Midseason All-Pro Team

By John Turney

Lamar Jackson (L) and Fred Warner (R)

Originally posted on Talk of Fame Two

The NFL's 17-game schedule makes it difficult to decide where to divide the first and second halves of the season. Is it after Week 8? Week 9? Last year, I picked my midseason All-Pro after eight weeks. This year, it's after Week 9. Either way, here's my 2024 iteration of the top players for the first two months of the season.

FIRST TEAM

Offense

C—Tyler Biadasz, Commanders.

LG—Joe Thuney, Chiefs.

RG—Ben Powers, Broncos.

LT—Christian Darrisaw, Vikings.

RT—Lane Johnson, Eagles.

TE—Brock Bowers, Raiders.

QB—Lamar Jackson, Ravens.

FB—Patrick Ricard, Ravens.

RB—Derrick Henry, Ravens.

WR—Justin Jefferson, Vikings.

WR—Ja'Marr Chase, Bengals.

Defense

4-3 Edge—Aidan Hutchinson, Lions.

3-4 Edge—T.J. Watt, Steelers.

DI—Dexter Lawrence, Giants.

DI—Chris Jones, Chiefs.

LB—Fred Warner, 49ers.

LB—Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Browns.

CB—Pat Surtain II, Broncos.

CB—Marlon Humphrey, Ravens.

Slot—Deommodore Lenoir, 49ers.

S—Brian Branch, Lions.

S—Xavier McKinney, Packers.

Special Teams

K—Brandon Aubrey, Cowboys.

P—Jack Fox, Lions.

PR—Kalif Raymond, Lions.

KR—Kavontae Turpin, Cowboys.

ST—J.T. Gray, Saints

SECOND TEAM

Offense

C—Creed Humphrey, Chiefs.

G—Chris Lindstrom, Falcons.

G—Zach Martin, Cowboys.

LT—Tristan Wifts, Buccaneers.

RT—Penei Sewell, Lions.

TE—George Kittle, 49ers.

QB—Jared Goff, Lions.

FB—Alec Ingold, Dolphins.

RB—Saquon Barkley, Eagles.

WR—Nico Collins, Texans.

WR—Garrett Wilson, Jets.

Defense

4-3 Edge—Trey Hendrickson, Bengals

3-4 Edge—Jared Verse, Rams.

DI—Cameron Heyward, Steelers.

DI—Grover Stewart, Colts.

LB—Bobby Wagner, Commanders.

LB—Zack Baun, Eagles.

CB—Jalen Ramsey, Dolphins.

CB—D.J. Reed, Jets.

Slot—Mike Hilton, Bengals.

S—Kirby Joseph, Lions.

S—Elijah Molden, Chargers.

Special Teams

K—Chris Boswell, Steelers.

P—Logan Cooke, Jaguars.

PR—Calvin Austin, Steelers.

KR—Laviska Shenault, Seahawks.

ST—Brenden Schooler, Patriots.

Offense Notes

OL -- Center Tyler Biadasz has been good for a while, but he's stepped it up this year as the leader of a resurgent Commanders' line. He's a big part of why their offensive is rolling. The Chiefs' Joe Thuney is a master technician, and Ben Powers is what is name suggests -- powerful.

Yes, I know Christian Darrishaw went down with a knee injury a couple of weeks ago. but he was the league's best left tackle up to then. Plus, the 49ers' Trent Williams got off to a slow start after a holdout. Darrishaw won't make the Pro Bowl, and he won't be All-Pro, but he deserves attention for the start he's had. Tristan Wifts of the Buccaneers is my second-team pick over Williams. On the right side, Lane Johnson is probably the best tackle in football, regardless of which side he plays on. The next-best option is the Lions' Penei Sewell.

TE -- Maybe it's a bit premature, but I chose rookie Brock Bowers at tight end. He's not the complete player that George Kittle is, but he's off to a terrific start to his career.

QB/RB -- All three players in my All-Pro backfield are from Baltimore: Quarterback Lamar Jackson, fullback Patrick Ricard and running back Derrick Henry. Now, before you ask ... no, I am not a Ravens' fan. But those three show up every game, and. at this point, comprise the best trio in the NFL, with Jackson my first-half MVP. Jared Goff, Alec Ingold and Saquon Barkley are the runners-up. 

WR -- This was pretty easy. Justin Jefferson and Ja'Marr Chase stand out, while backups Nico Collins and Garrett Wilson have been held back by their own offenses. Texans' quarterback C.J. Stroud hasn't had the time to pass that he had last year, and the Jets' offense ... as well as quarterback Aaron Rodgers ... has been sputtering.  

Defense Notes

EDGE -- Like Darrisaw,  Lions' defensive end Aiden Hutchinson is lost for the season. He won't be on my season-ending All-Pro team, but he makes this one for all the right reasons. When he was healthy, he not only was dominant; he was the best of the 40 ends. Hutchinson edges (no pun intended) Trey Hendrickson, Myles Garrett, Nick Bosa, Maxx Crosby and Will Anderson Jr. -- all of whom are outstanding. It's a golden age for edge rushers

For my 3-4 edge, it's yet another terrific season for T.J. Watt. He was an easy choice, with Jared Verse, the Rams' stud rookie, next-best. Verse was known to be strong, but that was against college players. In the NFL, he's playing as powerfully as any edge in recent memory -- pushing around NFL players as he did with SEC players.

DT -- Dexter Lawrence is remarkable He led the NFL in sacks after eight weeks -- unheard of for a 340-plus man. The Chiefs' Chris Jones is always a problem. Though his numbers are down a little, he seems to take over games when it matters. On the second team, I put Cam Hayward, along with run-stuffing shade tackle Grover Stewart.

LB -- Fred Warner is my first-half defensive MVP. Even though the 49ers aren't as good defensively as they've been in the past, Warner is playing as well as ever. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah is playing as he did last year -- stuffing runs behind the line of scrimmage and being a general menace -- and, so, he joins Warner on the first team.

DB -- Denver's Pat Surtain II and Marlon Humphrey of the Ravens are the corners. with the 49ers' Deommodore Lenoir in the slot.  The Lions have a fine pair of safeties, and either could have been chosen first. As it was, I chose Brian Branch to the first-team and Kerby Joseph as the backup. Joining Branch on the first-team is the ball-hawking Xavier McKinney, who came to Green Bay as a free agent and is already worth the money.

SPECIAL TEAMS -- The Cowboys aren't much good, but their long-range kicker, Brandon Aubrey, is.

That does it for the mid-terms. I'll be back with my season-ending team in January ... or after I grade the final exams.