The NFL certainly put on a show in 2025.
It was as unpredictable as any fan could’ve asked for. Few imagined the Indianapolis Colts getting off to an incredibly fast start with quarterback Daniel Jones. Fewer still predicted it falling apart amid myriad injuries.
The Los Angeles Rams looked like one of the best teams this season, yet lost to multiple NFC South teams; that division featured a sub-0.500 champion.
While the hierarchy in both conferences remained unsettled for much of the season, players on offense, defense and special teams have stood out for their performances on the field. The Pro Bowl is one way to determine the best players from a season; the All-Pro teams are often the best.
The All-Pro teams commonly recognized by players and teams are compiled by a panel at the Associated Press. It’s a panel made up of media members from across the country. Unlike the Pro Bowl, the votes are cast for players regardless of conference.
Injuries threw a curveball into the decision-making process for multiple positions this year. For others, it is a true coin flip for who should make the first and second teams. A few positions were very easy; picking the first-team tight end and wide receivers was pretty straightforward.
Here are our predictions for the 2025 All-Pro teams and why:
2025 NFL All-Pro predictions: QB
- First team: Drake Maye, New England Patriots
It’s a two-horse race for the MVP and leaning towards Maye. The Patriots won their division and will be the No. 2 seed in the AFC playoff bracket. Maye’s been one of the best quarterbacks in the league by any metric you look at.
He leads the league in expected points added (EPA) per dropback at 0.24, per NFL Next Gen Stats, as well as completion percentage over expected (CPOE) at 9.1%. He’s the only quarterback in the league who completed more than 70% of his passes. Argue all you want about the Patriots’ schedule, but Maye’s been one of the most effective quarterbacks in the league despite a weak supporting cast.
- Second team: Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
Stafford’s performance against the Falcons and the Rams’ loss to the Seahawks likely knocked him out of the running for the MVP. He deserves recognition, though, as he’s the only quarterback in the league with more than 40 touchdown passes and went months without throwing an interception.
Stafford’s tied for second in EPA per dropback at 0.20 with Jordan Love. He’s done that against one of the toughest schedules in the league; his targets average 3.2 yards of separation per play, tied for the second-lowest in the league behind only Joe Flacco.
2025 NFL All-Pro predictions: RB
- First team: Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons
This is one of the toughest races to decide. This looked like a lock for Jonathan Taylor two months ago before the Colts’ offense cooled down. Derrick Henry and James Cook also have arguments for this conversation.
Robinson takes this because he leads the NFL in scrimmage yards and out-gains Taylor, Cook, Henry, Christian McCaffrey, De’Von Achane and Jahmyr Gibbs in yards per touch at 6.3. None of the rest of that group is above 6.0.
Robinson’s been the bright point in a disappointing season for the Falcons. This will reward his impressive campaign.
- Second team: Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts
It came down to Taylor and McCaffrey for this one. Cook’s fumbles (six) took him out of consideration. In the end, Taylor is our prediction for the second team for what he’s done as a running back.
The Colts’ star led the league in rushing touchdowns (18) and powered the top offense in the league for much of the season. Everything’s gone south for Indianapolis after the trade deadline but that can’t be pinned on Taylor. He’s been more efficient as a runner than McCaffrey and that gives him the nod despite the 49ers star’s standout year.
2025 NFL All-Pro predictions: WR
- First team: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks; Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams; George Pickens, Dallas Cowboys
The first two picks for the first-team were easy. Smith-Njigba and Nacua have been a step above the rest of the field as receivers in 2025. They’re the only receivers who averaged more than 100 yards per game; Nacua leads the league in receptions and first downs receiving, while Smith-Njigba leads the league in receiving yards. They’re locks.
Pickens gets the slight edge in a year that saw many of the mainstays deal with injuries, quarterback injuries or drops in production. He’s third in yards per game with nearly as many receiving touchdowns (nine) as Nacua and Smith-Njigba (10 each) on nearly 30 fewer catches.
- Second team: Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals; Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions; Nico Collins, Houston Texans
Chase’s follow-up to his career year sees him lead the league in targets once again. He’s one of the best at the position and, despite missing Joe Burrow for much of the year, deserves recognition for his season. St. Brown finished with more than 1,401 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns on 117 catches. No one in the league can match those totals. Collins also deserves recognition for what he’s doing as a big-play threat. His 15.7 yards per reception is fifth in the NFL; no one above him has more than 102 targets while he’s at 120.
2025 NFL All-Pro predictions: TE
- First team: Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals
This may be the easiest prediction on this list. McBride’s been far and away the most productive tight end in the league. He was sixth in receiving yards (regardless of position) and second in catches. He’s tied for first among all tight ends in touchdowns and tied for second league-wide.
- Second team: Tyler Warren, Indianapolis Colts
This one is not. The tight end position has seen a lot of injuries to top names like George Kittle and Brock Bowers, which have taken them out of consideration. Dallas Goedert’s tied with McBride on touchdowns but has less than half as many receiving yards. It’s a similar story with Jake Ferguson, who has eight touchdowns but less than 700 receiving yards. Kyle Pitts’ year was inflated by one game against the Buccaneers.
We’re going with Warren because of how much his presence unlocked the rest of the Colts’ passing attack in addition to his counting stats. Indianapolis wouldn’t have been the efficient machine it was for much of the year without him.
2025 NFL All-Pro predictions: OT
- First team: Trent Williams, San Francisco 49ers; Garett Bolles, Denver Broncos
Offensive tackle is another challenging position to pick because so many top names have missed significant time. Because of that, Williams has an edge in availability with just one game missed. He’s still a standout run blocker (sixth in ESPN’s run-block win rate among tackles) and surrendered just four sacks on more than 600 pass blocking snaps per Pro Football Focus (PFF).
Bolles has been an outstanding pass blocker, allowing zero sacks this season despite facing the likes of Philadelphia, Houston, Kansas City twice and the New York Giants. More than 700 snaps yielded zero sacks, per PFF. All of that, plus the limited availability from the top names, gives him the edge.
- Second team: Dion Dawkins, Buffalo Bills; Andrew Thomas, New York Giants
Buffalo’s one of the most efficient and productive offenses in the league, thanks to its offensive line, including Dawkins. He’s first in ESPN’s pass block win rate among tackles and has allowed zero stuffs in run blocking, according to Sports Information Solutions (SIS) data.
Thomas has missed multiple games but he’s an invaluable part of Jaxson Dart’s success as a rookie. He allowed just one sack on 448 pass blocking snaps this year, according to PFF.
2025 NFL All-Pro predictions: OG
- First team: Joe Thuney, Chicago Bears; Quenton Nelson, Indianapolis Colts
We think Thuney gets another All-Pro nod thanks to missing little time and the impressive performance by the Bears’ rushing offense with him in the middle. He’s top three in both run block and pass block win rates among interior offensive linemen.
Nelson’s similarly been the star up front for the Colts’ top rushing attack earlier this season. They did that even after two previous starters left in free agency (Will Fries and Ryan Kelly) and after rotating multiple starters around him. The Colts’ offense slowing down in the second half of the season shouldn’t keep him from being recognized.
- Second team: Damien Lewis, Carolina Panthers; Tyler Smith, Dallas Cowboys
These two are integral parts of terrific rushing offenses. Lewis quietly enjoyed a career year in Carolina, road-grading defenders for Rico Dowdle and Chuba Hubbard. His pass-blocking has taken a step forward this year as well; he allowed just one sack and a career-low 13 pressures in 2025 despite not missing a game.
Smith continues to be a star on the Cowboys’ line for one of the most prolific offenses in the NFL. The offense deserves a nod for its excellence on the ground.
2025 NFL All-Pro predictions: C
- First team: Aaron Brewer, Miami Dolphins
Miami made a mid-season push for the playoffs thanks to the running game and it would’ve been impossible without Brewer’s excellence in the middle. He’s not a big name, but he may have helped coach Mike McDaniel keep his job into next season. It’s not all on the ground, either, as he sits ninth in ESPN’s pass block win rate among interior offensive linemen.
- Second team: Creed Humphrey, Kansas City Chiefs
Here’s the bigger name, as we believe Humphrey will collect another accolade. He leads the NFL in pass block win rate among interior offensive linemen and registered zero opponent stuffs in the run game for the first time in his career, per SISdata.
2025 NFL All-Pro predictions: Edge
- First team: Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns; Will Anderson Jr., Houston Texans
Garrett’s the easiest prediction on this list thanks to his record-breaking sack total this season and general game-wrecking presence every week. The second spot is tougher with Micah Parsons’ season-ending injury. We think Houston’s Anderson gets it. His sack totals didn’t rely on one single-game breakout; he had at least one in 11 games this season. His 85 pressures are second-most in the league while receiving a near league-high amount of chips and double-teams.
- Second team: Aidan Hutchinson, Detroit Lions; Nik Bonitto, Denver Broncos
The Lions missed the playoffs on fine margins this season but Hutchinson deserves recognition for his strong bounce-back year from injury in 2024. He led the league in pressures with 89 this season and his 14.5 sacks are fourth-most league-wide. It was between Houston’s Danielle Hunter and Bonitto for the final spot. Bonitto gets the nod thanks to his higher pressure rate and quick pressure totals despite one fewer sack.
2025 NFL All-Pro predictions: DT
- First team: Jeffery Simmons, Tennessee Titans; Zach Allen, Denver Broncos
These two have been game-wrecking presences in the middle as pass rushers. Simmons leads qualified interior defenders in pressure rate (13.9%) and posted a career-best 11 sacks and 60 pressures, per NFL Next Gen stats. Allen improved a step from last season with seven sacks and 60 pressures for one of the best defenses in the league.
- Second team: Byron Murphy II, Seattle Seahawks; Quinnen Williams, Dallas Cowboys
Murphy or teammate Leonard Williams would be worthy recipients as the driving forces on the Seahawks’ defensive line. We went with Murphy thanks to his slight edge in pass rush production.
Williams has been one of the most impactful interior players in the league since arriving in Dallas. He’s the only defensive tackle to rank in the top five in both pass rush win rate and run stop win rate at the position. Dallas’ defensive woes were certainly not his fault.
2025 NFL All-Pro predictions: LB
- First team: Jack Campbell, Detroit Lions; Devin Lloyd, Jacksonville Jaguars
In a year with Fred Warner sidelined by injury, other linebackers had the chance to step up and get noticed. Both of these players did exactly that. Campbell racked up a career-high 166 tackles and five sacks. He also led the league in NFL Next Gen Stats’ ‘stops’ metric – tackles that end in a net negative play for the offense.
Lloyd broke out in 2025 with five interceptions, tied for the most at the position. His impact in coverage cannot go unnoticed in what was the third-best defense by EPA per pass allowed this year.
- Second team: Ernest Jones IV, Seattle Seahawks; Eric Wilson, Minnesota Vikings
Jones is the second-level player who helped unlock the Seahawks’ defense in 2025. He tied for the most interceptions at the position with Lloyd. He missed two games, though, making the difference between first- and second-team. Really splitting hairs here.
Wilson was a huge surprise this season and did a little bit of everything for a Vikings defense that performed much better than expected over the second half of the season. He set career-highs in sacks (6.5) and stops with 65.
2025 NFL All-Pro predictions: CB
- First team: Derek Stingley Jr., Houston Texans; Christian Gonzalez, New England Patriots; Quinyon Mitchell, Philadelphia Eagles
Like tackle, this position was impacted by injuries in 2025. These three were the right mix of available and prolific. Houston’s the best pass defense by the EPA/pass allowed metric and Stingley yielded a 57.9 quarterback rating when targeted. New England’s defense needs one player on the All-Pro team, and Gonzalez’s shutdown abilities put him here. Mitchell allowed a 42.4% catch rate in 2025 – the best of any cornerback who started at least 10 games.
- Second team: Patrick Surtain II, Denver Broncos; Jamel Dean, Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Donte Jackson, Los Angeles Chargers
Surtain narrowly misses out on first-team because he missed time with a pectoral injury. He’s still in the running for best cornerback in the league every year. Dean posted an absurd -28.3 coverage EPA and 41.3 passer rating allowed in coverage, best among qualified cornerbacks in 2025. Jackson’s close behind him in both.
2025 NFL All-Pro predictions: S
- First team: Kyle Hamilton, Baltimore Ravens; Derwin James, Los Angeles Chargers
Hamilton and James are the most important defenders on their respective defenses in 2025. Hamilton’s presence changes the game for Baltimore against the run or pass. James does the same in Los Angeles. Neither has gaudy stats, but the tape shows two of the most impactful defenders in the NFL.
- Second team: Xavier McKinney, Green Bay Packers; Jalen Pitre, Houston Texans
McKinney’s interception rate dropped in 2025 after his meteoric 2024 campaign but he leads all qualified defensive backs in passer rating allowed (40.0) when targeted. Pitre leads the NFL in coverage EPA at -32.7 with a 50.7 passer rating allowed.
2025 NFL All-Pro predictions: K
- First team: Will Reichard, Minnesota Vikings
Reichard’s been nearly automatic all season with a 94.3% rate on field goals. His lone miss came from more than 50 yards. Add that to a perfect extra point percentage and he’s a deserving candidate.
- Second team: Cam Little, Jacksonville Jaguars
Little has earned the reputation as one of the best kickers from distance this year. He hit the two longest field goals in NFL history this season: a 67-yarder outdoors in the season finale and a 68-yarder indoors against the Raiders. He deserves recognition for that.
2025 NFL All-Pro predictions: P
- First team: Daniel Whelan, Green Bay Packers
Whelan led the NFL in EPA per punt over expected this year and averaged an impressive 51.7 yards per punt. That was tied for the best with Arizona’s Blake Gillikin, who only played five games.
- Second team: Tress Way, Washington Commanders
Way earned a Pro Bowl nod for his season, averaging 47.3 yards per punt. He was exceptional at pinning teams deep in their own territory. Of his 56 punts this season, 51.8% were downed inside the opposing team’s 29-yard line, second-best in the league. Opposing returners managed just 114 yards this season, which was the lowest among punters with 17 starts.