The NFL regular season officially begins in a week, which inserts us firmly into the hottest prediction season since the draft. Here I’ll take my stab at the NFL’s elite team for 2025, which includes some familiar faces, some returning stars, and breakout players being awarded their very first All-Pro awards.
Offense
QB – Joe Burrow, Bengals
Last year, Joe Burrow was a top 2 QB in the league, yet he didn’t get the MVP or All-Pro consideration he deserved due to his poor defense. There’s an avenue for the Bengals to improve there, as told by me, but whether they do or not, Burrow shouldn’t once again be punished for what he cannot control.
Burrow could be even better this year. Chase Brown will have a full season as RB1, and a healthy Tee Higgins returns to pair up with All-Pro Ja’Marr Chase at receiver. It could be a historic season for Joey B.
RB – Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions
With the departure of Ben Johnson, there have been a lot of questions surrounding the Lions’ offense. The answer is simple: feed Jahmyr Gibbs. The talent on the offense remains intact, leaving no reason for any philosophical change. The run game has always come first for Dan Campbell‘s hard-nosed approach to football, and it should stay that way.
Letting the offense flow through Gibbs will open up opportunities for everyone else, just as it always has. Don’t overthink it, feed your best player the ball in any and all situations.
FB – Patrick Ricard, Ravens
The Ravens return in 2025 with stars Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry ready to repeat their historic 2024 season. The uncredited caddy of their rushing attack is fullback Patrick Ricard. Rightfully awarded an All-Pro selection last year, Ricard will continue to do the dirty work while Jackson and Henry reap the benefits.
WR1 – Ja’Marr Chase, Bengals
Chase secures his second straight First Team All-Pro designation on the receiving end of Burrow’s dynamic 2025 season. As he continues to dominate, he edges out Justin Jefferson as the consensus top wide receiver in the league.
WR2 – Nico Collins, Texans
New Texans Offensive Coordinator Nick Caley brings a new emphasis, described by Nico Collins:
“Get your playmakers the ball.. I feel like Nick really making that an emphasis, that YAC,”
Collins will be the primary benefactor of the philosophy, being the best playmaker on the Texans’ offense.
Last season, if not for injury, Collins was on pace for 96 catches, 1,425 yards, and 10 TDs, on a down year for C.J. Stroud and the Texans. In 2025, I expect an explosion from both. A full season will put Nico Collins right in the conversation among the top wide receivers in the NFL.
WR3 – CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys
In 2025, the Dallas Cowboys could see a transformed offense with CeeDee Lamb poised for a career year, reunited with a healthy Dak Prescott, and bolstered by the addition of George Pickens.
Pickens’ presence is expected to alleviate defensive pressure on Lamb, potentially elevating his performance to new heights.
TE – Brock Bowers, Raiders
Brock Bowers took the NFL by storm in his rookie year, finishing with 112 catches for 1,194 yards and 5 touchdowns on a bad Raiders team. Selected as an All-Pro as a rookie in 2024, Bowers has set himself a high floor to try to match, but with the addition of Geno Smith, the Raiders’ passing attack should only improve.
LT – Trent Williams, 49ers
A 2024 ankle injury ended Trent Williams‘ streak of three consecutive All-Pro teams. Back healthy for the 2025 season, the 37-year-old left tackle reclaims his spot among the league’s best on his way to an eventual Hall of Fame induction.
LG – Joe Thuney, Bears
Coming off back-to-back All-Pro seasons with the Chiefs, Thuney was traded to the Bears, where he will look to continue the trend. Thuney helps anchor a rebuilt offensive line which is paramount in new Head Coach Ben Johnson‘s run-heavy offense.
C – Creed Humphrey, Chiefs
Humphrey is widely recognized as the best center in the NFL, backed up by his first-team All-Pro selection in 2024. He’ll maintain that reputation in 2025.
RG – Quinn Meinerz, Broncos
Broncos‘ Head Coach Sean Payton‘s offense began to take shape in 2024, and as always, it’s built first with a strong offensive line. Meinerz was Pro Football Focus‘s #2-ranked guard in the NFL last year, and their offense is still growing. Meinerz will be a mainstay in All-Pro consideration for years to come.
RT – Penei Sewell, Lions
Sewell makes it his third straight All-Pro team as the best tackle in the NFL, right or left.
Defense
Edge – T.J. Watt, Steelers
T.J. Watt had a down year in 2024 when it comes to sacks, with 11.5, as opposed to his previous league-leading 19.5 in 2023, when he was voted as a first-team All-Pro. Watt will return to his previous form with a stronger defensive line, bolstered secondary, and a new look defense, which will move him around the formation to help avoid chips and double teams.
Edge – Myles Garrett, Browns
I wanted to enter Micah Parsons here, but there is just too much chaos in Dallas to know how any of it turns out.
Garrett is a perennial top-10 player in the league, a 4-time First Team All-Pro, and is looking for his 8th consecutive season with double-digit sacks. There is no reason to believe Garrett will be any less dominant in 2025.
DL – Jalen Carter, Eagles
As a defensive tackle, Jalen Carter‘s impact doesn’t always appear on the stat sheet. Though that hasn’t held him from being recognized in his young career.
Carter finished 2nd in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting in 2023, was selected to his first Pro Bowl in 2024, along with a Second Team All-Pro designation.
The Georgia Bulldog will continue his upward trend and be selected First Team All-Pro in 2025.
DL – Chris Jones, Chiefs
Heading into his 10th year, Chris Jones, even at 31 years old, has shown no signs of slowing down. He’ll continue his streak of three straight First Team All-Pro seasons in 2025.
LB – Fred Warner, 49ers
Fred Warner is in a tier of his own when it comes to off-ball linebackers in today’s NFL. The return of Robert Saleh to run the 49ers’ defense only increases the chances of Warner obtaining his 5th First Team All-Pro appearance.
LB – Zack Baun, Eagles
Zack Baun took off on a meteoric rise in his first year in Philadelphia and his first year as a starter. He’ll look to continue his newly heightened career among the Eagles’ star-studded defense.
LB – Jack Campbell, Lions
Campbell’s former position coach, Kelvin Sheppard, takes over as Lions’ Defensive Coordinator for the departed Aaron Glenn.
This bodes well for Jack Campbell, who should excel in the center of their hard-nosed unit.
CB – Patrick Surtain II, Broncos
Patrick Surtain II returns to continue to bolster his awards cabinet. Already in his young career, he’s a 3-time Pro Bowler, 2-time All-Pro, and of course, 2024 Defensive Player of the Year.
The Broncos possess one of the best defenses in the NFL, which was only strengthened with the additions of Dre Greenlaw and Talanoa Hufanga. Surtain is set up perfectly for another outstanding season, worthy of his 3rd First Team All-Pro selection.
CB – Derek Stingley Jr., Texans
Derek Stingley Jr. burst onto the scene last year in his third season. Pro Football Focus graded him at 84.4 in coverage, which was second best in the entire NFL. Stingley looks to become a mainstay on the All-Pro team going forward.
NCB – Jalen Ramsey, Steelers
No stranger to All-Pro bids, Jalen Ramsey returns as a top defensive back in the NFL, but at a new position and on a new team. Acquired via trade from the Dolphins, the Steelers intend to deploy Ramsey primarily at nickel corner.
He’ll move around the defense, giving him even more playmaking opportunities, but Ramsey will be a major beneficiary of the Steelers’ fierce pass rush and make splash plays aplenty.
S – Kyle Hamilton, Ravens
The Ravens have a special player in Kyle Hamilton, and they know it. He sits atop the safety class in the NFL due to his versatility and big-play ability. The addition of coach Chuck Pagano to the Ravens’ secondary will only improve his ability and production.
S – Derwin James, Chargers
Selected as a Team Captain for the 2025 season, Derwin James serves as the heartbeat of the Chargers’ defense. In his second season in Jesse Minter‘s defense, James will improve on his 2024 Second Team All-Pro selection and be recognized as the best strong safety in the NFL in 2025.
