With the regular season at an end, it is time to look back on the best players at every position. As is always the case, there are some big names who miss out due to the depth of talent at the position. The likes of Joe Burrow, Chris Jones, and Rashan Gary all had excellent seasons, but narrowly missed the cut. Here is my All-Pro Team for the 2021 NFL season.
QB – Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
Second Team: Tom Brady, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Rodgers has had another outstanding season and is the frontrunner to win back-to-back MVPs for the first time in his career. He finished the season with 4,115 passing yards, throwing for 37 touchdowns and just four interceptions. He has also been one of the most accurate passers in football, with an adjusted completion rate of 77.6%. The fact that he has done this behind a banged up offensive line makes it all the more impressive.
RB – Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts
Second Team: Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns
Taylor is the runaway favourite for this spot and for good reason. He finished the year with 1,811 rushing yards, which was 552 more than the next best. He did so whilst averaging an incredible 5.5 yards per carry, which ranks second in the NFL. 70.2% of Taylor’s yardage came after contact and he led the NFL with 65 forced missed tackles. He also led the league in rushing touchdowns with 18.
WR – Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams
Second Team: Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals
Kupp has produced one of the most impressive wide receiver seasons in NFL history. He becomes just the fourth player to win the receiving “triple crown”, leading the NFL in receptions, yards, and touchdowns. He finished up with 1,947 receiving yards, which is the second most of all time. Kupp also narrowly missed out on the NFL record for receptions in a single season, finishing just four short of Michael Thomas’ record of 149. This was the most dominant receiving season in recent memory.
WR – Davante Adams, Green Bay Packers
Second Team: Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers
Adams continues to be one of the most dominant receivers in football. His ability to put up elite numbers on a team with very few other threats just makes him all the more impressive. He ranks second in the NFL in receptions (123) and third in receiving yards (1,553). He is also one of only six receivers to surpass 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns. Adams accounts for a ridiculous 30.7% of Green Bay’s receptions and 34.3% of their total receiving production.
WR – Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings
Second Team: Stefon Diggs, Buffalo Bills
Jefferson continues to be one of the most dominant young talents in the game and makes my All-Pro team for the second straight season. This year he managed to exceed the historic numbers he put up as a rookie in every single category. His 1,616 receiving yards are the second most of any player this season. He also logged 108 catches and 10 touchdowns and had just nine drops on 117 catchable targets.
TE – Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens
Second Team: Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs
Andrews has had a career year, despite being without Lamar Jackson for five games. He leads all tight ends in receptions (107), yards (1,361) and touchdowns (nine). He also becomes just the eighth tight end in NFL history to surpass 100 catches in a single season. Andrews leads all tight ends with 15 contested catches. He also has 75 catches for first downs, which is 13 more than the next best.
LT – Trent Williams, San Francisco 49ers
Second Team: Tyron Smith, Dallas Cowboys
At 33 years old Williams has put together one of the best seasons we have ever seen from a left tackle. He has been outstanding in pass protection, allowing just 16 pressures and one sack on his 508 pass blocking snaps. His biggest impact came in the running game however. Williams earned a 98.4 PFF run blocking grade, which is the highest grade recorded since PFF started charting the NFL in 2006. Williams should legitimately be discussed in the Offensive Player of the Year conversation.
LG – Joel Bitonio, Cleveland Browns
Second Team: Joe Thuney, Kansas City Chiefs
Bitonio had a tremendous season for the Browns. He impressed in pass protection, allowing just 17 pressures on his 631 pass blocking snaps. His 85.9 PFF pass blocking grade also ranked second at the position. What puts Bitonio ahead of his competition is his ability to also be a legitimate force in the running game. He is a big reason for the Browns’ successful rushing attack, leading all left guards with a 92.5 PFF run blocking grade.
C – Creed Humphrey, Kansas City Chiefs
Second Team: Corey Linsley, Los Angeles Chargers
Offensive linemen tend to take time to adjust to the NFL game, which makes Humphrey’s performance this year all the more impressive. He has not only been good for a rookie, but has been the best center in the NFL this season. He has given up a paltry 10 pressures across his 805 pass blocking snaps, the third lowest rate at the position. Humphrey has also been a mauler in the running game, leading all centers with his 92.5 PFF run blocking grade.
RG – Zack Martin, Dallas Cowboys
Second Team: Shaq Mason, New England Patriots
Martin continues to be one of the greatest guards to ever grace the gridiron. He has been excellent as a pass protector, allowing just 19 pressures on his 688 pass blocking snaps. His 88.7 PFF pass blocking grade is the highest of any right guard this season and he has given up just two sacks in the last three seasons. He was even better as a run blocker, with his 93.1 PFF run blocking grade leading all interior linemen.
RT – Tristan Wirfs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Second Team: Lane Johnson, Philadelphia Eagles
Wirfs made my All-Pro team as a rookie and he does so again this year. He might well be the best pass protecting offensive lineman in football right now. He has allowed just 14 pressures in pass protection, the second fewest amongst right tackles, behind Lane Johnson with 11. Wirfs has done this whilst playing 796 pass blocking snaps, the most of any tackle in the NFL. This is also 380 more than Johnson.
IDL – Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams
Second Team: Jonathan Allen, Washington Football Team
Donald continues to be one of the most dominant players to have ever played the game. He was predictably excellent this year, leading all interior defenders with 86 pressures and 15 sacks. Donald actually ranked second across the NFL in pressures, behind only Maxx Crosby. He was also outstanding as a run defender, leading all interior linemen with 35 run stops and a PFF run defense grade of 90.0.
IDL – Cameron Heyward, Pittsburgh Steelers
Second Team: Chris Jones, Kansas City Chiefs
This spot was a close one between Heyward and Chris Jones, but Heyward edges it on the basis of his consistency this season. He has played in every game for the Steelers this season, racking up 61 pressures on his 574 pass rushing snaps. His 46 defensive stops also rank third at the position. Heyward has been stout against the run this year too, earning a 89.9 PFF run defense grade.
EDGE – Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns
Second Team: Nick Bosa, San Francisco 49ers
His sack numbers might not match T.J. Watt’s, but Garrett has been the more disruptive pass rusher this season. He finished the year with 78 pressures on his 543 pass rushing snaps, which ranked third amongst all edge rushers. He was also able to consistently beat his man, with a 25.6% pass rush win rate that ranks second at the position. Garrett has managed all of this despite being one of the most frequently double-teamed edges in football.
EDGE – Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas Raiders
Second Team: T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers
Crosby might not be the biggest name at the position, but his performances this season have been as good as anybody. He finished the year with a league-leading 101 pressures, 20 more than the next best edge. He joins J.J. Watt and Aaron Donald as the only players to top 100 pressures since 2006. Crosby also leads all edge rushers in pass rush win rate this season. He has been no slouch against the run either, with his 27 run stops ranking fourth at the position.
LB – Micah Parsons, Dallas Cowboys
Second Team: Darius Leonard, Indianapolis Colts
Parsons has been elite all season. He is the runaway favourite for Defensive Rookie of the Year and for my money he has been the best defensive player in football this season. His 67 pressures and 14 sacks are amongst the league’s best, despite playing primarily as an off-ball linebacker. Parsons also ranks second in the NFL with an absurd 26.2% pass rush win rate. He’s been excellent in coverage too, allowing a passer rating of just 80.9 on 35 targets.
LB – De’Vondre Campbell, Green Bay Packers
Second Team: Demario Davis, New Orleans Saints
The Packers signed Campbell to a one-year $2 million deal in the summer and it may just be the best value contract in football. He’s missed just four tackles on his 138 attempts, which is easily the best rate in the NFL. He has also tallied 53 defensive stops, which ranks fourth across the NFL. Campbell has also been a standout player in coverage. He has given up just 403 yards on his 75 targets, with two picks and a pass breakup.
CB – A.J. Terrell, Atlanta Falcons
Second Team: Chidobe Awuzie, Cincinnati Bengals
Terrell is in just his second season in the NFL and may well have been the best player at his position this year. He was targeted 66 times in coverage, allowing a completion rate of just 43.9%. He has allowed just 200 yards all season and just one completion of 20+ yards. No other corner with 60+ targets has given up less than 300 yards. Terrell has also been outstanding at the catch point, with three picks and 13 pass breakups.
CB – Jalen Ramsey, Los Angeles Rams
Second Team: Darius Slay, Philadelphia Eagles
Ramsey has been predictably excellent for the Rams this season. He allowed a completion rate of just 63.4% on his 93 targets. He gave up just 595 yards, whilst contributing four picks and 12 pass breakups. The Rams’ used him across their defense and that allowed him to make plenty of plays against the run too. He earned an impressive 85.9 PFF run defense grade, which ranked fourth at the position.
CB – J.C. Jackson, New England Patriots
Second Team: Kendall Fuller, Washington Football Team
Trevon Diggs might have got the headlines with his 11 picks, but if you want a cornerback that is a ball hawk and consistent in coverage, look no further than Jackson. He was targeted 98 times this season, allowing a completion rate of just 51%. He contributed eight interceptions, which is the second most in the NFL behind Diggs. His total of 20 forced incompletions also ranks second, as doing his passer rating allowed of 47.8.
S – Kevin Byard, Tennessee Titans
Second Team: Antoine Winfield Jr., Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Byard has been outstanding in every facet of the game this season. In coverage he allowed just 337 yards on 48 targets, whilst also contributing five picks and six pass breakups. He was excellent as a tackler too, with just five misses on his 90 attempts. In addition to all of this he ranked as PFF’s fourth highest graded safety against the run.
S – Jordan Poyer, Buffalo Bills
Second Team: Micah Hyde, Buffalo Bills
Either of the two Bills safeties could have made the cut, but Poyer edges it for his incredible performance in coverage. He was targeted 27 times this season, allowing just 13 completions. On those catches he allowed a paltry 61 yards, which averages out at just 3.8 yards per game. No other safety with 20+ targets allowed less than 120 yards. Poyer was also fantastic at the catch point, with five picks and five pass breakups. He gave up a passer rating of 15.1.
