Patriots have a pair of second team All-Pros

The 2021 Patriots improved by three wins and made it back to the playoffs. But despite their numerous roster improvements, they actually took a step back in terms of First Team All-Pro selections.

Granted, the Pats' First Team All-Pros in 2020 were punter Jake Bailey and punt returner Gunner Olszewski. But after a down year overall for the Patriots' punting units, neither of them garnered All-Pro votes in 2021. Two Patriots, however, earned enough votes to be named to the second team.

Cornerback J.C. Jackson received the third-most All-Pro votes (25) from the Associated Press at cornerback, based on the official results. Jackson is a second team selection at his position, along with the Falcons' A.J. Terrell (8 votes). The first-teamers at corner are the Cowboys' Trevon Diggs (33 votes) and the Rams' Jalen Ramsey (32 votes).

For Jackson, it's his first career AP All-Pro selection on either team. The 26-year-old followed up a nine-interception 2020 season with eight more picks, and also led the NFL with 23 total passes defended while starting in all 17 games.

Jackson is set to earn a lot of money in the 2022 offseason. He's on track to become an unrestricted free agent, and would be one of the most expensive at any position. The Patriots could also decide to franchise tag him, likely for north of $15 million.

Special teams captain Matthew Slater is the Patriots' other second team All-Pro in 2021. The Saints' J.T. Gray received the most votes at "special teamer" with 18. Slater finished second with 10.

Sneaky-good stat for the Patriots' special teams units: they allowed the second-fewest punt returns with 16, behind only the Rams' nine, and just ahead of the Bills and Chiefs. The punt blocking wasn't as sharp as Patriots fans are used to seeing, but when they get punts off, they're still one of the best coverage teams in the league. Slater is a massive part of that.

Six other Patriots received at least one All-Pro vote for 2021. Here's the full list, in order of vote total:

CB J.C. Jackson: 25
ST Matthew Slater: 10
LB Matthew Judon: 3
LS Joe Cardona: 3
S Adrian Phillips: 2
G Shaq Mason: 1
K Nick Folk: 1

Judon's vote count likely would've been higher if he kept pace with the first half of the season, but his production took a nosedive in the second half. Judon posted nine sacks and 16 QB hits in his first nine games, but only 3.5 sacks and nine QB hits in his last eight. He had zero sacks or hits over the Pats' final four games.

Phillips and Mason got recognized for quietly having excellent seasons in their own right. Folk, meanwhile, grabbed a vote after converting field goals at the second-best rate of his career (92.3 percent).

Here are the full AP All-Pro rosters, pulled directly from the AP website.

First Team

Quarterback: Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay

Running Back: Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis

Tight End: Mark Andrews, Baltimore

Wide Receivers: Davante Adams, Green Bay; Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams; Deebo Samuel, San Francisco

Left Tackle: Trent Williams, San Francisco

Right Tackle: Tristan Wirfs, Tampa Bay

Left Guard: Joel Bitonio, Cleveland

Right Guard: Zack Martin, Dallas

Center: Jason Kelce, Philadelphia

Edge Rushers: T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh; Myles Garrett, Cleveland

Interior Linemen: Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams; Cam Heyward, Pittsburgh

Linebackers: Darius Leonard, Indianapolis; Micah Parsons, Dallas; De’Vondre Campbell, Green Bay

Cornerbacks: Trevon Diggs, Dallas; Jalen Ramsey, Los Angeles Rams

Safeties: Kevin Byard, Tennessee; Jordan Poyer, Buffalo

Placekicker: Justin Tucker, Baltimore

Punter: A.J. Cole, Las Vegas

Kick Returner: Braxton Berrios, New York Jets

Punt Returner: Devin Duvernay, Baltimore

Special Teamer: J. T. Gray, New Orleans

Long Snapper: Luke Rhodes, Indianapolis

Second Team

Quarterback: Tom Brady, Tampa Bay

Running Back: VACANT (Taylor: unanimous selection)

Tight End: Travis Kelce, Kansas City

Wide Receivers: Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati; Justin Jefferson, Minnesota

Left Tackle: Rashawn Slater, Los Angeles Chargers

Right Tackle: Lane Johnson, Philadelphia

Left Guard: Quenton Nelson, Indianapolis

Right Guard: Wyatt Teller, Cleveland

Center: Corey Linsley, Los Angeles Chargers

Edge Rushers: Robert Quinn, Chicago; Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas

Interior Linemen: Chris Jones, Kansas City; Jeffery Simmons, Tennessee

Linebackers: Demario Davis, New Orleans; Roquan Smith, Chicago; Bobby Wagner, Seattle

Cornerbacks: J.C. Jackson, New England; A.J. Terrell, Atlanta

Safeties: Justin Simmons, Denver, Micah Hyde, Buffalo and Budda Baker, Arizona (tie)

Placekicker: Daniel Carlson, Las Vegas

Punter: Bryan Anger, Dallas

Kick Returner: Andre Roberts, Los Angeles Chargers

Punt Returner: Jakeem Grant, Chicago

Special Teamer: Matthew Slater, New England, and Ashton Dulin, Indianapolis.

Long Snapper: Josh Harris, Atlanta

[iframe src="https://omny.fm/shows/sports-hub-underground/no-crying-in-hockey/embed" width="100%" height="180" frameborder="0" title="No Crying in Hockey"][/iframe]

I host a podcast every week with Ty Anderson called the Sports Hub Underground. We didn't talk any football on this week's episode, but there's plenty of hockey. Have a listen above if you're interested. You can subscribe here.