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NFL Pro Bowl: First-Timer Projections For All 32 Teams

By Erik Lambert

ORCHARD PARK, NY - OCTOBER 22: O.J. Howard #80 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers scores a touchdown during the fourth quarter of an NFL game against the Buffalo Bills on October 22, 2017 at New Era Field in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
ORCHARD PARK, NY - OCTOBER 22: O.J. Howard #80 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers scores a touchdown during the fourth quarter of an NFL game against the Buffalo Bills on October 22, 2017 at New Era Field in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /
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GLENDALE, AZ – AUGUST 12: Linebacker Haason Reddick #43 of the Arizona Cardinals walks off the field before the NFL game against the Oakland Raiders at the University of Phoenix Stadium on August 12, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the Raiders 20-10. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ – AUGUST 12: Linebacker Haason Reddick #43 of the Arizona Cardinals walks off the field before the NFL game against the Oakland Raiders at the University of Phoenix Stadium on August 12, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the Raiders 20-10. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

The NFL Pro Bowl may not be the definition of what makes great players in pro football but it still offers a decent barometer as to who’s trending in that direction.

By now most fans are aware of who the established stars are, but also who’s on the ascent. The Pro Bowl this past year featured several names who were making it for the first time in their careers. While they may not mean much to critics, it was the first validation for them that their hard work and talent were being acknowledged by the league and its fans at large.

The odds favor more first-timers for this coming season. It’s a matter of figuring out who might be poised for such a leap. That’s what this list will cover. Every team will be featured with the one name on their roster who has yet to make a Pro Bowl but is likely to break through in 2018.

Arizona Cardinals

. OLB. Arizona Cardinals. Haason Reddick . 1. player. 32

After a stellar pre-draft run that included a dominant Senior Bowl week, Haason Reddick did enough to become the 1st round pick for the Arizona Cardinals in 2017. After that? Well, he didn’t exactly light it up right away. He had some good moments. He made 32 tackles, had 2.5 sacks and forced two fumbles but he didn’t get a lot of action on the field. Perhaps because the team was still trying to find the role that fit him best. Not to worry. That’s about to change.

New head coach Steve Wilks will be shifting the team to a 4-3 alignment. That means Reddick will be moving to the strongside linebacker position. This is actually a huge blessing because it fits his talents so much better. Reddick has the body and athleticism of a linebacker but also the pass rush skill of a defensive end. That versatility can best be utilized in that “SAM” role. Combined with the almost guaranteed extra playing time and he’s set for a big year.

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