While the Pro Bowl Games themselves mean very little, it’s still a solid honor for NFL players to be voted in initially. Eventually, because of injuries, the Super Bowl, and players declining, the spots on the team end up going to decent but not spectacular players. Still, the initial vote means something, and some players deserved to get that nod over others.
AFC Pro Bowl Snubs
Not every single great AFC player can make the Pro Bowl. There might be four cornerbacks, for example, and the fifth-best might be really good. There just aren’t a ton of spots. Still, there are some players who probably should’ve made it.
Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars
Trevor Lawrence is on fire right now, and he’s quietly putting together an amazing season for the Jacksonville Jaguars. He should probably have made it over Josh Allen or Justin Herbert. Lawrence is third in the entire sport in total touchdowns, and he’s doing it without Travis Hunter and with Brian Thomas Jr. having regressed.
Marcus Jones, New England Patriots
Marcus Jones has been one of the best returners in the sport this season. He probably should’ve been voted in over Chimere Dike, who’s been excellent as well. Jones has more punt return touchdowns, though, and has the second-best return average, too.
Josh Hines-Allen, Jacksonville Jaguars
Josh Hines-Allen is very deserving of a spot off the edge, but this also has to do with T.J. Watt inexplicably getting a spot on the roster. He’s been solid this season, but he’s definitely coasting on name value. Meanwhile, Hines-Allen has as many sacks and a higher pressure rate.
NFC Pro Bowl Snubs
There’s a ton of talent in the NFC, too. The same logic applies. Some players have to be snubbed; otherwise, that would imply that there are only three good interior defensive linemen, for example. That’s definitely not the case, and that’s not the case for a lot of positions.
Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers
Jordan Love has been similar to Sam Darnold this year, but Darnold got the nod over him. They’re very close in a lot of metrics, and Darnold does have the edge in some. But Darnold has a whopping 18 turnovers, the most by any QB. Love has just eight, so he’s been way better in that regard.
Jason Myers, Seattle Seahawks
Kickers are usually pretty close to one another across the league, especially the good ones. But it is incredible that the Seattle Seahawks kicker isn’t being honored. Jason Myers is 44/44 on extra points and has made 37 field goals this year, more than anyone else in the sport.
Derrick Brown, Carolina Panthers
Derrick Brown easily should’ve been a Pro Bowl IDL. He got some Defensive Player of the Year buzz earlier. There won’t be any IDL alternates for some inexplicable reason, so Brown will remain a snub. He even got snubbed from ESPN’s list of snubs, and Brown continues to be one of the most forgotten superstars.
Chris Olave, New Orleans Saints
This may be recency bias because Chris Olave has been excellent lately, but he should’ve been a Pro Bowl wide receiver. He’s been efficient, and Olave is fifth in targets, sixth in catches, eighth in receiving yards, and eighth in receiving touchdowns. That should’ve been enough.
Byron Murphy, Seattle Seahawks
Similar to Brown, Byron Murphy is one of the best interior defenders in the game. The position is pretty loaded, but one or both of Brown and Murphy should’ve been in, probably over Jalen Carter. The second-year player might be as good or better than Leonard Williams, his teammate, who did make the Pro Bowl.
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