Pride of Detroit
Predicting who, besides Kerby Joseph, will be named to their first Pro Bowl Team this season
I get it. Pro Bowl recognition isn’t what it used to be. The format has changed, alternates abound, and some players would rather skip it entirely. But Pro Bowl nods still carry real weight in a player’s career narrative, and in discussions surrounding title contenders like the Detroit Lions.
Detroit has resoundingly become one of the most talented rosters in football. With strong fan voting support and consistent team success, the Lions have averaged nearly seven Pro Bowl selections per season over the last three years. They’ve sent three players each year in that span (Penei Sewell, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Frank Ragnow), while their total recipients jumped from five in 2022, to seven in 2023, and eight last season.
Here are the current Lions who’ve already earned at least one Pro Bowl selection:
For this exercise, I’m excluding Kerby Joseph, who was one of the most egregious Pro Bowl snubs in the last few seasons after earning First Team All-Pro last season. It would surprise no one if Joseph makes multiple Pro Bowls in his career, including his first in 2025.
So the question remains: who besides Joseph will earn their first Pro Bowl nod this season (and hopefully bow out for a bigger game in February)?
My answer: Jack Campbell
I admit, Jameson Williams feels like the saucy lay-up answer here after his first 1,000-yard season and potential for improved availability, but wide receiver is insanely competitive. And if you know me, you know I was tempted to slam dunk my vote for Christian Mahogany after rewatching his two starts last season (okay, that’s enough basketball metaphors).
I think the Lions defense will continue to elevate itself despite losing Aaron Glenn, building on its top-10 status last season in points allowed, yards per play, success rate, EPA per play, and more. That creates opportunities for names like Alex Anzalone to finally receive national recognition, or for Terrion Arnold to emerge in a Year 2 leap. But my pick is Anzalone’s running mate: Jack Campbell.
Campbell has the first-round pedigree and classic Iowa outdoorsman demeanor to become a recognizable name anchoring a lights-out defense. More importantly, he played faster last season, looking increasingly comfortable with NFL speed as the year progressed.
He’s also shown impressive durability, playing in every game across his two-year career—a must for any reliable MIKE backer. His combined tackles jumped to 131 last season (top-20 in the NFL) despite Alex Anzalone and Derrick Barnes missing time and the front seven enduring multiple injuries. Now, Campbell will have a more imposing defensive tackle rotation in front of him with D.J. Reader, Levi Onwuzurike, Tyleik Williams, Roy Lopez, and eventually Alim McNeill to free him up to make impact plays.
His passes defensed...
