Cam Newton highlights midseason all-rookie team

Now that we're at the midpoint of the NFL season, I thought it would be a good time to put together a quick all-rookie team. Much of the thanks goes to the MtD followers on Twitter. If you're not following and interacting, you should.

Some of the picks for this team were quite obvious. Others were difficult because of the lacking talent at certain positions in the draft this year.

QB: Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers
There is no more obvious choice for this post. Passing and running, Newton is showing why he was worth the No. 1 pick in the draft. The wins aren't coming for the Panthers quite yet, but Newton is putting up huge numbers.

RB: DeMarco Murray, Dallas Cowboys
Murray showed on Sunday he's not just a one-game wonder. Now we'll find out if he's a true feature back.

RB: Mark Ingram, New Orleans Saints
Ingram has battled injuries this season, but he's churning out first downs this season. He's only going to get better if he gets more carries.

TE: Lance Kendricks, St. Louis Rams
There really isn't a lot to be impressed with in this year's tight end class. Kendricks is a token pick because he has more receiving yards than any other rookie tight end thus far.

WR: AJ Green, Cincinnati Bengals
After Newton, this is the most obvious choice to make for an all-rookie team. Green has been stellar and the No. 1 receiver Cincinnati needed.

WR: Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons
Jones barely gets the nod over undrafted Doug Baldwin of the Seattle Seahawks. That's based almost solely on the three catches he had on Sunday. Jones is looking like he's worth the bounty of picks the Falcons gave up to draft him.

OT: Tyron Smith, Dallas Cowboys
None of the tackles in this year's class are looking like stars, but Smith has been consistent. Nate Solder of the New England Patriots could also be considered.

G: Stefen Wisniewski, Oakland Raiders
When Oakland took Wisniewski 48th overall, it looked like a reach. Now, it looks like a steal. Wisniewski has started every game at left guard this season and has looked good doing so.

C: Mike Pouncey, Miami Dolphins
Few rookie centers have seen the field this season, so this one was down to Pouncey and Jason Kelce of the Philadelphia Eagles. Pouncey may not be quite as good as his brother Maurkice, but he's a rare bright spot for the Dolphins.

G: John Moffitt, Seattle Seattle Seahawks
OT: James Carpenter, Seattle Seahawks
Moffit and Carpenter have had bouts of inconsistency at times this season, but you'd expect as much with the two playing next to each other.

DE: JJ Watt, Houston Texans
Watt has started all nine games for the Texans and is showing why he was the 11th overall pick of the draft. He's played more snaps than any Texans defensive lineman and leads all rookie defensive linemen in tackles with 29.

DT: Jurrell Casey, Tennessee Titans
Casey is looking like a steal after the Titans picked him in the third round this year. He's been strong against the run and occupying multiple blockers.

DT: Phil Taylor, Cleveland Browns
Although Taylor's production has dropped in recent weeks, he's been a workhorse for the Browns.

DE: Marcell Dareus, Buffalo Bills
This is a cheap way to squeeze Dareus on this team, but so be it. The Bills are moving Dareus around the line, but he's seen the most snaps at end. Dareus has been playing as good as any defensive lineman in the NFL of late.

OLB: Ryan Kerrigan, Washington Redskins
Kerrigan has been better than I expected him to be this season. He's been solid against the pass and plays the run nicely.

MLB: Mason Foster, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
It was hard not to pick New York Giants sixth-round pick Jacquian Williams. Statistically speaking, Foster has just been a little bit better. Foster has been expectedly good in pass coverage.  

OLB: Von Miller, Denver Broncos
This was either going to be Miller or Aldon Smith of the 49ers. Miller is the choice simply because he plays the run more than Smith.

CB: Patrick Peterson, Arizona Cardinals
Peterson is still coming along in pass coverage, but he's rapidly becoming the best punt return man in the NFL.

CB: Richard Sherman, Seattle Seahawks
Over the past few weeks Sherman has seen his playing time greatly increase and he's started the last two games. That's due to the fact that he fits the Seattle scheme perfectly and he's playing well.

S: Rahim Moore, Denver Broncos
The safety class this year was poor, and the play of the rookies at the position proves it. Moore isn't making a big impact quite yet in pass coverage, but he's been in on the third-most secondary snaps for the Broncos this season.

S: Quinton Carter, Denver Broncos
Carter has only played in four games, so more than anything it's an indictment on the ret of the class. Carter has more tackles than any other safety in this year's class, so there's that.