I don't have an All-Pro vote, but here's how I'd shape the 2024 roster if I did
When the Pro Bowl rosters were announced last week, there was less attention given to the franchise-record seven Detroit Lions who made the NFC squad than the one who was snubbed. Yes, I count myself among that choir, penning a comprehensive exploration about why safety Kerby Joseph likely missed the cut.
On Wednesday, there was a fresh round of ire emanating from Detroit’s fan base when the NFLPA announced its player-voted All-Pro squad, with offensive tackle Penei Sewell the only Lion to get the nod.
If my projections are correct, the Associated Press will announce their All-Pro squads Friday afternoon. The panel of 50 voters filed their ballots Monday, with the entire regular season in the books and considered.
Almost certainly, Lions fans will be disappointed once again. Given the exclusivity of the All-Pro teams compared to the Pro Bowl rosters, multiple Lions are likely to miss the cut. With only one running back on the first- and second-teams, there might not be room for Jahmyr Gibbs. Will Amon-Ra St. Brown’s year-to-year decline in production prevent him from repeating as a first-team All-Pro? And what about Joseph? Will he get the media support he didn't from his peers to earn the more prestigious All-Pro honor after his Pro Bowl snub?
We’ll see.
I don't have a ballot. In fact, until recently, the Detroit market didn’t have a vote, dating back to when Tom Kowalski surrendered his before his untimely passing in 2011.
But I spend a lot of time thinking about the postseason awards. And with the creative freedom to do what I want during the first-round bye the Lions earned with their win over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday night, I thought it might be a fun exercise to research the numbers, watch a little film, talk to a few people in other markets with different perspectives and craft my own All-Pro ballot.
So here’s where I landed, if I had a vote.