Emmons' Emphasis: 2025 NFL midseason All-Pro teams

Salem High School graduate Jonathan Taylor leads the National Football League in rushing yards and touchdowns scored and is the favorite to win Offensive Player of the Year. Collin Conway/D2 Sports Network

Emmons' Emphasis is a column by Kevin Emmons that provides insight and opinions on trending topics in professional, college and high school sports.

The National Football League has completed nine weeks.

The regular season is halfway to the finish line which means it is time for my annual midseason All-Pro teams.

Impact and production are factors.

Here is a look at my selections:

First Team Offense

QB: Drake Maye, New England - The second-year pro from North Carolina leads the NFL in completion percentage (74.1%) and ranks 1st among all quarterbacks that have played at least six games in passer rating (116.9). His 74.0 adjusted QBR ranks 5th in the NFL and he trails only Daniel Jones, Justin Herbert and Patrick Mahomes in passing yards (2,285). Maye ranks 3rd in the NFL in yards per throw (9.0). He is tied for 3rd in touchdown passes (17) and has only thrown 4 interceptions. The Patriots are tied with the Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos for the most wins in the NFL (7) and are the No. 9 ranked passing offense with 238.3 yards per game. New England is ranked 7th in the NFL in scoring offense with 26.3 points per game. Maye directed the Patriots' to a statement win over the Buffalo Bills on the road to put his team in the driver's seat in the AFC East title race.

RB: Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis - The Salem (N.J.) High School graduate and 2021 Bert Bell Award recipient currently leads the NFL in rushing yards (895), touchdowns scored (14) and first down runs (47). Taylor is also tied for the league lead with De'Von Achane for 20+ yard runs (6). The Colts are the No. 1 scoring offense in the NFL with an average of 32.2 points per game and are tied for the most wins in the NFL (7) with the Patriots and Broncos. Indianapolis ranks 3rd in the NFL in total offense with 383.3 yards per game. Taylor's 1,113 yards from scrimmage ranks 2nd in the NFL. He leads the NFL with 86 points scored.

FB: Kyle Juszczyk, San Francisco - Juszczyk has been a constant in the 49ers' offense this season. San Francisco has a 6-3 record and is 6th in the NFC playoff standings despite a handful of injuries. The 9-time Pro Bowl selection has played more snaps (256) than any other fullback and leads the position in receptions (14) and receiving yards (126). Juszczyk caught a TD pass in a 16-15 win over the Arizona Cardinals. He has also contributed to the 49ers' offense with his pass blocking ability. His 81.0 pass block grade via PFF ranks 2nd among fullbacks that have played at least 100 snaps. San Francisco has the No. 5 ranked passing offense in the NFL with an average of 255.0 yards per game.

WR: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle - The Ohio State product leads the NFL with 948 receiving yards. Smith-Njigba also leads the league in catches for 20+ yards (17) and yards per game (118.5). The Seahawks lead the NFC West with a 6-2 record and sit at 3rd in the NFC playoff standings. Smith-Njigba has accounted for 45.2% of Seattle's receiving yardage. He ranks 5th in the NFL in receptions (58) and has 4 TD catches. His 970 yards from scrimmage lead all wide receivers and ranks 4th in the NFL.

WR: Ja'Marr Chase, Cincinnati - The four-time Pro Bowl selection has 15 more receptions than any player in the NFL. His 76 catches leads the league and his 831 receiving yards ranks 2nd. Chase has maintained his All-Pro production with Jake Browning and Joe Flacco as his quarterbacks after Joe Burrow suffered a right foot injury. The LSU product is tied for 1st in the NFL with Smith-Njigba in catches for first downs (41) and has 5 TD catches. Chase's 837 yards from scrimmage ranks 8th in the league. His 404 yards after catch leads all wide receivers and ranks 3rd in the NFL behind Christian McCaffrey and Bijan Robinson.

WR: Puka Nakua, L.A. Rams - Nakua ranks 2nd in the NFL in receiving yards per game (101.6). He and Smith-Njigba are the only players to average over 100 yards per game. The 2023 Pro Bowl selection ranks 4th in the league in receiving yards (711) and is tied for 2nd in receptions (61). He is one of eight wide receivers with at least 10 catches of 20+ yards and is tied with Michael Pittman, Jr. for 4th in the NFL in first down catches (35). Nakua has 3 TD catches this season. The Rams have a 6-2 record.

TE: Travis Kelce, Kansas City - The three-time Super Bowl champion and four-time first team All-Pro leads all tight ends in receiving yards (540) and catches for first downs (28). Kelce has 3 TD catches and has averaged 60.0 yards per game. He ranks 5th among tight ends in the NFL in receptions (41) and has an average of 13.2 yards per catch. The 10-time Pro Bowl selection also leads the Chiefs in receiving yards, yards after catch and receptions. Kelce has a 114.6 passer rating when targeted.

LT: Garett Bolles, Denver - The former first round pick from Utah leads all left tackles with an overall grade of 87.3 via PFF. Bolles has allowed zero sacks and only five pressures this season. His 90.0 pass block grade ranks 1st among all offensive tackles in the NFL. His 78.6 run block grade ranks 3rd among all offensive tackles that have played at least 600 snaps. The Broncos lead the AFC West with a 7-2 record and have one of the best offensive lines in the league. Bolles has been the unit's top player.

LG: Quenton Nelson, Indianapolis - The Red Bank Catholic (N.J.) product has allowed zero sacks and has only been penalized one time in 2025. Nelson, a three-time first team All-Pro and seven-time Pro Bowl selection, has helped the Colts score a league-best 19 TDs on the ground. His 91.0 run block grade via PFF ranks 1st in the NFL. Indianapolis also ranks 1st in scoring offense and 3rd in total offense. Nelson is the only guard in the league with an overall PFF grade (87.3) higher than 82.0. The Holmdel, New Jersey native has only allowed two hits and nine pressures. Through nine games, the Colts have fielded the best offensive line in the NFL and Nelson has been the unit's best player.

C: Creed Humphrey, Kansas City - Humphrey has allowed zero sacks and has been penalized only once in 2025. The three-time Pro Bowl selection has allowed only one hit and is 1st among all centers with three pressures allowed this season. His 83.6 pass block grade via PFF ranks 1st among centers and his 88.6 run block grade trails only Baltimore's Tyler Linderbaum. The Chiefs rank 6th in the NFL in total offense with 370.1 yards per game. Kansas City has won five of its last seven games.

RG: Trey Smith, Kansas City - Smith is tied for1st among all guards in the NFL with zero penalties and zero sacks allowed. The two-time Super Bowl champion has allowed only two hits. His 76.6 pass block grade via PFF ranks 4th among all guards and 1st among right guards. The Chiefs rank 7th in passing offense with 248.9 yards per game and are tied for 5th in passing TDs. Kansas City's offense is tied for 8th in points per game (26.1).

RT: Penei Sewell, Detroit - The two-time first team All-Pro selection has the best run block grade (97.4) in the NFL via PFF. Sewell has allowed zero sacks and only one QB hit in eight games played. The Oregon product has only been penalized once and has allowed six pressures. His 95.7 overall PFF grade ranks 1st among all offensive linemen in the league. His 78.1 pass block grade ranks 8th among all offensive tackles that have played at least 400 snaps. The Lions are 3rd in the NFL in scoring at 29.9 points per game. Detroit's 125.1 rushing yards per game ranks 9th in the NFL.

First Team Defense

EDGE: Myles Garrett, Cleveland - The four-time first team All-Pro selection and 2023 Defensive Player of the Year was tied for 1st in the NFL in sacks (10.0) and led the league tackles for loss (15.0) prior to the Browns' bye week. Garrett's 10.0 sacks trail only New York's Brian Burns. His 86.7 run defense grade via PFF leads all edge rushers in the NFL. Garrett ranks 7th among edge rushers in total pressures. Cleveland's defense is ranked 2nd in the NFL in total defense. Garrett's 92.6 pass rush grade trails only Detroit's Aiden Hutchinson at the position and is tied for 2nd among edge rushers with Green Bay's Micah Parsons.

EDGE: Micah Parsons, Green Bay - The two-time first team All-Pro ranks 4th among edge rushers in hurries (28) and 5th in total pressures (43). The attention Parsons garners from opponents' offensive linemen has helped Rashan Gary register 7.5 sacks this season. Despite facing a bevy of double teams, Parsons has tallied 6.5 sacks and 7.0 tackles for loss. The Packers rank 5th in total defense and run defense. His 82.8 coverage grade via PFF ranks 5th among edge rushers that have played at least 300 snaps. Parsons has zero missed tackles this season. His 43 pressures also rank 5th among edge rushers.

DT: Jeffrey Simmons, Tennessee - Simmons, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, ranks 2nd among interior lineman with 4.5 sacks in seven games this season. Seattle's Byron Murphy II and Arizona's Calais Campbell are the only interior lineman with more sacks (5.0). Simmons' 8 tackles for loss also ranks 2nd among interior linemen behind Indianapolis' DeForest Buckner. The Mississippi State product forced a fumble in a 20-12 loss to Denver in Week 1. His 84.5 overall grade via PFF ranks 5th at the position. His 91.1 pass rush grade leads all interior linemen. Simmons ranks 5th in solo tackles (21), 3rd in stops (18), 5th in hits (6) and 6th in total pressures (27) among players at the position.

DT: DeForest Buckner, Indianapolis - The three-time Pro Bowl selection leads all interior linemen in tackles (42) and tackles for loss (9). His 20 stops are tied for 3rd in the NFL at the position behind only Murphy II and New York's Quinnen Williams. The 2020 first team All-Pro selection has 4.0 sacks. He trails only Denver's Zach Allen in QB hits with 11 and total pressures with 33. Buckner's missed tackle rate is only 5.0%, per PFF. The Colts rank 4th in the NFL in run defense as they have allowed only 87.0 yards per game.

LB: Jack Campbell, Detroit - The Iowa product and 2022 Butkus Award winner leads all linebackers with 2 forced fumbles this season. Campbell is tied for 11th in the NFL in tackles (73) and ranks 2nd among off-ball linebackers in sacks (4.0). The third-year pro has 6 tackles for loss and a fumble recovery. His 91.8 run defense grade via PFF ranks 1st among linebackers in the NFL. Campbell's 88.2 overall grade via PFF also ranks first among linebackers that have played at least 400 snaps. Only Jacksonville's Devin Lloyd and San Francisco's Fred Warner own higher overall grades. The Lions are 8th in total defense and 10th in run defense.

LB: Devin Lloyd, Jacksonville - Lloyd has missed the past two games due to a calf injury, but is still tied for the most interceptions (4) in the NFL with Chicago's Kevin Byard III and Tremaine Edmunds. He returned an INT for a 99-yard TD in a pivotal 31-28 win over the Chiefs on Monday Night Football in Week 5. The former first round pick from Utah has generated 10 pressures in only six games and has missed only 3 tackles. Lloyd has recorded 28 tackles and 4 pass deflections. His 91.6 coverage grade via PFF ranks 1st among linebackers in the NFL. The Jaguars rank 3rd in run defense.

LB: Bobby Wagner, Washington - The six-time first team All-Pro is 3rd in the NFL in total tackles (90) with 6.0 tackles for loss. Wagner leads the league with 47 assists and ranks 5th in solo tackles with 43 with only 2 missed tackles. His 90.7 run defense grade via PFF ranks 4th among linebackers behind Campbell, Warner and Tennessee's Cedric Gray. He is tied for 11th among LBs in stops (27). Wagner is a future Hall of Fame inductee with 10 Pro Bowl selections and a Super Bowl win on his resume.

CB: Patrick Surtain II, Denver - The 2024 Defensive Player of the Year is the best cornerback in the NFL. Surtain II has not allowed a single TD or throw of more than 12+ air yards, per NFL NextGen Stats. He is tied for 6th in the NFL in passes defended (9) and has forced a tight window on 51.5% of his targets. The Broncos rank 3rd in total defense and 4th in scoring defense. The pass defense has only allowed 186.6 yards per game.

CB: Quinyon Mitchell, Philadelphia - The Toledo product showed elite flashes as a rookie as the Eagles captured their second Super Bowl title since 2018. Mitchell's production has continued in 2025. The second-year pro has the most snaps (103) against his opponent's No. 1 wide receiver this season, per NFL NextGen Stats. Mitchell limited Dallas' CeeDee Lamb to a 13-yard catch across nine routes in a 24-20 win on Week 1. Another notable performance was allowing only a 10-yard catch against Justin Jefferson in a 28-22 triumph over the Minnesota Vikings. He is tied for 11th in the NFL in passes defensed (8) and recovered a fumble.

SLOT: Trent McDuffie, Kansas City - The two-time Super Bowl champion is one of the most versatile defensive backs in the NFL. McDuffie has played 317 snaps out wide and 119 snaps in the slot with 58 combined snaps aligned along the defensive line and in the box, per PFF. The 2023 first team All-Pro has recorded six pass break ups and an INT this season. The Washington product has allowed only 83 yards on 14 catches in press coverage, per NFL NextGen Stats. The only TD he allowed in coverage was in a Week 1 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. McDuffie's 75.2 coverage grade via PFF ranks 8th among 112 qualified cornerbacks via PFF. He has not allowed more than 40 yards in a game this season.

S: Kyle Hamilton, Baltimore - The two-time Pro Bowl and 2023 first team All-Pro selection has established himself as the NFL's best safety in coverage against tight ends and wide receivers. Hamilton's 86.1 coverage grade via PFF ranks 1st among all safeties. He has recorded 49 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 2 passes defensed and a forced fumble. His 6 pressures are tied for 5th among safeties, and he only has 3 missed tackles.

S: Derwin James, Jr., L.A. Chargers - The four-time Pro Bowl selection leads all safeties in pressures (10) and QB hits (5). He is tied with Carolina's Tre'von Moehrig for the most stops (25) among safeties in the NFL. The All-Pro safety is one of seven players at the position to record 2.0 sacks this season and his coverage grade via PFF trails only Hamilton and Houston's Jalen Pitre. James has an INT, a PD and has allowed only 9.0 yards per reception. The Chargers, ranked 6th in the NFL in total defense, have only allowed 177.1 yards per game through the air. The Atlanta Falcons and Buffalo Bills are the only two teams to allow less yards per game.

First Team Special Teams

PK: Cameron Dicker, L.A. Chargers - Through nine weeks, Dicker ranks 1st among kickers and 2nd in the NFL in points scored (81). He has converted 95.2% of his field goal attempts (20-for-21) and is 21-for-21 on extra point attempts. Dicker is 9-for-9 on field goal attempts in the 30-39 yard range.

P: Jordan Stout, Baltimore - Stout ranks 5th in the NFL in gross average punt yards (51.4) and 1st in net average punt yards (46.0). 12 of his 25 punt attempts have been placed inside the 20-yard line. Only eight of his attempts have been returned for 73 yards. Opponents average only 9.1 yards per return on Stout's punts. His longest punt traveled 64 yards this season.

KR: Chimere Dike, Tennessee - Dike's 1,108 yards on kick returns ranks 1st in the NFL. He has an average of 26.4 yards per return, and his longest return of 71 yards is the 5th longest in the league this season. The rookie out of Florida also leads the NFL with 19.5 yards per punt return. He has a league-high 16 fair catches and returned a punt for a 67-yard TD in a 27-20 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. Dike became the first player on the Titans to return a punt for a score since 2012.

PR: Marcus Jones, New England - Jones is one of seven players to return a punt for a TD in the NFL this season. His 19.3 yards per return ranks 2nd in the NFL behind Dike. The 2022 first team All-Pro selection ranks 3rd in the NFL in punt return yards (231) behind Tory Horton and Marvin Mims, Jr. Both players have more return attempts and a lower average of yards per return. His longest return of 87 yards ranks 3rd in the league this season.

ST: Devon Key, Denver - Key's 14 tackles on special teams leads the NFL. The Western Kentucky product has accumulated 10 solo tackles and 4 assists. Key has recorded 7 tackles on special teams over the last four games. His production has contributed to opponents' field position to start drives and has helped the Broncos' defense rank as one of the best in the NFL. Denver ranks 3rd in the league in total defense and 4th in scoring defense.

LS: Andrew DePaola, Minnesota - The three-time first team All-Pro selection has continued his play as one of the best long snappers in the NFL.

Second Team Offense

QB: Matthew Stafford, L.A. Rams

RB: Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco

FB: Reggie Gilliam, Buffalo

WR: George Pickens, Dallas

WR: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit

WR: Justin Jefferson, Minnesota

TE: Tyler Warren, Indianapolis

LT: Trent Williams, San Francisco

LG: Joel Bitonio, Cleveland

C: Tanor Bortolini, Indianapolis

RG: Quinn Meinerz, Denver

RT: Lane Johnson, Philadelphia

Second Team Defense

EDGE: Aidan Hutchinson, Detroit

EDGE: Brian Burns, N.Y. Giants

DT: Zach Allen, Denver

DT: Cameron Heyward, Pittsburgh

LB: Zack Baun, Philadelphia

LB: Demario Davis, New Orleans

LB: Jamien Sherwood, N.Y. Jets

CB: Jamel Dean, Tampa Bay

CB: Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner, N.Y. Jets/Indianapolis

SLOT: Cooper DeJean, Philadelphia

S: Jalen Pitre, Houston

S: Tykee Smith, Tampa Bay

Second Team Special Teams

PK: Brandon Aubrey, Dallas

P: Blake Gillikin, Arizona

KR: Luke McCaffrey, Washington

PR: Malik Washington, Miami

ST: Brenden Schooler, New England

LS: Morgan Cox, Tennessee