The NFL released the league’s Pro Bowl rosters this week, and only one Falcon made an appearance — Chris Lindstrom.
The 25-year-old has supplanted Jake Matthews as the team’s best offensive lineman, and Lindstrom even rivals Grady Jarrett as the best overall player. Jarrett has been doing it at as high of a level and for longer, but Lindstrom’s ascension has been rapid. Still, Jarrett is one of the best defenders in football and has an argument as a Pro Bowl snub.
Jarrett has anchored a terrible Atlanta defense as basically the unit’s only star. The veteran has posted six sacks, 11 tackles for loss, and 14 quarterback hits but lost out to Aaron Donald, Jonathan Allen, and Dexter Lawrence, who are all deserving of the honor.
Since only three defensive tackles are selected, Jarrett’s chances were always slim. And being in the same conference as Aaron Donald… there are really only two spots up for grabs. Nonetheless, Grady Jarrett is amid as good of a season as he’s had with a terrible supporting cast.
Jarrett is a hell of a person and leader, which is why the team handed him a contract extension last offseason. He’ll be in Atlanta for the remainder of his prime years; hopefully, Terry Fontenot and Arthur Smith can put together a playoff run before his career is finished. He certainly deserves another crack at the postseason.
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Photographer: Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire
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