2014 NFL Pro Bowl Mock Draft

The most exciting weekend of NFL action is almost here!

Not the Super Bowl, you goof. I mean, who really cares about that game?

It's all about the commercials and musical genius of Bruno Mars in the tropical paradise that is New Jersey in February.

No, I'm talking about the Pro Bowl, where the NFL's very best gather each year for the hardest-fought game of the season, a 60-minute fight to the death in the frozen wastes of Honolulu.

In an effort to somehow make the Pro Bowl more exciting (like that's possible), the NFL made some big changes to the format for this year.

Rather than AFC vs. NFC, Hall of Famers Jerry Rice and Deion Sanders will pick teams fantasy-style from the pool of players, aided by fans and this year's player captains.

So, as the NFL prepares to make history with this unprecedented event, here's a look at how this year's new wrinkles will unfold into the greatest single game in the history of any sport ever.

I'll even stop being sarcastic.

Rules

Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

I spent much of the last slide jesting because many see the Pro Bowl as something of a joke.

Scores of players have backed out of the game in recent years due to an assortment of phantom injuries. The level of play in the game two years ago was so horrific that there was talk of abolishing it altogether.

It got better last year, but that didn't stop the calls for the Pro Bowl to be put out of its misery.

However, the NFL isn't going to get rid of a game that, for all its problems, is still a money-maker. So instead, the league decided to turn the rules upside down. 

Buckle up, folks. We're headed through the looking glass.

Rosters

Each Pro Bowl team has a total of 44 players. 21 offensive players (four wide receivers, three tackles, three guards, two centers, two tight ends, three quarterbacks, three running backs and a fullback), 18 defensive players (three defensive ends, three defensive tackles, three outside linebackers, two inside linebackers, four cornerbacks and three safeties) and five special teams players (a punter, kicker, specialist, returner and "need" player, like a long snapper).

So, 88 players.

The Draft

On Tuesday, Jan. 20, a coin toss will be held between captains Jerry Rice and Deion Sanders. The winner can either have their choice of player captain groups (one offense, one defense) or the first pick in each of the two player drafts.

Yes, two drafts.

On Tuesday, the first group of 22 players will be selected (defensive tackles, guards, centers, fullbacks, punters and specialists). If necessary, players will be assigned to rosters to meet requirements. The "need" player is also an assignee.

Picks are made in alternating order.

Then on Wednesday, the remaining players (wide receivers, tackles, tight ends, quarterbacks, running backs, linebackers, defensive backs, defensive ends, kickers and returners) will be chosen.

Some notes on Wednesday's "main event," courtesy of NFL.com:

"

Four of the players above will be captains and already on a team prior to the Wednesday draft.

There will be a minimum of 12 players assigned. There will be a maximum of 48 players drafted.

Once each team has two quarterbacks on its roster, they may not take a third quarterback until the last round of the draft.

At the conclusion of the draft, the team that chooses second may make one trade. Players must be the same position (e.g., wide receiver for wide receiver). This must only involve players selected beyond the fifth round. The trade may not be for a quarterback. If the team that chose second decides to make a trade, the trade is mandatory.

"

Given these rules, they really should have let Matt Millen pick a team.

Talk about TV history.

Captains

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The 2014 Pro Bowl rosters will be selected by a pair of the greatest to ever play the game.

As he usually was during his playing days, Deion Sanders is full of confidence heading into Tuesday's draft, telling CBS Sports, “I think it is going to be a blowout. I don’t think Jerry has strategized.”

Jerry Rice, of course, disagrees, stating, “That’s not going to happen. I have a pretty good mindset of where I want to go.”

Both men have been rather coy about their strategy for the draft, but both indicated an affinity for younger players and newcomers to the game.

Said Sanders, “You want what you want. I know the guys that are going to cover. No matter what, they’re not cutting no deals.”

Rice was wary, though, adding that while he expects his team to be more balanced, Sanders "might go the opposite way and try to select some veterans.”

Rice and Sanders have the final say on picks, but they'll have help.

The four player captains are comprised of two pairs: The top vote-getter of offense and second-place finisher on defense (Drew Brees and Robert Quinn) and the top vote-getter on defense and second-place finisher on offense (J.J. Watt and Jamaal Charles).

Rounding out the "front offices" are a pair of very lucky fans who won the right to help select the teams via contests.

Say what you will about the Pro Bowl, but the league is making an effort to shake things up. 

Coin Toss

Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

The first order of business is the coin flip that will determine the captains and draft order.

Sanders lost the coin toss affording Team Rice the choice of first pick or the captains.

For Rice, the decision was an easy one.

As good as Jamaal Charles was this year for the Kansas City Chiefs, running backs are devalued in the Pro Bowl. In snatching up Drew Brees and Robert Quinn, Rice gets a two-fer: a 5,000-yard passer and a defensive end who finished 2013 with 19 sacks, which was second in the league. 

So it's Brees and Quinn to Team Rice, Charles and J.J. Watt to Team Sanders.

Team Sanders is on the clock.

Tuesday's Draft

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

Tuesday's draft won't make or break the game, but it has its importance. It's not that the interior linemen comprising the majority of the player pool aren't all very good at what they do. The type of game played in Honolulu just isn't one that fits their skill set.

The two captains selected for each team, however, could make all the difference.

Here's a look at the selections made on Tuesday:

Team Rice

Jason Hatcher	DT	Dallas Cowboys
Marcell Dareus	DT	Buffalo Bills
Kyle Williams	DT	Buffalo Bills
Jahri Evans	OG	New Orleans Saints
Ben Grubbs	OG	New Orleans Saints
Evan Mathis	OG	Philadelphia Eagles
Ryan Kalil	C	Carolina Panthers
Nick Mangold	C	New York Jets
Mike Tolbert	FB	Carolina Panthers
Justin Bethel	ST	Arizona Cardinals
Johnny Hekker	P	St. Louis Rams
Matt Overton	LS	Indianapolis Colts
Drew Brees	QB	New Orleans Saints
Robert Quinn	DE	St. Louis Rams

Analysis

Selecting his captains first, Rice wasted no time adding Drew Brees and Robert Quinn to his roster. Brees could easily be the MVP of the game given the way defense has played in this all-star game of late.

Robert Quinn will be a problem for whichever signal-callers Sanders selects Wednesday.

Fullback Mike Tolbert was the second biggest weapon added to the team on Tuesday. The Panthers ball-carrier can be extremely effective out of the backfield.

Team Sanders

Ndamukong Suh	DT	Detroit Lions
Gerald McCoy	DT	Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Dontari Poe	DT	Kansas City Chiefs
Marshal Yanda	OG	Baltimore Ravens
Logan Mankins	OG	New England Patriots
Kyle Long	OG	Chicago Bears
Mike Pouncey	C	Miami Dolphins
Alex Mack	C	Cleveland Browns
Marcel Reece	FB	Oakland Raiders
Matthew Slater	ST	New England Patriots
Brandon Fields	P	Miami Dolphins
J.J. Jansen	LS	Carolina Panthers
Jamaal Charles	RB	Kansas City Chiefs
J.J. Watt	DE	Houston Texans

Analysis

Selecting second, Sanders was able to add the league's most dynamic running back in Jamaal Charles and the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, J.J. Watt.

Whichever QBs he adds on Wednesday night will be well protected with Yanda, Mankins, Long, Pouncey and Mack manning the interior line.

Special teamer Matthew Slater has been one of the league's best for a number of years.

Wednesday's Draft

Chuck Burton/Associated Press

Wednesday is when the magic happens.

On the second day of the Pro Bowl draft, a three-hour televised special will detail the picks that will win this game.

Whether it's passing the ball or stopping it, the road to victory at the Pro Bowl involves a trip to the airport.

Before we get to the picks, a few notes...

For the sake of this exercise, I attempted to approach this game with the understanding that the Pro Bowl isn't a "regular" football game. Some positions increased in value as a result, while others fell.

It's a good day to be a quarterback. Not so much a pass-rushing outside linebacker in a game where blitzes aren't allowed.

Also, the nuances of the rules can impact draft strategy. If you have only one remaining slot at a position, your next choice there will automatically reward the remaining players at that position to the other team.

An example: When Team Rice selected Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson with the 26th pick, that filled their wideout corps. Team Sanders then automatically received Alshon Jeffery and Brandon Marshall, while also picking next.

When Sanders and Rice do this for real, they may be less wary of those occurrences, but I was leery of affording too many "freebies."

(Pick number in parentheses.)

Previously Assigned Players

Team Sanders: Jamaal Charles (RB, Kansas City Chiefs), J.J. Watt (DE, Houston Texans), J.J. Jansen (LS, Carolina Panthers)

Team Rice: Drew Brees (QB, New Orleans Saints), Robert Quinn (DE, St. Louis Rams), Matt Overton (LS, Indianapolis Colts)

Round 1

Team Sanders (1): Cam Newton, QB, Carolina Panthers

Team Rice (2): Jimmy Graham, TE, New Orleans Saints

Round 2

Team Sanders (3): Darrelle Revis, CB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Team Rice (4): A.J. Green, WR, Cincinnati Bengals

Round 3

Team Sanders (5): Patrick Peterson, CB, Arizona Cardinals

Team Rice (6): Josh Gordon, WR, Cleveland Browns

Round 4

Team Sanders (7): Luke Kuechly, ILB, Carolina Panthers

Team Rice (8): Derrick Johnson, ILB, Kansas City Chiefs

Round 5

Team Sanders (9): Dez Bryant, WR, Dallas Cowboys

Team Rice (10): LeSean McCoy, RB, Philadelphia Eagles

Round 6

Team Sanders (11): Antonio Brown, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

Team Rice (12): Joe Thomas, OT, Cleveland Browns

Round 7

Team Sanders (13): Cameron Jordan, DE, New Orleans Saints

Team Rice (14): Joe Haden, CB, Cleveland Browns

Round 8

Team Sanders (15): Andrew Luck, QB, Indianapolis Colts

Team Rice (16): Robert Mathis, OLB, Indianapolis Colts

Round 9

Team Sanders (17): Jordan Gross, OT, Carolina Panthers

Team Rice (18): Eric Berry, S, Kansas City Chiefs

Round 10

Team Sanders (19): Justin Houston, OLB, Kansas City Chiefs

Team Rice (20): Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Arizona Cardinals

Round 11

Team Sanders (21): Brandon Flowers, CB, Kansas City Chiefs

Team Rice (22): Matt Forte, RB, Chicago Bears

Round 12

Team Sanders (23): Tony Gonzalez, TE, Atlanta Falcons

Team Rice (24): Jairus Byrd, S, Buffalo Bills

Round 13

Team Sanders (25): DeMarco Murray, RB, Dallas Cowboys

Team Rice (26): DeSean Jackson, WR, Philadelphia Eagles (Fills WR slots)

Note: Per Pro Bowl Rules, Brandon Marshall (WR, Chicago Bears) and Alshon Jeffery (WR, Chicago Bears) are assigned to Team Sanders.

Round 14

Team Sanders (27): Duane Brown, OT, Houston Texans

Team Rice (28): Tim Jennings, CB, Chicago Bears

Round 15

Team Sanders (29): Antrel Rolle, S, New York Giants

Team Rice (30): Trent Williams, OT, Washington Redskins

Round 16

Team Sanders (31): Cordarrelle Patterson, KR, Minnesota Vikings (Fills KR slot)

Team Rice (32): Greg Hardy, DE, Carolina Panthers

Note: Per Pro Bowl rules, Dexter McCluster (KR, Kansas City Chiefs) assigned to Team Rice.

Round 17

Team Sanders (33): Brian Orakpo, OLB, Washington Redskins

Team Rice (34): Tamba Hali, OLB, Kansas City Chiefs

Round 18

Team Sanders (35): Eric Weddle, S, San Diego Chargers

Team Rice (36): Philip Rivers, QB, San Diego Chargers

Round 19

Team Sanders (37): Jordan Cameron, TE, Cleveland Browns (Fills TE slots)

Team Rice (38): Alterraun Verner, CB, Tennessee Titans

Note: Per Pro Bowl rules, Jason Witten (TE, Dallas Cowboys) assigned to Team Rice.

Round 20

Team Sanders (39): Brent Grimes, CB. Miami Dolphins (Fills CB slots)

Team Rice (40): Branden Albert, OT, Kansas City Chiefs (Fills OT slots)

Note: Per Pro Bowl rules, Antonio Cromartie (CB, New York Jets) assigned to Team Rice. Tyron Smith (OT, Dallas Cowboys) assigned to Team Sanders.

Round 21

Team Sanders (41): Eddie Lacy, RB, Green Bay Packers (Fills RB slots)

Team Rice (42): Vontaze Burfict, ILB, Cincinnati Bengals (Fills ILB slots)

Note: Per Pro Bowl rules, Alfred Morris (RB, Washington Redskins) assigned to Team Rice. Paul Posluszny (ILB, Jacksonville Jaguars) assigned to Team Sanders.

Round 22

Team Sanders (43): Justin Tucker, K, Baltimore Ravens (Fills K slot)

Team Rice (44): Mario Williams, DE, Buffalo Bills (Fills DE slots)

Note: Per Pro Bowl rules, Stephen Gostkowski (K, New England Patriots) assigned to Team Rice. Cameron Wake (DE, Miami Dolphins) assigned to Team Sanders.

Round 23

Team Sanders (45): John Abraham, OLB, Arizona Cardinals (Fills OLB slots)

Team Rice (46) Eric Reid, S, San Francisco 49ers (Fills S slots)

Note: Per Pro Bowl rules, Terrell Suggs (OLB, Baltimore Ravens) assigned to Team Rice. T.J. Ward (S, Cleveland Browns) assigned to Team Sanders.

Round 24

Team Sanders (47): Nick Foles, QB, Philadelphia Eagles (Fills QB slots)

Note: Per Pro Bowl rules, Alex Smith (QB, Kansas City Chiefs) assigned to Team Rice.

Analysis

With Team Rice already having a quarterback, there was really no need for Team Sanders to take one so early. However, there also isn't a player in the pool more tailor-made to run the "Prime Time" offense than Cam Newton of the Panthers.

From there, it was defense. Sanders, as a former cornerback, will likely prioritize the secondary. That's reflected in the back-to-back picks of Darrelle Revis and Patrick Peterson. In fact, in Watt, Revis and Kuechly, Sanders may have the best individual player at each level of the defense in this year's game.

It's also not as if the offense suffered unnecessarily. The Team Sanders stable of young guns under center has plenty of options in the passing game, and DeMarco Murray joins Charles as a second tailback more than capable of hurting teams through the air.

Meanwhile, it should come as little surprise that the NFL's greatest receiver might favor the passing game, and that's the direction Team Rice took in this draft.

Whether it was Brees' teammate Jimmy Graham with their first pick, wideouts A.J. Green and Josh Gordon with the next two selections or DeSean Jackson, Larry Fitzgerald and Jason Witten later on, there are no shortage of targets for Team Rice's quarterbacks.

About those quarterbacks: They may be a bit long in the tooth, but the duo of Brees and Philip Rivers have combined to win a few shootouts in their day.

Granted, on paper at least, Team Rice doesn't appear as stout defensively. However, it's worth pointing out that safeties Jairus Byrd and Eric Berry are among the very best in the NFL at their position in coverage.

Team Rice also has a nice combination of youth and experience in the pass-rush, especially since both Robert Mathis and Terrell Suggs have experience playing with their hand down.

Team Rice also elected not to use their trade option, standing pat.

Final Rosters

Kent Nishimura/Getty Images

Combining Tuesday's results with Wednesday's projections, here's a look at the final rosters for each team in the 2014 Pro Bowl.

TEAM RICE

QB: Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

QB: Alex Smith, Kansas City Chiefs

QB: Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers

RB: LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia Eagles

RB: Matt Forte, Chicago Bears

RB: Alfred Morris, Washington Redskins

FB: Mike Tolbert, Carolina Panthers

WR: A.J. Green, Cincinnati Bengals

WR: Josh Gordon, Cleveland Browns

WR: Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals

WR: DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia Eagles

TE: Jimmy Graham, New Orleans Saints

TE: Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys

OT: Joe Thomas, Clevalend Browns

OT: Trent Williams, Washington Redskins

OT: Branden Albert, Kansas City Chiefs

OG: Jahri Evans, New Orleans Saints

OG: Ben Grubbs, New Orleans Saints

OG: Evan Mathis, Philadelphia Eagles

C: Ryan Kalil, Carolina Panthers

C: Nick Mangold, New York Jets

DE: Robert Quinn, St. Louis Rams

DE: Greg Hardy, Carolina Panthers

DE: Mario Williams, Buffalo Bills

DT: Jason Hatcher, Dallas Cowboys

DT: Kyle Williams, Buffalo Bills

DT: Marcell Dareus, Buffalo Bills

OLB: Robert Mathis, Indianapolis Colts

OLB: Tamba Hali, Kansas City Chiefs

OLB: Terrell Suggs, Baltimore Ravens

ILB: Derrick Johnson, Kansas City Chiefs

ILB: Vontaze Burfict, Cincinnati Bengals

CB: Joe Haden, Cleveland Browns

CB: Tim Jennings, Chicago Bears

CB: Alterraun Verner, Tennessee Titans

CB: Antonio Cromartie, New York Jets

S: Eric Berry, Kansas City Chiefs

S: Jairus Byrd, Buffalo Bills

S: Eric Reid, San Francisco 49ers

K: Stephen Gostkowski, New England Patriots

P: Johnny Hekker, St. Louis Rams

KR: Dexter McCluster, Kansas City Chiefs

ST: Justin Bethel, Arizona Cardinals

LS: Matt Overton, Indianapolis Colts

TEAM SANDERS

QB: Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers

QB: Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts

QB: Nick Foles, Philadelphia Eagles

RB: Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Chiefs

RB: DeMarco Murray, Dallas Cowboys

RB: Eddie Lacy, Green Bay Packers

FB: Marcel Reece, Oakland Raiders

WR: Dez Bryant, Dallas Cowboys

WR: Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers

WR: Brandon Marshall, Chicago Bears

WR: Alshon Jeffery, Chicago Bears

TE: Tony Gonzalez, Atlanta Falcons

TE: Jordan Cameron, Cleveland Browns

OT: Jordan Gross, Carolina Panthers

OT: Duane Brown, Houston Texans

OT: Tyron Smith, Dallas Cowboys

OG: Marshal Yanda, Baltimore Ravens

OG: Logan Mankins, New England Patriots

OG: Kyle Long, Chicago Bears

C: Alex Mack, Cleveland Browns

C: Mike Pouncey, Miami Dolphins

DT: Ndamukong Suh, Detroit Lions

DT: Gerald McCoy, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

DT: Dontari Poe, Kansas City Chiefs

DE: J.J. Watt, Houston Texans

DE: Cameron Jordan, New Orleans Saints

DE: Cameron Wake, Miami Dolphins

OLB: Justin Houston, Kansas City Chiefs

OLB: Brian Orakpo, Washington Redskins

OLB: John Abraham, Arizona Cardinals 

ILB: Luke Kuechly, Carolina Panthers 

ILB: Paul Posluszny, Jacksonville Jaguars

CB: Darrelle Revis, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 

CB: Patrick Peterson, Arizona Cardinals 

CB: Brandon Flowers, Kansas City Chiefs 

CB: Brent Grimes, Miami Dolphins 

S: Antrel Rolle, New York Giants 

S: Eric Weddle, San Diego Chargers 

S: T.J. Ward, Cleveland Browns

K: Justin Tucker, Baltimore Ravens

P: Brandon Fields, Miami Dolphins

KR: Cordarrelle Patterson, Minnesota Vikings

ST: Matthew Slater, New England Patriots

LS: J.J. Jansen, Carolina Panthers

Conclusion

Kent Nishimura/Getty Images

So, what have we learned from this little exercise?

Well, if this mock was any indication, it's possible to go defense early in the Pro Bowl draft and not suffer too badly, but the impact is a little more apparent the other way around.

This isn't to say that Rice or Sanders can't load up offensively early and still field a good defense (relatively speaking), but the depth at spots like wide receiver, tight end and even quarterback is such that those positions don't need to be a priority early.

For a game with so much passing, the talent pool at cornerback is shallower. For that reason, if I had to choose a player as the individual with the most value, my vote would lie with Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Darrelle Revis.

Finally, those nuances I mentioned in the draft rules could add a very interesting wrinkle or two to draft night(s), or have no impact whatsoever.

It will be interesting to see how much the two GMs try to use those rules to their advantage, or Rice will exercise the trade option.

All in all, this new format for the Pro Bowl is just that—new. Right now at least, the novelty is refreshing, although that could quickly change if a botched draft leads to a blowout.

And that's the rub. None of this will matter if the game's lousy. Maybe the new format will bring a bit more effort out of the players, and the two teams will be more evenly matched than ever.

Or it will be a train wreck, and we'll be back to AFC vs. NFC in no time.

Either way, the NFL has already accomplished its goal.

We're talking about the Pro Bowl without snickering.

Well mostly, anyway.