Associated Press voters got Steelers All-Pro selections exactly right

The Pittsburgh Steelers had their two best players dubbed as First-Team All-Pro selections this year. Here’s why the Associated Press got these names right.

Earning a First-Team All-Pro selection is one of the biggest personal accomplishments an NFL player can receive. With 704 starting players in the NFL (not counting special teams), the odds of being the first or second-best in the NFL at your respective position is extraordinarily low. However, the Pittsburgh Steelers had two players who once again achieved this for their efforts following the 2021 season.

After the Associated Press made their decisions, the NFL officially announced the All-Pro teams for 2021. T.J. Watt and Cameron Heyward both earned First-Team All-Pro honors. No other Steelers player earned as much as Second-Team All-Pro selection.

This is the third straight season that Watt had been awarded First-Team All-Pro honors. Though other NFL pass rushers like Maxx Crosby and Robert Quinn had excellent NFL seasons in 2021, Watt was one of five NFL players to be unanimously selected by AP voters. Myles Garrett Joins him as the opposite edge defender to make First-Team.

For Cameron Heyward, this is his fourth time appearing on the First-Team All-Pro list over the past six seasons. Though his NFL career got off to a relatively slow start, Heyward has undoubtedly been one of the best interior defenders for the better part of a decade now.

AP voters got it right with Steelers All-Pro selections

Immediately after the All-Pro selections were officially announced, I’ve seen a few irate Steelers fans on social media who pleaded their case for other players on the roster who were deserving of at least a Second-Team All-Pro selection. However, I would argue that the Associated Press hit the nail on the head with their Steelers picks this year.

Despite an inconsistent defense in 2021, I was certainly on board with Watt and Heyward as First-Team All-Pro players, as they were clearly a cut above the rest this year. While other Steelers had some very strong seasons, it’s hard to argue that the AP was incorrect in some of their decisions.

Take Chris Boswell, for example. While the Steelers kicker had another terrific year — converting 90 percent of his field goals (27 of 29) — Justin Tucker and Daniel Carlson were even better. They each converted upwards of 93 percent and made First-Team and Second-Team All-Pro, respectively.

The same could be said about Minkah Fitzpatrick this year. While I believe that Fitzpatrick played very good football in the second half of the season with a few game-saving pass breakups, players like Kevin Byard, Jordan Poyer, Justin Simmons, Mycah Hyde, and Budah Baker each had terrific seasons in their own right. Fitzpatrick not only graded out poorly, via Pro Football Focus, but he also earned just 2 interceptions in 16 games this season.

Additionally, young, quality players like Diontae Johnson, Pat Freiermuth, and Najee Harris aren’t in that conversation yet at this stage of their careers, but that doesn’t mean they can’t get there someday.

Overall, I thought the Steelers were represented exactly how they should have been on the Associated Press All-Pro team this year. Let’s hope more Pittsburgh players prove to be worthy of this honor in the near future.