First-Time Pro Bowlers Who'll Become Regulars at NFL's All-Star Game

There isn't a more mocked and derided event on the NFL calendar than the annual Pro Bowl.

Veteran players back out of the game in droves. For years, pundits have called for the game to be eliminated altogether. And the NFL has tried everything from fantasy football-style drafts to dodgeball in an effort to boost lagging TV ratings.

Actually, Epic Pro Bowl Dodgeball, if you want to get technical.

For some, however, the Pro Bowl is no laughing matter. At least that's what Tennessee Titans offensive tackle Taylor Lewan told Jim Wyatt of the team's website.

"A lot of the guys, the older dudes like Joe Thomas and Andrew Whitworth, those guys are like 11 and 12 years in. I am just a tackle in year 3 at my first Pro Bowl," Lewan said. "So guys can make fun of me all they want, because this is awesome."

Lewan certainly earned the accolade, having ranked seventh among all tackles in 2016 at Pro Football Focus. He is one of 23 players who will make their Pro Bowl debuts in 2017, while even more will attend as alternates.

Though Lewan is living it up in Orlando, Florida, this week, he'll likely look at his fifth invitation to the game a few years down the road and beg out after suddenly developing a sprained eyelid. The other following players may not be far behind.

Honorable Mentions

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These first-time Pro Bowlers aren't sure bets to be perennial Pro Bowl invitees. However, that doesn't mean they won't be.

As hard as it is to believe, I've been wrong before.

Cliff Avril, DE, Seattle Seahawks

Following a career year in 2016, Avril told Aron Yohannes of the team's website, "I'm just having fun, embracing the moment," at his first Pro Bowl. Avril was great this year (11.5 sacks), but his first trip to the Pro Bowl came at the age of 30 in his ninth season. This late in his career, the odds are against him making this a regular thing.

Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S, Green Bay Packers

After setting a career high with 100 tackles in 2015, Clinton-Dix racked up a personal-best five interceptions in 2016 to make the Pro Bowl. Ha Ha's biggest problem is a numbers game—the NFC is loaded with talented safeties right now. The 24-year-old will need to continue to develop to stay ahead of that curve.

Tyreek Hill, WR, Kansas City Chiefs

Hill made it to Orlando as the AFC's return specialist after a rookie season in which he found the end zone once on kickoffs and twice on punts. Those numbers will be hard to replicate once teams (wisely) start kicking away from the 22-year-old, so the youngster will need to continue improving as a wide receiver to become a regular at the Pro Bowl.

Rodney Hudson, C, Oakland Raiders

After a third straight top-six season among NFL centers according to Pro Football Focus, Hudson would appear a solid candidate to become an annual invitee. But it took the 27-year-old six seasons in Kansas City and Oakland to finally be named to one Pro Bowl, so I'm not quite willing to mark him down as a regular just yet. 

Janoris Jenkins, CB, New York Giants

Per Matt Harmon of NFL.com, Jenkins allowed the fourth-worst passer rating among all No. 1 cornerbacks in 2016. The 28-year-old has had an up-and-down career to date, though, as evidenced by it taking him this long to earn a Pro Bowl nod. If maturity brings consistency, Jenkins will be back—repeatedly.

Landon Collins, S, New York Giants

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More than a few first-time Pro Bowlers on defense won't be playing in Orlando. Houston Texans outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney pulled out with an injury. Atlanta Falcons edge-rusher and NFL sack king Vic Beasley has other plans (in Houston, coincidentally).

However, New York Giants safety Landon Collins made the trip to Orlando as part of a contingent of players from the revamped defense that helped propel his team to the playoffs in 2016.

Collins didn't just have a great season in 2016. The second-year pro had a historic one, per Michael Eisen of the Giants' website, becoming the first player in NFL history to record at least 100 solo tackles, two sacks, five interceptions and 12 passes defensed in a single season.

While speaking with Eisen, Collins downplayed his accolade as the result of a pledge he made to himself heading into his sophomore season.

"It's just hard work that I put in," Collins said. "The work that I told you all that I was going to put in last year. Just proven to be a force on the defense and someone to be talked about. That was just my mindset."

In today's pass-happy NFL, having a safety who is equally adept at stuffing the run and covering receivers can make all the difference. Just ask the Seattle Seahawks, whose defense took a huge step backward once Earl Thomas broke his leg against the Carolina Panthers in Week 13.

Collins is that sort of player. In fact, Pro Football Focus named him its Breakout Player of the Year for 2016.

"He still has room for improvement in coverage," Matt Claassen wrote for PFF, "but Landon Collins’ growth thus far has been notable, and he looks like one of the best run defenders in the league right now." 

Assuming that growth continues, Pro Bowl trips are going to become old hat for the young man.

Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Dallas Cowboys

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So, Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott proved as a rookie that he was worth the No. 4 overall pick.

Elliott will likely be named the Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year at the NFL Honors. He may well win Offensive Player of the Year, too, after pacing the NFL with over 1,600 rushing yards in 2016.

He can add those awards to the Pro Football Writers of America Rookie of the Year and honors from Pro Football Focus as both the NFL's top rookie and the league's best tailback. 

"Elliott finished the year as the league’s leading rusher, and did much of the work himself, averaging almost 3 yards per carry after contact and sustaining his excellent performance despite a huge workload," PFF's Sam Monson wrote. "Elliott also led the league in carries, with 322—23 more than the next-highest figure—and averaged 5.1 yards per carry over the year. This was a good year for backs at the sharp end of the league, but none was better than Elliott."

Sporting News and Bleacher Report also bestowed their Rookie of the Year honors upon him, as did approximately 37 other publications near and far that I could keep rattling off until the cows come home.

If his rookie campaign was any indication, Elliott may have been the league's best running back from the moment he stepped on an NFL field. He'll be the best back in Orlando given that Arizona's David Johnson and Pittsburgh's Le'Veon Bell are both sitting the game out.

And so long as Elliott stays healthy, Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors are going to become an annual occurrence.

Playing behind the NFL's best offensive line doesn't hurt.

Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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For some players, the Pro Bowl is at best a free vacation and at worst a chore. More than a few decline their invitations due to other commitments and/or phantom injuries.

However, as Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans told Scott Smith of the team website, he's having the time of his life in Orlando.

"It's off the chain, it's crazy," Evans said. "Guys I've looked up to, I'm playing with them in this Pro Bowl all-star game and it's amazing. Just to connect with the guys. There are a lot of legends here, former players like Ray Lewis, Charles Woodson. Get to know those guys and get to know all the other players around the league."

"During the season, I was a lot more serious because I was trying to get the job done. But now I can decompress a little bit and enjoy this, and it's been great. I'm a big fan of football and I love a lot of players' games. And then to meet them, they're even better guys than they are players."

Also, while the level of play in the Pro Bowl has long been criticized, Evans told Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times that a lack of effort won't be an issue on his end.

"I just realized it's double the money if you win, so I'm going hard," Evans said. "Winners get $64,000, losers $32,000," Auman added. 

Ah. A man whose priorities are squared away.

Frankly, it's surprising that this is Evans' first Pro Bowl. After all, the 6'5", 231-pounder has topped 1,000 receiving yards in each of his first three professional seasons and caught at least 10 scores twice.

His absence (until now) is a testimonial to the incredible depth at wide receiver in today's NFL.

However, while Evans was good his first two years in the league, he was great in 2016. No wide receiver in the NFL received more targets this season that Evans, who parlayed all of that attention from quarterback Jameis Winston into 96 catches for 1,321 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Given the rapport Evans has developed with Winston, there's no reason to think those numbers are headed south any time soon And that sort of production gets receivers invited to Orlando/Honolulu/Sydney.

Yes. The Sydney in Australia.

The idea has reportedly been discussed, according to Pro Football Talk's Michael David Smith, so a Pro Bowl being played there may be just a matter of time.

Kelechi Osemele, OG, Oakland Raiders

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What? You didn't think I'd give the big guys some love?

Kelechi Osemele of the Oakland Raiders had an eventful 2016, one that began with a five-year, $58.5 million contract and ended with the first Pro Bowl selection of his five-year career.

But wait! There's more!

The Associated Press and Sporting News both named Osemele a first team All-Pro.

"The argument can be made that Osemele to the Raiders was the most impactful free-agent signing in 2016," Tadd Haislop wrote for Sporting News. "He's a massive reason why Oakland finished in the top 10 as a team in rushing yards, rushing yards per attempt and rushing yards per game. NFL coaches recognized that impact and rewarded Osemele for his stellar season."

In a Jan. 19 conference call Oakland general manager Reggie McKenzie told reporters that Osemele's honors were well-deserved.

"I think Kelechi solidified our offensive line, from the standpoint of what we wanted from our run game, from a physicality standpoint, what we had always talked about from Day 1," McKenzie said. "He added to that and he put some teeth into the whole offensive mentality. I felt like that was an impact. I was happy to see him get his first Pro Bowl. That was good to see."

It's hard to argue with McKenzie. Among all guards, only former teammate Marshal Yanda of the Baltimore Ravens and Zack Martin of the Dallas Cowboys (regulars at the Pro Bowl) received a higher grade at Pro Football Focus than Osemele in 2016. He allowed zero sacks, just two hits and nine hurries on the year.

Osemele is only 27, and he has now finished in the top 15 at PFF among all guards for three years running (including two top-six finishes). This may be his first Pro Bowl, but it's almost certainly not going to be his last. 

Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas Cowboys

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The Pro Bowl is essentially a popularity contest.

Quarterback is easily the most popular position in the NFL.

The Dallas Cowboys are arguably the NFL's most popular team.

All of those things bode well for Dak Prescott soon tiring of annual invitations to play in the NFL's all-star game.

However, this first trip has been a special one for the biggest rookie surprise of 2016. As Prescott told Clarence E. Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, that's partly because he's been working out with one of the greatest to ever play the position.

"It's humbling just [to] be going through these drills with Drew Brees," Prescott said. "He is one the greats. He is one of my favorites in everything he does. He is so detailed. We are out at the Pro Bowl. He is still hitting every drill, throwing every ball. One speed. It's the right way to do it. I learned a lot [from] him."

It's a fitting culmination to a phenomenal first season. Thrust into the spotlight by Tony Romo's preseason injury, Prescott threw for 3,667 yards and 23 touchdowns while leading the Cowboys to a 13-3 record and the NFC's No. 1 seed.

However, as Prescott told ESPN.com's James Walker, the last game he played in the 2016 season will be forever etched in his mind.

"It's behind me, but I can't say I'm over that loss [to the Green Bay Packers in the divisional round]," Prescott said. "I'll never be over that loss. I'll never be over any loss. It's definitely fuel to the fire and I'm ready to get back to work."

The Cowboys' season ended on a sour note, but it wasn't their young quarterback's fault. Prescott keyed Dallas' furious comeback in that game, throwing for 302 yards and three scores.

One year does not a career make, but if 2016 was any indication, Prescott is a superstar in the making.

And superstar quarterbacks get invited to the Pro Bowl with yawn-inducing frequency.