The NFL announced their Pro Bowl rosters on Wednesday to a mixed reception. The Eagles are sending two players to this year’s Pro Bowl, Jason Kelce and Darius Slay. They’ve both had great seasons, so their selections shouldn’t surprise anyone.
But as always, it feels like a handful of Eagles players got snubbed. Maybe it’s due to low name recognition, or maybe it’s due to some players not remaining healthy for the entire season. Who knows.
We could make an argument for several Eagles players that didn’t make it, but this list is dedicated to the inexcusable snubs.
Here are three Eagles that should have been selected to the Pro Bowl this year.
RT Lane Johnson
Lane Johnson did miss three straight games early in the season, but it shouldn’t take away from his dominant 2021 output. He hasn’t allowed a single sack on 356 pass blocking snaps this season, and he’s only surrendered 11 total pressures.
Not to mention he’s done all of this while playing next to three different guards this season. First it was Brandon Brooks, then Jack Driscoll, and now it’s Nate Herbig. Johnson hasn’t missed a step regardless of who he’s playing next to.
The Eagles offensive line as a whole has been so dominant this year that it felt like multiple lineman reaching the Pro Bowl was a foregone conclusion. Being one of the more recognizable tackles in football, Johnson seemed destined to be one of those names.
At the end of the day, Johnson probably doesn’t care about adding Pro Bowls to his resume. But there’s no question he’s played well enough this year to get some recognition.
LT Jordan Mailata
Another member of the Eagles dominant offensive line, Jordan Mailata being snubbed for the Pro Bowl is a little more understandable than Johnson. This is Mailata’s first full season as the starter at left tackle and he was a former seventh round pick.
Nevertheless, he’s been one of the most valuable pieces to the Eagles offense in 2021. Per Pro Football Focus, Mailata ranks as the fourth-best tackle in all of football, posting a stellar 86.8 offensive grade. On 400 pass blocking reps, Mailata has given up just three sacks and 19 total pressures. He’s also proven to be one of the best run blocking tackles in football this season, posting a 88.7 run blocking grade on PFF, seventh-best among all qualifying tackles.
Mailata will get his due soon. Give it another year or two of dominant play and the former rugby player will more than likely be a mainstay in the Pro Bowl.
K Jake Elliot
There are several great kickers around the league. Rams kicker Matt Gay got the nod for the NFC this season, but it could have easily gone to Jake Elliot, who’s having just as good of a season.
On the year, Elliot has gone 24-for-26 on field goals, with three coming from 50+ yards out. His long of 58 of better than Gay’s long of 55, plus, Elliot is perfect on extra points this year, whereas Gay has missed one.
Whenever a kicker is as consistent as Elliot has been this season, you just assume he’ll be in the Pro Bowl. Maybe he’ll get in there as an alternate, but there’s no doubt he deserved to be the starter for the NFC in 2021.