NFL Pro Bowl 2019: 5 Players undeserving of selection

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JACKSONVILLE, FL – OCTOBER 21: Benardrick McKinney #55 of the Houston Texans waits on the field before their game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on October 21, 2018 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images) /

5. Benardrick McKinney, LB, Houston Texans

Let’s preface this one by saying that Benardrick McKinney has played at a Pro Bowl level, and he’s done so on a very good defensive team. After 14 games with the Houston Texans, the middle linebacker has 96 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and a forced fumble.

The Texans are also one of the best teams in the AFC and a lot of that has to do with the defense — which McKinney is becoming a huge star for.

That’s exactly what they expected out of him when they made him a second-round pick out of Mississippi State back in 2015. He’s an instinctive linebacker with a nose for the ball — and he’s an incredible run stuffer.

Having said all that, he probably should have been skipped over this year since his selection was one of the reasons Darius Leonard was left out. The Indianapolis Colts rookie has played much better than him with 146 tackles, seven sacks, and an interception. And he’s done that in one less game than McKinney.

McKinney is a great linebacker but he didn’t outperform the rookie from one of his divisional rivals. This season, he deserves some accolades for how well he has played, but starting him as an alternate probably would have made more sense.

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