10 biggest snubs from 2022 Pro Bowl
The NFL announced its 2022 Pro Bowl rosters Wednesday, and the lists didn't please everyone.
Several players who are having exceptional seasons weren't invited to the event. Here are the 10 biggest snubs:
Matthew Stafford, QB, Rams
We already knew Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers would earn Pro Bowl nods in the NFC. But the third quarterback spot in the conference was up for grabs, and it's fair to say Stafford deserved it. Here's why:
| Record | Yds per game | TD passes | Rate | QBR | TD runs | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player A | 10-4 | 295.9 | 35 | 108.2 | 65.7 | 0 |
| Player B | 8-3 | 276.3 | 20 | 102.3 | 56.2 | 5 |
Player A is Stafford, who ranks second in the NFC in passing touchdowns, passer rating, and Total QBR. Player B is Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray, who made the Pro Bowl for the second time this year despite missing three games.
Roquan Smith, LB, Bears
Akiem Hicks' reaction to Smith not making the Pro Bowl sums up everything you need to know here. Smith, who was also snubbed last season, is among the NFC's best linebackers in 2021, ranking fourth in tackles, fifth in sacks, and fourth in passer rating allowed. Granted, he hasn't excelled against the run, but there aren't many inside linebackers better than him.
Leonard Fournette, RB, Buccaneers
No one should be questioning Dalvin Cook's and James Conner's selections to the 2022 Pro Bowl, but there should definitely be a debate about why New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara made the cut over Fournette.
Kamara may be more valuable to New Orleans than Fournette is to Tampa Bay, but that doesn't mean he's having a better season. It's quite the opposite, actually. Fournette tops Kamara in rushing yards (812-668), yards per carry (4.5-3.6), receiving yards (454-348), and scrimmage touchdowns (10-8) in 2021.
Josh Allen, QB, Bills
It may not have been a surprise to see Lamar Jackson on the AFC roster, given his stellar track record. However, he's missed two games due to injury and hasn't thrown more touchdowns than interceptions in a game since Week 9. Oh, and the Baltimore Ravens' star hasn't scored on the ground since Week 2.
A handful of quarterbacks arguably deserved a Pro Bowl nod over Jackson, and Allen might be at the top of that list. The Buffalo Bills' signal-caller isn't having a flawless campaign, but he's thrown almost twice as many touchdowns as Jackson, and he holds the edge in essentially every major passing category.
A.J. Terrell, CB, Falcons
We often see players earning All-Pro honors despite somehow being left out of the Pro Bowl, and that might happen with Terrell this season. The second-year corner has allowed a ridiculous 60.8 passer rating when targeted, and he's currently the NFL's highest-graded cornerback, according to PFF.
Austin Ekeler, RB, Chargers
If someone had told you before the season that a running back with 1,347 scrimmage yards, 4.6 yards per carry, and 17 touchdowns through 14 games wouldn't be selected to the Pro Bowl, you wouldn't have believed it, would you? Well, that's what happened to Ekeler.
Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon, one of three rushers on the AFC Pro Bowl roster, is indeed having a heck of a season and has more rushing yards than Ekeler. But when you factor in Ekeler's contributions in the passing game (62 receptions, 558 yards, seven touchdowns), it's clear his impact has been on another level.
Jeffery Simmons, DT, Titans
Simmons put the NFL on notice after recording three sacks against the Rams in a prime-time game in Week 9. He's since been one of the league's most dominant interior defensive linemen, and his 7.5 sacks on the season rank first at the position in the AFC. However, those numbers still weren't enough to give him a spot in the Pro Bowl among three defensive tackles.
Kene Nwangwu, KR, Vikings
Kick returners often go unnoticed in the Pro Bowl, but it's not hard to understand why Nwangwu deserved to be on the NFC roster over Chicago Bears' Jakeem Grant. Nwangwu has recorded significantly fewer return attempts than Grant, but the Vikings' playmaker has arguably been the most electric returner in football this season. He leads the NFL with two kick return touchdowns while averaging 37.2 yards per return.
Cordarrelle Patterson, RB/WR, Falcons
We already knew how good Patterson is at returning kicks, but he's shown us he can also hurt opponents in all phases of the offensive game since becoming a full-time running back. The nine-year veteran has racked up over 500 yards receiving and 500 yards rushing in 2021, and his 1,430 all-purpose yards rank fifth in the NFL. Patterson also found the end zone 10 times in 13 games.
Creed Humphrey, C, Chiefs
It's tough for a rookie offensive lineman to get national recognition, but don't be surprised if Humphrey becomes a perennial Pro Bowler moving forward in his NFL career. The second-rounder has allowed only one sack and one QB hit this year, and he's currently the NFL's best center regardless of his inexperience as a pro, according to PFF.