Earlier this week, the NFL announced its official 2023 Pro Bowl roster. With the range of talent in the league nowadays, it’s not as if someone will get snubbed, but who? There are always deserving players who are left off the list. While the chip on their shoulders grow, I’ll showcase why they might feel some type of way about missing the cut-off. Although the Pro Bowl games aren’t looked at the same way they were in the 2000s, it’s still a great honor to make the roster. Let’s get right into the list.
1. Jared Goff – Detroit Lions Quarterback
The leader of one of the league’s most prolific offenses would be a Pro Bowl lock most years, but not in 2023. Instead, it was given to Matthew Stafford who’s been great in his way. Stafford deserves credit for reviving the Rams after one of the worst follow-up seasons to a Super Bowl ever. He’s looked like the young gunslinger we’re used to at times and is a huge reason for Puka Nakua’s success.
Still, the impact Jared Goff has made is more important. He’s carried the Lions to an 11-5 record through 17 weeks while throwing for 4,255 yards, 28 touchdowns and 12 interceptions on a 67% completion percentage. Matthew Stafford lacks Goff in each of those categories and has only thrown one less interception. If the NFL had a do-over, they’d likely go with Goff.
2. D.J. Moore – Chicago Bears Wide Receiver
Chicago’s star receiver has enjoyed his best season yet. In his first season as a Bear, he’s posted 1,300 yards and eight touchdowns on 92 catches. He had one of the best receiving games of anyone all year, racking up 230 yards and three touchdowns in a primetime matchup against Washington. This wasn’t enough to get him the Pro Bowl nod, however. Somehow, he’d made the Pro-Bowl in years past as a Panther while putting up lesser stats and having an overall smaller impact on his team.
The man who took Moore’s spot is none other than Mike Evans, who enjoyed a productive season with Baker Mayfield at the helm. His 13 touchdowns were among the highest in the league. It’s a close call between the two, but with Moore having his career-best year, the tie should go to him.
3. Evan Engram – Jacksonville Jaguars Tight End
The Evan Engram experiment has proven to be extremely successful. After originally signing a one-year, nine-million-dollar deal in the 2022 offseason, he was extended another three years for about 11.3 million each year. This contract put him among the highest-paid tight ends in the league and he proved why this season. He became only the 8th tight end ever to surpass 100 catches in a season, a personal career best. He’s added 884 yards and three touchdowns through 17 weeks of football.
Between Engram and David Njoku, it was a close call. The league ultimately decided to go with the ladder, who had 882 yards and six touchdowns on 81 catches. Skill-wise, both are extremely similar and both had their best year statistically. With Engram doing something only seven other tight ends had ever done, he should’ve been given the Pro Bowl honor this year.
4. Antoine Winfield Jr. – Tampa Bay Buccaneers Safety
By far the biggest defensive snub is Tampa Bay’s starting free safety, Antoine Winfield Jr. The former Golden Gopher put up one of the best stat lines from a safety you’ll ever see. Through 17 weeks, he’s recorded 117 tackles. five sacks, three interceptions and five forced fumbles. PFF has him graded as the second-best safety in the league, only behind Jessie Bates III. Winfield has an overall defensive grade of 90.7, with season-high grades for safeties in rush defense and pass rush.
Budda Baker, the safety who got in over him is the best player on what’s been graded as the second-worst defense in the whole league. Baker only has a fraction of the stats that Winfield Jr. has and made less of an overall impact on a 4-12 team. There’s no reason Baker should be in over Winfield Jr.
5. Travis Etienne Jr. – Jacksonville Jaguars Running Back
Nothing new here. There are always at least 1-2 running backs that get snubbed each year. This one is splitting hairs a bit, but Travis Etienne Jr. should’ve been in over James Cook. While the Jaguars have significantly regressed from their 8-3 record earlier this season, their star running back was the reason they even got there in the first place.
Sitting at nearly 1,400 yards from scrimmage 17 weeks in, Etienne Jr. should’ve gotten the call over James Cook. While he has been slightly more productive, this team likely makes the playoffs with or without Cook. He’s enjoyed a great second year, but the man who ensures this offense rolls is Josh Allen.