Pro Bowl 2015: Fantasy Draft Team Captains, Eligible Players and Predictions
If you think the actual NFL draft is dragged out, you may want to turn away.
The two-day process that is the Pro Bowl draft began Tuesday when honorary captain Michael Irvin won a coin toss over fellow honorary captain Cris Carter. Irvin responded in turn by choosing pair DeMarco Murray and Joe Haden as his captains, which gave Carter J.J. Watt and Antonio Brown as his captains.
The four captains were decided based on the players with the most votes among those who were healthy and did not advance past the divisional round of the playoffs.
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After the captain part of the draft was complete, Irvin and Carter went about selecting interior linemen and special teamers, with NFL.com releasing the full results. The remaining spots on the roster will be filled during Day 2 of the Pro Bowl draft on Wednesday evening at 8 p.m. ET on NFL Network.
Here is a look at the results from Tuesday as well as the remaining player pool for Wednesday’s portion. The Pro Bowl roster and replacements listed here are courtesy of ESPN.com.
| DT | Marcell Dareus, Kyle Williams and Dontari Poe | Aaron Donald, Sheldon Richardson and Geno Atkins |
| G | Mike Pouncey, Josh Sitton and Evan Mathis | Zack Martin, Marshal Yanda and Kyle Long |
| C | Maurkice Pouncey and Jason Kelce | Travis Frederick and Nick Mangold |
| FB | John Kuhn | Marcel Reece |
| P | Pat McAfee | Kevin Huber |
| K | Cody Parkey | Adam Vinatieri |
| ST | Justin Bethel | Darrell Stuckey |
| Returner | Devin Hester | Darren Sproles |
| Quarterback | ||
| Drew Brees (replaced Ben Roethlisberger) | New Orleans Saints | |
| Matthew Stafford (replaced Peyton Manning) | Detroit Lions | |
| Matt Ryan (replaced Tom Brady) | Atlanta Falcons | |
| Andy Dalton (replaced Aaron Rodgers) | Cincinnati Bengals | |
| Andrew Luck | Indianapolis Colts | |
| Tony Romo | Dallas Cowboys | |
| Running Back | ||
| Alfred Morris (replaced LeSean McCoy) | Washington | |
| Justin Forsett (replaced Arian Foster) | Baltimore Ravens | |
| Mark Ingram (replaced Marshawn Lynch) | New Orleans Saints | |
| C.J. Anderson (replaced Le'Veon Bell) | Denver Broncos | |
| Jamaal Charles | Kansas City Chiefs | |
| Wide Receivers | ||
| Odell Beckham Jr. (replaced Calvin Johnson) | New York Giants | |
| Emmanuel Sanders (replaced Julio Jones) | Denver Broncos | |
| Golden Tate (replaced Jeremy Maclin, who replaced Demaryius Thomas) | Detroit Lions | |
| Randall Cobb (replaced Dez Bryant) | Green Bay Packers | |
| A.J. Green | Cincinnati Bengals | |
| T.Y. Hilton | Indianapolis Colts | |
| Jordy Nelson | Green Bay Packers | |
| Tight Ends | ||
| Martellus Bennett (replaced Rob Gronkowski) | Chicago Bears | |
| Jason Witten (replaced Julius Thomas) | Dallas Cowboys | |
| Jimmy Graham | New Orleans Saints | |
| Greg Olsen | Carolina Panthers | |
| Tackles | ||
| Ryan Clady | Denver Broncos | |
| Jason Peters | Philadelphia Eagles | |
| Tyron Smith | Dallas Cowboys | |
| Joe Staley | San Francisco 49ers | |
| Joe Thomas | Cleveland Browns | |
| Trent Williams | Washington | |
| Defensive Ends | ||
| Calais Campbell | Arizona Cardinals | |
| Robert Quinn | St. Louis Rams | |
| Cameron Wake | Miami Dolphins | |
| DeMarcus Ware | Denver Broncos | |
| Mario Williams | Buffalo Bills | |
| Outside Linebackers | ||
| Connor Barwin | Philadelphia Eagles | |
| Elvis Dumervil | Baltimore Ravens | |
| Tamba Hali | Kansas City Chiefs | |
| Justin Houston | Kansas City Chiefs | |
| Clay Matthews | Green Bay Packers | |
| Von Miller | Denver Broncos | |
| Inside Linebackers | ||
| D'Qwell Jackson (replaced Bobby Wagner) | Indianapolis Colts | |
| Luke Kuechly | Carolina Panthers | |
| C.J. Mosley | Baltimore Ravens | |
| Lawrence Timmons | Pittsburgh Steelers | |
| Cornerbacks | ||
| Antonio Cromartie (replaced Richard Sherman) | Arizona Cardinals | |
| Sam Shields (replaced Darrelle Revis) | Green Bay Packers | |
| Vontae Davis | Indianapolis Colts | |
| Brent Grimes | Miami Dolphins | |
| Chris Harris | Denver Broncos | |
| Patrick Peterson | Arizona Cardinals | |
| Aqib Talib | Denver Broncos | |
| Free Safeties | ||
| Donte Whitner (replaced Tashaun Gipson) | Cleveland Browns | |
| Mike Adams (replaced Earl Thomas) | Indianapolis Colts | |
| Glover Quin | Detroit Lions | |
| Eric Weddle | San Diego Chargers | |
| Strong Safeties | ||
| Antoine Bethea (replaced Kam Chancellor) | San Francisco 49ers | |
| T.J. Ward | Denver Broncos |
Predictions
Michael Irvin and Cris Carter Will Try to Keep Teammates Together
There is something to be said for chemistry in any NFL game, especially when the rosters are put together days before the actual Pro Bowl.
In no area of the game will that be clearer than in the passing attack, where a number of teammates could be matched together. Considering Carter and Irvin are former wide receivers who understand the value of being on the same page with the quarterback, expect the draft strategy to follow suit.
The two receivers could mix and match teammates, including Andrew Luck and T.Y. Hilton, Drew Brees and Jimmy Graham, Tony Romo and Jason Witten or Andy Dalton and A.J. Green in the passing attack.
The same strategy is also a possibility in the secondary, where defenders have to communicate with each other in an effort to stop those opposing passing games.
The opportunity to mix and match a number of Denver Broncos is in play with Chris Harris, Aqib Talib and T.J. Ward all available at either safety or cornerback. Throw in linebacker Von Miller and defensive end DeMarcus Ware, and communication wouldn’t be an issue at all with practically the entire Denver defense on the field at once.
Carter and Irvin could also pair cornerback Haden with fellow Cleveland Browns teammate and safety Donte Whitner.
If the two former superstar receivers are going to use some strategy in this draft, don’t be surprised if building chemistry by keeping actual teammates together is part of it.
The Game Will Be Competitive and Come Down to the Final Possession
For years the Pro Bowl was almost a two-hand touch exhibition where the defenders played with similar effort levels as a backyard football game.
However, the NFL changed the format to the fantasy draft style last year, and there was noticeable effort and intensity on the defensive side. Suddenly there were different dynamics in play that weren’t there before, such draft snubs and teammates squaring off against teammates.
The result was a drama-filled contest in last year’s game that ended with a 22-21 score. Expect more of the same this year since the same format is in place.
Pride after being passed up in the draft or the ability to beat a teammate that players usually play with during the season can be powerful motivators. Players will also want to reward Carter or Irvin for selecting them while also making the other pay for passing them up.
The two coaches themselves will bring an air of competitiveness with them if Carter’s comments were any indication, via Kevin Zimmerman of Fox Sports Arizona: "There's no two more competitive people than Michael and myself. We always want to put on a good show. There is a strategy into it, but it's about the end product."
Replacement players will likely want to prove that they belong, and as ESPN’s Trey Wingo noted, there have certainly been a lot of replacements:
Personal pride can be a strong motivating factor, especially for pro athletes. With plenty of that on the line at the Pro Bowl, expect a competitive game.
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