Defensive Ends Made it: J.J. Watt, Houston Texans/Cameron Wake, Miami Dolphins/Elvis Dumervil, Denver Broncos Should have made it: Muhammad Wilkerson, New York Jets/Corey Liuget, San Diego Chargers We won’t quibble with positions on defense — with so many players playing so many different positions these days, it’s tough to know where to place people. Watt plays tackle when the Texans shift to their dime defense, for example. But if we’re sticking to defensive end in any scheme, we’ll endorse the notion that Wilkerson should find a place somewhere in this group. He ranks second behind Watt in Pro Football Focus’ ratings among 3-4 defensive ends, and only Watt has more stops at his position. You want another guy who bats passes around? Liuget, lost in San Diego’s season, has eight of those himself, seven sacks, and 20 quarterback hurries. Defensive Tackles Made it: Geno Atkins, Cincinnati Bengals/Vince Wilfork, New England Patriots/Haloti Ngata, Baltimore Ravens Should have made it: These guys, but… The Buffalo Bills’ front four has been an unquestioned disappointment, but Kyle Williams has been the exception there. Once again, Williams has played beyond his peers. Outside Linebackers Made it: Von Miller, Denver Broncos/Tamba Hali, Kansas City Chiefs/Robert Mathis, Indianapolis Colts Should have made it: These guys. Miller and Hali are sure things, and Mathis has had a very good year in a different defense. Inside Linebackers Made it: Jerod Mayo, New England Patriots/Derrick Johnson, Kansas City Chiefs Should have made it: These guys. As we go over the Pro Bowl rosters, it starts to seem as if there are fewer really glaring omissions. This is another case in which the AFC’s two best players at the position made the cut.
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AFC Pro Bowl Snubs: The Defense (Shutdown Corner)
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