The 2025-26 NFL regular season has come to an end. There’s no better time than the end of the year to project which players will end up recognized as the best at their respective positions, and PFSN has followed suit.
Relying on PFSN’s positional Impact grades, these players stood out from the rest of the pack. Which stars made the cut this year, and which household names ended up falling just short?
PFSN’s First-Team All-Pro Offense
Quarterback: Drake Maye
Maye, the third overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft out of North Carolina, took over as New England’s starter in Week 6 of his rookie season and showed flashes of his potential with 2,276 passing yards, 15 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions in limited action. Under first-year head coach Mike Vrabel—who cited Maye’s presence as a key reason for taking the job—the Patriots underwent a remarkable transformation in 2025, improving from back-to-back 4-13 seasons to clinch their first AFC East championship since 2019.
It’s worth noting that Brock Purdy actually led the NFL with a 92.1 QB Impact score this season. That said, he only played in eight games due to two different turf toe injuries that forced him to miss eight games throughout the 2025 season. His smaller sample size makes him ineligible for an All-Pro spot. That works out for Drake Maye, who would almost surely be PFSN’s choice for NFL MVP as the league’s top quarterback.
Maye closed out his second regular season with a 72.0 percent completion rate, 4,394 passing yards, a 31:8 TD:INT ratio, and 450 rushing yards, along with four additional rushing scores across 17 games. In addition to his 91.1 QB Impact grade, he finished fourth with 4,394 passing yards, third with 31 passing touchdowns, and he led the NFL in both completion percentage and passer rating. He’s proven himself as a truly elite passer.
Maye’s ascension to superstar has been at the heart of New England’s turnaround story, leading the Patriots to a 14-3 record and the AFC’s No. 2 seed. In Week 17 against the Jets, he threw a career-high five touchdown passes while completing 90.5% of his passes, and the Patriots finished a perfect 8-0 on the road—only the third time in franchise history they’ve accomplished that feat (also 2007 and 2016).
Second team: Josh Allen
Running Back: James Cook
The RB Impact battle for first place was a tightly-contested one, especially after Jonathan Taylor gave up his lead in the second half of the season. Taylor dominated the first half of the year—becoming the first running back in 2025 to reach 1,000 rushing yards and setting a Colts franchise record with 244 rushing yards in a Week 10 win over Atlanta in Berlin—but failed to post a single 100-yard rushing game after the bye week as Indianapolis’ offensive line struggled to create the same running lanes. In the end, Buffalo Bills star James Cook comes away as the highest-graded running back with an 88.9 score.
Cook took the rushing yardage lead from Taylor in Week 16 and never looked back. With 1,621 yards, Cook ended up leading the NFL in rushing—becoming the first Bills player to win the rushing title since Hall of Famer O.J. Simpson in 1976. He ranked second among running backs with 5.2 yards per carry, he tied for fifth with 12 rushing touchdowns, and he finished in the top ten in both elusive rate and boom/bust rate for his position. Cook also added 33 receptions for 291 yards and two receiving touchdowns through the air.
The former Georgia Bulldog, drafted in the second round (63rd overall) in 2022, has now surpassed 1,000 rushing yards in three consecutive seasons—joining Thurman Thomas and O.J. Simpson as the only Bills to accomplish that feat. After a brief training camp hold-in, Cook signed a four-year, $48 million contract extension ($30 million guaranteed) in August, making him the sixth-highest-paid running back in the NFL.
Cook’s signature performance came in Week 8 against the Carolina Panthers, when he gashed the defense for 216 rushing yards and two touchdowns on just 19 carries—the most rushing yards by a Bills player since Simpson’s 273-yard game in 1976. His 11.4 yards per carry that day were the highest by an RB in a single game since Derrick Henry in Week 14, 2018.
MVP quarterback Josh Allen summed up Cook’s value to the offense succinctly: “He’s the best back in football. He should be in the running for every award. He’s an absolute stud. We love having him. He makes our offense go.”
Taylor, despite losing the rushing crown, led the NFL with 18 rushing touchdowns and 20 total touchdowns on the season, finishing with 1,585 rushing yards. Derrick Henry (1,595 yards) narrowly edged Taylor for second place in rushing yards after a strong Week 18 performance, but fell 26 yards short of Cook’s total.
Second team: De’Von Achane
Wide Receivers: Puka Nacua, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, George Pickens
The top two wide receivers in WR Impact were far and away the best in the NFL, both earning the only two “A” grades. Puka Nacua served as a strong top target for MVP candidate Matthew Stafford with a stellar 98.2 grade. He led the league with 129 catches, he placed second with 1,715 receiving yards, and he tied for fourth with 10 touchdowns.
The only receiver with more yards than Nacua was Jaxon Smith-Njigba with 1,793. JSN coincidentally placed third among receivers with 119 catches and tied Nacua for fourth place in receiving touchdowns. He earned an impressive 94.4 grade for his season, too.
While the top two spots were practically guaranteed, the third All-Pro spot was up for grabs for much of the year. In the end, George Pickens secured it with an 88.4 grade. He placed in the top ten in the NFL in receptions, receiving yards, receiving touchdowns, and yards per target. The Dallas Cowboys missed CeeDee Lamb for a handful of games this year, and having Pickens playing at an elite level certainly helped ease that loss.
Second team: Stefon Diggs, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Zay Flowers
Tight End: Trey McBride
Before he tore his ACL and became ineligible for the list, Tucker Kraft of the Green Bay Packers was on pace to finish the year as a PFSN first-team All-Pro. The third-year tight end out of South Dakota State suffered the season-ending knee injury while blocking on a running play in Week 9 against the Carolina Panthers.
At the time, Kraft was leading Green Bay in receptions (32), receiving yards (489), and receiving touchdowns (6), and was on pace for more than 70 catches and 1,100 yards—which would have been the best marks by a tight end in Packers history. Who knows if that would have stayed for the entirety of the season, though, as Trey McBride ended the year with one of the most impressive tight end seasons in recent memory.
A rare bright spot for the 3-14 Arizona Cardinals—who fired head coach Jonathan Gannon after the season following a franchise-record 14 losses—McBride set the NFL single-season record for receptions by a tight end with 126 catches, shattering the previous mark of 116 set by Zach Ertz in 2018. He also led all tight ends with 1,239 receiving yards and tied for first place with 11 receiving touchdowns. His 87.8 TE Impact grade earned him first place at his position this year, and adding this season to his strong resume likely solidifies him as the best tight end in the NFL.
The former Colorado State standout, selected by Arizona in the second round (55th overall) of the 2022 draft, broke Ertz’s record in Week 17 against the Cincinnati Bengals when he hauled in his 117th catch of the season.
McBride finished the game with 10 receptions for 76 yards and a touchdown, then added seven more catches in the season finale against the Rams to push his final total to 126, good for a tie for 20th all-time in receptions regardless of position. It was McBride’s eighth game of the season with eight or more catches, and his second consecutive 1,000-yard campaign after posting 111 receptions for 1,146 yards in 2024.
Perhaps most impressive was McBride’s explosion in the red zone. After totaling just six touchdowns in his first three NFL seasons combined, the 26-year-old found the end zone 11 times in 2025—nearly doubling his career total in a single year. He accomplished all of this while catching passes from two different starting quarterbacks, as Jacoby Brissett took over mid-season for an injured Kyler Murray and developed strong chemistry with the record-setting tight end.
The Cardinals rewarded McBride before the season with a four-year, $76 million contract extension ($43 million guaranteed) that made him the highest-paid tight end in NFL history at $19 million per year, surpassing Travis Kelce’s previous high of $17.1 million annually. Based on his historic 2025 production, that investment already looks like a bargain.
Second team: Dalton Kincaid
Offensive Tackles: Penei Sewell, Colton McKivitz
It’s hardly a hot take to say that Penei Sewell is the best offensive tackle in the NFL. His OL Impact score this season backs that claim up, as he led all tackles with a 93.0 grade in 2025. He allowed just two sacks and six quarterback hits in 16 games, which demonstrates his dominance in taking on star edge rushers on an island.
MORE: PFSN’s NFL Playoff Predictor
When you think of San Francisco 49ers offensive tackles, the first name that comes to your mind is likely Trent Williams. While the ageless veteran had a stellar year of his own, it’s his right tackle running mate, Colton McKivitz, who gets the other first-team All-Pro spot. His dominant run blocking led him to a career-high 91.4 OL Impact score.
Second team: Tristan Wirfs, Trent Williams
Offensive Guards: Chris Lindstrom, Tyler Smith
In PFSN’s All-Pro team for 2025, the Atlanta Falcons are the only team with multiple first-team All-Pro offensive linemen. Chris Lindstrom led all guards in OL Impact scoring at 91.1, allowing just one sack all season. The four-time Pro Bowler has long established himself as a top blocker in the NFL.
Joining Lindstrom in the All-Pro conversation is Tyler Smith, the Dallas Cowboys’ star left guard, who didn’t finish too far behind in second place at 89.2. He dominated at guard throughout the course of the year, and when the Cowboys had him play out of position at left tackle for the final three games of the season, he maintained that level of excellence.
Second team: Tyler Booker, Quinn Meinerz
Offensive Center: Ryan Neuzil
The Falcons lost standout center Drew Dalman in free agency this offseason when he signed a deal with the Chicago Bears. Things worked out for both Dalman and the Bears, as he gave them the stability they desperately needed at the position. However, it also worked out for the Falcons, as they got a stellar performance out of his replacement, Ryan Neuzil.
Not only did Neuzil lead all centers in OL Impact in 2025, but his 93.7 score was the best of any offensive lineman this season. He allowed just one sack in 627 pass-blocking reps and was a dominant force up front for Atlanta’s run game.
Second team: Creed Humphrey
PFSN’s First-Team All-Pro Defense
Edge Rushers: Myles Garrett, Maxx Crosby
Interestingly enough, Myles Garrett is the only player from last year’s All-Pro list to receive first-team recognition in consecutive seasons. He’s obviously a worthy addition, seeing as though he broke the NFL’s single-season record with 23 sacks. On top of that, he also led the league with 33 tackles for a loss and 39 QB hits, so his 95.6 EDGE Impact grade is justified.
Coming in not too far behind is Maxx Crosby, who, like Garrett, was also a bright light on a lackluster team in 2025. He came in second with 28 tackles for a loss, he tied for the league lead with 37 splash plays, and his 73 tackles rank second among edge rushers, too. With a 95.3 EDGE Impact grade, he’ll come in high demand if the Las Vegas Raiders trade him.
Second team: Will Anderson Jr., Micah Parsons
Defensive Tackles: Jeffery Simmons, Jalen Carter
Leading the pack for defensive tackles on the PFSN All-Pro team is Jeffery Simmons, who dominated in 2025 on a lackluster Tennessee Titans team. He led all defensive tackles with 11 sacks this season, and he also led the NFL at his position with 39 solo tackles, 17 tackles for a loss, and 23 splash plays. His 94.5 DT Impact score is well-deserved.
DeForest Buckner would have the other first-team All-Pro spot at defensive tackle, but at ten games played this year, he’s ruled ineligible. In his place comes Jalen Carter, who’s quickly established himself as a top interior defender in the NFL. His 90.7 DT Impact grade makes him one of just three defensive tackles with “A” grades this season.
Second team: Quinnen Williams, Milton Williams
Linebackers: Jordyn Brooks, Blake Cashman, Jack Campbell
With a 96.8 LB Impact grade, Jordyn Brooks leads all off-ball linebackers in grading by a considerable margin. He led the NFL with 183 tackles, he placed second with 13 tackles for a loss, and he ranked seventh among linebackers with 3.5 sacks. His missed tackle percentage of 4.2% is the second-lowest among 89 qualified linebackers, too.
Coming in second after a well-rounded year with a 90.8 grade is Blake Cashman, who dominated for the Minnesota Vikings this year. Despite missing three games, he still finished ninth in the NFL with 144 tackles. In fact, his tackles per game average actually outperformed Brooks. He was also an efficient tackler with a 5.3% missed tackle rate.
The third All-Pro spot was also an easy choice, as Jack Campbell’s 90.7 finished right behind Cashman’s second-place finish. Campbell earned the first Pro Bowl appearance of his young NFL career in 2025, finishing second with 176 tackles. He placed second among all off-ball defenders with five sacks for the Detroit Lions this year.
Second team: Ernest Jones, Bobby Wagner, Tremaine Edmunds
Cornerbacks: Joey Porter Jr., Quinyon Mitchell, DJ Turner II
Holding down the perimeter for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Joey Porter Jr. led all cornerbacks with a stellar 95.3 CB Impact score. He allowed a passer rating of just 56.2 in coverage, deflected 11 passes, and allowed completions on fewer than half of his targeted passes. Porter’s running mate, James Pierre, would also be a first-team All-Pro off of grading, but is ineligible with only ten games played.
Two of the three “A” grades given to cornerbacks went to Steelers, and Quinyon Mitchell of the Philadelphia Eagles earned the other with a 90.3 score. He didn’t have any interceptions, but also didn’t allow a single touchdown in coverage in 2025. He finished the regular season with an allowed 43.9% targeted completion rate and a 58.4 passer rating.
The last PFSN All-Pro spot at cornerback goes to DJ Turner II, who’s quietly been an impact performer for an otherwise weak Cincinnati Bengals defense. His 15 combined interceptions and pass deflections are tied for third in the NFL, and though he’s given up more big plays than the other two on this list, his 46.8% completion percentage allowed on top of those splash plays gives him an 89.3 score.
Second team: Patrick Surtain II, Jamel Dean, A.J. Terrell
Safeties: Xavier McKinney, Calen Bullock
Xavier McKinney exploded with an absurd eight interceptions in his first season with the Green Bay Packers. He still had a respectable two picks in 2025, but his allowed completion percentage dropped 11.0%. He also finished ninth among safeties with 107 tackles and only missed 4.8% of his attempts, earning him an NFL-best 92.7 SAF Impact score.
Julian Love deserves an honorable mention as a top-two safety by SAF Impact, but he didn’t meet the playing-time criteria with only 8 games. Taking his place is Calen Bullock with an 89.8 score, who’s tied for fourth among NFL safeties with four interceptions. He’s also tied for fourth in pass breakups and has an allowed passer rating of just 49.9.
Second team: Camryn Bynum, Talanoa Hufanga