If you think the Pro Bowl is a meaningless exercise, don’t tell the fans, players, and teams when somebody on their side is snubbed in the process. Every year, there are deserving players who aren’t voted to the Pro Bowl roster, and every year, there are players who get on more through previous reputation than current performance.
Here are the most egregious omissions in the 2019 voting, with thought on which players these unfortunate snubs should replace. Because if you’re going to complain about a player who’s wrongly off the Pro Bowl roster, you should be able to find a guy who’s taking up space. That’s where things get a bit more difficult!
Quarterback (NFC)
In: Dak Prescott or Kirk Cousins
Out: Aaron Rodgers
Either Prescott or Cousins would be a better fit on the NFC roster than Aaron Rodgers, who had just three games with more than 300 passing yards this season, three games with less than 200 yards passing, and eight games with one or zero touchdowns. Cousins has been on fire after a rough start to the season, and Prescott ranks first in Football Outsiders’ opponent-adjusted efficiency metrics. Not that Rodgers has had a bad season, but this seems much more like a reputation pick than anything else.
Receiver (AFC)
In: Julian Edelman
Out: Jarvis Landry
Landry has been one of Cleveland’s few bright spots on offense this season, but it’s kind of ridiculous to have him in over Edelman, who was part of a total snub of New England offensive players that hasn’t happened since 2003. Yes, Landry has 74 catches on 1,018 yards and five touchdowns, but Edelman has 92 catches for 1,019 yards and six touchdowns in an offense so broken, opposing defenses can bracket him on just about every play. Edelman has faced more double teams than at any other point in his career, and he’s having arguably his most productive season.
Offensive Tackle (AFC)
In: Mitchell Schwartz
Out: Laremy Tunsil
Schwartz has been one of the better right tackles of the last few years, and he’s never made a Pro Bowl, though he was an All-Pro in 2018. This season, he’s allowed just one sack, five quarterback hits, and 12 quarterback hurries. Meanwhile, Tunsil has allowed three sacks and 15 hurries. Both players have allowed 18 total pressures, but the sack total should push Tunsil out and Schwartz in.
Offensive Tackle (NFC)
In: Ryan Ramczyk
Out: Tyron Smith
Smith is one of the best tackles of his generation and he’s made the Pro Bowl every year since 2013, but it’s tough to argue his inclusion over Ramczyk of the Saints when Smith has allowed one sack, six quarterback hits, and 23 quarterback hurries, and Ramczyk has allowed no sacks, one hit, and 18 hurries.
Offensive Guard (AFC)
In: Richie Incognito
Out: David DeCastro
This is a tough one, because DeCastro is perhaps my favorite guard to watch, but it’s a simple truth that Incognito has been a revelation for the Raiders, providing outstanding run blocking and allowing just nine total pressures on the season (tied with Baltimore’s Marshal Yanda for the lowest total of any starting guard in the league) while DeCastro has allowed two sacks and 18 hurries.
Center (NFC)
In: Erik McCoy
Out: Jason Kelce
The Saints grabbed McCoy in the second round of the 2019 draft out of Texas A&M, and the rookie has been a force all season in one of the NFL’s most complicated offenses. Despite the jump in playbook volume, McCoy hasn’t skipped a beat — he’s been a dynamic run-blocker, and he’s allowed no sacks, two quarterback hits, and eight quarterback hurries on the season. Contrast that with Kelce’s one sack, four hits, and 26 hurries allowed, and this should be a fairly easy substitution.
Interior Defensive Lineman (NFC)
In: Kenny Clark
Out: Fletcher Cox
Perhaps it’s a function of an Eagles defense that hasn’t looked right at any position this season, but Cox, who’s been one of the top interior wrecking balls in the NFL for a long time, isn’t quite up to his usual statistical prowess. He has just 3.5 sacks, and while that’s a ridiculous stat to hold up to any defensive tackle, he’s also been limited to just nine quarterback hits and 38 quarterback hurries. Not horrible, but not his 2018 total, when he had 10.5 sacks, 25 hits, and 65 hurries. Clark, on the other hand, has five sacks, two hits, and 49 hurries — only Aaron Donald has more total pressures than Clark among interior defensive linemen this season. Clark also has 24 total stops to Cox’s 15, reinforcing the notion that at least this season, he’s been the more complete player.
Outside Linebacker (NFC)
In: Za’Darius Smith
Out: Khalil Mack
Yes, you’re going to think I’m nuts for this one. Boot Khalil Mack out of the Pro Bowl? Well, let him be an alternate, because when you look at Mack’s 2019 season and compare it to Smith’s, it’s the only sensible thing to do. Mack has just 7.5 sacks on the season, with seven quarterback hits and 48 quarterback hurries. Good numbers, but not what we’re used to from him, and for whatever reason, Mack has been negated more easily by single blocks at times in 2019. On the other hand, Smith has taken his move from Baltimore to Green Bay as an excuse to shine as never before, with 10 sacks, 19 quarterback hits, and 47 quarterback hurries. It sounds like heresy, we know, but Smith has simply been the better player this season.
Cornerback (AFC)
In: J.C. Jackson
Out: Marlon Humphrey
Yes, Baltimore’s pass defense has been very good this season, but it’s absolutely preposterous that the Ravens have two cornerbacks in the Pro Bowl this season, and the Patriots have just one (Stephon Gilmore). Both Marcus Peters and Marlon Humphrey have played well enough, but neither can come close to J.C. Jackson and Jason McCourty. Between them, Peters and Humphrey have seven interceptions, but seven touchdowns allowed. Jackson and McCourty together have six interceptions and one touchdown allowed. Jackson’s omission is the most laughable of any on this list. This season, he’s allowed 22 catches on 47 targets for 226 yards, 88 yards after the catch, one touchdown, five picks, and an opponent passer rating of 28.6. You’d have a better shot throwing the ball out of bounds than you would heaving it anywhere near Jackson.
Safety (NFC)
In: Marcus Williams
Out: Budda Baker
Let me be very clear about this: I think Budda Baker is a fine player. He’s a rangy guy, and clearly a dynamic tackler. But so much of what makes a free safety great is coverage, and that’s where I simply can’t endorse this selection. This season, Baker has been targeted 45 times, giving up 34 receptions for 382 yards, 199 yards after the catch, two touchdowns, no interceptions, and an opponent passer rating of 115.2. That’s just tough to reconcile no matter how many tackles he makes (Baker currently leads the league in solo tackles with 92), especially when a certain number of those tackles come after sub-optimal coverage. Better to add a guy like New Orleans safety Marcus Williams, who is certainly capable of tackling, but is far, far better in coverage, allowing nine catches on 19 targets this season for 96 yards, 69 yards after the catch, one touchdown, four picks, and an opponent passer rating of 40.6. You want Baker on this roster? Move him to strong safety, and we’ll talk.
Safety (AFC)
In: Devin McCourty
Out: Earl Thomas
You could also argue for the presence of Denver’s Justin Simmons here, but I can’t take both AFC free safeties out when Minkah Fitzpatrick has completely altered Pittsburgh’s defense. And while Earl Thomas has played well in 2019, McCourty has taken Thomas’ place as the single most effective deep-third safety in the NFL. McCourty has allowed just 16 catches on 25 targets this season for 104 yards, one touchdown, and five interceptions. But it’s the plays McCourty is able to make away from his target range that not only makes him the best in the business, but allows the Patriots to be the most aggressive man coverage team in the NFL. And given the historic greatness of New England’s pass defense this season, that’s impossible to ignore.
