Mitchell Schwartz, Tyrann Mathieu among Pro Bowl snubs and questions
By Matt Conner
Tyrann Mathieu
Minkah Fitzpatrick has justified every bit of the steep price paid for him by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Jamal Adams isn’t healthy but he’s also been a beast in his sophomore year in the NFL. It’s hard to argue with the AFC’s starting safeties given the presence of those two, however, this is where things get very weird. The only one listed beyond these two is Earl Thomas, one backup for two slots.
Even Thomas’s inclusion isn’t merited beyond others in the conference. Justin Simmons of the Denver Broncos has been a true revelation this season and deserves to be included. Yet even if we give him the unoccupied spot that should be opened, that still leaves Thomas in a role that’s not as deserving as that of Mathieu.
By not including Mathieu, it’s as if voters have forgotten just how completely in disrepair the Chiefs secondary was. The cornerbacks were widely classified among the NFL’s worst. The Chiefs hadn’t enjoyed anything dynamic in the secondary since Eric Berry had successfully returned from a cancer diagnosis.
This offseason, the Chiefs added Mathieu in free agency and Juan Thornhill in the draft. The results have changed the franchise completely. The back end of the defense is truly a strength with Mathieu in place as a vocal leader who communicates and keeps everyone accountable and even cornerback play is much stronger with Mathieu in close orbit.
For the season, Mathieu has 62 total tackles, 3 interceptions, 2 sacks, 9 passes defended, and 2 more quarterback hits. Simmons deserves any nod above Mathieu for his own incredible season with the Broncos, but there should be four spots here and Mathieu should occupy one.