Washington Redskins: 5 Players Who Could Make the Pro Bowl

Is it too early to talk Pro Bowl? Of course not.

The Redskins have shown signs of struggle over the past couple weeks and the injury bug looks like it made its landing, but there are a few individual performers that could find their way to Hawaii come January.

With a questionable offense through six games, it's no surprise that there's more Pro Bowl potential on defense, but we'll take it.

Fred Davis

Sitting as the lone offensive player, tight Fred Davis is putting up impressive numbers in his fourth NFL season.

Through six games, Davis ranks third amongst tight ends with 423 yards, seventh amongst tight ends with 28 receptions and first amongst tight ends with at least 20 catches with a 15.1 yards-per-catch average.

Aside from stats, Davis has been a frequent target of both Rex Grossman and John Beck. Davis has earned a reputation for having solid hands and his athleticism creates matchup nightmares for linebackers and opposing defenses.

With the recent loss of leading receiver Santana Moss, there may be some whispers of splitting Davis out wide more often to serve as a receiver and pick up some of the slack. Davis has favorable size and his speed is enough to force separation and make plays.

London Fletcher

The usual suspect, linebacker London Fletcher, is actually often the victim when it comes to Pro Bowl ballots. But after recording 43 tackles, one sack, an interception, one forced fumble and four pass deflections (good for fourth-best amongst linebackers) all through six games, the defensive leader is once again making his push for proper accolades.

Some will say that the Redskins defense is nowhere near what it is if Fletcher isn't in the middle and running the show. And from the looks of things, it appears to be a pretty accurate statement.

Although the Pro Bowl doesn't factor things like leadership and value, they should take consideration for a 35-year-old veteran with consistent killer instinct and undeniable effectiveness at the linebacker position.

Brian Orakpo

I'm convinced that if it weren't for the consistent holds against Brian Orakpo, we'd see even more impressive stats each season.

So far this year, Orakpo has been his usual and natural force off the end. He is tied for third amongst NFL linebackers with five sacks, he has racked 22 tackles and is tied for second amongst linebackers with two forced fumbles.

If intimidation felt by opposing quarterbacks was a statistic, Orakpo would be up there with the best of 'em. Orakpo's combination of size, speed, athleticism and ferociousness make him one of the best young linebackers in the league.

Stephen Bowen

It's difficult to gauge defensive ends in the 3-4 scheme because their statistics typically don't lead many categories. However, the effectiveness and significance of a good end in the 3-4 is unmeasurable.

In their second season under the new defensive scheme, the Redskins worked on acquiring the right personnel to run the game plan correctly. Going out and signing former Dallas Cowboys end Stephen Bowen was the right move.

Even with just 14 tackles on the year, Bowen has made his presence felt as a pass-rusher, registering three sacks through six games. And while there isn't a statistic for disruption or penetration, Bowen makes a living off doing just that. Although the stats don't go directly to Bowen, it's his play that helps to inflate the stats of his teammates.

Ryan Kerrigan

The Redskins knew what they were getting when they drafted Ryan Kerrigan in the first round last April. For fans, Kerrigan's performance through six games may be a pleasant surprise.

Getting the starting nod at linebacker, Kerrigan stepped in right away and hasn't appeared to miss a beat. Through six starts, Kerrigan has 25 tackles, an interception and three pass deflections. He's also tied for seventh amongst NFL linebackers with two sacks and he's second amongst linebackers with two forced fumbles.

It would be nice to see the Redskins get a few more turnovers as a result of Kerrigan's relentless pass rush off the end, but that should come in time. For now, Redskins fans are thrilled to see such a young man in a completely new position do the kind of things that Kerrigan's doing.

In addition to possible Pro Bowl consideration, Kerrigan is making a very good case for Defensive Rookie of the Year. Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller is a tough competition with his six sacks on the year, but there's a lot of ball left to be played.

Honorable Mention(s)

There's two guys on defense that I believe deserve to get at least a look, but they probably won't get the real honor of hitting any Hawaiian beaches.

Rocky McIntosh

After being re-signed last offseason and many doubting his ability to be effective in the 3-4 scheme, McIntosh has returned and is currently the Redskins' leading tackler with 45.

McIntosh has developed and continues to progress as a dangerous and athletic middle linebacker alongside London Fletcher.

Barry Cofield

After playing a majority of his career as a defensive tackle, Cofield signed with the Redskins over the summer and fully accepted the role of nose tackle. So far, so good.

Like most linemen in a 3-4, Cofield's stats aren't going to light up a box score. But when you watch a Redskins game, Cofield is an easy standout.

Through six games, Cofield has just seven tackles and one sack, but his penetration in the middle of the line quickly closes the pocket of opposing quarterbacks and the 300-pounder is a beast at clogging running lanes.