While no Buccaneers were named to the Associated Press’ All-Pro First Team for their performances during the 2019 season, wide receiver Chris Godwin and outside linebacker Shaq Barrett both earned second-team honors as the rosters were unveiled on Friday.
While Barrett led the NFL with 19.5 sacks, the record-setting pass-rusher finished third in the league with six forced fumbles, two behind Arizona’s Chandler Jones and Pittsburgh’s T.J Watt who were both named to the league’s first team. And despite missing the Bucs’ final two games due to a hamstring suffered in Week 15 against the Detroit Lions, Godwin found himself with the third-most receiving yards (1,333) and the fourth-most receiving touchdowns (9) in the league.
Barrett’s designation comes with clear controversy, however.
It's not just about sacks. Here are the top three edge rushers:
Chandler Jones: 19 sacks, 8 FF, 3 FR, 0 INT, 53 tackles
T.J. Watt: 14.5 sacks, 8 FF, 4 FR, 2 INT, 55 tackles
Shaq Barrett: 19.5 sacks, 6 FF, 0 FR, 1 INT, 58 tackles https://t.co/DnOgNK8pL0— Greg Auman (@gregauman) January 3, 2020
Two more stats that (should) work in Shaq Barrett's favor regarding All-Pro edge rusher voting:
TFLs: Barrett 19, Watt 14, Jones 11.
QB hits: Barrett 37, Watt 36, Jones 26.— Greg Auman (@gregauman) January 3, 2020
While Jones and Watt edged out Barrett for first-team accolades, Houston’s DeAndre Hopkins and New Orleans’ Michael Thomas took first-team spots over Godwin and Julio Jones.
Other Bucs receiving votes include second-year defensive tackle Vita Vea, who received one all-pro vote, and middle linebacker Lavonte David whose 10 votes fell just one vote short of a second-team nod.