:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72995241/1850154494.0.jpg "2024 Pro Bowl New York Giants Candidates: Who Deserves to Make the Cut?")
Let’s look at five candidates
NFL Pro Bowl fan voting ends on Christmas Day. Players and coaches will also vote, with each sector counting one-third toward which players make the 2024 Pro Bowl games in Orlando, Fla. Which New York Giants deserve to be named Pro Bowlers?
Let’s talk about five players and try to make a yes or no case.
Dexter Lawrence
The Giants’ best defensive player, and maybe best player overall, was not in the top 10 in fan balloting at defensive tackle in the most recently released tally. That’s criminal.
I would argue that Lawrence is one of the best five interior defensive linemen in the game right now. Pro Football Focus grades are not the be-all and end-all for player performance, but Lawrence (93.0) is by far PFF’s highest-graded defensive tackle, both overall and in terms of pass rush grades.
What he can do to guards and centers is almost unfair.
Should Lawrence be a Pro Bowler? Yes. Absolutely.
Saquon Barkley
The star running back is also not in the top 10 in fan voting at running back. Barkley has 797 rushing yards and 1,0003 yards from scrimmage in 11 games. He is fifth in the league in rushing yards per game (72.5), but 30th in total yards from scrimmage.
I do believe Barkley should be top in the fan voting. It’s hard for me to look at Tony Pollard and Isaiah Pacheco and think Barkley isn’t better.
Should Barkley be a Pro Bowler? No. The missed games just don’t give him the numbers to justify it.
Kayvon Thibodeaux
The second-year edge defender is fifth in fan voting at outside linebacker. He is having an outstanding year, with 11.5 sacks and 14 quarterback hits. He also has three forced fumbles and three passes defensed.
Thibodeaux is at a stacked position with T.J. Watt, Micah Parsons, Khalil Mack, Danielle Hunter, Josh Allen and others.
Should Thibodeaux be a Pro Bowler? This one is borderline for me, but the fact that Thibodeaux is just 54th among 58 qualifiers in pass rush win percentage and 43rd in pressure percentage per PFF work against him. I say no. He has impacted a lot of games, but perhaps not consistently enough.
Bobby Church
At the most recent tally, Okereke was eighth in fan balloting at inside linebacker. He is 29 tackles shy of tying his career high, and his nine tackles for loss is already better than the career high of six he had for the Indianapolis Colts last season. Okereke has four forced fumbles and two interceptions. Of 26 inside linebackers who have played at least 771 snaps, Okereke’s 83.4 PFF grade is No. 5.
Should Okereke be a Pro Bowler? Yes.
Jamie Gillan
The Giants’ punter is No. 3 in fan voting. Gillan is having his best season, with averages of 42.9 net yards per punt and just a 4.9% touchback rate on a career-high 81 punts.
Should Okereke be a Pro Bowler? Yes, I think he is deserving, but there is a ton of competition here. I will be surprised if he is selected.
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2023-12-24 13:31:33
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