Shutdown Corner’s midseason National Football League All-Pro team

The New England Patriots offense was represented with a couple of unanimous picks on Shutdown Corner’s midseason All-Pro team, and their kicker made it too. The Denver Broncos top-ranked defense wasn’t represented at all. Three Carolina Panthers defensive players made the team, however.

With the season roughly at the midway point, we picked the players who have been the best at their positions. Like our vote on midseason awards, surprises, disappointments and highlights, five of Yahoo’s NFL writers — Frank Schwab, Jay Busbee, Shalise Manza Young, Eric Edholm and Charles Robinson — voted on the All-Pro team so far this season.

[Yahoo Daily Fantasy Football: First place wins $100K in our $500K contest for Week 9]

The voters selected 12 offensive and defensive players (the extra position for each side is to reflect different schemes in the NFL) and three special teams players for All-Pro nods. Nine players were unanimous choices:

OFFENSE

Quarterback: Tom Brady

Much like our MVP vote, it was no surprise Brady was a unanimous choice. He has played unbelievable football, perhaps the best of his career at 38 years old.

Voting results: Brady 5

Running back (2): Devonta Freeman, Todd Gurley

Freeman has nine rushing touchdowns, and nobody else has more than five. He also leads the NFL in rushing yards. Gurley has rushed for at least 125 yards in all four of his starts.

Voting results: Freeman 5, Gurley 3, Adrian Peterson 1, Chris Johnson 1

Wide receiver (3): Julio Jones, DeAndre Hopkins, Larry Fitzgerald

Jones is having a monster season, and is on pace to challenge NFL single-season records for receptions and yards. Hopkins has also been great, without the quarterback help of anyone else who got a vote. Fitzgerald’s resurgence, with a healthy Carson Palmer, has been fun to watch.

Voting results: Jones 5, Hopkins 4, Fitzgerald 3, Antonio Brown 2, Odell Beckham 1

Tight end: Rob Gronkowski

No other choice. Stat of the day: Gronkowski, midway through his sixth season, has 61 receiving touchdowns. Shannon Sharpe, who played 14 seasons, had 62 touchdowns, most among any current Hall of Fame tight end. So with two more touchdowns, Gronk will have more touchdowns than any current Hall of Fame tight end. He has played 72 career games.

Voting results: Gronkowski 5

Offensive tackle (2): Joe Thomas, Tyron Smith

Close to unanimous picks for the Cleveland Browns’ Thomas, and the Dallas Cowboys’ Smith. They’re both special left tackles.

Voting results: Thomas 4, Smith 4, Andrew Whitworth 1, Jared Veldheer 1

Offensive guard (2): Zack Martin, Marshal Yanda

Martin, in his second season, is getting quite a reputation. He was a unanimous choice, joining Brady, Freeman, Jones and Gronkowski as unanimous picks on our offensive team. Yanda has been one of the NFL’s best for years.

Voting results: Martin 5, Yanda 3, Gabe Jackson 2

Center: Ryan Kalil

Undefeated teams tend to get more individual awards. Kalil, the anchor of the 7-0 Panthers’ line, deserves the praise.

Voting results: Kalil 3, Rodney Hudson 2

DEFENSE

Defensive end (2): J.J. Watt, Cameron Jordan

Watt isn’t making a push for NFL MVP, like last season, but he’s still the best end in football. Jordan is having a great season for the New Orleans Saints, as well.

Voting results: Watt 5, Jordan 4, Michael Bennett 1

Defensive tackle (2): Aaron Donald, Kawann Short

Both Donald and Short were unanimous picks, and rightfully so. Donald has quickly become one of the league’s most dominant linemen, and Short is having a remarkable season.

Voting results: Donald 5, Short 5

Outside linebacker (2): Justin Houston, Khalil Mack

The AFC West definitely has some good pass rushers. Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware of the Broncos didn’t even get a vote here. Houston has been a great player for the Kansas City Chiefs for years. Mack made an immediate impact last year as a rookie for the Oakland Raiders, and continued to blossom this season.

Voting results: Houston 3, Mack 2, Pernell McPhee 1, Anthony Barr 1, Sean Lee 1, Jamie Collins 1, Dont’a Hightower 1

Inside linebacker (2): Luke Kuechly, Clay Matthews

Even though Kuechly missed some time for the Carolina Panthers with a concussion, he’s still the most dominant inside linebacker in the game. Matthews has been very good for the Green Bay Packers, moving inside last season when the Packers needed him there.

Voting results: Kuechly 3, Matthews 3, Brandon Marshall 2, Danny Trevathan 1, NaVorro Bowman 1

Cornerback (2): Josh Norman, Tyrann Mathieu

Norman was a unanimous pick, joining Watt, Donald and Short as the unanimous defensive picks, as he has been spectacular for the Panthers this season. Mathieu and Revis each got two votes, and Mathieu gets the tiebreaker for his versatility and playmaking ability for the Arizona Cardinals.

Voting results: Norman 5, Mathieu 2, Darrelle Revis 2, Aqib Talib 1

Safety (2): Charles Woodson, Malcolm Jenkins

The Woodson story is pretty amazing. No defensive player has ever made the Pro Bowl at age 39 or older, and he’s well on his way. Jenkins has had two good seasons for the Philadelphia Eagles after coming over from the New Orleans Saints.

Voting results: Woodson 3, Jenkins 3, Harrison Smith 2, Reshad Jones 1, Mike Adams 1

SPECIAL TEAMS

Kicker: Stephen Gostkowski

Gostkowski hasn’t missed a kick all season, with 17 field goals and 28 extra points. It’s really not fair the Patriots have the best kicker in the NFL, too.

Voting results: Gostkowski 4, Dan Bailey 1

Punter: Pat McAfee

The Colts may be disappointing but McAfee is having a career year. His 45.2-yard net average would be a career best for a season.

Voting results: McAfee 3, Dustin Colquitt 2

Returner: Jarvis Landry

Landry gets the tiebreaker for having slightly better averages in kickoff and punt returns than Seattle Seahawks rookie Tyler Lockett. Landry is dynamic on both, and a pretty good receiver for the Miami Dolphins, too.

Voting results: Landry 2, Tyler Lockett 2, Dwayne Harris 1

– – – – – – –

Frank Schwab is the editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @YahooSchwab