NFL 2020s Half-Decade Team: Henry or CMC at RB? Which 3 WRs Make the Cut?

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: 

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