NFL Heads hand out their Pro Bowl Votes, Josh Allen and Big Ben both snubbed?
By: NFL Heads
The Pro Bowl is a massive waste of time. Probably not the beginning you expected from an article featuring Pro Bowl votes, but it’s true. In fact, I have made it a point to reference the Pro Bowl as little as humanly possible in my past articles. Let’s feature some of the highlights from last year. Xavier Rhodes- one of the worst cornerbacks in 2019, Larry Warford- Did not even end up making the team in 2020 and is still unsigned, and Lamar Jackson being named the starter over Patrick Mahomes. The purpose of this article is to hopefully get some people to agree with my votes and let the right people into the Pro Bowl. For once.
AFC: Patrick Mahomes, Deshaun Watson, Ryan Tannehill
NFC: Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson, Kyler Murray
In general no surprises at quarterback, although I did consider Roethlisberger over Tannehill, I have been much more impressed with the movement of the Titans offense than I have been with the Steelers.
Running Back
AFC: Derrick Henry, Josh Jacobs, Nick Chubb
NFC: Dalvin Cook, Alvin Kamara, Antonio Gibson
Derrick Henry and Dalvin Cook are the obvious front runners, and Kamara and Jacobs are great choices as well. As far as the last two, Gibson has gone nuts in certain games, and Chubb has been used heavily down the stretch since returning from injury.
Fullback
AFC: Anthony Sherman, Alec Ingold, Patrick Ricard
NFC: Kyle Jusczyk, CJ Ham, Nick Bellore
In a dying position in today’s NFL, you have to go with the consistent players, and what better consistency can you find than Anthony Sherman and Kyle Jusczyk.
Wide Receiver
AFC: Tyreek Hill, Stefon Diggs, Keenan Allen
NFC: DK Metcalf, Davante Adams, DeAndre Hopkins
I struggled a lot with so many great options. The idea of leaving Cooper Kupp and Terry McLaurin out of the Pro Bowl really sucks, but in the NFC there is nobody more dominant than Matcalf, Adams, and Hopkins.
Tight End
AFC: Travis Kelce, Darren Waller, Hunter Henry
NFC: TJ Hockenson, Rob Gronkowski, Hayden Hurst
What you have to understand is that the options at NFC tight end are pretty slim, while I do not think Gronk and Hurst are super viable options, who else are you putting in? Jimmy Graham and Robert Tonyan?
Offensive Tackle
AFC: Anthony Castonzo, Mekhi Becton, Allejandro Vilanueva
NFC: Lane Johnson, David Bakhtiari, Taylor Decker
AFC Offensive tackles are easy, just pick Mekhi Becton and then the starting Colts and Steelers tackles. On the NFC, Bakhtiari is always a great pick and people seem to sleep on Decker, who is a sneaky consistent pick. Too bad we had to miss out on La’el Collins, who has missed time with injury.
Guard
AFC: David DeCastro, Quenton Nelson, Joel Bitonio
NFC: Zack Martin, Justin Pugh, Brandon Scherff
Here we show the cream of the crop at guard with David DeCastro and Zack Martin as AFC and NFC starters. We move on to a surprise pick at Justin Pugh, who is very sneaky good, and has been slept on his entire career.
Center
AFC: Maurkice Pouncey, Rodney Hudson, David Andrews
NFC: Jason Kelce, Alex Mack, Matt Paradis
No surprises here, Pouncey and Kelce have been elite centers for the majority of their careers, and Alex Mack while in decline is still a great starter for an otherwise depleted Atlanta offensive line.
Defensive End
AFC: Myles Garrett, Joey Bosa, JJ Watt
NFC: Trey Hendrickson, Cameron Jordan, Aldon Smith
Being the sack leader amongst defensive ends makes you the obvious choice, which leads to Garrett and Hendrickson being the leaders in the AFC and NFC respectively. While Smith may come as a surprise to some, anybody watching him play will agree he is at least deserving of pro bowl consideration.
Defensive Tackle
AFC: Chris Jones, Calais Campbell, Cameron Heyward
NFC: Aaron Donald, Fletcher Cox, Akiem Hicks
Well duh, Aaron Donald is the obvious choice, performing far and above any player, defensive or offensive (with the exclusion of Mahomes), in the entire league. Aside from that, Chris Jones and Calais Campbell are some of the best players on their respective teams, as are Cox and Hicks.
Inside Linebacker
AFC: AJ Johnson, Zach Cunningham, Joe Schobert
NFC: Devin White, Lavonte David, Bobby Wagner
Devin White and Lavonte David have been the best defensive pairing in the entire NFL, and are far and away my one and two picks for the Pro Bowl. Aside from that, Bobby Wagner is still an elite talent for the Seahawks. Joe Schobert has been an underrated talent for years, and deserves to be in the pro bowl.
Outside Linebacker
AFC: TJ Watt, Bud Dupree, Bradley Chubb
NFC: ZaDarius Smith, Jason Pierre-Paul, Leonard Floyd
These are the obvious choices at outside linebacker, especially with TJ Watt delivering what has been a defensive player of the year-like season for Pittsburgh. On the other side, ZaDarius Smith has been dominant for the Packers and Jason Pierre-Paul is a crucial part of an incredible Bucs defense.
Cornerback
AFC: Xavien Howard, Marcus Peters, Marlon Humphrey
NFC: Jalen Ramsey, Carlton Davis, Jaire Alexander
Ramsey has had an incredible year at corner for the Rams, and Jaire Alexander is really coming along as a great young shutdown corner. No big surprises on this list, for those who don’t know who Carlton Davis is, he is the dominant secondary player on the Bucs.
Free Safety
AFC: Minkah Fitzpatrick, Daniel Sorenson, Marcus Maye
NFC: Logan Ryan, Anthony Harris, Antoine Winfield
Logan Ryan was one of my favorite slot cornerbacks last year, and is still one of my favorite secondary players in 2020. Ryan has been great for the Giants this year. On the NFC side, Daniel Sorenson continues to improve on the Chiefs, and Marcus Maye has had a quietly good season masked by an awful Jets team.
Strong Safety
AFC: Jordan Poyer, Tyrann Mathieu, Jonathan Abram
NFC: Budda Baker, Jordan Whitehead, Harrison Smith
Baker continues to be the best safety in the NFL, and Harrison Smith and Tyrann Mathieu complement him very nicely. Jordan Whitehead of the Bucs is also a sneaky good safety and deserves plenty of consideration for the Pro Bowl.
Kicker
AFC: Jason Sanders, Justin Tucker, Brandon McManus
NFC: Younghoe Koo, Ryan Succop, Jason Myers
Punter
AFC: Matt Haack, Logan Cooke, Sam Koch
NFC: Johnny Hekker, Riley Dixon, Pat O’Donnell
Long Snapper
AFC: Blake Ferguson, Jon Weeks, Joe Cardona
NFC: Josh Harris, LP Ladouceur, Aaron Brewer
Return Specialist
AFC: Andre Roberts, Joe Reed, Isaiah Rodgers
NFC: Cordarrelle Patterson, Tony Pollard, Jamal Agnew
Special Teams
AFC: Matthew Slater, Nick Vigil, George Odum
NFC: CJ Goodwin, Miles Killebrew, Ruby Ford