2016 NFL All-Pro Team: Three Rookies Featured
The 2016 NFL All-Pro Team was announced on Friday by the Associated Press, highlighting the best players at each position.
While being voted into the Pro Bowl is all fine and well, we all know that it’s a popularity contest among fans. That’s important, surely, as popularity and success often go hand-in-hand. However, it’s not quite the distinction that making the All-Pro Team is. And on Friday, the 2016 NFL All-Pro Team was announced by the Associated Press.
Not surprisingly, the 2016 NFL All-Pro Team was led by a slew of Dallas Cowboys players. They led the way with five selections, followed by the Kansas City Chiefs and their four selections. Both the Cowboys and Chiefs also had a rookie voted onto the team. Ezekiel Elliott and Tyreek Hill both were selected by the AP as two of three rookies to earn the honor. The third is Tennessee Titans right tackle Jack Conklin.
Meanwhile, several other teams were well-represented on the 2016 NFL All-Pro Team first team. The Atlanta Falcons and Denver Broncos each earned three selections, while the Oakland Raiders earned two selections. Perhaps the biggest surprise, though, is that the lowly Los Angeles Rams had two players featured on the first team. Despite their team’s lack of success, though, it was well deserved.
Let’s take a look at the full 2016 All-Pro Team:
AP All-Pro Offense
QB: Matt Ryan – Atlanta Falcons
RB: Ezekiel Elliott – Dallas Cowboys
FLEX: David Johnson – Arizona Cardinals
WR: Antonio Brown – Pittsburgh Steelers
WR: Julio Jones – Atlanta Falcons
TE: Travis Kelce – Kansas City Chiefs
LT: Tyron Smith – Dallas Cowboys
RT: Jack Conklin – Tennessee Titans
LG: Kelechi Osemele – Oakland Raiders
RG: Zack Martin – Dallas Cowboys
C: Travis Frederick – Dallas Cowboys
AP All-Pro Defense
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DT: Aaron Donald – Los Angeles Rams
DT: Damon Harrison – New York Giants
EDGE: Vic Beasley – Atlanta Falcons
EDGE: Khalil Mack – Oakland Raiders
LB: Sean Lee – Dallas Cowboys
LB: Von Miller – Denver Broncos
LB: Bobby Wagner – Seattle Seahawks
CB: Marcus Peters – Kansas City Chiefs
CB: Chris Harris Jr. – Denver Broncos
CB: Aqib Talib – Denver Broncos
S: Eric Berry – Kansas City Chiefs
S: Landon Collins – New York Giants
All-Pro Special Teams
K: Justin Tucker – Baltimore Ravens
P: Johnny Hekker – Los Angeles Rams
KR: Cordarrelle Patterson – Minnesota Vikings
PR: Tyreek Hill – Kansas City Chiefs
STs: Matthew Slater – New England Patriots
Soon after the first team All-Pros were announced, the second team followed.
Second Team All-Pro Offense
QB: Tom Brady – New England Patriots
RB: David Johnson – Arizona Cardinals
FLEX: Le’Veon Bell – Pittsburgh Steelers
WR: Odell Beckham Jr. – New York Giants
WR: Mike Evans – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TE: Greg Olsen – Carolina Panthers
LT: David Bahtiari – Green Bay Packers
RT: Mitchell Schwartz – Kansas City Chiefs
RT: Marcus Cannon – New England Patriots
LG: Marshal Yanda – Baltimore Ravens
RG: David DeCastro – Pittsburgh Steelers
C: Alex Mack – Atlanta Falcons
Second Team All-Pro Defense
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DT: Ndamukong Suh – Miami Dolphins
DT: Calais Campbell – Arizona Cardinals
DT: Gerald McCoy – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
EDGE: Jadeveon Clowney – Houston Texans
EDGE: Cameron Wake – Miami Dolphins
EDGE: Olivier Vernon – New York Giants
EDGE: Brandon Graham – Philadelphia Eagles
LB: Lorenzo Alexander – Buffalo Bills
LB: Luke Kuechly – Carolina Panthers
LB: Lavonte David – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
LB: C.J. Mosley – Baltimore Ravens
LB: Zach Brown – Buffalo Bills
LB: Zachary Orr – Baltimore Ravens
LB: Alec Ogletree – Los Angeles Rams
LB: Dont’a Hightower – New England Patriots
LB: Whitney Mercilus – Houston Texans
LB: Bernardrick McKinney – Houston Texans
CB: Janoris Jenkins – New York Giants
CB: Casey Hayward – San Diego Chargers
CB: Malcolm Butler – New England Patriots
S: Ha Ha Clinton-Dix – Green Bay Packers
S: Devin McCourty – New England Patriots
DB: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie – New York Giants
Second Team All-Pro Special Teams
P: Marquette King – Oakland Raiders
KR: Tyler Lockette – Seattle Seahawks
ST: Nate Ebner – New England Patriots
Next: X-Factor for Each 2017 NFL Playoff Team
Frankly, there are no real surprises among this group. While you could make the argument that other players deserved to be in these spots, it’s hard to quabble with what each of these players accomplished in the 2016 NFL season. Hats off to them for earning their just due.