Fox’s 2016 NFL Season Preview Part 4: All Pro Team Prediction

The NFL preseason is upon us and it’s time to start making some regular season predictions starting with the All-Pro team.

This list is a look at which players I expect to perform at a high level and earn a spot on the NFL All-Pro Team.

WRs: Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh and Julio Jones, Atlanta

It’s really close between these two and guys like Odell Beckham, Dez, etc. But they’re just going to be too good in 2016 because they’re going to be asked to carry the load more with uncertainty next to them in their WR corps.

TE: Rob Gronkowski, New England

If he gets hurt or the Pats’ passing game stalls out while Brady is suspended, then I’ll be wrong. I don’t think I’ll be wrong here.

LT: Joe Thomas, Cleveland

Thomas is the gold standard of left tackles and his play isn’t dropping. It’s amazing how close Denver got to dealing for him, but Thomas deserves to play for a good Cleveland team.

LG: Josh Sitton, Green Bay

Sitton even played some left tackle for the Packers in 2015 but when Sitton is healthy is hard to think of a better left guard. I highly doubt his play will drop in 2016.

C: Travis Frederick, Dallas

A lot of draft pundits mocked this pick when it happened. And they saw Jason Garrett’s reaction to it as validation of their opinions. A lot of those pundits were badly wrong. Frederick is arguably the best in the business.

RG: Zach Martin, Dallas

Another draft pick that was questioned, but Martin is the best in an amazing era of right guards in the NFL.

RT: Mitchell Schwartz, Kansas City

I was shocked when the Browns didn’t keep Schwartz, he’s a great young right tackle who will only blossom now with the Chiefs. And at 6.6 million on average, might be one of the best bargains in the NFL.

QB: Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh

I really think that this will be a legendary year for Big Ben. Losing Bryant stings but everyone watching Steelers’ camp thinks that Sammie Watkins or Eli Rogers could be better than Bryant has been for them.

FB: Mike Tolbert, Carolina

Mike Shula knows how to use the talent he has. Tolbert doesn’t play like a traditional fullback(who could with Newton at quarterback), but he makes plays, blocks well and gives defenses another thing to worry about.

RB: Devontae Freeman, Atlanta

I really think that this is his year to become a superstar and the prime reason for this will be because the Falcons added an amazing center in Alex Mack and with question marks at the other wideout spot from Julio Jones they’re going to want to feed Freeman the ball until his tongue is hanging out.

K: Stephen Gostkowski, New England

Mr. Nearly Automatic.

KR/PR: Tyler Lockett, Seattle

The Seahawks basically traded away the rest of their draft picks in 2015 to move up to get Lockett. He was very good in 2015 as a rookie. He’ll be amazing in 2016.

DE: Muhammed Wilkerson, NY Jets

Giving him a long term deal was an absolute no brainer. He’s more valuable to the Jets than anyone else that they have and at times he’s better than JJ Watt. Just an amazingly talented player.

DT: Aaron Donald, LA Rams

He’s my pick for defensive player of the year. Donald is developing at such a fast rate that he could be an MVP candidate before long. The only thing that will stop Donald will be Donald himself. Few linemen had any chance at stopping him in 2015, even fewer will have a chance against him in 2016.

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DT: Kawann Short, Carolina

Dave Gettleman: pay this man. He’s the engine of your entire defense and if he sits out or walks, your defense will struggle.

DE/Edge: Von Miller, Denver

I have no concerns that Miller’s play will drop now that he’s the highest paid defender in the NFL. Wade Phillips is such a great coordinator that he’ll find the way to get him to produce.

OLB: Anthony Barr, Minnesota

If you’re saying “who?” in response to this, shame on you. Barr has quickly become a top flight coverage/run stopping linebacker that the Vikings are building their defense around.

I/MLB: Luke Kuechly, Carolina

He’s in his prime and he’s probably a top 15 middle linebacker all time. When his play starts dropping, we’ll discuss Navarro Bowman here. Thanks.

I/MLB: Deone Bucannon, Arizona

I had to put Bucannon somewhere in this lineup and I suppose that inside linebacker isn’t that much of a stretch. His versatility has made up for the loss of Adrian Wilson. He’s not quite a linebacker but he’s not a safety but having him as this swiss army knife allows them to move pieces around their defense. Just a solid player who makes plays.

OLB/Edge: Khalil Mack, Oakland

If it wasn’t for playing at the same time as Von Miller, Mack might be seen as the best pass rusher in the game. It’s amazing that he’s accomplished this playing primarily as a defensive end in a hybrid front at 6-3 240. If he wants to truly blossom, then he needs to stand up as a 3-4 edge rusher more often.

CBs: Richard Sherman, Seattle and Darrelle Revis, New York Jets

There are a lot of great corners in the league right now and I could have picked any of 4-5 other names for this list but these two are the best in the business and it’s not close. Sherman just keeps getting better because he works on his game to compensate for his limitations. Revis can lose focus and give up some soft receptions but when he’s focused he will shut down the receiver he’s facing.

SS: Reshad Jones, Miami

Jones was the 1st safety in NFL history to record 125 tackles, 10 deflections, 5 INTs, 2 sacks and 2 defensive touchdowns in a single season. He’s amazingly made something of himself from being a 5th round pick who was seen as a pure lottery pick. The Phins will need him to develop even more and there’s no reason to think that he won’t.

FS: Earl Thomas, Seattle

The gap between him and the 2nd tier of free safeties in the NFL has narrowed, but Thomas is still the unquestioned best in the business. It is a fair critique that he probably wouldn’t be as good in another defense, but his level of skill would make him a pro bowler elsewhere. In Seattle, he’s the class of the NFL.

P: Sam Koch, Baltimore

Just a consistently great punter and with Scifres starting to get old he’s clearly the best punter in the NFL.

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