While there’s a huge difference between Mekhi Becton and Braden Mann, they both could be headed to the Pro Bowl in their first season in the league.
Becton leads all AFC tackles in fan voting with 41,193 votes, while Mann leads all AFC punters with 26,248 votes.
While Becton has played just seven of New York’s 10 games, he’s proven to be one of the best players at his position already. He has helped keep Joe Flacco and Sam Darnold’s blindside clean while being an immovable force in the run game for Gang Green.
As for Mann, the sixth-round pick out of Texas A&M is averaging 44.8 yards per punt. The rookie punter leads the NFL in punts, but of those 50, only three of them have gone for touchbacks. He also leads all NFL specialists in tackles.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 Pro Bowl will be held virtually as a week-long event. The Pro Bowl rosters will be featured on Madden 21 as a part of an alternative event. The fan vote started on Nov. 17 and will end on Dec. 17.
In a lost season, the Jets don’t have a lot to hang their hats on, but the play of the rookies, specifically Becton and Mann, is something they can use as a building block for the future. Even though they’re winless, fans around the league have taken notice.