As NFL rules start becoming more favorable to offenses, it’s now harder than ever to find defensive players capable of playing at a high level. While there are several good players who can fill a role, there are only a handful of top-level talents capable of disrupting an offense on every single snap. In order to pass the time between minicamp and training camp, Last Word on Pro Football has compiled the 2019 All-NFL team for offense and defense.
Ranking defensive players by position can be difficult, as one player could fit multiple positions depending on the scheme. For the sake of this article, this imaginary All-NFL team runs a 3-4 base defense.
Offenses: AFC East – AFC West – AFC North – AFC South – NFC South – NFL
Defenses: AFC East – AFC West – AFC North – AFC South – NFC South – NFL
2019 All-NFL Team: Defense
Defensive Line: Aaron Donald
Duh. Aaron Donald is the best player in the NFL, and it’s not really that close. Donald has made the Pro Bowl in all five of his seasons and has earned First-Team All-Pro honors every year since 2015. He’s a monster against both the run and the pass and is coming off arguably the best season of his career. The former first-round pick recorded a league-leading 20.5 sacks and a staggering 106 pressures. There’s simply nobody like him in the NFL and he’s the easiest choice on this list.
2nd Team: J.J. Watt
Nose Tackle: Damon Harrison
Damon Harrison doesn’t bring much as a pass rusher, but he’s the ideal nose tackle. At 6’3” and 353 pounds, Harrison is simply immovable in the center of the defensive line. He can eat up multiple linemen and free up space for linebackers to get to the ball carrier. While players with his skillset aren’t as in demand in today’s pass-happy NFL, he remains the best in the league at what he does.
2nd Team: Geno Atkins
Defensive Line: Fletcher Cox
Philadelphia Eagles defensive lineman Fletcher Cox isn’t as good as Aaron Donald, but he’s the next best thing. The former first-round pick was a disruptive force in the interior, as he recorded 10.5 sacks and 46 tackles while earning First-Team All-Pro honors. While some had more sacks than Cox, there weren’t many better at consistently applying pressure. According to Pro Football Focus, Cox’ 95 pressures were second only to Donald’s 106, while his 11.4% pressure percentage ranked among the league’s elite. Pressure is more indicative of future success than sacks, so don’t be surprised if Cox has an even better year in 2019.
2nd Team: Chris Jones
Edge Rusher: Von Miller
This is where the line between defensive lineman and linebacker starts to get blurry. For the sake of this exercise, Von Miller takes home the first linebacker spot on the All-NFL Team. The former Super Bowl MVP had another fantastic season, recording 14.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, and one interception while appearing in all 16 games. The sacks were the second-most of his career and the 30-year-old shows no signs of slowing down entering his ninth season.
2nd Team: Joey Bosa
Edge Rusher: Khalil Mack
Chicago Bears linebacker Khalil Mack earned a record-setting contract prior to the 2018 season, and he’s already worth every penny. Despite missing the entirety of off-season workouts, Mack ended the year with 12.5 sacks, 47 tackles, six forced fumbles, and one interception. He was the most important player on the NFL’s best defense, and he should maintain his elite form for the remainder of his contract.
2nd Team: Cameron Jordan
Linebacker: Luke Kuechly
Luke Kuechly has been the NFL’s best pure linebacker for quite some time now. Since entering the league, Kuechly has recorded 977 tackles, 12.5 sacks, seven forced fumbles, and 16 interceptions. 2018 was more of the same, as Carolina’s longtime middle linebacker ended the season with 130 tackles, two sacks, two forced fumbles, and one interception while earning First-Team All-Pro honors for the fifth time in his career. He’s fallen victim to concussions, but there’s nobody better than Kuechly when he’s on the field.
2nd Team: Leighton Vander Esch
Linebacker: Bobby Wagner
While the rest of Seattle’s “Legion of Boom” defense has moved on, Bobby Wagner continues to play at an elite level. The 28-year-old linebacker had another fantastic season, recording 138 tackles, eight quarterback hits, one sack, two forced fumbles, and 11 passes defended in 15 games. He earned First-Team All-Pro honors for the third consecutive year to go along with his fifth straight Pro Bowl nomination. With Frank Clark out of the picture, the fate of the 2019 Seahawks defense lives and dies with Wagner.
2nd Team: C.J. Mosley
Cornerback: Stephon Gilmore
The New England Patriots played more man coverage than just about anyone last year, and Stephon Gilmore typically matched up against the opponent’s best receiver. Nobody had a harder job than Gilmore, yet the former first-round pick still finished the year as a First-Team All-Pro and PFF’s top-ranked cornerback. He was the most important defensive player on a championship defense and delivered the game-sealing interception in Super Bowl LIII.
2nd Team: Jalen Ramsey
Cornerback: Patrick Peterson
The 2018 Arizona Cardinals were largely a train wreck, but Patrick Peterson was his usual self. Appearing in all 16 games, the former first-round pick recorded two interceptions, five passes defended, and 54 tackles as opposing teams largely avoided him in coverage. Pro Football Focus called him the fifth-best cornerback in the league, and he could improve with Byron Murphy starting opposite him. Even with his looming suspension, Peterson should be one of the NFL’s best cornerbacks once he hits the field.
2nd Team: Kyle Fuller
Safety: Eddie Jackson
Khalil Mack was Chicago’s best player, but Eddie Jackson has a strong case for the second-best spot. The former fourth-round pick built on a promising rookie campaign and turned into one of the premier safeties in the league. Appearing in 14 games, Jackson recorded six interceptions, two forced fumbles, 15 passes defended, and 51 tackles. Jackson earned First-Team All-Pro honors and should only improve in his third NFL season.
2nd Team: Kevin Byard
Safety: Derwin James
How Derwin James made it to the 17th pick in the 2018 NFL Draft remains a mystery. The Los Angeles Chargers stole James midway through the first and immediately incorporated him into the defense. His presence worked wonders, as the Florida State product recorded 105 tackles, 3.5 sacks, three interceptions, and 13 passes defended. Los Angeles used him all over the field and he earned First-Team All-Pro honors despite being a rookie. James is one of the brightest young stars in the league and could develop into one of the best players of his era.
2nd Team: Jamal Adams
Check out the rest of our All-NFL team picks by division.
Offenses: AFC East – AFC West – AFC North – AFC South – NFC South – NFL
Defenses: AFC East – AFC West – AFC North – AFC South – NFC South – NFL
Main photo:
Embed from Getty Images
