| NFC Team | AFC Team | ||
| QB | QB | ||
| Matt Ryan, Falcons | Tom Brady, Patriots | ||
| Aaron Rodgers, Packers | Derek Carr, Raiders | ||
| Dak Prescott, Cowboys | Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers | ||
| RB | RB | ||
| Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys | Le'Veon Bell, Steelers | ||
| David Johnson, Cardinals | Demarco Murray, Titans | ||
| Devonta Freeman, Falcons | LeSean McCoy, Bills | ||
| FB | FB | ||
| Mike Tolbert, Panthers | Kyle Jurszczyk, Ravens | ||
| TE | TE | ||
| Greg Olsen, Panthers | Travis Kelce, Chiefs | ||
| Jordan Reed, Redskins | Delanie Walker, Titans | ||
| WR | WR | ||
| Julio Jones, Falcons | Antonio Brown, Steelers | ||
| Odell Beckham, Jr.,Giants | Amari Cooper, Raiders | ||
| Mike Evans, Buccaneers | T.Y. Hilton, Colts | ||
| Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals | A.J. Green, Bengals | ||
| T | T | ||
| Tyron Smith, Cowboys | Joe Thomas, Browns | ||
| Trent Williams, Redskins | Donald Penn, Raiders | ||
| Jason Peters, Eagles | Taylor Lewan, Titans | ||
| G | G | ||
| Zack Martin, Cowboys | Marshall Yanda, Ravens | ||
| Brandon Scheff,Redskins | Kelechi Osmele, Raiders | ||
| T. J. Lang, Packers | David DeCastro, Steelers | ||
| C | C | ||
| Travis Frederick,Dallas | Rodney Hudson, Raiders | ||
| Alex Mack, Falcons | Maurkice Pouncey, Steelers | ||
| DE | DE | ||
| Everson Griffen,Vikings | Khalil Mack, Raiders | ||
| Cliff Avril, Seahawks | Cameron Wake, Dolphins | ||
| Michael Bennett, Seahawks | Jadeveon Clowney, Texans | ||
| DT | DT | ||
| Aaron Donald, Rams | Geno Atkins, Bengals | ||
| Gerald McCoy, Bucs | Ndamukong Suh, Dolphins | ||
| Fletcher Cox, Eagles | Jurrell Casey, Titans | ||
| OLB | OLB | ||
| Vic Beasley, Falcons | Von Miller, Broncos | ||
| Ryan Kerrigan, Redskins | Lorenzo Alexander, Bills | ||
| Thomas Davis, Panthers | Brian Orakpo, Titans | ||
| MLB | MLB | ||
| Bobby Wagner, Seahawks | Dont'a Hightower, Patriots | ||
| Luke Kuechly, Panthers | C.J. Mosley, Ravens | ||
| CB | CB | ||
| Janoris Jenkins, Giants | Marcus Peters, Chiefs | ||
| Patrick Peterson, Cards | Aqib Talib, Broncos | ||
| R. Sherman, Seahawks | Casey Hayward, Chargers | ||
| Xavier Rhodes, Vikings | Chis Harris, Broncos | ||
| S | S | ||
| Harrison Smith, Vikings | Devin McCourty, Patriots | ||
| Landon Collins, Giants | Eric Berry, Chiefs | ||
| Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Packers | Reggie Nelson, Raiders | ||
| P | P | ||
| Johnny Hekker, Rams | Pat McAfee, Colts | ||
| K | K | ||
| Matt Bryant, Falcons | Justin Tucker, Ravens | ||
| Returner | Returner | ||
| Cordarrelle Patterson | Tyreek Hill, Chiefs | ||
| Special Teamer | Special Teamer | ||
| Dwayne Harris | Matthew Slater, Patriots | ||
| Bold-Starter |
The Oakland Raiders led the way with seven players.
Six teams had no players selected. Those teams: San Francisco 49ers, Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Jets, Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears, New Orleans Saints. The surprise of that bunch is the Lions. They are only leading the NFC North and they have deserving candidates. Quarterback Matthew Stafford and cornerback Darius Slay in particular. Based solely on his performances against the Minnesota Vikings, I'd put kicker Matt Prater in the Pro Bowl over Matt Bryant. Prater was the ultimate difference in both Vikings-Lions games. As for the position players, I'd replace Dak Prescott with Stafford (or Drew Brees) as one of the quarterbacks.
Traditional and social media was all abuzz about players that didn't make it on the Pro Bowl roster. It's funny how everyone seems to care about the game at player-reveal time and bashes it every other day of the year. The problem with propping up the players snubbed is "who's removed to make room for the snubbed?" Receivers Jordy Nelson and Brandin Cooks have been mentioned as deserving to be on the NFC team. Both have been great but I wouldn't remove Julio Jones, Odell Beckham, Jr., Mike Evans, or Larry Fitzgerald for either one of them. Personally, I feel that Vikings defensive tackle Linval Joseph deserves to be on the team but then I look at the players that made it ahead of him. Aaron Donald, Gerald McCoy, and Fletcher Cox. Although all three play the same 3-technique position rather than the run-stuffing nose tackle position that Joseph plays, I can't replace any of them.
One player that I would replace is Reggie Nelson at safety. The biggest Pro Bowl surprise for me was the presence of a Raiders defensive back. Preventing big pass plays has been a season-long problem in Oakland. The very thing that Nelson is tasked with preventing. I'd have Eric Weddle or Mike Mitchell suiting up for the AFC long before Nelson is even a consideration.
My annual problem with the Pro Bowl selections is how the outside linebacker position is handled. Pass-rushing, 3-4 outside linebackers get all of the Pro Bowl love. Sacks get the money and the attention. Of the six outside linebackers on this roster, Thomas Davis is the only one that plays the traditional chase and cover 4-3 outside linebacker. The very position that all six of these players are expected to play in the game because blitzing isn't allowed. The pass rushing linebackers would be better served playing defensive end in the Pro Bowl. It's great that Davis has finally gotten his long deserved recognition. He and fellow 4-3 outside linebackers like Lavonte David, Sean Lee, and Anthony Barr are often overlooked in favor of the Von Miller's of the world. I'm not saying that the Miller's of the world aren't deserving. They are. I'm just saying that there has to be a better way to handle the outside linebacker position at the Pro Bowl. They are jamming two very different positions into one. Maybe they should have a separate "edge rusher" position on the ballot. And on the field.
And, they should add a nickel corner position.
Congratulations to all of the 2017 Pro Bowl players.
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