The NFL announced 2025 Pro Bowl rosters on Thursday and three Denver Broncos players have made the AFC’s squad. An additional eight players were named Pro Bowl alternates, but two of them should have been locks for the all-star game and five others deserved strong consideration.
Broncos defensive lineman Zach Allen and guard Quinn Meinerz should have been considered easy choices for the Pro Bowl. Instead, Allen is a fourth alternate and Meinerz is a first alternate.
Denver left tackle Garett Bolles is a third alternate, but wide receiver Courtland Sutton did not even make the alternate list despite finishing third among AFC wide receivers in fan votes (players and coaches accounted for two-thirds of the voting).
Broncos pass rusher Jonathon Cooper, special teams ace Tremon Smith and defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers were also overlooked for alternate consideration.
Zach Allen and Quinn Meinerz not making the Pro Bowl is outrageous. Allen is only a fourth alternate! Little respect from players and coaches after fans had him ranked 2nd at the position.
— Jon Heath (@ByJonHeath) January 2, 2025
1. Zach Allen has recorded 73 pressures, 8.5 sacks (tied for second among AFC interior defensive linemen), 39 QB hits, 34 hurries, 15 tackles behind the line, one safety and one pass breakup this season.
2. Quinn Meinerz delivers big pancake blocks on a near-weekly basis and his 86.1 overall grade from Pro Football Focus ranks fifth among NFL guards.
3. Garett Bolles was credited with allowing two sacks this season and his 88.8 pass-blocking grade on PFF ranks fifth in the NFL among offensive tackles.
4. Courtland Sutton‘s 983 receiving yards rank seventh among AFC receivers and his seven touchdowns are also tied for seventh. His 53 first downs on receptions rank fifth among receivers in the conference.
5. Jonathon Cooper‘s 9.5 sacks this year rank ninth in the AFC and 12th overall. He has also totaled 57 pressures, 36 hurries, 19 QB hits, 10 tackles behind the line, one forced fumble and one pass breakup this season.
6. Tremon Smith has been a special teams ace in 2024, helping the Broncos pin opponents deep in their own territory on punts. Smith has played 82% of the team’s special teams snaps and PFF has given him a 71.2 ST grade.
7. John Franklin-Myers has been a disruptive player for Denver this fall, recording six sacks, 49 pressures, 33 hurries and 16 QB hits. His 82.4 pass-rush rate on PFF ranks fourth among interior defensive linemen.
Bonus: Punter Riley Dixon was busy this season with the third-most punts (75) in the NFL. His 3,509 yards ranked second in the AFC and fourth overall. Dixon’s net average of 42.2 yards per punt ranked seventh in the AFC and 11th in the NFL. His 32 kicks downed inside the 20-yard line ranked third in the conference and fourth overall.
The 2025 Pro Bowl Games will be held at Camping World Stadium in Orlando on Feb. 2. The NFC defeated the AFC 64-59 last season.
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