Though the Seattle Seahawks went 10-7 (the only team with double-digit wins this season to not make the playoffs), the team only initially got one player named to the Pro Bowl. One snub was Leonard Williams, who was probably one of the top defensive tackles in the league this year. But the Pro Bowl can turn into a popularity contest and Seattle is hidden in the Pacific Northwest.
Thankfully, the Williams situation was fixed. He was added as an alternate and will participate in the Pro Bowl Games. He was not the only Seahawk to be added, either. Wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba will also play. This means both of Seattle's first-round picks in 2023, Witherspoon and JSN, have turned out to be good enough to get into the NFL All-Star game.
But how meaningful is that? Sure, it's a nice accolade because a player still has been viewed as better than most of their peers, but the Pro Bowl is also pretty much a farce. Case in point, former Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson was also added to the AFC squad. So, at least 12s can watch Wilson play and have a positive or negative emotion about that.
Seattle Seahawks have four reasons to tune into the Pro Bowl Games
Smith-Njigba earned his nod. He finished tied for ninth in the league in receptions (100; the second-most ever by a Seattle receiver), 12th in receiving yards (1,130), and caught 73 percent of his targets. He also appears set to be the Seahawks' WR1 for the foreseeable future.
Wilson, though, is an odd choice. He played in just 11 games. After coming back to play after dealing with a leg injury in the early part of the season, Wilson led the Pittsburgh Steelers to six wins in his first seven starts. His team then lost their next five games. Wilson failed to throw for more than 217 yards in all but one of those games.
Overall, Wilson's quarterback rating of 95.6 was only 14th-best in the NFL. His total QBR was 51.3 and that was 26th in the league. Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith ranked higher.
This is not meant to disrespect Russell Wilson but only to point out that the Pro Bowl Games have not changed all that much since the league changed the format from an actual game to a series of drills and a flag football contest. Players did not really want to spend the first part of their offseason playing a meaningless game, and they would choose not to play. Alternates stepped in just as they do now.
At least, Seahawks fans have four reasons to tune in. Three of them are to watch Williams, Smith-Njigba, and Witherspoon. The other is Russell Wilson, and one can choose to cheer or boo him.