Even though he finished the regular season with a disappointing performance, Stephon Gilmore has been the NFL’s best cornerback overall in 2019 — and a key reason why the New England Patriots defense finished as the number one scoring unit in the league. The 29-year-old was therefore voted to the third Pro Bowl of his career and has now received another honor: for the second straight season, he has been named first-team All-Pro.
Gilmore is one of just two unanimous selections to the team as voted on by the Associated Press: he and New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas gathered all the available voted. Not only does this recognize the tremendous season the veteran defender has had in his third year since joining the Patriots as a free agent, it also could be a reflection about his status as a potential candidate to win the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year award.
New England’s number one cornerback is not the only Patriot to make the first All-Pro squad: special teams ace Matthew Slater has also made the cut after arguably his best regular season to date. Slater registered 10 special teams tackles and also forced one fumble, recovered another, blocked a punt and scored the first touchdown of his NFL career. Add it all up and you get why he has been named first-team All-Pro for the second time in his career.
Furthermore, starting left guard Joe Thuney has made the second All-Pro team for the first time since joining the league as a third-round draft selection by the Patriots in 2016. The two-time Super Bowl winner has also played arguably the best season of his young career as he has improved as both a run blocker and a pass protector — playing the most consistent football along New England’s offensive line and setting himself up for a nice pay-day come free agency in March.
First-team All-Pro selections
Offense
QB Lamar Jackson (Baltimore Ravens), WR Michael Thomas (New Orleans Saints), WR DeAndre Hopkins (Houston Texans), RB/Flex Christian McCaffrey (Carolina Panthers), TE George Kittle (San Francisco 49ers), LT Ronnie Stanley (Baltimore Ravens), RT Ryan Ramczyk (New Orleans Saints), LG Quenton Nelson (Indianapolis Colts), RG Zack Martin (Dallas Cowboys), C Jason Kelce (Philadelphia Eagles)
Defense
DE Chandler Jones (Arizona Cardinals), DE T.J. Watt (Pittsburgh Steelers), DT Aaron Donald (Los Angeles Rams), DT Cameron Heyward (Pittsburgh Steelers), LB Bobby Wagner (Seattle Seahawks), LB Demario Davis (New Orleans Saints), LB Eric Kendricks (Minneota Viking), S Eric Weddle (Los Angeles Rams), S Jamal Adams (New York Jets), CB Stephon Gilmore (New England Patriots), CB Tre’Davious White (Buffalo Bills), DB Marcus Peters (Baltimore Ravens), Tyrann Mathieu (Kansas City Chiefs), Marlon Humphrey (Baltimore Ravens)
Special teams
ST Matthew Slater (New England Patriots), K Justin Tucker (Baltimore Ravens), KR Cordarrelle Patterson (Chicago Bears), PR Deonte Harris (New Orleans Saints), P Brett Kern (Tennessee Titans)
Second-team All-Pro selections
Offense
QB Russell Wilson (Seattle Seahawks), RB/Flex Derrick Henry (Tennessee Titans), TE Travis Kelce (Kansas City Chiefs), WR Julio Jones (Atlanta Falcons), Chris Godwin (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), LT David Bakhtiari (Green Bay Packers), RT Mitchell Schwartz (Kansas City Chiefs), LG Joe Thuney (New England Patriots), LG Joel Bitonio (Cleveland Browns), RG Marshal Yanda (Baltimore Ravens), C Rodney Hudson (Oakland Raiders)
Defense
DE Shaquil Barrett (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), DE Cameron Jordan (New Orleans Saints), DT Grady Jarrett (Atlanta Falcons), DT DeForest Buckner (San Francisco 49ers), LB Luke Kuechly (Carolina Panthers), LB Darius Leonard (Indianapolis Colts), LB T.J. Watt (Pittsburgh Steelers), CB Richard Sherman (San Francisco 49ers), CB Marcus Peters (Baltimore Ravens), S Justin Simmons (Denver Broncos), S Tyrann Mathieu (Kansas City Chiefs)
Special teams
ST Cordarrelle Patterson (Chicago Bears), ST J.T. Gray (New Orleans Saints), K Josh Lambo (Jacksonville Jaguars), P Tress Way (Washington Redskins), KR Mecole Hardman (Kansas City Chiefs), PR Diontae Johnson (Pittsburgh Steelers)
Patriots votes
CB Stephon Gilmore (50)
ST Matthew Slater (37)
S Devin McCourty (4)
LB Dont’a Hightower (4)
OG Joe Thuney (3)
CB Jonathan Jones (3)
LB Jamie Collins Sr. (3)
LB Kyle Van Noy (3)
CB J.C. Jackson (2)
ST Nate Ebner (1)
WR Julian Edelman (1)