theScore's All-Pro Team: Mahomes, Donald, Mack among unanimous picks

The 2018 NFL season was truly spectacular, with several players establishing themselves as bona fide stars and a host of high-octane games to revive a fan base that was beginning to show some signs of fatigue at the end of 2017.

While the usual suspects pushed for contention on this list, a new generation made its mark, offering a glimpse into the NFL's future.

Here are theScore's All-Pro selections for 2018:

* = unanimous selection

Quarterback

Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs*

Prior to the 2017 draft, football's collective intelligentsia certainly had questions as to whether Mahomes' style of play would translate to the modern NFL. As it turns out, Mahomes is a reflection of the NFL's future and his breakout campaign may be a turning point in the league's revolution.

Mahomes' nearly unmatched arm strength opened up the Chiefs' playbook, allowing Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce to score at will. No throw proved impossible for Mahomes. His journey to the NFL as the son of a former MLB pitcher is an oft-repeated story, but the Chiefs quarterback clearly learned something along the way, tossing knuckleballs and curveballs to the bewilderment of the defenses everywhere.

Only @PatrickMahomes5 can make this throw

Touchdown, @Chiefs! #ChiefsKingdom

: #KCvsSEA on NBC pic.twitter.com/PaFxSXDjcY

- NFL (@NFL) December 24, 2018

Mahomes would be a worthy candidate for NFL MVP on aesthetics alone, introducing a series of no-look passes while completing plays from impossible angles. He's the third player to throw 50-plus touchdown passes in a season, while the Chiefs lead the NFL in offensive DVOA by a significant margin. There's little wonder why he's a unanimous selection and could be lifting many more trophies in the new year.

Running backHarry How / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Todd Gurley, Rams

Gurley followed up on his Offensive Player of the Year campaign with a 2018 season that proved to be even more impressive, despite taking a step back in December. The Rams superstar notched 17 touchdowns on the ground and four more in the air while serving as the focal point of the team's explosive offense. Gurley ranks second in rushing yards per game, second in carries over 20 yards, and fumbled the ball just once this year. Prior to Week 17, he admitted he's been battling a knee injury since the season opener. Can you imagine what Gurley looks like at full strength?

Flex

Saquon Barkley, Giants

Conventional wisdom dictates that you shouldn't take a running back with a top-10 pick. Barkley isn't the conventional running back, however, and while the Giants struggled throughout the 2018 season, it would've been immeasurably worse without the superb rookie.

.@SAQUON JUST WENT 78 YARDS

: FOX #GiantsPride pic.twitter.com/mLdeFwTr3T

- NFL (@NFL) December 9, 2018

Barkley's combination of speed, agility, field vision, and power is nearly unmatched, and few players, if any, contributed more highlight-reel plays this season. No player submitted more runs of 20-plus yards, and Barkley set the rookie record for most receptions in a campaign. There are several issues plaguing the Giants, but they were correct to select a generational talent at No. 2 overall.

Tight end

Travis Kelce, Chiefs

Kelce emerged as the NFL's best tight end and there isn't any reason to put qualifiers on this title anymore, as he's clearly surpassed perennial All-Pro Rob Gronkowski. He's more dangerous than most No. 1 receivers and while few would highlight his blocking, he's taken strides to help out in the run game. Kelce deserves due credit for contributing to the Chiefs' blistering offense, making it easy for Mahomes to assume the mantle and annihilate defenses. Expect Kelce to be the leading contender for this spot every year from here onward.

Wide receiverTim Warner / Getty Images Sport / Getty

DeAndre Hopkins, Texans
Julio Jones, Falcons

Hopkins finally played a full season with a quality quarterback in Deshaun Watson and thrived, recording 115 catches for 1,572 yards and 11 touchdowns. No one in the NFL sports a better catch radius than Hopkins, who just needs the ball to be in his general vicinity for a reception. Houston's offense once again relied on Hopkins heavily after Will Fuller and Demaryius Thomas suffered season-ending injuries. Hopkins didn't disappoint and it's clear that he deserves his spot among the NFL's very best wideouts.

.@deandrehopkins' hands are magnets...

: CBS #Texans pic.twitter.com/Y6PliKwsh8

- NFL (@NFL) December 30, 2018

It was a lost season for the Falcons but Jones remained as good as ever. He led the NFL with 1,677 receiving yards on 113 receptions, adding eight touchdowns, killing the narrative that he can't produce in the red zone. The Falcons star is the complete wide receiver, as he can run past, through, or around opposing defensive backs and linebackers. This is Jones' most productive season since 2015 and it's hard to imagine an All-Pro team without him.

Left tackle

David Bakhtiari, Packers

It wasn't a banner year for the Packers but Bakhtiari remained consistent as the league's best left tackle. He surrendered just 3.5 sacks, allowing Aaron Rodgers to be clinically efficient all year. Green Bay may undergo several changes this summer, but Bakhtiari is key to Rodgers' prolonged brilliance.

Left guard

Quenton Nelson, Colts

The new and improved Colts offensive line was one of the season's pleasant surprises in large part due to Nelson's contributions. He emerged as one of the NFL's best pass-blocking guards, giving Andrew Luck more time to operate in the pocket than he has throughout his career.

CenterIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty

Jason Kelce, Eagles

Kelce grades out as Pro Football Focus' highest-rated center and is established as the best player at his position. Far from the fairy-tale season of 2017, Kelce still featured as one of the constants for the Eagles, excelling in pass-blocking and run-blocking scenarios with equal fluency.

Right guard

Zack Martin, Cowboys

Since entering the league in 2014, Martin's been the standard to beat at guard and this season proved no different. A pass-blocking extraordinaire, Martin was dominant in the run game, paving the way for Ezekiel Elliott to claim his second rushing title in three years. The Cowboys almost selected Johnny Manziel over Martin - they must be relieved about their choice.

Right tackle

Mitchell Schwartz, Chiefs

The Chiefs' offense relies on certain wrinkles to free up Hill and Kelce, and Schwartz's consistency as a blocker afforded Mahomes plenty of time and space to make dangerous plays throughout the year. Schwartz routinely shut down the NFL's best edge rushers while keeping Mahomes afloat. While the nature of his work isn't glamorous, he certainly gained enough attention for his excellent work.

Edge rusher

Khalil Mack, Bears*
J.J. Watt, Texans

Mack immediately galvanized the Bears after being acquired days before the regular season began. The 27-year-old recorded a pick-6 in his first game with his new team, setting the tone for a dominant campaign. Mack often faced double teams, and when he didn't, chaos ensued.

Yep. @52Mack_ just sacked Aaron Rodgers... with his BACK

: FOX #DaBears pic.twitter.com/Ei9h9pHxnN

- NFL (@NFL) December 16, 2018

A phenomenal run defender to boot, Mack opened up opportunities for teammates Eddie Goldman, Akiem Hicks, Leonard Floyd, and Roquan Smith among others, allowing the Bears to maximize the sum of their parts. It would be unfair to characterize Mack as a one-man wrecking ball but he's the key component of the NFL's best defense, and the team's culture likely doesn't change without the 2016 Defensive Player of the Year wreaking havoc on every snap.

J.J. Watt finds the football, again!

(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/gFygqnm2dU

- Pro Football Focus (@PFF) September 30, 2018

Watt is no longer the NFL's best defensive player but he sure is among the handful of players who can change the outcome of a game by himself. After missing the majority of the 2017 season with a fractured leg, Watt returned with a vengeance and spearheaded a Texans defense that ranks among the top 10 in most categories. Watt made a habit of pushing opposing left tackles into the backfield, suffocating the quarterback in the process. The three-time Defensive Player of the Year is back with a vengeance.

Interior linemen

Aaron Donald, Rams*
Chris Jones, Chiefs

Anyone remember Donald's holdout that threatened to linger into the season? We don't either after he submitted one of the best defensive seasons of all time. Donald nearly broke the single-season sack record as an interior lineman, while facing double teams on the majority of snaps. It's a shame that he won't be seriously considered for the MVP award because it's impossible to play better than he did at his position.

Jones wasn't named to the Pro Bowl but we corrected this oversight here. The 24-year-old was among the NFL's most underrated players before a breakout 2018 season, when he recorded 15.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and an interception. After a relatively slow start to the season, Jones recorded a sack in every game from Week 5 onward, setting a record for the longest sack streak. Jones improved as a run defender and was completely unblockable in pass rush scenarios. Without him, the Chiefs' defense would be a shambles.

LinebackerIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty

Darius Leonard, Colts*
Bobby Wagner, Seahawks*
Luke Kuechly, Panthers

Leonard held the Colts' defense together during his rookie season and was "heartbroken" when he learned of his Pro Bowl snub. He emerged as a unanimous selection on our list after recording seven sacks and four forced fumbles before Week 17 and showing phenomenal range as a sideline-to-sideline threat. Leonard led the NFL in tackles and starred in all facets of the game.

Unlike his pick 6 celebration, don't sleep on Bobby Wagner! #NFLTurningPoint: SF vs SEA@Seahawks | @Bwagz pic.twitter.com/N3mgAzgFTU

- NFL Films (@NFLFilms) December 5, 2018

Wagner is consistently the NFL's best linebacker and was given additional responsibility when several veterans either retired or left during free agency. In what was expected to be a rebuilding year for the Seahawks, Wagner elevated his game once again, submitting arguably the best campaign to date and leading his team to the playoffs. At this rate, he should start thinking about what his bust in Canton should look like.

A healthy Kuechly sports no weaknesses in his game and that much rang true again in 2018. He and Wagner are the two best players at diagnosing plays before the snap and are consistently the NFL's best cover linebackers. Kuechly recorded 20 tackles for loss, by far the best mark of his career, and while the Panthers missed the playoffs in 2018, their star linebacker continues to be the model of consistency.

Cornerback

Kyle Fuller, Bears
Stephon Gilmore, Patriots

Most fans and analysts wondered what the Bears were thinking when they matched the Packers' four-year, $56-million offer sheet for Fuller in March, believing it to be a gross misevaluation of their own talent. Fuller responded with his first Pro Bowl season, and now we all owe Bears general manager Ryan Pace an apology.

Fuller doesn't have to jam receivers at the line of scrimmage to prove that he's a shutdown cornerback. He's done an excellent job of baiting quarterbacks into making throws they're comfortable with, only to swoop in at the last second with an interception. Chicago paid Fuller like a top cornerback prior to the season and he emerged as the best player at his position in 2018, leading the NFL in passes defended.

Gilmore's $15-million annual average value looked like a potential mistake from the Patriots in 2017 but he rebounded with an outstanding season in 2018. The two-time Pro Bowler entered Week 17 as Pro Football Focus' highest-graded cornerback overall and he's been a standout in coverage. Gilmore did a great job of neutralizing some of the NFL's best wide receivers - including Antonio Brown and Stefon Diggs - while ranking second in passes defended. He's a deserving member of the team.

Safety

Eddie Jackson, Bears
Jamal Adams, Jets

Jackson submitted one of the best seasons from a safety in recent memory, anchoring the Bears' secondary alongside Fuller and helping Chicago lead the NFL in interceptions. The second-year pro recorded two pick-6s and two forced fumbles while showing off his refined ball skills throughout the year. It's not just the counting stats that support Jackson's campaign, either. He graded out as the best safety in coverage by Pro Football Focus prior to Week 17's games and is the second-most valuable player on the defense, behind only Mack.

PICK SIX!@EJackson_4. To the house.
Sweeter than Nanna's pumpkin pie. #DaBears

: #CHIvsDET on CBS pic.twitter.com/dybMYpcDjn

- NFL (@NFL) November 22, 2018

The Jets struggled miserably during Adams' two seasons, but he's emerged as one of the NFL's preeminent safeties. Adams was a tackling machine for the Jets, accruing 3.5 sacks and three forced fumbles in 15 games while excelling in coverage. The second-year pro destroys opposing tackles in blitz packages and is exactly the player the Jets envisioned when he was taken sixth overall in 2017. Now the rest of the team needs to live up to their end of the bargain.

Defensive backHarry How / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Derwin James, Chargers

James was deployed all over the field during his rookie season and exceeded even the loftiest of expectations, giving the Chargers a veritable Swiss Army knife in the secondary. Although his ball skills were routinely on display, James excelled in blitz packages, recording the most total pressures by a safety since Pro Football Focus began tracking the stat. James proved capable of doing it all for the Chargers, both as a box safety and center fielder, and it's scary to think that there's room to improve.

Kicker

Aldrick Rosas, Giants

Rosas completed a sparkling 96.8 percent of his kicks, drilling all of his attempts from 49 yards or less. His lone miss came on an attempt from 52 yards out. The Giants' offense struggled once again but Rosas can't be faulted here.

Punter

Michael Dickson, Seahawks

Dickson led the NFL in net punting average and displayed an uncanny ability to pin his opponents within their 20-yard line. The Seahawks' defense isn't the terrifying unit of yesteryear but Dickson's punting magic helped fill some gaps while the team outperformed initial expectations.

Kick returner

Cordarrelle Patterson, Patriots

Patterson averaged 28.8 yards per kickoff return, adding a touchdown. The 27-year-old bounced around the league but he made an instant impact on the Patriots, who value special teams excellence more than most franchises.

Punt returner

Tarik Cohen, Bears

Cohen was an all-around dynamo for the Bears and he starred on punt returns throughout the year, leading the NFL in punt return yards. The ultimate gadget player, Cohen's excellence set up several scoring drives for the resurgent Bears. He could be a fixture on this list for years to come.

Special teams

Adrian Phillips, Chargers

Phillips excelled on every special teams unit and earned his spot here for his work as a gunner. It's likely he won't be on this list next year as he actively fights for a spot within the Chargers' safety rotation.

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