The Green Bay Packers saw three of their starters named to the Pro Bowl on Thursday morning: defensive end Rashan Gary, safety Xavier McKinney, and running back Josh Jacobs. Gary and McKinney were selected for the first time in their careers while this is Jacobs’ third Pro Bowl nod.
In addition, to these three, left guard Elgton Jenkins, a two-time Pro Bowler himself, was named as a first alternate. Other alternates from Green Bay were cornerback Jaire Alexander, defensive tackle Kenny Clark, kick return specialist Keisean Nixon, tight end Tucker Kraft, center Josh Myers, and quarterback Jordan Love.
Making the Pro Bowl depended on two factors: fan voting and votes from the NFL players and coaches themselves. The votes from players and coaches carried more weight than the fan vote, which is why Gary was selected (and Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph was not).
While one has to respect the views of the NFL voters, as their football IQ is much higher than the average fan’s, there were three Packers players who were not even considered alternates that, perhaps, should have been.
1. Green Bay Packers Linebacker Edgerrin Cooper
There is no question that the two best linebackers in the NFC are representing the conference in the Pro Bowl: Fred Warner and former Wisconsin Badgers star Zach Baun.
But to not even consider Edgerrin Cooper as an alternate is just wrong.
Sure, maybe it’s because he has only played 52% of the defensive snaps all season. But in the objectively little playing time that he has had, Cooper has accumulated 80 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, an interception, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery.
What is more, PFF has Cooper graded as the number one linebacker in the NFL when it comes to their pass rushing grade (90.1). His 82.7 overall grade is the 10th best in the NFL among players at his position.
Again, he surely does not deserve to start above Warner and Baun, but he should have at least gotten consideration as an alternate.
2. Green Bay Packers Right Tackle Zach Tom
The starting offensive tackles for the NFC are Lane Johnson and Penei Sewell. Tristan Wirfs is the backup.
Zach Tom, the Packers’ star right tackle who is among the best at his position, was not even named as an alternate.
In 16 games this season, Tom has allowed just three sacks and two quarterback hits despite having played over 1,000 offensive snaps this year.
PFF has given Tom an 87.4 overall grade this year, the fifth-best among offensive tackles. His 90.1 run blocking grade is the third highest.
3. Green Bay Packers Kicker Brandon McManus
The NFC’s Pro Bowl kicker, for the second year in a row, is Brandon Aubrey of the Dallas Cowboys, who earlier this year made an impressive 65-yard field goal.
But here’s the thing, he has only made 83.6% of his field goals this year. Now, he has also played every game while Packers kicker Brandon McManus was not signed until week seven.
That being said, McManus has the highest-field goal percentage in the NFC with 94.4%. Obviously, his 18 field goal attempts are far fewer than Aubrey’s 43, but his accuracy has been better. Furthermore, McManus has made two game-winning field goals with time running out this year.
Listen, Aubrey obviously is held in very high regard among NFL players and coaches because they voted him in. But Anders Carlson (86.7%) had a better field goal percentage this year than him.
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