NFL All-Pros: Kelce, Jefferson unanimous; 16 first-timers

NFL All-Pro Team is made up of Travis Kelce, Justin Jefferson, and Sauce Gardner. Sauce Gardner is the first rookie cornerback to be chosen in 41 years.

Kelce of the Chiefs and Jefferson of the Vikings won first-team votes from all 50 members of a panel of media members who covered the NFL on Friday.

Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs, Nick Bosa of the San Francisco 49ers, and Chris Jones of the Kansas City Chiefs received 49 of 50 first-team votes. With four players on the first team, the Chiefs and Niners led the way.

Gardner, the New York Jets’ fourth-round pick, was named on all 50 ballots and received 43 first-place votes. Ronnie Lott, a Pro Football Hall of Famer, was the final rookie cornerback chosen for the first team in 1981.

Hard Work Pays off In The NFL

“That means a lot to me,” Gardner. “It was one of my objectives before training camp. It is something I hope for. I worked extremely hard for it. It’s unquestionably a blessing.”

Jason, Kelce’s older brother, was also named to the first team for the fifth time in his career, keeping him one step ahead of his pass-catching brother. Lane Johnson, a fellow Philadelphia Eagles lineman, joins Jason Kelce on the squad.

“Big honor, very pleased for (Johnson), who is undoubtedly the finest tackle in the NFL, especially on the right side,” Jason Kelce

Johnson, a two-time All-Pro, has missed the last two games due to an adductor injury but hopes to be back when the Eagles host a divisional-round playoff game next week.

“We spend a lot of time and effort into the game, and as you get older, you start to cherish it,” Johns

An Honour To Be Selected

Josh Jacobs of the Las Vegas Raiders is one of 16 first-time All-Pros. Jacobs led the NFL in rushing with 1,653 yards, 12 touchdowns, and a 4.9-yard-per-carry average. Despite finishing 6-11, the Raiders had three first-team picks.

“The year clearly didn’t go how we wanted it to, but it’s absolutely an honor to be selected,” Jacobs

The other newcomer on offense is Jefferson, who had a league-high 128 catches and 1,809 yards receiving. Tyreek Hill of Miami made it for the fourth time, the third as a receiver. Hill caught 119 passes for 1,710 yards and seven touchdowns in his rookie season with the Dolphins. Davante Adams of the Raiders was selected for the third time. In his debut season in Las Vegas, Adams had 100 receptions for 1,516 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Cowboys right guard Zack Martin is a six-time All-Pro, as are 49ers left tackle Trent Williams and Browns left guard Joel Bitonio.

Bosa Led The NFL

Mahomes was an All-Pro as well as the NFL MVP in 2018. He led the league with 5,250 yards passing and 41 touchdowns, guiding the Chiefs to their seventh straight AFC West title. Jalen Hurts of Philadelphia received one first-team vote, keeping Mahomes from becoming a unanimous choice.

The only returning All-Pros on defense are Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons, 49ers linebacker Fred Warner, and Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick is back for the third time. Parsons, who had 13 1/2 sacks in his rookie season, made the team as a linebacker.

All-Pro  NFL selections included Bosa, Jones, Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith, Bills linebacker Matt Milano, Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II, and Niners safety Talanoa Hufanga.

Bosa led the NFL in sacks with 18 1/2. Williams had 11 points.

“I tell my wife my goals every day so she can hold me accountable and make sure I do the right thing,” Williams told the Associated Press. “To hear this news, all of my hard work has paid off, and I must continue to do the same.”

All Six Special-Team Players Are Also Rookies

They are the Raiders’ Daniel Carlson, the Chiefs’ Tommy Townsend, the Packers’ Keisean Nixon, the Patriots’ Marcus Jones, the Commanders’ Jeremy Reaves, and the Vikings’ Andrew DePaola.

The AP’s new voting system debuted this year. Voters selected a first and second team. First-team votes are worth three points, while second-team votes are worth one point.

SOURCE – (AP)