Pro selections in just four seasons.
Lockdown coverage at the highest level.
Surtain does more than eliminate the opponent’s best receiver. He takes away a whole half of the field because when a quarterback makes the mistake of throwing his way. Plus, he’s always ready to make a play on it.
Denver’s defense is built around Surtain, and it allows them to be more aggressive everywhere else. They can blitz more because they trust him in man coverage. They can shade help on the other side of the field because they know he doesn’t need it.
Justin Jefferson, WR (Minnesota Vikings)
Justin Jefferson is 26 years old. He is locked up on a long-term deal with Minnesota. In addition, he’s produced a league-high 7,432 receiving yards since entering the NFL in 2020.
He’s a consensus All-Pro and proven to be “quarterback-proof” in the sense that he produces regardless of who’s throwing him the ball.
He is the kind of elite route runner who wins at every level of the field.
Jefferson combines technical precision with big-play athleticism. He’s not just running past people with speed… though he does that regularly!
Jefferson also confounds defensive backs with his footwork, creating separation with subtle movements, and has the burners to turn routine catches into explosive gains. He’s a true number one receiver in every sense of the term.
Minnesota’s offense has gone through multiple quarterback changes over the last few years, and Jefferson has remained a constant. That tells you everything you need to know about his value. He doesn’t need a Hall of Fame quarterback to be effective. He makes average quarterbacks look good and good quarterbacks look great.
The Vikings know exactly how lucky they are to have him, and they’ve built their entire offensive identity around getting him the ball. That’s what you do when you have a franchise player at receiver.
Micah Parsons, EDGE (Green Bay Packers)
And finally, let’s talk about Micah Parsons… the biggest story in the NFL this offseason.
When Dallas traded Micah Parsons to Green Bay, everyone was dumbfounded, and he’s showing why in his first year with his new team.
Through Week 10 of the 2025 season, Parsons is leading the entire NFL in quarterback pressures and proving he’s worth every penny.
At 26 years old, he’s in the absolute prime of his career. Plus, he is on the shortlist for the most disruptive edge rusher in football.
What makes Micah so special is his versatility. He can line up on the edge, and he can drop into coverage. Parsons can also blitz from the inside, and he’s elite at all of it.
Offensive coordinators have to game-plan specifically for him, and even when they do, he’s still making plays.
Green Bay bet its future on Parsons, and it’s easy to see why. The only real question about Parsons is why Dallas would’ve ever risked the embarrassment of trading a player of his caliber!
