NFL Midseason All-Pro Team: TJ Watt & Aaron Donald Headline Roster
The NFL’s annual trade deadline has passed, marking the unofficial midpoint of the 2020 season. With eight weeks finished, here’s what I believe the esteemed All-Pro team would look like if the season ended right now. We finish with defense and special teams.
DEFENSE
Edge Rusher: TJ Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers
2nd Team: B. Graham, PHI
Being the best player on the league’s best defense has to earn you some recognition right? After recording 27.5 sacks over the last two seasons and still flying under the radar, Watt has exploded onto the national scene this year. He already has 6.5 sacks this year, but even that doesn’t tell the entire story of his impact. Watt always seems to be around when his team needs a big stop.
Edge Rusher: Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns
2nd Team: Z. Smith, GB
After missing most of last season due to a lengthy suspension, Myles Garrett has not skipped a beat. He’s tied with the next man on this list for the league lead in sacks (9.0) and he also has four forced fumbles to his name already.
Interior DL: Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams
2nd Team: D. Buckner, IND
Although TJ Watt is right there with him in the race, Aaron Donald may be poised to take home his third career DPOY award (T-1st all-time). The one-man wrecking crew continues to eat up offensive lines every week. As an interior lineman, he ranks first in the NFL in sacks and has also racked up 22 pressures.
Interior DL: Stephon Tuitt, Pittsburgh Steelers
2nd Team: C. Jones, KC
Tuitt is having the best season of his career, nearly breaking his career-high in sacks after just seven games. He’s overtaken Cameron Heyward as the Steelers best interior lineman.
Linebacker: Fred Warner, San Francisco 49ers
2nd Team: R.Smith, CHI
You have to watch Warner play to truly appreciate how good he is. He’s tied for fourth in the league in total tackles and has the #2 overall grade at his position according to PFF. Aaron Rodgers went as far as to call him the best linebacker in the game.
Linebacker: Bobby Wagner, Seattle Seahawks
2nd Team: B. Martinez, NYG
Although the Seahawks defense has been abysmal, Wagner continues to do his thing in the middle. He is neck-and-neck with Warner in the tackle department and has two sacks as well. He remains the best blitzing linebacker in the NFL.
Linebacker: Lavonte David, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2nd Team: K. Wright, SEA
One of the most underrated players of the 2010s continues to shine without enough recognition. He and second-year running mate Devin White have turned this defense into one of the more formidable units in the NFL.
Cornerback: Jaire Alexander, Green Bay Packers
2nd Team: J. Bradberry, NYG
Alexander has taken the leap to shutdown corner status this season. Don’t believe me? Ask Will Fuller, Calvin Ridley, and Mike Evans, three of the receivers that Alexander has put in the torture chamber this season. He has just one pick, and that number isn’t likely to rise now that QBs will start looking the other way when they see #23.
Cornerback: Marlon Humphrey, Baltimore Ravens
2nd Team: D. Slay, PHI
Humphrey may just be the best cornerback in the league right now. He’s yet to allow a receiver into the end zone this season, but his most impressive stat isn’t even a coverage stat. He’s mastered Charles Tillman’s famed “peanut punch” en route to four forced fumbles in just seven games. At this pace, he will finish the year with nine, good for second all-time behind Tillman himself.
Safety: Budda Baker, Arizona Cardinals
2nd Team: M. Fitzpatrick, PIT
After being rewarded with a mega-contract in the offseason, many wondered why the Cardinals would even consider giving Baker that type of money. Turns out he’s been this good, we just didn’t notice. He’s already up to 59 tackles and three takeaways in just six games.
Safety: Jessie Bates, Cincinnati Bengals
2nd Team: R. McLeod, PHI
There is only one stat needed to make Bates’ case for first-team All-Pro. According to Pro Football Reference, opposing QBs have a 13.5 passer rating when throwing the ball his way. For comparison, QBs would have a 39.6 mark if they decided to chuck the ball into the stands on every play.
Defensive Back: Xavien Howard, Miami Dolphins
2nd Team: C. Davis, TB
Howard is back and healthy, already leading the league with four interceptions. Thanks in part to his contributions, the Dolphins defense has allowed fewer points than any other unit in 2020.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kicker: Justin Tucker, Baltimore Ravens
The soon to be 5x first-team All-Pro has missed just one kick this season. He’s 14/15 on field goals and a sterling 23/23 on extra points.
Punter: Jack Fox, Detroit Lions
As a rookie, Fox leads the league with a monster mark of 53.2 yards per punt.
Returner: Jakeem Grant, Miami Dolphins
How good has the 5’7 speedster been this season? The distance between him and second place in punt return yards (50) is more than the distance between second and sixth place (47 yards). His 14.2 yards per return are good for third in the league.
*Statistics are taken from Pro Football Reference and StatMuse
-By: Micah Jimoh