PFF selects 3 Falcons for 2022 Pro Bowl

Sometimes with bad teams, good players are overshadowed by better narratives. There are massive flaws in the voting of nearly every individual award the NFL offers. The Pro Bowl vote has no apparent areas that need improving, though I think the fan vote is overvalued. It is why Trevon Diggs ranked first in votes for his position, despite being just alright in coverage on an every-down basis. Flashy interception totals on America’s Team sounds a whole lot better than what A.J. Terrell is doing in gloomy Atlanta. At the very least, Terrell should be a Pro Bowler, if not an All-Pro, and Pro Football Focus agrees along with two other Falcons — Cordarrelle Patterson and Chris Lindstrom.

Terrell is in the conversation for most improved player in the NFL this season. The 2020 first-round pick has improved his PFF coverage grade over 33 points year-over-year from 57.0 (71st) in 2020 to 90.2 (first) in 2021. The most yards Terrell has allowed in a single game this season is 32. He’s allowed the fewest yards per coverage snap in the NFL this season (0.33) while ranking third in forced incompletion rate (21.1%).

One of the biggest breakout players of the 2021 season is none other than Patterson, who is in his ninth season in the NFL. Patterson has always been considered an elite kick returner but has struggled to consistently find a role on the offense. In his first year in Atlanta, Patterson has finally done so, as he has moved to the backfield. Over half of his snaps have come in the backfield this year, and he’s earned an 86.0 PFF grade overall. Patterson’s receiving grade is even better at 91.8.

PFF didn’t have a description for Lindstrom as they highlighted Zack Martin, a first-ballot Hall of Famer, but the third-year guard is one of the best at his position and deserves recognition for his incredible season. He’s set to be a pillar in Arthur Smith’s offense for the next decade if he can stay healthy and will likely go on to multiple Pro Bowls.