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Oct 3, 2023
We’re four weeks into the 2023 NFL season, and the
league's best players are showing out, whether that be the leader of a
high-powered Miami Dolphins offense, a San Francisco 49ers running back on pace
for a record-breaking year or the most accurate long snapper in football right now.
Here is PFF’s first-quarter All-Pro team.
OFFENSE
QB: TUA
TAGOVAILOA, MIAMI DOLPHINS
Second team: Trevor
Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars
Tua
Tagovailoa had a rough outing against the Buffalo Bills in Week
4 but is on pace for 38 touchdown passes at the helm of the NFL’s most
high-powered offense. He’s tied for fifth in the league with eight big-time
throws through four weeks and sports the 12th-lowest turnover-worthy play rate
(2.6%) at the position.
RB: CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY, SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
Second team: De’Von Achane, Miami
Dolphins
McCaffrey
is on pace for 2,550 scrimmage yards this season, dominating for the 49ers to
open the year. He is averaging 4.0 yards after contact per carry and leads all
running backs with 22 missed tackles forced on rushing attempts through four
weeks. His 323 rushing yards after contact are more than all but himself
and D’Andre Swift have in total rushing yards.
WR: TYREEK
HILL, MIAMI DOLPHINS
Second team: Nico Collins, Houston
Texans
While
his numbers have dipped after an incredible opening game against the Los
Angeles Chargers in which he racked up 215 yards, Tyreek
Hill still ranks third in the league with 470 receiving yards through four
weeks. He is averaging 3.92 yards per route run, placing second among wide
receivers.
WR: BRANDON
AIYUK, SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
Second team: Puka Nacua, Los Angeles
Rams
Aiyuk
is the only player averaging more yards per route run than Tyreek Hill, coming
in at 4.57. He has yet to drop a pass from the 17 catchable targets thrown his
way, and while the 49ers' offense has plenty of weapons, he has been
quarterback Brock Purdy’s favorite target when healthy this season.
TE: SAM
LAPORTA, DETROIT LIONS
Second team: Travis Kelce, Kansas
City Chiefs
The
rookie leads all tight ends with 242 receiving yards through Week 4 and is the
only tight end in the league to average more than 2.00 yards per route run
(2.30) across 20-plus targets. He is also tied for the league lead at all
positions with six contested catches.
FLEX
O: JUSTIN JEFFERSON, MINNESOTA VIKINGS
Second team: A.J.
Brown, Philadelphia Eagles
Jefferson
leads all receivers with 543 receiving yards this season. He ranks fifth in the
NFL with an average of 3.25 yards per route run and has yet to drop any of the
33 catchable passes sent in his direction.
LT: TRENT
WILLIAMS, SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
Second team: Trent Brown, New
England Patriots
Williams
has been nearly perfect in pass protection in 2023, allowing just three hurries
from 132 pass-blocking snaps through four weeks. He’s been a standout as a run
blocker, too, with his 84.8 PFF run-blocking grade ranking third among
offensive tackles.
LG: TYLER SMITH, DALLAS COWBOYS
Second team: Ezra
Cleveland, Minnesota Vikings
Smith
missed the first two games of the season but has otherwise been arguably the
best guard in football. He has yet to allow any pressure from 92 pass-blocking
snaps and has produced a 92.7 PFF run-blocking grade.
C: FRANK
RAGNOW, DETROIT LIONS
Second team: Connor Williams, Miami
Dolphins
Ragnow
owns the second-best PFF run-blocking grade among centers this season (84.8).
He has allowed four pressures from 145 pass-blocking snaps, although they all
came in one rough outing in pass protection against the Atlanta Falcons.
RG: CHRIS
LINDSTROM, ATLANTA FALCONS
Second team: Zack Martin, Dallas
Cowboys
Lindstrom
has had his issues in pass protection, allowing seven pressures on 152
pass-blocking snaps, but has been among the best run blockers at the position
again, with his 82.3 PFF run-blocking grade ranking third among guards.
RT: BRIAN
O’NEILL, MINNESOTA VIKINGS
Second team: Lane
Johnson, Philadelphia Eagles
O’Neill is the highest-graded run-blocking offensive tackle this season, earning a 90.3 PFF run-blocking grade. He’s been solid in pass protection, too, allowing just five total pressures from 180 pass-blocking snaps.
DEFENSE
DI: JALEN
CARTER, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
Second team: Dexter Lawrence, New
York Giants
An
immediate standout on a very talented defensive line, Carter has impressed both
as a run defender and a pass-rusher in his first four NFL games. From 104
pass-rushing opportunities, he has racked up 20 total pressures, including two
sacks.
DI: AARON DONALD, LOS ANGELES RAMS
Second team: David Onyemata, Atlanta
Falcons
Rumors
of Donald’s decline have been greatly exaggerated. After injuries limited him
last year, he has looked back to his best in the early stages of the 2023
season. His 22 total pressures are the most of any player on the defensive
interior — and more than all but four edge defenders.
EDGE: NICK
BOSA, SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
Second team: DeMarcus
Lawrence, Dallas Cowboys
Bosa
has been a standout run defender and pass-rusher so far this season. His 20
pressures through four weeks ties him for seventh among edge defenders, with
half of those pressures resulting in a quarterback knockdown via either a sack
or hit.
EDGE: MYLES GARRETT, CLEVELAND BROWNS
Second team: Micah Parsons, Dallas
Cowboys
Leading
all players with 23 total pressures, including six sacks and six hits, Garrett
boasts a 94.0 PFF pass-rush grade — the best of any player in football right
now. He struggled against the run this week against the Ravens but has earned
90.0-plus PFF pass-rushing grades in all four games this season.
LB: ROQUAN
SMITH, BALTIMORE RAVENS
Second team: Nicholas
Morrow, Philadelphia Eagles
If Roquan
Smith‘s addition looked good in 2022, it looks even better early in 2023. Tied
for seventh at the position with 15 tackles resulting in a defensive stop,
Smith is the only linebacker in the NFL to earn 80.0-plus PFF grades in
coverage and against the run.
LB: QUINCY
WILLIAMS, NEW YORK JETS
Second team: Bobby Wagner, Seattle
Seahawks
Williams
leads all linebackers with 23 tackles resulting in a defensive stop through
four games. Recording three pass breakups, also tied for the lead at the
position, has helped him earn a position-leading 90.2 PFF coverage grade.
CB: KENDALL
FULLER, WASHINGTON COMMANDERS
Second team: Darious
Williams, Jacksonville Jaguars
On
the field for 165 coverage snaps, Fuller has allowed just 41 receiving yards on
seven receptions from 14 targets. He’s been one of the best tacklers at the
position, both in coverage and against the run, with his 11 tackles resulting
in a defensive stop ranking second at the position.
CB: DARON
BLAND, DALLAS COWBOYS
Second team: Jaylon Johnson, Chicago
Bears
Bland
paces the cornerback position with three interceptions so far this season. From
123 snaps in coverage, he has allowed 10 receptions on 18 targets for 111
yards, with a pair of pass breakups to boot.
S: JESSIE
BATES III, ATLANTA FALCONS
Second team: Andre
Cisco, Jacksonville Jaguars
Bates'
three interceptions ties him with DaRon Bland and New York
Jets safety Jordan Whitehead for the league lead through
four weeks. His 89.4 PFF coverage grade ranks second at the position, and he
has missed just 2.9% of his tackle attempts.
S: JEVON HOLLAND, MIAMI DOLPHINS
Second team: Jabrill Peppers, New
England Patriots
Holland’s
90.3 PFF coverage grade is the best at the position. He has yet to record an
interception but has two pass breakups to his name and a pair of forced
fumbles. He looks to be on track for a career year.
FLEX
D: TRENT MCDUFFIE, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
Second team: Brian Branch, Detroit
Lions
McDuffie,
in his second year out of Washington, has been a standout in the slot for the
Chiefs. Targeted 17 times from 137 snaps in coverage, he has allowed 111 yards
on 11 receptions. He has yet to record an interception or a pass breakup but
has forced two fumbles.
Special Teams
