4 Vikings Pro Bowl Snubs
The Minnesota Vikings employ six Pro Bowlers. On the offensive side of the ball, quarterback Sam Darnold has proven his doubters (including his previous franchises) wrong. Justin Jefferson was a no-brainer and is now a four-time Pro Bowler. First-timers on defense are Andrew Van Ginkel, Jonathan Greenard, and Byron Murphy. Long snapper Andrew DePaola earned his third nod.
4 Vikings Pro Bowl Snubs
But, like every season, some players check the list and are disappointed. Let’s check who those guys are.
An honorable mention is C.J. Ham, who has been to two Pro Bowls but is, as always, facing the competition with 49ers standout fullback Kyle Juszczyk.
1. Blake Cashman
Perhaps the most obvious one is linebacker Blake Cashman. The defender signed with the Vikings in free agency and has been everything they hoped for and more. Replacing Jordan Hicks, Cashman has taken over the green dot duties. He’s calling the plays and the audibles on the field and is a complete linebacker who can cover, stop the run, and rush the passer.
His excellence is best told by the plays he didn’t make. The Vikings missed him for three games. The record without Cashman? 1-2. He is 13-0.
Cashman’s problem is that each conference only sends two inside linebackers because the NFL can’t properly differentiate between outside linebackers and pass rushers. San Francisco’s Fred Warner and Philadelphia’s Zach Baun are deserving, too, but the fact that he isn’t even listed as an alternate is mind-boggling.
2. The Entire Safety Room
The obvious issue here is that it’s hard to say who the top snub is. The entire safety group could’ve headed to the Pro Bowl games with Harrison Smith, Joshua Metellus, and Camryn Bynum.
Smith’s Pro Bowl count has been stuck at six for years. He is still playing at an extraordinarily high level despite his age of 35, and it might have been his last chance. The future Ring of Honor nominee contemplated retirement last offseason.
Metellus should’ve been there last year, too. He is the ultimate Swiss Army Knife, playing every spot on defense. The former special teams standout has benefited from Brian Flores’ versatile scheme, and that might be a reason for his snub. Is he actually a safety?
Bynum has elevated his play on the field and his celebration game to Pro Bowl caliber in the last couple of seasons. The safety will get a massive paycheck from either the Vikings or someone else in free agency.
The three NFC safeties are Xavier McKinney, Budda Baker, and Brian Branch.
Only Metellus was named alternate (third).
3. Harrison Phillips
Defensive tackle Harrison Phillips is the anchor of the best rushing defense in the NFL, according to numerous statistics. The veteran is in his third year with the franchise after signing in 2022. He received an extension early in the season and has earned every penny of it.
Unfortunately for Phillips, he doesn’t tabulate crazy numbers, so voters don’t really care about him, and he is unlikely ever to be named Pro Bowler with his annual two or three sacks, which is clearly not his job description. He’s the sixth reserve.
4. Brian O’Neill
Offensive tackle Brian O’Neill has been an outstanding player for the Vikings since he stepped foot into the building for the first time after the 2018 draft. He’s always solid and reliable, flawlessly manning his right tackle spot.
But it’s quite fair to say that the 2024 season has been his best, and that’s saying something. It’s a massive surprise if there’s ever pressure coming from the right side, and he’s equally as good at run blocking.
The NFC is only sending three offensive tackles, and those guys are phenomenal players: Lane Johnson, Penei Sewell, and Tristan Wirfs.
O’Neill is a fourth alternate. It’s a shame he has only been rewarded once.
Vikings Expected to Draw Some Trade Interest for Pricey Player
Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and prefers Classic rock over other genres. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt