Snubbed from the All-Pro Team: NFL talents who deserved more recognition

Each season, the Associated Press selects two all-pro teams to recognize the NFL’s best performers. The media is not always fair, and reputations and biases cause voters to snub deserving players.

A panel of 50 members of the Associated Press selects the all-pro teams. Each member casts one vote for who they believe was the best at each position. This year, the second team did not have a tight end after the AP unanimously chose Kansas City Chiefs player Travis Kelce as first-team all-pro. Kelce earned the first-team honors after an impressive season of 1,416 yards (2nd in the league) and 11 touchdowns. Kelce was undoubtedly the best TE this year; however, at least one vote should have gone to the Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller. If just one voter chose Waller, he would have filled the vacant spot on the second team that he certainly deserved.

On the defensive side, Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander finished an incredible season that should have granted him first-team all-pro honors. He did not allow a pass longer than 32 yards, and Pro Football Focus rated him as the highest-graded cornerback in the regular season. Compared to the first-team selection Jalen Ramsey, Alexander had more pass breakups (13 to 8), fewer yards allowed per target (4.7 to 5), and a lower passer rating (67.4% to 68.6%). Although the cornerback position has multiple players with great seasons, Alexander was clearly a top-two cornerback and should have merited some recognition.

Among the big men, San Francisco 49ers offensive tackle Trent Williams did not make an all-pro team despite owning the highest grade on Pro Football Focus. He was dominant in the run game, earning the highest run-blocking grade for any tackle in the league. Additionally, he was sixth in pressure rate allowed (3.5%) among offensive tackles and only gave up 19 pressures on 535 pass attempts. Williams’ performance should have earned him at least a spot on the second team.

The AP wrongfully left Denver Broncos safety Justin Simmons off both teams. Simmons—the only safety to record 5+ interceptions and at least 90 tackles this season—had a more impactful season than second-teame pro Jamal Adams, intercepting four more passes and covering passes more effectively than Adams. Furthermore, Simmons had nine pass deflections compared to Adams’ six. Adams was a bit more effective in the pass rush with 9.5 sacks, but Simmons beat him in most significant safety categories.

Lastly, wide receiver Allen Robinson deserved a spot on the all-pro second team. He posted 1,250 yards and six touchdowns compared to all-pro select Cole Beasley's 967 yards and four touchdowns. Furthermore, Robinson’s mediocre quarterbacks in Mitch Trubisky and Nick Foles have not compared to an MVP candidate in Josh Allen. Allen Robinson had the better season with a much less competent thrower.

While the voters did a decent job with their selections, they undervalued a few players. Each roster only holds a few spots, so it is understandable that talented and deserving players will be cut. Though the NFL got most of its selections right, a few notable names were missing but hopefully, these players will receive the acknowledgement they deserve in the coming seasons.