Ten notable snubs from the NFL’s 2025 Pro Bowl roster

The NFL announced its 2025 Pro Bowl Games rosters for the AFC and NFC on Thursday, headlined by familiar names and a few newcomers, such as quarterbacks Sam Darnold and Jayden Daniels. As has become an annual tradition, online conversation quickly shifted from those who made the cut to those who did did not.

Player selections are ultimately determined by three voting parties — NFL fans, players and coaches — with each voting consensus counting as one-third in the final decision. Fan voting ended on December 23 following the conclusion of Week 16. Players and coaches around the league voted four days later.

Here are 10 notable snubs that deserved a Pro Bowl nod in 2025:

Detroit Lions DB Kerby Joseph

Perhaps the most glaring miss this year is Joseph, who leads the league in interceptions (9) and has hauled in 17 picks across his first three NFL seasons. The 2022 third-round pick was a crucial part of keeping Dan Campbell’s injury-riddled defense afloat after the losses of Aidan Hutchinson, Carlton Davis and many others. His backfield mate Brian Branch Jr. received Pro Bowl honors, but Joseph’s nine interceptions lead the NFC’s free safety — Green Bay’s Xavier McKinney — by two. It’s also worth noting that four of his interceptions came in the end zone.

Jacksonville Jaguars WR Brian Thomas Jr.

The argument can be made that AFC wide receivers are this year’s most surprising position group — missing some of the names fans have grown accustomed to seeing. The No. 23 pick in the 2024 draft, Thomas burst onto the scene, catching 80 of 122 targets for a Jaguars offense that got just 10 starts out of quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Thomas ranks in the top six at the position and leads all rookies in receiving yards (1,179) and receiving touchdowns (10) with one game left to play.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield

Mayfield is having the best statistical season of his career, even without the services of top target Chris Godwin for most of it. Heading into Week 18, Mayfield ranks in the top four among all quarterbacks in passing touchdowns (39), passing yards (4,279), passer rating (107.6) and completion percentage (71.7%) and seventh in yards gained per scrimmage. attempt (8.0). He has Tampa on the brink of its fourth consecutive NFC South title and fifth straight playoff berth — with a win over New Orleans on Sunday. The question is: Is Mayfield’s 2024 resume more impressive than Daniel’s or Darnold’s?

Houston Texans DE Danielle Hunter

It’s tough for anyone to break through the noise in an AFC pass rushing group anchored by Myles Garrett, Maxx Crosby and Trey Hendrickson, but Hunter — already a four-time Pro Bowler — held his own in his first season with Houston. Entering Week 18, his 12 sacks rank third behind only Garrett and Hendrickson, and the 30-year-old leads the NFL in quarterback pressures (90) and is tied with Micah Parsons for the lead in quarterback pressure rate (19.3 %). Denver’s Nik Bonitto, a first-round pick in his third season, would have been the logical candidate to be replaced.

Miami Dolphins TE Jonnu Smith

Excluding rookie record-setter Brock Bowers (1,144), Smith (828) is the AFC tight end leader in receiving yards entering the final week of the regular season. He leads the Dolphins in receiving touchdowns (7), is tied for the team lead in receptions (79) and is second only to Tyreek Hill in targets and receiving yards. With the Taylor Swift effect in full force, Travis Kelce trailed all NFL players with 252,200 fan votes. He remains focus no. 1 for defensive coordinators and is still late to lead all AFC tight ends in receptions (97), but Smith made a legitimate case for himself.

New York Giants WR Malik Nabers

Eagles wideout AJ Brown also would have been an acceptable nomination. Like Thomas, his former LSU teammate, Nabers fully lived up to his first-round expectations despite the Giants’ dismal quarterback situation. Even after being inactive for two games, Nabers enters the regular season finale with 104 catches for 162 targets, 1,140 yards and six touchdowns. Washington’s Terry McLaurin (74-1,030-12) is likely the only potential replacement option, but it’s a tough sell. Still, Nabers was excellent and looks like a top receiver for years to come.

Denver Broncos DL Zach Allen

Ranked in the top five in points allowed (19.4), Denver’s defense — especially Allen — is a major reason for its favorable playoff odds with one week remaining. Like Hunter in Houston, Allen is a threat to opposing backfields. The 6-foot-5, 285-pounder enters Week 18 with a league-leading 39 quarterback hits, eight more than Hendrickson in Cincinnati. His 8.5 sacks are also a career high, and his 60 total tackles are tied for his career best. Allen deserved to see his name among Cameron Heyward, Chris Jones and Nnamdi Madubuike.

Atlanta Falcons LB Kaden Elliss

Elliss is a Swiss Army Knife of Raheem Morris’ Falcons defense who doesn’t get a ton of national recognition, but the 29-year-old’s production was impressive again in 2024. In addition to the eighth-most combined tackles (140) Week 18, Elliss has 34 quarterback pressures, 16 quarterback hits, five sacks, three pass breakups and an interception in 16 starts. Miami’s Jordyn Brooks is also worth mentioning here given his coverage ability, but Elliss’ undeniable impact all over the field is worthy of Pro Bowl status. However, Fred Warner and Zack Baun are tough picks to compete with.

Los Angeles Chargers K Cameron Dicker

What’s a good Pro Bowl snub story without a kicker debate? The AFC’s pick, Pittsburgh’s Chris Boswell, has as strong a case as anyone. But Dicker, in his third season, was right there with the Steelers’ 10th-year veteran. Dicker (94.6%) has the edge in overall field goal percentage over Boswell (93%) on six fewer attempts and was slightly better from 40+ and 50+ yards out. However, Boswell was a perfect 33-for-33 on extra points, while Dicker converted on just 31-of-34 attempts through 16 games.

Notable Mention: Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes

For the first time since taking over as the Chiefs’ full-time starter in 2018, Mahomes did not make the final cut for the Pro Bowl. Yes, Kansas City has a league-best 15-1 record entering the final week of the regular season, but Mahomes’ stats are down by his lofty standards.

But really, this one has more to do with his competition this season. Not even the fan vote was enough to vault the two-time league MVP over three 2024 MVP contenders in Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow. With 10 wins by seven points or fewer, it’s possible fans have the defending champion’s knack for close games against Mahomes this year.

The 2025 Pro Bowl Games will take place in Orlando, Fla., across two days of action. The first set of skills competitions will be on January 30, while the second installment, featuring the flag football game coached by Peyton Manning (AFC) and Eli Manning (NFC), will be on February 2.

Required reading

(Photo: Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)