Why Raiders’ Darren Waller lost out to someone named `vacant’ on All-Pro team

Raider Nation has its own version of voter fraud, and it involved Darren Waller being left off the 2020 NFL All-Pro Team.

The Chiefs’ Travis Kelce was the selection as first-team tight end, and deservedly so. Kelce had 105 receptions for an NFL record (for a tight end) 1,416 yards, 11 touchdowns and 79 first downs.

Waller broke Tim Brown’s franchise record with 107 receptions for 1,196 yards, nine touchdowns and 69 first downs.

So given the Chiefs are the defending Super Bowl champions and Kelce outperformed Waller in every statistical area except receptions, it was clear Kelce was choice No. 1 and Waller No. 2.

But here’s the rub — the A.P. uses a national 50-member voting panel (none of them are Associated Press writers) and Kelce got all 50 votes.

If Waller had received even a single first-team vote over Kelce, he would have been second team. But since Waller’s name appeared nowhere on anyone’s ballot, second-team was listed as “vacant” and there was outrage on social media.

The A.P. has made adjustments before because of voting quirks. In 2016, the Raiders’ Khalil Mack got enough votes at both defensive end and linebacker (even though he was primarily an end) to be named All-Pro at two positions.

Now the A.P. requires a player to be listed at only one position based on official snap counts.

Last season, Christian McCaffrey was named at two spots — running back and at the “flex” position — and in 2020 the flex position was eliminated in favor of a third wide receiver.

The A.P. could avoid the Waller problem by revising its system to having voters cast ballots with a No. 1 and a runner-up.

Other Raiders who received All-Pro votes were center Rodney Hudson (5) and punt returner Hunter Renfrow (1).

Corey Linsley of Green Bay was the first team center with 18 votes, while Ryan Kelly of Indianapolis and Frank Ragnow of Detroit had eight votes each and were both named to the second-team.