Now that we are about halfway through the regular season, it is time to start considering which players are deserving of the Pro Bowl. For this series, we will look at the three most deserving candidates for each team. Obviously, some teams will have more, or less, than three players selected to the Pro Bowl, but for simplicity purposes, we will discuss their top three candidates for the honor. Here are the Atlanta Falcons Pro Bowl candidates.
Top Midseason Atlanta Falcons Pro Bowl Candidates
1. Matt Ryan, QB
If there is one player who is most responsible for the Falcons 5-3 start, it is star quarterback Matt Ryan. Without a doubt, Ryan has led this Falcons team to having one of the best offenses in football, and is certainly in the conversation for the MVP Award. With a near 70% completion percentage and a Quarterback Rating of 115.8, Ryan has been simply phenomenal this season.
Growing less reliant on only star receiver Julio Jones, Ryan has made the most of the weapons around him and has spread the ball around to various receivers. Doing so has played a key role in his bounce back 2016 season, and has kept opposing defenses off balance all season long. One of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, Ryan is almost guaranteed a spot in the upcoming Pro Bowl.
2. Julio Jones, WR
Speaking of phenomenal offensive play, look no further than arguably the best wide receiver in the NFL: Julio Jones. While the touchdown numbers are not too flashy (four touchdowns in eight games), he is averaging 20 yards per catch and is only 141 yards away from 1,000 on the season. With a 300 yard receiving game on his resume and even being responsible for getting Bene Benwikere cut after said game, Jones is one of the most talented receivers of this generation. Not to mention, Jones has put up most of these statistics while nursing an ankle injury suffered in the preseason. With four 100 receiving yard games in only eight total games, Jones has been a force of nature thus far. Expect Jones to add his fourth Pro Bowl selection to his career resume and potentially make a second consecutive All Pro Team at season’s end.
3. Desmond Trufant, CB
Finally, the heart and soul of the Falcons defense, star cornerback Desmond Trufant, is the final candidate. While other players, such as running backs Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman or breakout pass rusher Vic Beasley, are certainly deserving of this spot, Trufant gets the nomination due to his talents as a true shutdown cornerback. The Washington product has been absolutely phenomenal this season, and although he only has one interception on the season, he is still a disruptive force at cornerback. Facing great receivers like Mike Evans and Jordy Nelson thus far, Trufant has certainly been tested this year, however has been successful in such matchups. In addition to his play, he has been a leader and a mentor to rookie safety Keanu Neal, and has played a major role in the rejuvenated 2016 Falcons defense. A combination of both great leadership and great play should lead to Trufant making his second career Pro Bowl at the end of the year.
Honorable Mention: Vic Beasley (OLB/DE), Devonta Freeman/Tevin Coleman (RB), Patrick DiMarco (FB)
