Regardless of an up-and-down season ending and not using a playoff look, the Las Vegas Raiders undoubtedly had a handful of gamers actually stand out for his or her efficiency this season. Two of the largest ought to come as no shock as defensive finish Maxx Crosby and punter AJ Cole have each been acknowledged as among the many greatest at their positions for years now.
Each Crosby and Cole have been named to the Professional Bowl for 3 consecutive seasons, and every was additionally an All-Professional in 2021, with Cole making the First Workforce whereas Crosby was a Second Workforce choice. And now, every has been acknowledged by their fellow gamers as arguably the most effective the league has to supply.
The NFL Gamers Affiliation introduced the second annual Gamers’ All-Professional Workforce with each Maxx Crosby and AJ Cole being chosen to the First Workforce, through Adam Schefter of ESPN:
NFL Gamers Affiliation introduced its second annual Gamers’ All-Professional crew: pic.twitter.com/5Y3kO4jbty
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 10, 2024
Neither choice ought to come as a shock. Crosby led the NFL in tackles for loss, was sixth in sacks and seventh in quarterback hits. Moreover, his 90 whole tackles had been probably the most of any participant with no less than 10 sacks, with solely Minnesota’s Danielle Hunter coming inside 15 tackles of the Raiders star.
Cole in the meantime, led the NFL in web punt common at 45.1 yards per punt and ranked fourth with 34 punts contained in the opposing 20-yard line. Cole additionally booted the longest punt of this season with an 83-yard bomb within the Raiders’ Week 14 contest towards the Minnesota Vikings.
Whereas it’s the gamers’ selections, it’s onerous to think about both Crosby or Cole being left off the AP All-Professional Workforce as soon as that’s introduced as nicely. Each gamers are foundational items of this franchise and are proof that the Raiders do have some issues they’ll construct round. Crosby, particularly, has not solely stepped up his play on the sphere but additionally his management inside the locker room, setting the instance and having no points talking on any points occurring.
The query now for the Raiders is who might be in cost as soon as subsequent season begins because the crew should determine who would be the everlasting head coach transferring ahead. Crosby and plenty of others have vouched for Antonio Pierce to maintain the job, however different names have been rumored as nicely.
Within the meantime, Crosby and Cole are getting their deserved recognition for being two of the most effective gamers within the league.