4 Vikings Still Waiting on Elusive First Pro Bowl
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The NFL announced Pro Bowl participants on Thursday, two days before the start of Week 18.
4 Vikings Still Waiting on Elusive First Pro Bowl
The Vikings, a club with a 14-2 record, employ six of those fortunate players. You can read about those players here.
On the other hand, other players were not so lucky, and these are the top four Vikings players still waiting on Pro Bowl flowers, ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = most deserving of an eventual Pro Bowl).
4. Camryn Bynum (S)
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Bynum was a Pro Bowl snub and didn’t even get alternate treatment. The man wasn’t even remotely close to the Pro Bowl.
The fourth-year Vikings safety is accountable for a 64.1 Pro Football Focus grade, which isn’t otherworldly, but Bynum should, at the very least, be on the alternate list.
He’s been targeted 49 times by opposing quarterbacks, and those passers have a 73.8 passer rating against him. His time will come, and many would’ve liked to see him at least grab a Pro Bowl alternate.
3. Josh Metellus (S)
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Metellus, on the other hand, is the third alternate at his safety position and has a coinflip’s chance of earning the Pro Bowl honor when players drop out of the game(s) in the next month.
The veteran defender is one of the most versatile players in the NFL, and that should always be considered when evaluating his merits.
Metellus owns a 68.8 PFF mark through 17 games and leads all safeties in quarterback pressures. Before too long, the league will acknowledge him as a Pro Bowler. He has the juice to break through.
2. Blake Cashman (LB)
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Minnesota is undefeated with Cashman in the lineup this year, and some argue he’s the ultimate special sauce in Brian Flores’ defense.
Minnesota went 1-2 without Cashman in the lineup a couple of months ago; his presence is vital. In fact, he may have missed the Pro Bowl cut because he missed three games, which feels a bit unfair.
Cashman ranks third in sacks (4.5) and fourth in quarterback pressures (24) among all off-ball linebackers.
He, like Bynum, earned no kudos on the alternate list. This season could be a springboard to 2025 for Cashman-themed Pro Bowl attention.
1. Christian Darrisaw (LT)
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Darrisaw tore his ACL in Week 8 at the Los Angeles Rams, canceling the rest of his fourth season.
He’s connected to Minnesota for the long haul, however, signing an extension last summer that connected him to the roster through the end of 2029.
It’s only a matter of time before Darrisaw finally reaches Pro Bowl status.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His MIN obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.Â
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
