The New England Patriots have a roster loaded with talented depth players, but are they good enough to make the Pro Bowl? These six players have the best chances of earning a trip to Orlando.
The Pro Bowl is a party that the New England Patriots seldom have a chance to attend. Though a handful of the team’s players are selected each year, in New England, January isn’t a month for vacation.
Ten Patriot players have been voted to the Pro Bowl over the last three seasons. Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski, Matthew Slater, and Stephen Gostowski are among New England’s most regularly elected players. In 2016, Brady was voted to his twelfth Pro Bowl, joined by special teams ace Matthew Slater, second-time selection Devin McCourty, and first-timer Dont’a Hightower.
None of New England’s players have attended the Pro Bowl since Logan Mankins and Matthew Slater were selected in 2013. The game’s inopportune scheduling between the conference championship games and Super Bowl have made attending the event less of a priority for Patriot players.
Some fans might argue that deserving Patriot players have been snubbed from the NFL’s all-star event. LeGarrette Blount wasn’t elected to the Pro Bowl in 2016, even after leading the league with eighteen rushing touchdowns.
Here are six Patriot players who should be elected to the Pro Bowl in 2017.
Dont’a Hightower, LB
Dont’a Hightower has been a force to reckon with since entering the league in 2012. Down 28-12 in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl LI, his game-changing strip sack of Matt Ryan changed the course of history.
Last season, Hightower stacked up 65 tackles, 2.5 sacks, a forced fumble, and a safety, enough to earn him his first Pro Bowl selection.
The 6-foot-3, 265-pound linebacker has become a crucial cog in New England’s defense. In the two Super Bowls he’s played in, Hightower’s late game efforts have made long lasting impacts. In 2014, his tackle of Marshawn Lynch on the 1-yard line extended the Patriots’ goal line stand. Most recently, his aforementioned fourth quarter strip sack.
In addition to his first Pro Bowl invite, Hightower was voted 94th on NFL Network’s Top 100 Players of 2017. On the show, Packers defensive linemen Mike Daniels said of Hightower:
"“Dont’a Hightower is one of my all-time favorite players. His mentality is if I don’t destroy this guy, I didn’t do my job.”"
This offseason, Hightower was rewarded for his contributions with a four-year, $35.5 million deal. His contract will cement him as the leader of New England’s defense while his play warrants consecutive Pro Bowl consideration.
Rob Gronkowski, TE
During last week’s OTAs, Patriots’ offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels commented on tight end Rob Gronkowski, telling the Boston Herald’s Karen Guregian (@kguregian):
"“He looks like Gronk.”"
A pretty spooky thought considering the four-time Pro Bowler’s recently restructured incentive-heavy contract. On his Facebook page, ESPN’s Adam Schefter broke down the tight ends updated deal:
"Specific details on Rob Gronkowski’s new deal with Patriots, per @RosenhausSports: 1st tier, which gets him to $10.75M either 90 percent play time or 80 catches or 1200 receiving yards or All Pro — and he’s made all pro four times. 2nd tier to $8.75M: he has to get 80 percent play time or 70 catches or 1000 receiving yards or 12 Tds. 3rd tier takes him to $6.75M is 70 percent playtime, 60 receptions, 800 receiving yards or 10 TDs. But a big new groundbreaking deal for Gronk. – Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter)"
Gronkowski was off to a good start in 2016, hauling in 25 catches for 540 yards and three touchdowns until a back injury cost him the remainder of his season. The only other season where Gronk didn’t play in at least ten games, was 2013 when he blew out his knee against the Browns. He returned strong in 2014, collecting 82 catches, 1,124 yards, twelve touchdowns, and a first-team All-Pro selection. In relation to his new contract, those numbers would’ve earned him $10.75 million in 2017.
Gronk could only watch as his team went undefeated without him. In 2017, he’ll be hungry to prove his value and importance to the squad’s success. The addition of Brandin Cooks and Dwayne Allen to New England’s offense will create plenty of chances for Gronkowski.
Expect a fifth Pro Bowl selection for Rob Gronkowski in 2017.
Trey Flowers, DE
2015 was less than extraordinary for Trey Flowers. Besides the fact he was entering his first season in the pros, he played in only one game all year and didn’t collect a single stat.
Following his “redshirt” rookie campaign, Flowers broke out in 2016, starting in eight games and leading the team with seven sacks. In addition, he had 45 tackles, two fumble recoveries, and a pass defended. Flowers was a major contributor in the Patriots’ Super Bowl LI win, collecting two-and-a-half sacks and six tackles.
The departure of Chandler Jones and Akiem Hicks following the 2015 season saw Flowers’ role begin to increase. In 2017, it’ll be his job to fill the shoes of Jabaal Sheard and Chris Long.
Although he hasn’t earned the same accolades as Dont’a Hightower or Malcolm Butler, Flowers certainly as the potential to be New England’s top defender this season.
In his “Film Breakdown”, Pats Pulpit’s Rich Hill (@PP_Rich_Hill) highlighted Flowers versatility in Super Bowl LI. Throughout the game, he lined up as a 0 technique, over the center, 4 technique, over the tackle’s inside shoulder, 7 technique, over the tight end, and wide-9 technique, about a foot from the tackle’s outside shoulder. Flowers multifaceted game means he can be aligned as a defensive tackle, defensive end, or outside linebacker.
Despite little playing time in 2015, Flowers made a tremendous jump in year 2. If he continues his ascent, he’ll be a Pro Bowler in 2017.
Tom Brady, QB
Since being elected for the first time in 2001, Tom Brady has become a Pro Bowl perennial. He’s been voted to the event twelve times in his career, and 2017 shouldn’t be any different.
Brady posted record numbers in 2016 as he trounced opponents on his way to the Super Bowl. In twelve games, Brady threw for 3,554 yards, twenty-eight touchdowns, and two interceptions, the best single season touchdown to interception ratio in league history.
After Rob Gronkowski was placed on season-ending IR, Brady threw ten touchdowns, 1,353 yards, and one interception, plus seven touchdowns and over a thousand yards in the playoffs. With Gronk returning to the line-up and Brandin Cooks joining the team, Brady’s numbers should continue to improve in 2017.
On Sunday, the Boston Herald’s Jeff Howe wrote about the potential of New England’s offense:
"“The Patriots have so much talent at their offensive skill positions that they’re borderline injury-proof. Ultimately, the level of their success — potentially ranging from extraordinary to record-breaking — will derive from the marquee trio of tight end Rob Gronkowski and receivers Brandin Cooks and Julian Edelman.” – Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe)"
The 2017 Patriots roster has already earned its share of comparisons to the 2007 squad. Ten years ago, Brady threw for 4,806 yards, fifty touchdowns, and eight interceptions. If TB12 can match those numbers, he’ll be on his way to his thirteenth Pro Bowl — or even better, skipping it to prepare for the Super Bowl.
Cornerbacks Stephon Gilmore and Malcolm Butler
Four different Patriots cornerbacks have been voted to the Pro Bowl since 2010. Malcolm Butler was selected in 2015, followed by Darrelle Revis in 2014, Aqib Talib in 2013, and Devin McCourty in 2010.
This season, two of New England’s corners look capable of earning an invite. In free agency, the Patriots created an elite cornerback duo when they signed Stephon Gilmore to pair with Malcolm Butler. The two corners will join Pro Bowl free safety Devin McCourty and Patrick Chung to create one of the league’s best secondaries.
Gilmore earned his first Pro Bowl nod in 2016 with five interceptions, 48 tackles, and twelve passes defended. Butler, a Pro Bowler in 2015, finished the season with four picks, 63 tackles, sixteen passes defended, and a forced fumble.
Given New England’s opponents in 2017, the choice to sign Gilmore is reminiscent of 2014. At 6-foot-1, he joins Eric Rowe as the team’s tallest cornerback. Gilmore’s height will be key when matched-up with tall wide receivers like Julio Jones, Mike Evans, and Kelvin Benjamin. In contrast, Butler will be tasked with covering smaller, quicker receivers like DeSean Jackson.
In Week 12 of the 2014 season, against the Detroit Lions, New England used 6-foot-4 Brandon Browner to cover 6-foot-5 Calvin Johnson while Revis stuck to Golden Tate. A strategy the team should consider using with Gilmore and Butler.
2017 wouldn’t be the first time two cornerbacks from the same team were voted to the Pro Bowl. Denver’s Aqib Talib and Chris Harris were both selected in 2016, along with Patrick Peterson and Antonio Cromartie in 2014.
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New England’s got two highly talented cornerbacks who’ll eliminate their opponent’s biggest threats. If Gilmore and Butler can bring out the best in each other’s game, there’s no doubt they’ll be selected to the Pro Bowl in 2017.