Dynamic defensive star Aaron Donald and unstoppable Travis Kelce are unanimous options Friday for the Associated Press NFL All-Pro Team.
Donald and Kelce swept the votes of a national group of 50 media members who regularly cover the league. It’s the sixth All-Pro selection for Donald, who has helped the Los Angeles Rams defend with the NFL’s highest ranking, and the third for Kansas City’s Kelce record.
“I think the best demonstration of greatness is to make the people around you better,” Rams coach Sean McVay says of Donald. “And that’s exactly what he does, by the way he influences them every week.”
Head quarterback Patrick Mahomes praised Kelce for his way of tackling his job.
“He pulls his tail out every day and practices every day and makes sure he’s ready for those moments,” Muhammad says. “For a guy to have so much talent, work so hard and be able to really learn every day like that, that’s what makes him so special in the field.”
Donald and Kelce are joined by 15 returning players and 14 newcomers. Seattle defender Bobby Wagner is also in his sixth squad.
“The wonderful endurance he has shown for the center-back after all these years is off the charts,” says Seahawks coach Pete Carroll.
Aaron Rodgers, who led Green Bay (13-3) to the top spot in the NFC, forms his third team, as does Chiefs receiver Tyreek Hill. First-team picks in offensive offensive positions include Tennessee runner-up Derrick Henry of 2,000 yards, Buffalo expansion Stefon Diggs, who led the NFL in catches and receiving yards, and Rodgers ’favorite goal, Front Adams.
“For me, honestly, I think I’ve just been finding different little things that I can improve on, obviously,” Adams says. “I feel like a pretty complete receiver. … It’s just fine-tuning the things I do well and finding a way to make them even better. ”
Diggs was traded by Minnesota to Buffalo during the offseason and then made a big impact as the Bills won their first AFC East in 25 years.
“For me, I was in any situation where they should put me or pick me,” says Diggs, “I was just going to hug. The first thing I always try is to get the respect of my teammates and my coaches. And that’s working. yours (ass), keep grinding and putting this work and letting the chips fall where they were. “
The Packers and Colts have four All-Pros. Green Bay left-back David Bakhtiari makes his second appearance and center-back Corey Linsley the first. Indianapolis has inside linebacker DeForest Buckner and defender Darius Leonard on defense, left guard Quenton Nelson on offense and George Odum as special team. Nelson is a three-time All-Pro, Leonard a double selection, while Buckner and Odum get it for the first time.
Cleveland right-back Jack Conklin (second team) and Washington right-back Brandon Scherff (first) complete the offensive.
On defense are also top runners TJ Watt, NFL leader for Pittsburgh, who is part of his second All-Pro team, and newcomer Myles Garrett from Cleveland; San Francisco defender Fred Warner (first team); cornerbacks Xavien Howard (first) of Miami, the league’s interception leader, and Jalen Ramsey (second) of the Rams; and security guards Tyrann Mathieu (third) of Kansas City, Minkah Fitzpatrick of Pittsburgh and Budda Baker of Arizona, both for the second time. There was a tie between Fitzpatrick and Baker for second place in safety.
The long snapper position is new to the All-Pro team in 2020 and Baltimore’s Morgan Cox is the choice. Chicago shooter Cordarrelle Patterson arrives for the fourth time. The rest of the special teams ’positions are newcomers: Miami pitcher Jason Sanders, New England striker Jake Bailey and point scorer Gunner Olszewski.
The repeaters of 2019 are Donald, Wagner, Nelson, Watt, Fitzpatrick, Mathieu and Patterson.
In total, 18 players represent the AFC, which is considered the strongest conference this season, and 11 for the NFC. Exactly half of the 32 clubs have an All-Pro 2020.
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AP Football writers Josh Dubow and Simmi Buttar collaborated, and sports writers Dave Skretta, John Wawrow, Steve Megargee and Tim Booth.
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