Christian McCaffrey, Tua Tagovailoa among biggest Pro Bowl snubs | Opinion
The 2023 NFL Pro Bowl rosters were revealed on Wednesday night, but there are always a handful of players who don’t make the cut.
Most players are selected due to standout seasons. Sometimes, other players are picked based on reputation within the league despite production.
And several others are simply left out, making Pro Bowl snubs one of the juiciest talking points among players and fans every year.
NFL power rankings: Lions' surge continues, while Cowboys booted from top five
Do you like football? Then you'll enjoy getting our NFL newsletter delivered to your inbox
Here’s a list of the biggest 2023 Pro Bowl snubs:
San Francisco 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey
The most obvious snub this season, McCaffery is fifth in the NFL with 1,550 yards from scrimmage, and he’s the only player in the NFL ranked 1-7 in the category not among Pro Bowl selections.
Maybe playing for two teams took away from McCaffrey’s bid? But since leaving the Carolina Panthers for the San Francisco 49ers, McCaffrey has transformed his new team’s offense, and has the 49ers in third place in the NFC playoff race.
He should be in the mix ahead of Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Pollard and Philadelphia Eagles running back Miles Sanders.
Miami Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa
No player in the NFL received more votes for the Pro Bowl than the Dolphins' quarterback, but Tagovailoa was not included among the AFC quarterbacks.
Tagovailoa has the credentials, leading the NFL in quarterback rating, touchdown percentage and yards per attempt, and is second in QBR.
Instead, the honor went to the Kansas City Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes, Buffalo Bills' Josh Allen and Cincinnati Bengals' Joe Burrow. Each player deserved their selections, with all three teams ranked in the top three in the AFC playoff race.
Los Angeles Chargers RB Austin Ekeler
The Chargers’ “political” bid to get Ekeler into the Pro Bowl didn’t work. And that’s a shame.
Ekeler’s 1,324 yards from scrimmage ranks eighth among all NFL players, while he ties Detroit’s Jamaal Williams with 14 total touchdowns this season for the league high.
The Tennessee Titans' Derrick Henry is a mainstay, Nick Chubb had a great start to the year for the Cleveland Browns, and Josh Jacobs has been a breakout star for the Las Vegas Raiders. But Ekeler was certainly worthy of consideration.
Other Eagles deserved consideration
The Eagles led the NFL with eight Pro Bowlers, but these four players have also been instrumental part of Philadelphia’s defense.
► Cornerback James Bradberry is one of the best cover guys in the league with 14 pass deflections (second in NFL), and leads the NFL with a 42.8 passer rating when targeted by opposing quarterbacks.
► Defensive tackle Javon Hargrave has 10 sacks this season, while defensive end Josh Sweat as 9.5 sacks. Their teammate Haason Reddick earned the nod with 12 sacks.
► Safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson leads the NFL with six interceptions.
Pittsburgh Steelers LB Alex Highsmith
Of all players with at least 11 sacks this season, Highsmith is the only player snubbed from a Pro Bowl selection. He also leads the NFL with five forced fumbles this season.
Highsmith has shined in a season in which teammate J.J. Watt, the reigning defensive player of the year, missed significant time with an injury and still made the Pro Bowl.
Amon-Ra St. Brown among other Detroit Lions
It’s a shame the Detroit duo of St. Brown and Williams didn’t get any Pro Bowl love, as both have been instrumental parts in the Lions’ resurgence this season.
St. Brown may not have 1,000 yards receiving yet (974), but all other receivers ahead of him, except one, made the Pro Bowl.
As mentioned before, Williams is tied with Ekeler with the NFL lead for 14 touchdowns.
Quarterback Jared Goff and offensive tackle Penei Sewell also deserved some consideration as well.
Minnesota Vikings RB Dalvin Cook
Cook is the only NFL running back who has rushed for more than 1,000 yards (1,045) and did not make the Pro Bowl.
He also scored 10 touchdowns this season, one more than his teammate — receiver Justin Jefferson — for the NFC North champions.
Miami Dolphins WR Jaylen Waddle
Maybe Waddle was overshadowed by his fellow receiver Tyreek Hill, who earned a Pro Bowl nod.
Waddle’s 1,117 yards rank seventh in the NFL, while his seven touchdowns are in the top 10. But the Bengals' Ja’Marr Chase, who has eight touchdowns, got the Pro Bowl nod.
Buffalo Bills LB Matt Milano
The heart and soul of Buffalo’s defense, Milano has been a big-time playmaker for the top team in the AFC playoff picture.
Milano is one tackle shy of the team lead with 85, but has two interceptions, eight pass deflections and 12 tackles for loss for the AFC East-leading Bills.
Carolina Panthers CB Jaycee Horn
The Panthers haven’t been the sexiest team to watch this season, but their starting cornerback is putting up impressive numbers.
Horn, in his return from an ACL tear last season, is one of the NFL’s best defenders with his 55.0 rating while targets (fourth in the NFL) and 52.7 percent completion percentage.
Both of those numbers are on par with New York Jets rookie Sauce Gardner and Seattle Seahawks defensive back Tariq Woolen, who both made the cut.
New England Patriots RB Rhamondre Stevenson
If it wasn’t for Stevenson, who knows how productive the Patriots offense would be this season.
Stevenson is 12th in the NFL with 1,295 yards from scrimmage, which includes 914 on the ground. But his six total touchdowns keeps him from leapfrogging others.
Still, Stevenson — a fourth round pick in his second season — is one of the major reasons why New England has been able to stay afloat this season.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2023 Pro Bowl Games: Christian McCaffrey, Tua Tagovailoa among snubs
