Brady, Miller headline theScore's 3rd-quarter All-Pro team

With three quarters of the season in the books, theScore's NFL editors examine which players are deserving of first-team All-Pro status thus far.

Quarterback

Tom Brady, Patriots

If Derek Carr, Matt Ryan, or Drew Brees was the pick, it would be hard to argue against any of them. But while all four passers have produced great seasons, their numbers don't scream "All-Pro" the way Brady's do. The Patriots quarterback has thrown just a single interception to 19 touchdowns, and only trails Brees and Sam Bradford in completion percentage. If Brady's numbers don't slip despite the loss of Rob Gronkowski, he'll be a lock.

Running back

Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys

Offensive Rookie of the Year honors won't be nearly enough to reward what Elliott has accomplished since the Cowboys hit a home run - no, a grand slam - with the No. 4 pick in the draft. The all-world offensive line helps, but don't let it obscure what Elliott is doing. He's pulling away from the pack in the rushing race and is the primary reason the Cowboys are the class of the NFL. Best rookie running back ever? MVP? Those might be the only honors befitting Elliott by the time he stops running this season.

David Johnson, Cardinals

What can't he do? Johnson rushed for 81 yards and added 91 yards through the air in Week 13 to top 100 yards from scrimmage for the 12th time in 12 games this year. Oh, and he's scored 15 touchdowns. He's the NFL's most elusive player in tight spaces and its best receiving back. Carson Palmer and Larry Fitzgerald went even farther, calling Johnson the best player in football. They might be right.

Wide receiver

Julio Jones, Falcons

With a firm grip on the league's receiving yards lead, Jones has been a menace for opposing secondaries all season. Even when he's seeing double and triple coverage, Jones does a picture-perfect job of opening holes for his teammates and finds ways to make big plays of his own, leading the NFL in receptions of over 20 yards.

Antonio Brown, Steelers

Brown has strung together enough vintage performances to gain the league lead in catches and touchdowns after a good-but-not-great start. The Steelers need business to pick up if they want to take the AFC North crown, but for Brown, business is boomin' (as always).

Tight end

Travis Kelce, Chiefs

While Greg Olsen is technically still on pace to become the first tight end with three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, Kelce has been on fire in the second half. He leads all tight ends in catches and has ripped off three straight 100-yard games while leading one of the few nine-win teams in receiving

Offensive tackle

Andrew Whitworth, Bengals

Whitworth is the gold standard for pass protection and hasn't surrendered a sack yet this season. Although the rest of the Bengals' offensive line has undergone a precipitous decline in 2016, Whitworth continues to stymie the league's best pass-rushers on a consistent basis. However, it appears likely he'll leave the Bengals during free agency, surely creating an irreplaceable void among the offensive line.

Joe Thomas, Browns

You simply have to feel awful for Joe Thomas at this point, mired in a winless season despite another superlative campaign. Thomas has surrendered just two sacks and one penalty throughout the year, despite blocking for a carousel of quarterbacks devoid of professional talent. The 32-year-old ought to be named a first-team All-Pro for the eighth time in his career, and the electorate would be doing him a major disservice if they used his team's record against him.

Center

Travis Frederick, Cowboys

Frederick is in the midst of another incredible campaign, doing an excellent job of evaluating the opponent's strategy before the snap. The 25-year-old knows exactly which protection calls to use on every play, and is making rookie quarterback Dak Prescott's job immensely easier as a result. The Cowboys are rolling along with the NFL's best record, and Frederick ought to get credit for his individual contributions.

Guard

Zack Martin, Cowboys

Week after week, Martin is front and center on every highlight reel, creating gargantuan holes for Elliott to run through. The 26-year-old is mauling opponents with relative ease, and is starring in pass protection as well, giving Prescott plenty of time to go through his reads. Martin should be a lock for his third consecutive Pro Bowl, featuring as a pivotal member of the NFL's best offensive line.

Kelechi Osemele, Raiders

Osemele's been more than the Raiders bargained for after joining the team on a five-year, $60-million contract in March. It's criminal that he hasn't been named to a Pro Bowl or All-Pro team during his career, and he's been the principal engineer behind the league's second-best offensive line in 2016. The Raiders appear almost certain to make the playoffs, and Osemele's been outstanding at protecting Carr, while driving defenders out of Latavius Murray's way.

Defensive end

Khalil Mack, Raiders

Mack is making a case for Defensive Player of the Year, and there's plenty of reason to believe he’ll do so on a yearly basis moving forward. The Raiders superstar is unblockable, both as a pass-rusher and in the running game.

Joey Bosa, Chargers

Bosa hasn’t looked back since racking up a pair of sacks in his Week 5 debut, quickly establishing himself as one of the league’s elite edge-defenders. The Chargers' defense has been a completely different unit since the first-round rookie entered the lineup.

Defensive tackle

Aaron Donald, Rams

Football fans should appreciate the opportunity to watch a generational defensive talent every time Donald takes the field. You wouldn’t know it by his sack numbers this season, but there are still few - if any - opposing lineman that come close to matching up in the trenches.

Gerald McCoy, Buccaneers

Further cementing his status as an elite pass-rusher, McCoy leads all interior defensive linemen with seven sacks in 11 games. His continued dominance has been a major factor in Tampa Bay’s defense exceeding expectations

Linebacker

Von Miller, Broncos

Miller remains the game's preeminent outside linebacker, terrifying offensive tackles and coordinators alike. The reigning Super Bowl MVP leads the NFL with 12.5 sacks, and is consistently in the opposition's backfield as the Broncos gear up for another Super Bowl run. Denver's defense may not approach all-time status this year, but Miller is trying to cement his case for induction into Canton.

Bobby Wagner, Seahawks

There's a fairly convincing case that Wagner's teammate, K.J. Wright, could've secured this spot, but the edge goes to the NFL's leading tackler. Wagner has racked up 127 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and an interception - numbers that somehow belie his level of production. The Seahawks are slated to become the first team since the AFL-NFL merger to lead the league in scoring defense for five consecutive years, and Wagner's nearly unparalleled pre-snap reads are a major reason why.

Vic Beasley, Falcons

Beasley is quickly becoming the NFL's next great young pass-rusher, spearheading a resurgent Falcons front seven. The second-year pro ranks second in the NFL with 10.5 sacks, while leading the league with five forced fumbles. Beasley explodes off the tape and is always around the ball, creating havoc for opposing quarterbacks. It's only a matter of time before he becomes a household name.

Cornerback

Chris Harris, Broncos
Aqib Talib, Broncos

It's rare for two players on the same teams and at the same position to both make the All-Pro team, but the duo of Harris and Talib more than deserves the honor. They're the main reason the Broncos allow a league-low 192.7 yards per game, as both are exceptional man-coverage corners. Harris' versatility, combined with Talib's playmaking and skill against the run gives Denver the ability to be aggressive with its front seven. Miller and the pass-rush are vital, but the Broncos' defense is built around the elite play of their top two cornerbacks.

Safety

Landon Collins, Giants

Collins' transformation has been nothing short of remarkable during his second year, as he's quickly become a composite, complete safety for the Giants. Tied for second in the NFL with five interceptions, Collins is making it impossible for quarterbacks to find an opening in the middle of the field. The 22-year-old is a punishing hitter in the box, and the Alabama product is in the running for Defensive Player of the Year.

Eric Weddle, Ravens

Much like Collins, Weddle completely overhauled a Ravens secondary that was consistently outmatched for much of the 2015 season. Weddle's been outstanding in run support and works as a safety valve for his cornerbacks in coverage, recording three interceptions. In his first year with the Ravens, Weddle is fitting in seamlessly and should secure first-team All-Pro honors for the third time in his career.