What the Pro Bowl Rosters Should Be at NFL’s Midseason Mark
The NFL’s All-Star Game doesn’t seem to carry as much weight as those in other professional sports. Due to injuries or a lack of interest, several players now skip the Pro Bowl, meaning some of the contributors appearing in the game are in the second or third tier of vote-getters.
Still, earning a nod is important to players, both because they like to be recognized for their accomplishments and because many contracts include Pro Bowl incentives. For fans, it’s a great way to recognize which standouts are at least among the best at their respective positions.
While other sports have their All-Star games during the season, that isn’t possible due to the physical nature of the NFL. It’s a fun exercise, however, to identify who this year’s Pro Bowlers would be if there were a midseason break.
That’s what we’re going to do here, recognizing which players have been the best through nine weeks of action. This is an important distinction because players who have missed significant time due to injury—like Patrick Mahomes and Kyle Juszczyk—may ultimately get the nod but aren’t quite there just yet.
AFC: Devin Bush, Pittsburgh Steelers; Joe Schobert, Cleveland Browns
Along with Nick Bosa, Steelers inside linebacker Devin Bush is a front-runner for Defensive Rookie of the Year. He’s shown the ability to take over games, as he did against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 6. The former Michigan standout has already produced 66 tackles, a sack, two interceptions and a defensive touchdown.
Pittsburgh traded up to 10th overall in the 2019 draft to secure Bush and keep him from falling to the Cincinnati Bengals. That move is quickly looking like the right one.
Browns linebacker Joe Schobert made his first Pro Bowl appearance two seasons ago, and he appears on pace to make his second. Through eight games, he has 77 tackles, a sack and two forced fumbles. Schobert is an instinctive player who flows to the football like Cuyahoga rapids. He’s already logged four games with double-digit tackles this season.
NFC: Bobby Wagner, Seattle Seahawks; Jaylon Smith, Dallas Cowboys
Bobby Wagner has always been one of the more underrated players on the Seahawks. Back in the Legion of Boom days, he was a key cog but never got the recognition enjoyed by Seattle’s defensive backs. Once the Legion disbanded and Seattle became more of an offensive team, standouts like Russell Wilson and Tyler Lockett got the credit—and rightfully so.
However, Wagner has quietly been a four-time first-team All-Pro. He’s one of the most consistent and productive inside linebackers in the NFL and already has 86 tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble this season.
Cowboys inside linebacker Jaylon Smith appears poised to make his first Pro Bowl appearance in 2019. The 2016 second-round pick has produced 68 tackles, 2.5 sacks and two forced fumbles while emerging as the centerpiece of the second level.
Dallas bet on Smith’s ability to fully recover from his 2016 Fiesta Bowl injury. The Cowboys have been rewarded with one of the best read-and-react linebackers in the game.
