6 NFL players who will be first time Pro Bowlers this seasona

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Which NFL players will get their first big accolades this year?

The Pro Bowl has definitely lost some luster in recent years, but the NFL All-Star game definitely holds weight when it comes to player contracts and bonuses allocated at the end of the season. It also helps players gain notoriety, putting up big numbers and being placed on the Pro Bowl roster could be seen as a precursor for bigger and better performances.

This year, there are a bunch of guys who could make their first Pro Bowl this season. From up and coming young stars to vets who could see a rise in production, here are x guys who could make their first Pro Bowl this season.

Drake London, WR, Atlanta Falcons

I’m a big fan of London and what the offense in Atlanta does for him, and with a new QB in tow he could finally break into the ranks of the elite at the position. He finished the 2024 season strong, going for over 1,200 yards and nine touchdowns even with multiple QBs throwing him the ball. Offensive coordinator Zac Robinson does a great job of finding London good ways to get targets, whether that be as a power slot on the inside or in the red area where he wins 50/50 targets. In a potential contract year, London has the talent (and now the QB) to finally get to the Pro Bowl.

Keion White, EDGE, New England Patriots

Sometimes there are just players that raise hell regardless of where they line up. Patriots’ DL Keion White is one of those guys. Powerful, long and with a high motor, White is bound for a massive leap into the national consciousness of the NFL. The Patriots are in their first year under Mike Vrabel as head coach, but I’m a fan of DC Terrell Williams, who was the defensive line coach in Detroit previously. White is one of the most important pieces of a revamped Patriots’ defense that’s looking to put a bad 2024 behind them, and because of his overall chaos he produces, he could make his first Pro Bowl.

Bucky Irving, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

One of the biggest surprises of the 2024 season was the outstanding rookie season of Bucky Irving. While he shared the backfield with Rachaad White, Irving was one of the most dynamic players with the ball in his hands in the NFC. Even though OC Liam Coen is now in Jacksonville, I do think the offensive infrastructure and coordinator promotion will help ensure that the offense doesn’t fall off too much, but I like Irving’s multi-faceted play and ability to create with his stellar contact balance. He faces a tough road to a Pro Bowl nod in the NFC with all the great backs, but I think he can make it there.

Calen Bullock, S, Houston Texans

To get picked for any postseason accolades as a secondary player, you need to have production on the ball, and I think Bullock is going to have that in bunches this season. After a rookie season where there were many ups and downs, I think he’s going to play to a Pro Bowl caliber this season. What stood out in his rookie year was the range and and ability to make plays on passes in the air. In Demeco Ryans’ defense, being able to keep the lid on the defense and turn errant passes into turnovers is huge, and Bullock has been making a lot of those splash plays in training camp. He could be set for his first Pro Bowl.

Joe Alt, OT, Los Angeles Chargers

Already considered among the best young tackles in the NFL, Alt is on the fast track for his first career Pro Bowl. In the second year of the Jim Harbaugh era, the Chargers have both their bookend tackles for the long haul after extending OT Rashawn Slater, but Alt’s movement skills and agility at his size could make him even more impactful in the ground game. He’s also shown a lot of growth as a pass protector, which will be needed in an AFC West that has premier pass rushers like Nik Bonnito and Maxx Crosby. Alt has the talent to make his first Pro Bowl in 2025, it’s all about when it actually happens.

Breece Hall, RB, New York Jets

The Jets are going to run the absolute piss out of the football this season. With an offensive line that can move and wants to run people over, a dynamic QB who is a threat with his legs and a coaching staff that wants to establish an identity through the ground game, the Jets could lead the NFL in rushing attempts. That sounds like a good sign for Hall, who should be the focal point of the Jets’ offensive attack. He, like the other young Jets offensive stars, have been overshadowed by the general malaise of being the New York Jets, but this season could see him get his first Pro Bowl bid.