Trent McDuffie, Chris Jones, Joe Thuney Highlight KC Chiefs' AP NFL All-Pro Class
Earlier this week, the Kansas City Chiefs had a pair of players named to the NFLPA Players' All-Pro team for their stellar achievements this season. Just a couple of days later, more accolades are on the way.
One of football's most honorable lists, the AP NFL All-Pro team, has been released. A year after six Chiefs made either first- or second-team, that number is trimmed down to three. Cornerback Trent McDuffie (who made it as a slot corner), defensive tackle Chris Jones and left guard Joe Thuney appear on the most recent first-team list. No other member of Kansas City was recognized on the lists voted on by 50 members of a nationwide media panel.
This marks the first career first-team All-Pro berth for both McDuffie and Thuney.
In 16 games played this season. McDuffie recorded career-highs with 80 tackles, nine quarterback hits, five forced fumbles and three sacks. He also surrendered a 65.8 completion percentage in coverage and was on the field for a staggering 97% of the Chiefs' available snaps under defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.
Thuney, who's been a second-team All-Pro before, played 1,097 snaps for Kansas City on offense and started all 17 games while posting a 74.6 Pro Football Focus composite grade.
For Jones, this is the second year in a row he's named a first-team All-Pro. The star interior defensive lineman started 16 games for Kansas City this season and recorded 10.5 sacks and four passes broken up in those contests. He also logged 75 pressures according to PFF, just two fewer than last year's total. With Jones earning this honor, he keeps a specific contract incentive alive. Should the Chiefs appear in the Super Bowl, he'll earn an additional $1 million.
Some notable names, including quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce, are left off this year's list. On top of that, cornerback L'Jarius Sneed misses out on yet another accolade despite his stellar performance against top-shelf receivers this season. Earlier this month, Spagnuolo discussed McDuffie and Sneed not being named to the Pro Bowl.
"Listen, I'd be lying if I didn't say I was disappointed," Spagnuolo said. "You know how I feel about those guys. It is what it is. I mean, again, because I know those guys, they're more concerned with the bigger picture. But yeah, disappointed is a pretty good word."
