The NFL didn’t give me an All-Pro ballot, but that’s OK. I made my picks anyway. Here is a look at the players I believe had the best 2021 seasons at their respective positions.
This ballot had three receivers and three cornerbacks since that’s the primary setup in the NFL.
First Team All-Pro
Offense
QB – Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
It was a down year for quarterback play. Rodgers gets the nod as he led the NFL in Total QBR, touchdown percentage and interception percentage, while finishing first in EPA per play. Joe Burrow came on strong at the end of the season and Tom Brady was in the mix all year, but Rodgers is the choice.
RB – Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts
No debate here. Taylor isn’t going to win MVP but he finished with 1,811 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns. Clearly the best running back.
WR – Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams
WR – Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings
WR – Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals
Kupp was an easy choice, as he is likely going to win NFL Offensive Player of the Year. The second and third spots were tougher. Jefferson finished second to Kupp with 1,616 receiving yards and had 10 touchdowns. Chase was a potent big-play threat, finishing with 81 catches for 1,455 yards and 13 touchdowns, an average of 18.0 yards per reception.
LT – Trent Williams, San Francisco 49ers
LG – Joel Bitonio, Cleveland Browns
C – Corey Linsley, Los Angeles Chargers
RG – Zack Martin, Dallas Cowboys
RT – Tristan Wirfs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
In a just world, offensive linemen would get consideration for OPOY instead of just skill players. If that was the case, Williams would win it. He’s been unbelievable this season. Wirfs is only in his second year but has quickly become one of the NFL’s best linemen.
TE – Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens
Andrews finished sixth in the NFL in receiving yards this season with 1,361 even though Lamar Jackson missed some time due to injury. While he hasn’t generally been in the discussion with Travis Kelce and George Kittle as the league’s best tight end, Andrews earned that title this season.
Defense
EDGE – T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers
DT – Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams
DT – Cameron Heyward, Pittsburgh Steelers
EDGE – Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns
Watt finished the season with 22.5 sacks, tying the NFL’s single-season sack record. Garrett was a similar menace off the edge for Cleveland, while Donald reigns supreme as the league’s premier interior pass-rushing presence.
LB – Micah Parsons, Dallas Cowboys
LB – Darius Leonard, Indianapolis Colts
Parsons was great both on the edge and off the ball. He was a steal as the No. 12 overall pick in the draft and will be a game-wrecker for Dallas for a long time.
S – Kevin Byard, Tennessee Titans
S – Jordan Poyer, Buffalo Bills
Byard is fantastic in every phase of the game and has an argument as the NFL’s best safety. Poyer allowed only 4.7 yards per reception this season, easily the best among safeties.
CB – Jalen Ramsey, Los Angeles Rams
CB – J.C. Jackson, New England Patriots
CB – A.J. Terrell, Atlanta Falcons
Ramsey was asked to play a different role this season, and unsurprisingly, he excelled in it. Not only is Ramsey one of the stickiest cover guys in the NFL, he’s an excellent tackler and a natural playmaker. Jackson had eight interceptions and a league-high 23 passes defensed in 2021. Unlike Trevon Diggs, he didn’t give up a ton of yardage as a tradeoff for the picks. Terrell doesn’t have the name recognition of the others but he was phenomenal this season, as quarterbacks had a passer rating of 47.5 when throwing at him this year, per PFF.
Special Teams
K – Justin Tucker, Baltimore Ravens
P – A.J. Cole, Las Vegas Raiders
RS – Jakeem Grant, Chicago Bears
Tucker remains the GOAT. That is all.
Second Team
Offense
QB – Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
RB – Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns
WR – Davante Adams, Green Bay Packers
WR – Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers
WR – Tyreek Hill, Kansas City Chiefs
LT – Andrew Whitworth, Los Angeles Rams
LG – Quenton Nelson, Indianapolis Colts
C – Creed Humphrey, Kansas City Chiefs
RG – Shaq Mason, New England Patriots
RT – Lane Johnson, Philadelphia Eagles
TE – Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs
Defense
EDGE – Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas Raiders
DT – Chris Jones, Kansas City Chiefs
DT – Jonathan Allen, Washington Football Team
EDGE – Nick Bosa, San Francisco 49ers
LB – De’Vondre Campbell, Green Bay Packers
LB – Lavonte David, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
S – Derwin James, Los Angeles Chargers
S – Micah Hyde, Buffalo Bills
CB – Darius Slay, Philadelphia Eagles
CB – Marshon Lattimore, New Orleans Saints
CB – Trevon Diggs, Dallas Cowboys
Special Teams
K – Younghoe Koo, Atlanta Falcons
P – Bryan Anger, Dallas Cowboys
RS – Braxton Berrios, New York Jets
