We are going to quickly run through my picks for the First and Second All-Pro offenses and defenses.
First Team Offense
QB – Tom Brady, Patriots
Tom Brady was my league MVP, so I don’t really have much else to add in this space.
RB – Todd Gurley, Rams
Gurley led the NFL in scrimmage yards and total TD’s. He was the driving force behind the league’s highest scoring offense.
Flex – RB Le’Veon Bell, Steelers
Having a “flex” feels like fantasy football but this is a real position the league has for the All-Pro teams so, so be it. I actually don’t mind it because Bell deserves to be on the first team but would be blocked this season by Gurley.
WR – Antonio Brown, Steelers
Antonio Brown led the NFL in yards, was 5th in receptions, and tied for the 3rd most receiving touchdowns, despite missing the final two weeks and most of the Patriots game.
WR – DeAndre Hopkins, Texans
Hopkins finished 4th in receiving yards, 1st in TD’s and 6th in catches while catching passes from three different quarterbacks this season.
TE – Rob Gronkowski, Patriots
Gronk was first among tight ends in receiving yards, tied first in TD’s, and first in yards/target and yards/reception among tight ends with at least 30 receptions.
LT – David Bakhtiari, Packers
Bakhtiari was PFF’s highest graded offensive tackle this season, and was named to the real All-Pro second team so, who am I to argue?
LG – David DeCastro, Steelers
A major reason for Le’Veon Bell’s success? Le’Veon Bell. Another major reason? David DeCastro. DeCastro is excels as both a run and pass blocker, and was a big reason why the Steelers’ offensive line finished first in adjusted sack rate.
C – Jason Kelce, Eagles
The Eagles offensive line is absolutely incredible at full strength and Kelce may be the best of the entire group.
RG – Andrew Norwell, Panthers
The right side of the Panthers’ offensive line is as good as it gets, as Norwell…
RT – Daryl Williams, Panthers
…and Williams deserve First-Team recognition.
First Team Defense
{Disclaimer: I played a little loose with the positions. Really there should be two edge defenders and three true linebackers but I self-servingly played around with it so that I could recognize the best guys overall. Is it unethical? I don’t know, maybe, but my vote doesn’t count and it’s my list so, deal with it}
Edge – Calais Campbell, Jaguars
Campbell finished tied second in the NFL with 14.5 sacks and was the best player on the league’s best defense.
DT – Aaron Donald, Rams
Donald got my vote for Defensive Player of the Year and led the NFL in QB pressures this season in only 14 games.
DT – Geno Atkins, Bengals
Atkins finished second among DT’s in sacks this year with 9.
Edge – Cameron Jordan, Saints
Jordan finished with 13 sacks, 12 passes defensed, two forced fumbles and a pick-six.
LB – Luke Kuechly, Panthers
So the real Rookie of the Year is Tony Romo. He was absolutely refreshing to have as a broadcaster this season and was consistently clairvoyant during games.
One of Romo’s best qualities as an analyst is that he has played with all these guys. Perhaps my favorite Romo moment this year was during a Panther game where Romo said:
I would be at the line and audible and then Luke Kuechly would scream out the play and I would think to myself “damn, he’s right, that is the play.”
LB – Bobby Wagner, Seahawks
Wagner was tied for the most solo tackles in the NFL this season.
LB – Von Miller, Broncos
Miller had the most pressures among edge defenders this season and finished with 10 sacks, two forced fumbles and one recovery.
CB – Casey Hayward, Chargers
Casey Hayward was the league’s best cover corner in the NFL this season.
CB – Jalen Ramsey, Jaguars
Jalen Ramsey was absolute lockdown for the Jaguars. He finished with 4 INT’s.
Slot Corner – Patrick Robinson, Eagles
Patrick Robinson was a wonderful surprise for the Eagles this season as he flourished into the best slot corner in the NFL in 2017.
S – Harrison Smith, Vikings
Harrison Smith posted the highest PFF grade by a safety in the history of the PFF database.
S – Kevin Byard, Titans
Byard was tied for the NFL lead in INT’s this season.
Second Team Offense
QB – Carson Wentz, Eagles
Wentz probably would have won MVP had he not sustained a torn ACL.
RB – Kareem Hunt, Chiefs
Hunt won the rushing title in 2017.
Flex – Alvin Kamara, Saints
Kamara was my vote for rookie of the year. He was third in the NFL in all-purpose yards.
WR – Julio Jones, Falcons
I want to use this space to make my nomination for best in-season tweet:
if I were the falcons OC I would call the play they used to do all of last season where every skill player was always weirdly open
— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) October 23, 2017
WR – Keenan Allen, Chargers
Oh boy, I didn’t do come back player of the year in my awards but Allen should win. Allen finished 3rd in yards, 4th in receptions and added 6 TD’s.
TE – Travis Kelce, Chiefs
Kelce is quite clearly the second best tight end in football. Among tight ends he had the most receptions, second most yards, and was tied for the most TD’s with Gronk.
LT – Joe Staley, 49ers
Joe Staley is still a blindside protector in his 11th season.
LG – Joel Bitonio, Browns
With Thomas out Bitonio was the Brown’s best offensive lineman from start to finish.
C – Travis Frederick, Cowboys
Both elite members of the interior of the Cowboy’s line get the 2nd team nod here…
RG – Zach Martin, Cowboys
…as Frederick is joined by his teammate Zach Martin.
RT – Lane Johnson, Eagles
At full strength the Eagles have the best pair of bookend offensive tackles. Lane Johnson is one half.
Second Team Defense
Edge – Demarcus Lawrence, Cowboys
Lawrence finished the season with 14.5 sacks, four forced fumbles and two recoveries.
DT – Kawann Short, Panthers
Kawann Short finished third among defensive tackles in sacks. He is actually better against the run than the pass.
DT – Fletcher Cox, Eagles
Fletcher Cox is a monster. The Eagles were the best defensive line by adjusted line yards.
Edge – Joey Bosa, Chargers
Bosa finished with 12.5 sacks, 4 forced fumbles and one recovery.
LB – Chandler Jones, Cardinals
Jones led the NFL with 17 sacks and chipped in two forced fumbles. He had the single highest percentage of a team’s sack production, at 46%.
LB – Telvin Smith, Jaguars
Other linebackers may have been a bit better traditionally or had higher totals in tradition stats. However, Telvin Smith contributed in every way for the Jaguars. He finished with 102 combined tackles, one sack, five passes defensed, three interceptions, one pick-six, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, and one fumble recovery touchdown.
LB – Christian Kirksey, Browns
Kirksey finsihed 4th in the NFL in tackles and added 3.5 sacks, five passes defense and two forced fumbles.
CB – A.J. Bouye, Jaguars
Bouye had the lowest passer rating in his coverage this season among corners.
CB – Darius Slay, Lions
Slay was tied for the league lead in INT’s and had the 6th most snaps played among corners.
Slot Corner – Chris Harris Jr., Broncos
Chris Harris’ ability to move into the slot is what makes the No Fly Zone so lethal. Most outside corners can’t move inside.
S – Tashaun Gipson, Jaguars
Gipson finished with 4 INT’s while being the best safety on the league’s best defense.
S – Lamarcus Joyner, Rams
Joyner was one of the best cover safeties in the league for the biggest surprise team of the season.
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