NFL Pro Bowl Roster 2015: Captains and List of Available Players to Be Drafted

For much of the 1990s, debate raged in NFL circles about whether Cris Carter or Michael Irvin was the best receiver of his generation. More than a decade after both men retired, their football acumen will again be tested—only this time off the field as Pro Bowl captains.

Irvin and Carter, who were named captains for the fantasy-style draft in July, were given their list of potential selections on Tuesday when the NFL announced Pro Bowl selections from each conference. 

“Being voted to the Pro Bowl was always a tremendous honor for me,” Carter, who currently works as an analyst for ESPN, told reporters in July, per NFL.com's Kevin Patra. “Last year, players really seemed to be excited about the new rules and the Pro Bowl draft format. I'm excited to be a part of it this year.”

QB	Tom Brady, NE	Andrew Luck, Ind	Peyton Manning, Den
	Tony Romo, Dal	Ben Roethlisberger, Pit	Aaron Rodgers, GB
RB	Le'Veon Bell, Pit	Jamaal Charles, KC	Arian Foster, Hou
	Marshawn Lynch, Sea	LeSean McCoy, Phi	DeMarco Murray, Dal
FB	John Kuhn, GB	Marcel Reece, Oak
WR	Antonio Brown, Pit	Dez Bryant, Dal	A.J. Green, Cin
	T.Y. Hilton, Ind	Calvin Johnson, Det	Julio Jones, Atl
	Jordy Nelson, GB	Demaryius Thomas, Den
TE	Jimmy Graham, NO	Rob Gronkowski, NE	Julius Thomas, Den
	Greg Olsen, Car
OT	Ryan Clady, Den	Tyron Smith, Dal	Trent Williams, Was
	Joe Thomas, Cle	Joe Staley, SF	Jason Peterson, Phi
C	Travis Frederick, Dal	Jason Kelce, Phi	Nick Mangold, NYJ
	Maurkice Pouncey, Pit
OG	Jahri Evans, NO	Mike Iupati, SF	Kyle Long, Chi
	Zack Martin, Dal	Marshal Yanda, Bal	Josh Sitton, GB
DE	Calais Campbell, Ari	Mario Williams, Buf	J.J. Watt, Hou
	DeMarcus Ware, Den	Cameron Wake, Mia	Robert Quinn, STL
DT	Marcell Dareus, Buf	Aaron Donald, STL	Gerald McCoy, TB
	Kyle Williams, Buf	Ndamukong Suh, Det	Dontari Poe
OLB	Connor Barwin, Phi	Elvis Dumervil, Bal	Tamba Hali, KC
	Justin Houston, KC	Clay Matthews, GB	Von Miller, Den
ILB	Luke Kuechly, Car	C.J. Mosley, Bal	Bobby Wagner, Sea
	Lawrence Timmons, Pit
CB	Vontae Davis, Ind	Brent Grimes, Mia	Joe Haden, Cle
	Chris Harris, Den	Aqib Talib, Den	Richard Sherman, Sea
	Darrelle Revis, NE	Patrick Peterson, Ari
S	Kam Chancellor, Sea	Tashaun Gipson, Cle	Eric Weddle, SD
	T.J. Ward, Den	Earl Thomas, Sea	Glover Quin, Det
K	Stephen Gostkowski, NE	Adam Vinatieri, Ind
P	Kevin Huber, Cin	Pat McAfee, Ind
PR	Devin Hester, Atl	Darren Sproles, Phi
ST	Justin Bethel, Ari	Matthew Slater, NE

The selections were based on voting from fans, players and coaches—each receiving one-third of the vote total. And, for the most part, the choices made by the football collective shouldn't come as much of a surprise.

On the defensive side, Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt looks like a surefire first-round pick for either Irvin or Carter. Watt is currently second behind the Kansas City Chiefs' Justin Houston with 17.5 sacks, a number that's all the more amazing because Watt plays a 3-4 defensive end on most downs. The former Wisconsin star has also added 72 tackles and has even gotten some MVP buzz after lining up at the tight end spot for three touchdowns.

“It’s amazing,” Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs told the Houston Chronicle's Brian T. Smith last week. “If you look at the guy’s numbers, it’s like there’s no way in the world this is possible. I be thinking I be reading a misprint. … It’s just ridiculous. Like, come on. Come on. Really? For a defensive guy (to have) numbers like that, I’ve never seen a guy with so many stats.”

Scott Halleran/Getty Images

While Watt's Texans are eliminated from playoff contention—a big reason why some believe he won't win the MVP—he's surrounded by fellow defenders with Super Bowl aspirations. New England Patriots cornerback Darrelle Revis, Detroit Lions safety Glover Quin and Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Lawrence Timmons are just a few of the stars selected who hope they never have to make the trip.

Revis, in his first season with the Patriots, has returned to near-peak form under Bill Belichick's tutelage. Now a six-time Pro Bowler, Revis ranks second behind only the Seattle Seahawks' Richard Sherman in Pro Football Focus' coverage snaps per reception metric (subscription required).

The Patriots, who have struggled defensively in more recent seasons, are ninth in Football Outsiders' defensive DVOA in large part thanks to their secondary improvements.

Revis, Sherman and Co.—whether on the same or opposite sidelines (or in the game at all)—will all look to stop powerhouse offensive selections who were a little more difficult to whittle down than the defensive side.

Aaron Rodgers, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady, all healthy and perhaps the three most popular players in the NFL, were locks from a quarterback perspective. But separating the likes of Ben Roethlisberger, Drew Brees, Andrew Luck, Tony Romo, Russell Wilson and Matt Ryan—each franchise stars who have at times looked fantastic and at others less so—proved far more difficult.

In the end, the remaining three quarterback slots went to Luck, Romo and Roethlisberger. Luck is second behind Manning for the NFL lead with 38 touchdowns, while Romo's most efficient season ever has garnered some MVP buzz.

"Hell yeah, he is. He's the MVP," Pro Bowl receiver Dez Bryant told reporters, per NFL.com's Dan Hanzus. "Look at the performance. He's giving 'em hell in December. Icing on the cake. Give it to him. He's doing a hell of a job."

The Cowboys' three-headed offensive monster of Romo, Bryant and DeMarco Murray will all make the trip should Dallas miss out on a Super Bowl run. They'll be joined by tackle Tyron Smith, guard Zack Martin and center Travis Frederick, who help lead perhaps the NFL's most feared offensive line.

Tim Sharp/Associated Press

Murray, who leads the NFL with 1,745 rushing yards, is joined by an eclectic group of backs. Pittsburgh's Le'Veon Bell is the only rusher who can stake claim to Murray's all-around back crown, while the likes of Marshawn Lynch and LeSean McCoy were also honored from the NFC in a near-annual tradition.

Wide receiver, though, was undoubtedly the most difficult position to pare down. Bryant, Pittsburgh's Antonio Brown, the Denver Broncos' Demaryius Thomas, the Atlanta Falcons' Julio Jones and the Green Bay Packers' Jordy Nelson were locks. 

After that quintet, though, everything else was up in the air. Fifteen different wideouts have more than 1,000 receiving yards, and nearly all of them went about it in a different way.

Odell Beckham Jr. has been one of the few shining bright spots in a lost New York Giants season, but his 79 receptions, 1,120 yards and 11 receptions have come in only 11 games played; does he get credited for slamming a full season's work into three-quarters of a campaign or penalized for missing the first month?

Golden Tate blasted career highs and helped keep the Lions offense afloat without Calvin Johnson, but he's scored four times and has sputtered down the stretch.

Leaving both off the roster will undoubtedly create "snub" talk, which is always pervasive in any All-Star format. DeAndre Levy, Fletcher Cox and Matt Forte are a few others who very easily could have been named over more questionable or high-profile choices.

Of course, there's a good chance this will all work itself out come January. Carter and Irvin do not select their respective rosters until Jan. 21, a time at which Super Bowl participants, injured players and "injured" players will have long been taken off the rosters.

So, when discussing snubs in the coming days, remember one thing about all else: Their chance is almost certainly coming.

Follow Tyler Conway (@tylerconway22) on Twitter.