Post by Purple Pain on Dec 6, 2023 11:20:34 GMT -6
Ragatz: Which Vikings Players are Having Pro Bowl-Worthy Seasons?
Vote here:
www.nfl.com/pro-bowl-games/vote/?campaign=cb-nf-pb-ro-no-1100659
Let's go through and break down which players are having Pro Bowl-caliber seasons and how likely they are to receive that honor.
Should be locks
OLB Danielle Hunter
LT Christian Darrisaw
TE T.J. Hockenson
Hunter and Darrisaw have been the Vikings' best players on each side of the ball. Assuming they stay healthy and continue producing for at least a few more games, they absolutely deserve to be Pro Bowlers. Hockenson has also had a very strong season and will likely get in due to his impressive raw numbers.
Hunter is having a career year in Brian Flores' defense; he's currently tied for third in the league with 13.5 sacks in 12 games. He also has four forced fumbles and a league-leading 18 total tackles for loss. It's hard to imagine where the Vikings' defense would be without him.
Darrisaw has once again been consistently fantastic all year. His 85.0 PFF grade has him tied as the third-best offensive tackle in the league, trailing only Penei Sewell and Trent Williams. He did miss Weeks 2 and 9 to injury, so he'll need to stay healthy. But if he does, he has to be a Pro Bowler. He's that good.
Hockenson had some struggles coming down with contested catch opportunities earlier in the season, but he has consistently produced for a Vikings offense that has been without Justin Jefferson since Week 5. His 80 receptions leads all tight ends, his 787 yards trails only Travis Kelce, and he's one of eight TEs with at least five touchdown receptions.
Solid chance to get in
RT Brian O'Neill
S Harrison Smith
It might take an injury replacement, but these veterans have the name recognition to potentially be awarded for their strong seasons.
O'Neill's first six games were better than his most recent six, and he's coming off a tough night against the Bears where PFF charged him with allowing six pressures and two sacks. However, his season-long grade is still strong (74.7, eighth among RTs). If he bounces back and plays well over the next few weeks, he still has a shot.
Smith is still getting it done at a high level in his 12th season, playing an important and versatile role for Brian Flores. He has three sacks (all of which came in one game against the Panthers) and three forced fumbles. However, he might be hurt by his lack of interceptions.
Should be considered but likely won't
S Camryn Bynum
S Josh Metellus
No joke: The Vikings' entire starting safety trio deserves serious Pro Bowl consideration. Bynum, who is PFF's fifth-highest-graded safety in the league, is having a phenomenal third season. He leads the Vikings with 99 tackles so far and had two key interceptions to seal a win over the 49ers. Metellus is a do-everything hybrid player who lines up all over the place and leads all safeties in QB pressures (20) by a wide margin. He's been a perfect fit in Flores' scheme.
Unfortunately, because there are only six safety spots and these guys aren't big names, it feels unlikely that they end up making it. But you never know. Even if fans around the league don't know about Bynum and Metellus, opposing coaches and players who study the Vikings' defense sure do.
Missed too much time (probably)
QB Kirk Cousins
LB Jordan Hicks
WR Justin Jefferson
If they had stayed healthy all year, Cousins and Jefferson would've been locks. Hicks was having that level of season too before he landed on IR.
Cousins is out for the year, so he won't be making it. Hicks might not have been in anyways due to name recognition. The one you could make a case for here is Jefferson, if he comes back and continues to dominate — without Cousins throwing him the ball — in the season's final five games. If he gets to 1,000 yards in less than ten full games, the reigning Offensive Player of the Year should arguably be in.
Should be locks
OLB Danielle Hunter
LT Christian Darrisaw
TE T.J. Hockenson
Hunter and Darrisaw have been the Vikings' best players on each side of the ball. Assuming they stay healthy and continue producing for at least a few more games, they absolutely deserve to be Pro Bowlers. Hockenson has also had a very strong season and will likely get in due to his impressive raw numbers.
Hunter is having a career year in Brian Flores' defense; he's currently tied for third in the league with 13.5 sacks in 12 games. He also has four forced fumbles and a league-leading 18 total tackles for loss. It's hard to imagine where the Vikings' defense would be without him.
Darrisaw has once again been consistently fantastic all year. His 85.0 PFF grade has him tied as the third-best offensive tackle in the league, trailing only Penei Sewell and Trent Williams. He did miss Weeks 2 and 9 to injury, so he'll need to stay healthy. But if he does, he has to be a Pro Bowler. He's that good.
Hockenson had some struggles coming down with contested catch opportunities earlier in the season, but he has consistently produced for a Vikings offense that has been without Justin Jefferson since Week 5. His 80 receptions leads all tight ends, his 787 yards trails only Travis Kelce, and he's one of eight TEs with at least five touchdown receptions.
Solid chance to get in
RT Brian O'Neill
S Harrison Smith
It might take an injury replacement, but these veterans have the name recognition to potentially be awarded for their strong seasons.
O'Neill's first six games were better than his most recent six, and he's coming off a tough night against the Bears where PFF charged him with allowing six pressures and two sacks. However, his season-long grade is still strong (74.7, eighth among RTs). If he bounces back and plays well over the next few weeks, he still has a shot.
Smith is still getting it done at a high level in his 12th season, playing an important and versatile role for Brian Flores. He has three sacks (all of which came in one game against the Panthers) and three forced fumbles. However, he might be hurt by his lack of interceptions.
Should be considered but likely won't
S Camryn Bynum
S Josh Metellus
No joke: The Vikings' entire starting safety trio deserves serious Pro Bowl consideration. Bynum, who is PFF's fifth-highest-graded safety in the league, is having a phenomenal third season. He leads the Vikings with 99 tackles so far and had two key interceptions to seal a win over the 49ers. Metellus is a do-everything hybrid player who lines up all over the place and leads all safeties in QB pressures (20) by a wide margin. He's been a perfect fit in Flores' scheme.
Unfortunately, because there are only six safety spots and these guys aren't big names, it feels unlikely that they end up making it. But you never know. Even if fans around the league don't know about Bynum and Metellus, opposing coaches and players who study the Vikings' defense sure do.
Missed too much time (probably)
QB Kirk Cousins
LB Jordan Hicks
WR Justin Jefferson
If they had stayed healthy all year, Cousins and Jefferson would've been locks. Hicks was having that level of season too before he landed on IR.
Cousins is out for the year, so he won't be making it. Hicks might not have been in anyways due to name recognition. The one you could make a case for here is Jefferson, if he comes back and continues to dominate — without Cousins throwing him the ball — in the season's final five games. If he gets to 1,000 yards in less than ten full games, the reigning Offensive Player of the Year should arguably be in.
www.nfl.com/pro-bowl-games/vote/?campaign=cb-nf-pb-ro-no-1100659
... and neither is this Chris guy.