Predicting the 2026 NFL All-Pro Team

by Zak Drapeau

Sportz Nation - 5/18/2026

Photo by NFL via draftcountdown.com

Quarterback

Joe Burrow - CIN

Let's get the big one out of the way first; IF JOE BURROW CAN STAY HEALTHY, I believe he can have the best season of any QB in the league. Flanked by Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Chase Brown and a much improve offensive line, Burrow could easily throw for 5,000 yards and 40 TDs. Burrow has been a Top-3 thrower in the league for years now but hampered by injuries and bad O-line play and with the latter seemingly improved which should improve the former, I don't see why 2026 shouldn't be the year Burrow reaches his full potential.

Running Back

Jonathan Taylor - IND

All respect to Bijan, Gibbs, Barkley and McCaffrey but Jonathan Taylor seems poised to me to have the most offensive responsibility of any RB this season. With Daniel Jones likely injured to start the year, Taylor could be looking at an easy 25-30 touches per game. Even when Jones comes back the Colts base on offense is to run the ball and use play action. Taylor is coming off a 1,585 yard and 18 TD season and could see those numbers increase with the team's offensive uncertainty this year and let's not forget that he'll be doing so behind one of the best Offensive Lines in the league.

Fullback

Kyle Juszczyk - SF

At this point, the Fullback slot on this team is Juszczyk's to lose. With other greats at the position like Patrick Ricard and Alec Ingold presumed to be the only threat to Juszczyk's honor, I fully expect him to receive his 3rd AP1 in 4 years.

Wide Receivers

Ja'Marr Chase - CIN

Amon-Ra St. Brown - DET

Puka Nacua - LAR

This one shouldn't ruffle any feathers and for the most part, Chase and Nacua are both expected for this honor and St. Brown is somewhere around the 6th or 7th man at his position. Since I expect Burrow to make the AP team as well, I think Chase has one of the best receiver seasons we've seen in a long time.

St. Brown is THE most consistent receiver in the league and with the Lions having the 6th "easiest schedule" via ESPN's NFL Strength of Schedules, I think St. Brown could post career highs in yards and TDs.

I was a big detractor of Nacua last year thinking he was injury prone and abit overrated but I changed that tune REAL QUICK. Seemingly a staple to get 110 catches and 1,300 yards for as long as Stafford is there, I don't expect 2026 to be any different.

Tight End

Colston Loveland - CHI

Here we have (I think) one of my 3 longshots for this list. Loveland had a good rookie season of 58, 713 and 8 but should get an even bigger role in the offense after the team traded DJ Moore. Used just as much as a slot receiver as Tight End, Loveland could easily cross the 1,000 yard and 10 TD threshold this season as the Bears first or second receiving option in 2026.

Left Tackle

Tristan Wirfs - TB

From a longshot to an almost-lock, Tristan Wirfs has established himself as one of the league Top-3 LTs in the league and should solidify himself as #1 again after recovering from his injuries in 2025. Wirfs should be the consensus, best pass blocker in the league at this point and if he stays healthy, should show out this year on a Buccaneers team I also expect to make the playoffs and help Wirfs' case.

Left Guard

Quenton Nelson - IND

If Jonathan Taylor makes AP1, then his best Offensive lineman should too. Nelson has been considered or won this award for all 8 seasons of his career and is a Top-4 Guard in the league. Staying healthy and helping JT be among the league leaders in rushing should easily bring Nelson back to AP1 status for the first time since 2020.

Center

Creed Humphrey - KC

Can Creed go for the triple? In my opinion, this honor was between him and Linderbaum for the past 2 seasons and with his "rival" moving to Vegas, I think Humphrey's chances are even better.

Right Guard

Quinn Meinerz - DEN

Meinerz is also looking to make this honor 3 times in a row for the first time since Zack Martin did it immediately before Meinerz started his streak. Chris Lindstrom has a notable claim to this hypothetical award being the 1a best in the league but with Denver's offense being friendly to their O-lineman and Meinerz seemingly still getting better, this prediction seems easy.

Right Tackle

Darnell Wright - CHI

If you couldn't tell already, me taking Darnell Wright as my 2nd longshot of this list goes to show how I believe the Bears will fair this season. Darnell Wright has improved every year in Chicago and took a major step last season in his first year under Ben Johnson. With an additional offseason under the offensive guru, (who built up Penei Sewell to RT AP1 honors,) I think Wright becomes one of the premier Tackles in the league in 2026.

Edge Rushers

Myles Garrett - CLE

Will Anderson Jr. - HOU

Brian Burns - NYG

Like the receivers, this list doesn't wrinkle any feathers as all these men were either AP1 or AP2 last season. Garrett is a staple and quickly becoming one of the greatest DE's in league history with no sign of slowing down.

Anderson keeps getting better and better and with Houston having the best defense in the league could improve on his 12 sack total from last year.

Brian Burns was debatably snubbed from this award last year after being 2nd in the league with 16.5 sacks. I don't think rookie Arvell Reese makes those numbers go down and in fact makes Burns that much more dangerous along with Abdul Carter as well.

Defensive Tackles

Jeffrey Simmons - TEN

Mason Graham - CLE

Here we have the 3rd and final longshot of my list but we'll get there. First we have to acknowledge Jeffrey Simmons who, after a great start to his 6-year career had his best season in 2025 and now will have the benefit of being in Robert Saleh's defense.

Mason Graham is the big one here and after a solid rookie season on the Browns' D-line, I think he takes a major step in year 2. His run defense and agility to move up and down and side-to-side on the line is documented but his pass rushing getting even better would really make him a threat for being one of the best in his position. Being across from Myles Garrett should only help his case even if his team as a whole doesn't.

Linebackers

Fred Warner - SF

Devin Lloyd - CAR

Fred Warner's revenge tour starts in 5... 4... 3... 2...

Warner is easily the best Linebacker of the 2020's and now that he;s healthy should return to AP1 status.

Devin Lloyd had a breakout year in Jacksonville in 2026 and now will be the Captain and focal point of Carolina's defense under defensive specialist, Coordinator Ejiro Evero. I don't think it's unreasobnable to predict Lloyd has 170 tackles this year.

Cornerbacks

Derek Stingley Jr. - HOU

Christian Gonzalez - NE

Stingley is tied for the best Cornerback in the league currently with the likes of Sauce Gardner and Pat Surtain but is also a part of what I believe could be a historically great defense in Houston this season.

After those three we have the new up-and-comer of the position in Christian Gonzalez who is probably the best zone corner in the league. Gonzalez was snubbed from this list last year but I don't think he will be two years in a row.

Slot Corner

Jalen Pitre - HOU

Pitre has the same benefit as Stingley of being in Houston's secondary but in my eyes is already the best at his position along with names like Moore, Witherspoon and DeJean. Pitre is not only on the best defense of those 4 but is also the only one I believe will not be asked to do extra and used on the boundary, making him able to focus and perfect his craft in the slot.

Safety

Kyle Hamilton - BAL

Caleb Downs - DAL

Kyle Hamilton is the best Safety in the league and is quickly becoming the best Safety we've seen since Ed Reed. He does EVERYTHING well and is even a great Nickel corner when needed and should be no different in 2026 especially with Sophomore teammate Malaki Starks expected to improve in his 2nd year.

The last rookie to make AP1 honors was Micah Parsons in 2021 back in Dallas and I believe Caleb Downs could easily be the next on that list. Easily made Dallas' focal point in their secondary and coming into the league with as much if not more skill than any Safety I've ever scouted, It'll be hard to oust Jessie Bates, Budda Baker and others but I believe Downs can do it.

Kicker

Brandon Aubrey - DAL

Aubrey has made AP1 or AP2 all 3 years of his career and after an up-and-down 2025, I believe should come back with a vengeance and hit some more 50-60 yarders like we've seen him easily do in the past.

Punter

Tommy Townsend - TEN

Let's just say I think Townsend will get ample opportunity to show he's one of the best Punters in the league in his first season in Tennessee. With one of the biggest legs in the league, I think Townsend consistently puts his opponents within their 20 and should get some looks as his team's MVP this season.

Kick Returner

KaVontae Turpin - DAL

Turpin's vision and speed are his biggest weapons and is Dallas' undisputed return specialist to boot. Leading the league in both returns and return yards was only good enough for AP2 honors last season but should be recognized as AP1 this season.

Punt Returner

Zachariah Branch - ATL

A second rookie to make this list, Branch was one of the Top-3 returners in this excellent returner-draft class but also has the benefit of being the clear #1 PR in Atlanta. And he's fast... BOOOOOY is he fast.

Special Teamer

Brenden Schooler - NE

New England's special teamer factory is most known for Matthew Slater but Brenden Schooler has been seemingly made from the same cloth. Schooler is a team guy, a high-flyer, smart as they come and willing to put his body on the line to make the tackle or pin inside the 20.

Long Snapper

Ross Matiscik - JAX

Matiscik has been playing hot potato with this award with Minnesota's Andrew DePaola for a few years but after winning last season seems to have given himself the honor of best at his position similar to Kyle Juszczyk.