The NFL AP All-Pro Teams were announced today, and one of the biggest misses of the voting was putting T.J. Watt as a second-team All-Pro selection instead of a first. The former Wisconsin Badger and current Pittsburgh Steeler linebacker came up short of Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns. There is certainly an argument for Garrett to win first-team honors, but there's a bigger one for Watt.
T.J. Watt was named Second-Team All-Pro by the Associated Press 🙌
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) January 10, 2025
📝: https://t.co/NlCaeNtB0V pic.twitter.com/82dmfru9BD
T.J. Watt has been named to the Second-Team All-Pro list by the AP.
It truly does feel like a snub for Watt to end up on the second team, especially when he's in the conversation for the Defensive Player of the Year award. His stats may not be as off the charts as they were last season, but he's also drawing a lot more chips and double teams AND still putting up insane numbers. Here's a side-by-side of T.J. Watt and Myles Garrett's stats.
Stat Category | T.J. Watt | Myles Garrett |
|---|---|---|
Tackles | 61 | 47 |
Sacks | 11.5 | 14 |
Forced Fumbles | 6 | 3 |
Stuffs | 14.5 | 11.5 |
Watt outpaced him by a lot in every statistical category that matters for linebackers, except for sacks. He was 14 tackles more, double the number of forced fumbles, and three more stuff at the line. It's almost like the AP voters just looked at sack leaders and decided on Garrett that way.
How the hell is TJ Watt the favorite for DPOY up until this week, and still way ahead of everyone except Pat Surtain, but somehow doesn’t get 1st team All Pro, while Garrett and Hendrickson does??!!
— Alex (@agentalexcamp) January 10, 2025
Nobody gets screwed out of awards more than Watt. Unreal.#Steelers #NFL
What often happens in these debates is some advanced analytics person chimes in with all these percentages and pass rush rates and such to claim Garrett is actually better. However, when it comes to actually helping the team win and disrupting the game, Watt is hands down the favorite. Only one of the two teams is in the playoffs. While that shouldn't be the only reason a player should win awards, it is one more category to consider. How much did X player help their team win? For Garrett, he helped in lots of ways, but Watt got his defense off the field time and time again.
It should have gone to Watt, and it feels disrespectful that it didn't. Hats off to Garrett; he had a heck of a season, but Watt should have been a First-Team All-Pro Edge.