Dynamic defensive star Aaron Donald and unstoppable tight ending Travis Kelce are unanimous picks Friday for The Associated Press NFL All-Pro Team.
Donald and Kelce took the votes of a nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the competition. It is the sixth All-Pro roster for Donald, who helped the Los Angeles Rams have the top-ranked defense in the NFL, and the third for Kansas City’s record-breaking Kelce.
“I think the best display of greatness is to make people around you better,” Rams coach Sean McVay said of Donald. “And that’s exactly what he does, in the way he affects them every week.”
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes praised Kelce for the way he approaches his job.
“He works his tail off every day and he exercises every day and he makes sure that he is prepared for these moments,” says Mahomes. “For a man who has so much talent, works so hard and can really learn every day, that’s what makes him so special on the field.”
Donald and Kelce are joined by 15 returning players and 14 newcomers. Seattle linebacker Bobby Wagner also makes his sixth squad.
“The great durability he’s demonstrated for middle linebacker after all these years is just off the charts,” said Seahawks coach Pete Carroll.
Aaron Rodgers, who led Green Bay (13-3) to the top seed in the NFC, makes his third team, as does Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill. For the first time in the offensive skills positions, 2,000-yard rusher Derrick Henry of Tennessee, Buffalo-amply Stefon Diggs, who led the NFL in catches and yards, and Rodgers’ favorite goal, Davante Adams, have been selected.
“To me, frankly, I think it’s just finding different little things that I can naturally get better at,” says Adams. ‘I feel like I am quite a complete receiver. … It’s just fine-tuning the things I do well and just figuring out a way to do them even better. ”
Diggs was traded by Minnesota to Buffalo in the off-season, then made a huge impact when the Bills won their first AFC East in 25 years.
“For me, it was just whatever situation I was going to be placed or chosen in,” says Diggs, “I would just embrace it. The first thing I always try to do is get the respect of my teammates and my coaches. is by working your (ass) off, keep grinding and putting that work in and letting the chips fall where they are. “
The Packers and Colts each have four All-Pros. Green Bay left tackle David Bakhtiari makes his second appearance, and center Corey Linsley his first. Indianapolis has inner lineman DeForest Buckner and linebacker Darius Leonard on defense, left guard Quenton Nelson in offense, and George Odum as the special teamer. Nelson is a triple All-Pro, Leonard a double squad, while Buckner and Odum make it their first.
Rounding out the attack are Cleveland right tackle Jack Conklin (second selection) and Washington judge guard Brandon Scherff (first).
Also on defense are edge rushers TJ Watt, the NFL’s pocket leader for Pittsburgh who is part of its second All-Pro Team, and newcomer Myles Garrett from Cleveland; San Francisco linebacker Fred Warner (first selection); cornerbacks Xavien Howard (first) of Miami, the competition’s interception leader, and Jalen Ramsey (second) of the Rams; and protections Tyrann Mathieu (third) from Kansas City, Minkah Fitzpatrick from Pittsburgh and Budda Baker from Arizona, both for the second time. There was a draw between Fitzpatrick and Baker for the second safety spot.
The long snapper position is new to the All-Pro Team in 2020, and Baltimore’s Morgan Cox is the pick. Chicago kick returner Cordarrelle Patterson makes it for the fourth time. The rest of the special team positions are newcomers: Miami kicker Jason Sanders, New England punter Jake Bailey and punter returner Gunner Olszewski.
2019 repeaters include Donald, Wagner, Nelson, Watt, Fitzpatrick, Mathieu and Patterson.
In total, 18 players represent the AFC, which is considered the stronger conference this season, and 11 for the NFC. Exactly half of the 32 clubs have a 2020 All-Pro.
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AP Pro Football Writers Josh Dubow and Simmi Buttar, and Sports Writers Dave Skretta, John Wawrow, Steve Megargee, and Tim Booth contributed.
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