The Dallas Cowboys finished the 2021 regular season with an impressive 12-5 record and are the three seed in the playoffs. They will face the San Francisco 49ers in the wildcard round, which renews this rivalry. This is the first time the Cowboys have made the playoffs since 2018. That would not have been possible without the impressive turnaround made on defense, and high-powered offense. And this season, Zack Martin, Trevon Diggs, and Micah Parsons made the All-Pro team, highlighting how great their seasons were. Without them, the Cowboys season could have gone very differently.
First-Team All-Pro List Includes Three Dallas Cowboys
Model of Consistency: Zack Martin
This is Zack Martin’s fifth first-team All-Pro selection, and his seventh All-Pro selection overall when including second-team seasons. The future Hall of Famer has been the epitome of consistency in Dallas and has held down the offensive line since the Tony Romo days. Zack Martin may be the best player on the Cowboys. His quiet yet elite performances have been a major reason why the Cowboys were very successful on offense this season. Whether it is in run blocking or pass protection, Martin has performed as one of the best in the entire NFL this season. His skill set is going to be a major part of any success Dallas finds in the playoffs.
Rookie Sensation: Micah Parsons
Micah Parsons, a rookie sensation, has had one of the best first seasons by a defender in NFL history. He has earned the comparisons of Lawrence Taylor, Brian Urlacher, and Von Miller, all in his first 17 games. The Defensive Player of The Year candidate is just the fourth rookie in NFL history to make the First-Team All-Pro list. Others include Lawrence Taylor, Patrick Willis, and Darius Leonard. Parsons could singlehandedly be responsible for the turnaround of Dallas’ defense from the 2020 season to 2021. With the addition of Parsons, Dallas gained a double-digit sack threat, a quarterback spy, an open-field tackler, and someone who is good in coverage, all with one person. It is safe to say that Parsons is beyond deserving of his All-Pro selection.
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The Ball Hawk: Trevon Diggs
Trevon Diggs has had a record year as a ball hawk. Yet he is likely the most criticized player on the entire Cowboys team. Diggs posted 11 interceptions this year which is the most any player has recorded in the last 40 years. The last person to do so was Cowboys corner Everson Walls in 1981. Diggs tied the franchise record with Walls and improved in coverage as the year went on. However, his tendency to jump routes and go for interceptions has led to some boom or bust plays. Diggs, unfortunately, gave up 1,000 yards receiving in 2021, which was the most in the NFL.
However, many would say that is a fair trade-off for 11 interceptions. That is 11 times Diggs took the ball away from the opposing team and gave it back to the Cowboys offense (or scored himself on his two pick-sixes). That is 11 times that Diggs single-handedly ended the opponent’s drive and set up the offense with good field position. Diggs’s knack for getting turnovers has helped the Cowboys tremendously. And with the second-highest point differential in the NFL at 172, many of Diggs’s yards allowed came in garbage time. It would be a different story if Diggs gave up 1,000 yards receiving, and the Dallas defense was struggling and giving up points. However, with the defense playing well, taking the ball away, and dominating opponents, it is safe to say that Diggs has had an All-Pro impact on the Dallas Cowboys season.
Martin, Parsons, and Diggs certainly are three Cowboys players who are worthy of being First-Team All-Pro selections.
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