Defensive rejections from 2021 NFL All-Pro team who must be reconsidered
#1 - Nick Bosa, DE, San Francisco 49ers
![San Francisco 49ers v Los Angeles Rams](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2022/01/2a9e8-16422833726759-1920.jpg?w=190 190w, https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2022/01/2a9e8-16422833726759-1920.jpg?w=720 720w, https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2022/01/2a9e8-16422833726759-1920.jpg?w=640 640w, https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2022/01/2a9e8-16422833726759-1920.jpg?w=1045 1045w, https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2022/01/2a9e8-16422833726759-1920.jpg?w=1200 1200w, https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2022/01/2a9e8-16422833726759-1920.jpg?w=1460 1460w, https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2022/01/2a9e8-16422833726759-1920.jpg?w=1600 1600w, https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2022/01/2a9e8-16422833726759-1920.jpg 1920w)
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On the defensive side of the ball, the first two defensive ends selected for the 2021 NFL All-Pro team were T.J. Watt and Myles Garrett. In the second team, Robert Quinn found a place along with Maxx Crosby.
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But we would argue that Nick Bosa should have been named to the second team at least, because he was fourth-highest on the sacks list with 15.5 and all three ahead of him made it to the 2021 NFL All-Pro team. His 21 tackles for a loss were also the highest in the league.
#2 - Minkah Fitzpatrick, S, Pittsburgh Steelers
![Detroit Lions v Pittsburgh Steelers](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2022/01/b7a87-16422843227945-1920.jpg?w=190 190w, https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2022/01/b7a87-16422843227945-1920.jpg?w=720 720w, https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2022/01/b7a87-16422843227945-1920.jpg?w=640 640w, https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2022/01/b7a87-16422843227945-1920.jpg?w=1045 1045w, https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2022/01/b7a87-16422843227945-1920.jpg?w=1200 1200w, https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2022/01/b7a87-16422843227945-1920.jpg?w=1460 1460w, https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2022/01/b7a87-16422843227945-1920.jpg?w=1600 1600w, https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2022/01/b7a87-16422843227945-1920.jpg 1920w)
Minkah Fitzpatrick should have made the 2021 NFL All-Pro team ahead of some of the other safeties chosen. This is not to say Jordan Poyer has not had a fantastic season or Kevin Byard has not played well. But statistics simply show that in one category, Fitzpatrick is head and shoulders above all safeties in the NFL.
Fitzpatrick has 124 tackles this season. That's the highest among defensive backs. For comparison, Jordan Poyer has 93 tackles this season. Kevin Byard is on 88. That Fitzpatrick did not make the 2021 NFL All-Pro teams after being selected in 2019 and 2020 could be due to the fact that his big plays have dried up.
However, the statistics show that has happened primarily due to the nature of the game where he is more involved in tackling, reaching triple figures for the first time in hsi career.
#3 - A.J. Terrell, CB, Atlanta Falcons
![New England Patriots v Atlanta Falcons](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2022/01/53c8e-16422851082283-1920.jpg?w=190 190w, https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2022/01/53c8e-16422851082283-1920.jpg?w=720 720w, https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2022/01/53c8e-16422851082283-1920.jpg?w=640 640w, https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2022/01/53c8e-16422851082283-1920.jpg?w=1045 1045w, https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2022/01/53c8e-16422851082283-1920.jpg?w=1200 1200w, https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2022/01/53c8e-16422851082283-1920.jpg?w=1460 1460w, https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2022/01/53c8e-16422851082283-1920.jpg?w=1600 1600w, https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2022/01/53c8e-16422851082283-1920.jpg 1920w)
Much like in the case of Minkah Fitzpatrick, if A.J. Terrell was judged for his impact instead of just looking at the big plays, he would have made the 2021 NFL All-Pro team. Trevon Diggs made it to the team on the back of 11 receptions. But in getting those 11 receptions, he allowed a league-high 1,016 yards on 55 receptions.
Contrast this with the Atlanta Falcons cornerback, who only allowed 29 receptions for a measly 200 yards. That's less than two receptions per game allowed at below 12.5 receiving yards per game. He also forced 13 incompletions, which were higher than the 11 Trevon Diggs has. In our opinion, Terrell makes a decent case to be a first-team All-Pro, if not then definitely second-team due to his solid performances and the numbers to back it up..
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