3 Cowboys make the 2024 AP All-Pro team

The NFL Playoffs kick off today when the Houston Texans play host to the Los Angeles Chargers in the first Wildcard matchup of the 2024 postseason. The Dallas Cowboys were eliminated from playoff contention weeks ago, but the NFL playoffs are always exciting, even when my favorite team isn’t playing.

Chargers QB Justin Herbert would be wise to stay away from Houston CB Derek Stingley Jr.’s zone. Stingley was one of 56 players selected to the NFL AP All-Pro team.

The AP All-Pro teams are broken up into two groups, much like how middle school football teams have separate A and B teams.

The Dallas Cowboys, despite a 7-10 season, managed to land three players among those 56, and they definitely deserve the recognition.

WR/KR/PR KaVontae Turpin

When the Cowboys signed USFL MVP KaVontae Turpin to the team prior to the 2022 season, ST Coordinator Jon “Bones” Fassel had a vision for the diminutive speedster.

At the time, speed was something the Cowboys lacked, and Fassel saw the potential for Turpin to become one of the league’s best returners.

Great job, Coach Fassel. After a season of getting his feet under him in 2022, Turpin exploded onto the scene in 2023 and made his first Pro Bowl. Great job again, Coach Fassel.

Turpin was one of the only bright spots for the Cowboys this season, and he has been rewarded with his first AP 1st Team All-Pro selection.

Here is where KaVontae Turpin ranks in the major categories on kickoff returns:

26 returns (2nd)

874 yards (1st)

33.6 yards per return (2nd among players with at least 10 returns)

1 TD (T-1st)

Turpin’s lone kickoff touchdown was a 99-yard scamper against the Washington Commanders that looked like a scene straight out of a video game.

He did damage in the punt return department, as well, reflected by his ranks here:

17 returns (T-19th)

186 yards (14th)

10.9 yards per return (2nd among players with at least 10 returns)

1 TD (T-1st)

Turpin was the only player in the NFL to return both a kickoff and a punt for a touchdown.

WR CeeDee Lamb

If the NFL asked a fan base to vote just one player from their favorite team to be selected for an AP All-Pro team, that player for most Cowboys fans would likely be WR CeeDee Lamb.

The voters must agree because Lamb just made his third consecutive AP All-Pro Team appearance.

This time on 2nd Team All-Pro for the second time in his career.

We didn’t get to see Lamb finish the season because a shoulder injury landed him on Injured Reserve with two games left. In the 15 games he played, #88 tallied 101 receptions on 152 targets, a 66.4% success rate.

He turned those 101 receptions into 1,194 yards and six touchdowns, once again leading the team in receptions and yardage.

Ahead of CeeDee Lamb on the 1st Team All-Pro list are Ja’Marr Chase (CIN), Justin Jefferson (MIN), and Amon-Ra St. Brown (DET). Joining Lamb on the 2nd team are Terry McLaurin (WAS) and AJ Brown (PHI).

Here is where Lamb ranked among his peers despite missing two games with injury:

Targets: 152 (7th)

Receptions: 101 (7th)

Yards: 1,194 (T-8th)

YAC (Yards after catch): 537 (9th)

20+ yard catches: 16 (14th)

K Brandon Aubrey

The final selection from the Cowboys is K Brandon Aubrey.

He impressed last year as a rookie, setting a Cowboys franchise record for field goals made in a season. All he did in 2024 was break his own franchise record, kicking 40 field goals through the uprights, becoming the 5th kicker in NFL history to reach that mark.

Aubrey made 40/47 attempts this season, with two of those misses coming from over 60 yards out, and another two misses being blocked.

He wasn’t perfect from 40-49 yards like last year, and that may be what led the voters to select Pittsburgh’s Chris Boswell over him for 1st team honors.

The Dallas Cowboys are fortunate to have one of the best kickers in the NFL on their roster for 2025, and hopefully for the foreseeable future.