The 2021 Pro Bowl rosters have been released and they include the usual suspects -- Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady has earned a record 15th invitation -- as well as a few newcomers, notably Colts running back Jonathan Taylor, the league's leading vote-getter, and Rams wideout Cooper Kupp, who leads the NFL in receiving yards, catches and touchdowns.
The Colts had the most players selected (seven) of any team, while the Giants, Jets, Jaguars, Broncos, Lions and Texans did not have any players make the roster. The four rookies to make the team are Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons, Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts, Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase and Chargers offensive tackle Rashawn Slater.
The all-star game is scheduled for Feb. 6 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, and it will be aired live on ESPN, ABC and Disney XD. Last year's game was canceled amid the COVID-19 pandemic. It was the first time since the 1949 season that the NFL hadn't had a postseason all-star game.
Which players were snubbed on the Pro Bowl roster this year? What else was surprising about the teams, and which players who didn't make it this time should be on the roster next season? We asked our NFL experts to weigh in, with fantasy football analyst Mike Clay picking snubs and the rest of our panel answering questions. Check out their responses below:
Clay picks the biggest Pro Bowl snubs
Creed Humphrey, C, Kansas City Chiefs
Humphrey was an absolute gem find by Kansas City in the second round of April's draft. The rookie has a 97.5% pass block win rate, which is tops among all offensive linemen, and of extreme value as the center of one of the league's pass-heaviest offenses. Our friends at Pro Football Focus grade the Oklahoma product as easily the league's best pivot this season, as he sits first at the position in run blocking and third in pass blocking. I get it -- he's a rookie -- but several other first-year players made the Pro Bowl and you can make the case that Humphrey is the best of the bunch.
Cordarrelle Patterson, RB, Atlanta Falcons
File this one under, "C'mon, man!" After eight seasons of criminal underutilization, the Falcons finally unlocked Patterson this season and he has been nothing short of an elite playmaker. Sure, his snaps are limited and he's not a featured rusher, but Patterson is fifth among backs with 10 touchdowns and is also top five in targets, catches and receiving yards. Oh, and he's an elite kick returner and has aligned in the backfield, slot, out wide, at quarterback in the wildcat and even on the other side of the ball at safety. The Pro Bowl is supposed to be fun and it won't be as entertaining without Patterson.
A.J. Terrell, CB, Atlanta Falcons
Terrell is enjoying a breakout second NFL season after being selected in the first round of the 2020 draft. The Clemson product has been targeted on 64 of his 392 coverage snaps and has allowed a 53% catch rate and 6.8 yards per target. He's the top-graded corner both overall and in coverage by PFF. If there's a knock on Terrell, it's that he's a stay-at-home corner (he doesn't travel with the opposing team's top receiver), but he's been asked to lock down the left side of the defense and he's obviously done that at an elite level. The future is bright for the 23-year-old.
Austin Ekeler, RB, Los Angeles Chargers
Ekeler is one of the league's best dual-threat running backs and absolutely should be on the AFC roster. Despite lacking a bit in size (5-foot-10, 200 pounds), he has been a featured player at a tough position, sitting no lower than fifth among backs in snaps, routes, targets, receptions, receiving yards, scrimmage yards and touchdowns. He's Justin Herbert's top resource in an offense that leads the AFC with 50 touchdowns.
Justin Simmons, S, Denver Broncos
Several deserving safeties made the AFC roster, but it feels like a mistake to not have Simmons on the list. One of the league's most reliable and impactful players over the past several seasons, Simmons has played 100% of Denver's defensive snaps in all but one game this season and has delivered in all areas, with 68 tackles (four for a loss), two sacks (only three safeties have more), a position-high five interceptions and 12 passes defensed (only Pro Bowler Kevin Byard has more). Simmons is way too good to not be participating in his second consecutive Pro Bowl.
What's the one thing that stands out most from the Pro Bowl roster release?
Matt Bowen, NFL analyst: Broncos safety Justin Simmons being left off the AFC Pro Bowl roster. You have to find a spot for Simmons here. With five interceptions and 12 pass breakups, he has the production to make it, and the tape tells us that he is one of the most complete safeties in the game.
Tristan H. Cockcroft, fantasy football writer: Nick Chubb over Austin Ekeler stands out, and it's hardly a matter of every team needing a representative, since that's not a thing in the NFL. Ekeler has nine more touchdowns, 216 more total yards and -- I'd argue every bit as importantly -- has played three more games than Chubb this season. That's a head-scratcher to say the least.
Jeremy Fowler, national NFL writer: No Broncos being selected is glaring. Denver's roster is stocked with talent, most notably in the secondary, where Simmons is elite and rookie Patrick Surtain II has displayed shutdown capability. Other teams without a Pro Bowler are the Giants, Jaguars, Jets, Lions and Texans -- and the Broncos don't belong in that class.
Jordan Reid, NFL draft analyst: Showing some love to the young big guys up front, only one rookie offensive lineman (Chargers tackle Rashawn Slater) making it is glaring. Lions tackle Penei Sewell and Chiefs center Creed Humphrey seemed to be deserving of spots considering how well both have played. Both have been an integral part to their offenses.
Kevin Seifert, national NFL writer: This isn't the hottest of takes, but I'm just in awe of how good 49ers left tackle Trent Williams is. It was fair to wonder if his career was over after he decided to sit out the 2019 season with Washington, but he has been arguably the best left tackle in the game for the past two seasons. Even at 33, and with an injury history, there was 100% certainty that he was going to be the NFC's starter on the initial Pro Bowl roster.
Mike Tannenbaum, NFL front office insider: The Ravens have a dominant defense almost every season, and for the first time since 2005, one of their defenders wasn't named to the Pro Bowl team. Injuries have decimated the unit this season, with Marlon Humphrey and Marcus Peters among the players on injured reserve.
Field Yates, NFL analyst: A quarterback is always going to be left off and it will feel like a massive oversight. Buffalo's Josh Allen is one of the best players in the league and deserves to be on this roster, but the AFC has prodigious young quarterbacks. It might be time to make it four quarterbacks per conference.
Pick one player who didn't make this Pro Bowl roster but will make it for the 2022 season.
Bowen: Dallas Goedert, TE, Philadelphia Eagles. I see him as a top-five tight end, and I was surprised he wasn't on this roster. The pass-catching traits are there, and so are the numbers (48 catches, 731 yards, four TDs). And, in Philly, he is going to block in the run game, too.
Cockcroft: Jaylen Waddle, WR, Miami Dolphins. He has played like a Pro Bowler for a month now -- he has 30 catches for 353 yards in his past four games -- and should be ready to take that next step in 2022.
Fowler: De'Vondre Campbell, LB, Green Bay Packers. Campbell has made a major impact in Green Bay with 125 tackles, two forced fumbles, two sacks, two interceptions and an 82.9 Pro Football Focus grade. Here's to the Packers recognizing the free-agent-to-be's physicality with a new contract, setting the stage for an (overdue) Pro Bowl nod in 2022.
Reid: Surtain II, CB, Broncos. The rookie has already turned into a No. 1 corner on one of the best defenses in the NFL. With four picks so far, the No. 9 overall pick has proven his worth.
Seifert: Allen, QB, Bills. As noted above, Allen has had a strong season. I'd say it has been arguably better than Lamar Jackson. It might have been a step down from his MVP-level play of last season, but Allen remains one of the AFC's top quarterbacks and he'll be back on the original Pro Bowl roster next season.
Tannenbaum: Vita Vea, DT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Assuming he stays healthy, he should make it in 2022. He's a dominant defensive lineman who creates production for defenders around him.
Yates: Sewell, OT, Lions. He's nasty, he's athletic, he's imposing, he's improving. He might make 10 Pro Bowls by the time it's all said and done.