2013 NFL Mid-Season All-Pro Team

Cleveland Browns strong safety T.J. Ward (43) celebrates after beating the Buffalo Bills 37-24 at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Schwane-USA TODAY Sports

CB Alterraun Verner, Tennessee Titans

Jason McCourty and Alterraun Verner form one of the league’s most formidable cornerback duos, and McCourty’s talent is the only reason why quarterbacks are still throwing it in Verner’s direction. According to the Pro Football Focus, Verner has allowed just 12 receptions this season, which means that he has one more pass defended (13 of those) than catches allowed. I think that’s an incredible statistic, and Verner also has four interceptions this season. Nobody has done a better job of making plays on the ball, and he’s fulfilling the potential he showed in a very good rookie year back in 2010. Verner has allowed a QB Rating under 20, and that’s more than enough to earn him a spot on this team.

CB Aqib Talib, New England Patriots

Talib is set to make his return this week after missing the past two games with a hip flexor strain, and he’s enjoying a fantastic season that most of us knew was coming. While his impact on the Patriots pass defense was profound upon his addition to the team via last year’s in-season trade, it was mostly due to the fact that adding a legitimate starter allowed Devin McCourty to move to FS (you’ll read more about him soon) and Kyle Arrington to slide back into the slot. Talib played decently well, but he wasn’t even close to this year’s level of play. The one-year, prove-it deal has gone a long way, as Talib knows the scheme, is more motivated than ever, and seems to have genuinely benefited significantly from a change of scenery. He’s going to get paid big-time next offseason, as he’s finally proven himself to be the elite corner he was always meant to be. One of the game’s best press corners, Talib now has more developed mental tools to add to his physical tools, and we all saw just how valuable he is when he was shutting down Jimmy Graham earlier this year. On top of that, Talib has also made plenty of plays on the ball this year with four picks and nine passes defended.

CB Darrelle Revis, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Standout rookie Marcus Cooper and the always-excellent Richard Sherman were two tempting choices, but I decided to go with Darrelle Revis. Now that the Buccaneers have finally decided to use Revis in shadow coverage (insert joke about Greg Schiano) going forward, we’ll see him dominate even more. He’s been dealing with two safeties whose fortes are making plays, as opposed to playing coverage (Dashon Goldson is a strong safety masquerading as a free safety and is one of the league’s more overrated players). That doesn’t mean Mark Barron and Goldson are bad (far from it), but it means that Revis has to always be on his toes. Despite the fact that most people believe Revis is doing worse than he has in previous years, he’s been just as good as ever. Revis has been locking down everyone in front of him by keeping them in front of him, and we’ll also see just how good he is once the Buccaneers formally use him in a shadow-only role. Quarterbacks are barely throwing it in Revis’s direction, and they only complete half of their passes when they do.

FS Devin McCourty, New England Patriots

Eric Weddle and Devin McCourty have legitimate claims to being the best safety in the NFL, but the New England Patriots FS has been the best of them all this season. He made a huge play against the Miami Dolphins to have the presence of mind to athletically tip a pass to fellow DB Marquice Cole, and he also had a monstrous play the week before against the New York Jets. His play to break-up a touchdown pass showed incredible instincts, closing speed, and hitting ability. McCourty is the best player on the Patriots defense, and this season’s success has sealed that. He allowed QBs to have a rating of just 10.1 in his coverage last season, and that number is only higher this season for misleading reasons. Quarterbacks are barely throwing it at him, which means that they only throw passes in his direction when the CB fails in his duty or when it is one of the few times that McCourty messes up. D-Mac has been burned just once this season, has yet to allow a TD pass, and defenses are loathe to throw it deep with a guy with McCourty’s speed, ball skills, and instincts back there. He also excels in the running game (just two missed tackles compared to 43 tackles).

SS T.J. Ward, Cleveland Browns

Another somewhat underrated, elite safety, T.J. Ward is following up last year’s big campaign with an even bigger 2013 season. Both Ward and McCourty were easy picks for this All-Pro team, and Ward’s run defense is unparalleled at the safety position. He has a real nose for the ball and already has 57 tackles to his name as partial proof of his playmaking ability. He’s also been solid in coverage, and he’s only been burned on one occasion this season as well. With two interceptions, five passes defended, and four tackles for loss, it’s safe to say that Ward continues to prove that is among the league’s elite safeties.