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Ranking the Top 10 Players In the 2015 NFL Pro Bowl

Ranking the Top 10 Players In the 2015 NFL Pro Bowl

Andrew Luck Indianapolis Colts
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Similar to how the NFL has become an offensive league, the Pro Bowl is merely an offensive showcase. Proving that point was last night’s Pro Bowl draft where the first six players came from the offense. Even the coaches, Hall of Famers Michael Irvin and Cris Carter, were wide receivers in their playing days. To give credit where credit is due, here is a list of the top 10 best players in the Pro Bowl.

10. Adam Vinatieri, K

Adam Vinatieri Indianapolis Colts
Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports

10. Adam Vinatieri, K

Adam Vinatieri Indianapolis Colts
Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports

We start the list off with neither an offensive nor defensive player, but rather, Adam Vinatieri, the placekicker of the Indianapolis Colts. At 42 years old, Vinatieri remains nearly flawless, as he connected on 30-of-31 field goals (96.8 percent), with a long of 53 yards. After hitting all 50 extra points, Vinatieri totaled 140 points in 2014 – good for third in the NFL.

9. Ryan Clady, OT

Ryan Clady Denver Broncos
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

9. Ryan Clady, OT

Ryan Clady Denver Broncos
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Denver Broncos' Ryan Clady was one of the best tackles in 2014, if not the best. Denver allowed a league-low 17 sacks despite the immobility of QB Peyton Manning, and Clady was a large part of that. The big men up front deserve credit, too.

8. Odell Beckham, Jr., WR

Odell Beckham Jr New York Giants
Don McPeak-USA TODAY Sports

8. Odell Beckham, Jr., WR

Odell Beckham Jr New York Giants
Don McPeak-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Giants' rookie burst onto the scene against the Indianapolis Colts and was unstoppable through the end of the season. Despite playing in only 12 games, Odell Beckham, Jr. racked up 91 catches, 1,305 yards, 12 TDs, and averaged 108.8 yards per game (1st). A full season could see all of Beckham’s stats among the tops at his position.

7. Aqib Talib, CB

Aqib Talib Denver Broncos
Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

7. Aqib Talib, CB

Aqib Talib Denver Broncos
Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

While there were many deserving CBs on the roster to crack the top-10, Denver Broncos' Aqib Talib had the best season of them all. His combination of 63 tackles, four interceptions, one forced fumble and 17 passes defended has him ranked No. 7. In addition to Talib’s individual stats is the fact that Denver was ranked ninth in the NFL is passing yards allowed.

6. Justin Houston, OLB

Justin Houston Kansas City Chiefs
Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

6. Justin Houston, OLB

Justin Houston Kansas City Chiefs
Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Kansas City Chiefs OLB Justin Houston had perhaps one of the best pass-rushing seasons in recent years, and very few people are talking about it. He racked up 22 sacks (.5 shy of the NFL record set by Hall of Famer Michael Strahan), 68 tackles, four forced fumbles and five passes defended. It’s a shame the Pro Bowl doesn’t let pass-rushers really go 100 percent, because he would have put on a show.

5. DeMarco Murray, RB

DeMarco Murray Dallas Cowboys
Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

5. DeMarco Murray, RB

DeMarco Murray Dallas Cowboys
Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

DeMarco Murray carried the Dallas Cowboys to the postseason on a record-setting 2014 season. Murray rushed for 100 yards in the first eight games of the season and scored seven touchdowns in seven weeks. He finished with 1,845 yards, 4.7 yards per carry and 13 rushing touchdowns. He added 416 receiving yards on 57 catches, but had no receiving touchdowns.

4. Luke Kuechly, MLB

Luke Kuechly Carolina Panthers
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

4. Luke Kuechly, MLB

Luke Kuechly Carolina Panthers
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Always one of the most dominant defensive players since entering the NFL, Carolina Panthers LB Luke Kuechly continued that trend in 2014. He recorded 153 tackles (1st), three sacks, 11 passes defended and one forced fumble. While Carolina’s defense underperformed, that can’t be attributed to Kuechly.

3. Andrew Luck, QB

Andrew Luck Indianapolis Colts
Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

3. Andrew Luck, QB

Andrew Luck Indianapolis Colts
Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

The NFL's leader in passing TDs comes in at No. 3. Indianapolis Colts QB Andrew Luck threw for 4,761 yards and 40 TDs at a 61.7 percent completion percentage. He had a poor performance in the AFC Championship Game, but that wasn’t indicative of how well he played during the regular season. With fellow Colt TY Hilton, plus AJ Green, Jordy Nelson and Antonio Brown on his team, Luck will have a plethora of elite WRs to sling the ball to on Sunday.

2. Antonio Brown, WR

Antonio Brown Pittsburgh Steelers
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

2. Antonio Brown, WR

Antonio Brown Pittsburgh Steelers
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Although he wasn’t the first WR selected in the Pro Bowl draft, Antonio Brown is the clear No. 1 receiver in the NFL. His 129 receptions were 18 more than the next-closest receiver. He compiled 1,698 (1st) yards on those catches with 13 TDs (2nd), and caught 85 passes for first downs (1st). He was third in the NFL in yards per game.

1. JJ Watt, DE

JJ Watt Houston Texans
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

1. JJ Watt, DE

JJ Watt Houston Texans
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

This one was pretty easy. JJ Watt is the best player in the NFL right now, and it’s astounding how he wasn’t the first player drafted – he wasn’t even the first defensive player drafted! However, Watt recorded 78 tackles, 20.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, 10 passes defended and five touchdowns. Most impressive about those TDs is that three of them came as a tight end on offense. Watt is definitely the player you want to lead your Pro Bowl team.

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