Cleveland Browns well-represented with 5 players sent to 2022 Pro Bowl
The 2022 Pro Bowl rosters have officially been announced, and the Cleveland Browns will be sending five of their finest to represent the AFC this year.
The NFL announced Wednesday the official Pro Bowl rosters for this year’s AFC-NFC showdown on February 2nd. This year, the Cleveland Browns will be sending five players to represent the AFC, the second most Cleveland has sent to the game since 2013 (six).
In a year filled with high expectations – and thus far – underwhelming delivery, the bright spots of the Browns have shone through, and their merits will pay off when the following five members of the brown and orange suit up in Las Vegas for the early February matchup.
Cleveland Browns send 5 to the 2022 Pro Bowl
Selection 1. Myles Garrett, DE
Not a surprise to most. So far this season, the Cleveland Browns’ resident bulldozer Myles Garrett has set the single-season franchise record for sacks (15), one forced fumble, and one fumble return for a touchdown.
This marks Garrett’s third Pro Bowl selection since he was drafted to the Cleveland Browns in 2017. Much of Garrett’s success this season has a lot to do with his new counterpart Jadeveon Clowney drawing pressure from one side, allowing Garrett to get the opposing quarterbacks with ease.
Garrett will start for the AFC team this year, having received 201,096 votes, the 12th most among most the AFC and NFC.
Selection 2. Nick Chubb, RB
Cleveland Browns favorite (and apparently league favorite) Nick Chubb just earned his third consecutive 1,000+ yard season Monday night versus the Raiders, and now he’ll head to his third straight Pro Bowl.
With 190 carries, 1,017 yards, and seven TDs on the season, Chubb has continued to be the reliable workhorse that earned him his previous honors. Chubb is now just the third Cleveland Browns back to make three consecutive Pro Bowls, joining Jim Brown (1958-66) and Leroy Kelly (1967-72).
While the Colts’ Jonathan Taylor will be the starter for the AFC, Chubb was the second-highest vote getter for AFC running backs, and will likely see plenty of game time if he chooses to attend.
Selection 3. Joel Bitonio, OG
First, Joel Bitonio secured a three-year, $48 million contract extension with the Cleveland Browns. Now, he can add a third Pro Bowl to that bag.
Bitonio, now the highest-paid offensive guard in the league, has once again proven he is the heart and soul of the Cleveland Browns roster, having played every offensive snap so far this season (902) and only allowing a single sack – for a PFF grade of 93.7.
Offensive guards never get the love they deserve – until you have an insane run game that you need them for. So here’s to you, Joel. Bitonio received the second most votes of any AFC guard this season.
Selection 4. Wyatt Teller, OG
From Buffalo Bills draft bust (?) to the third-highest paid guard in the league, Wyatt Teller has had quite the tenure with the Cleveland Browns. Like Bitonio, Teller received a new contract extension last month (four years, $56.8 million).
Now, Teller will head to Las Vegas for his first-ever Pro Bowl selection. Also, like Bitonio, Teller has played all 902 offensive snaps on the season allowing only three sacks to date, for a PFF grade of 83.4. And let us not forget all the pancake blocks every week. So, so many pancake blocks.
Teller, along with Bitonio, will make up two of the three offensive guards selected to the 2022 AFC roster, joining the top vote earner Quenton Nelson of the Colts.
Selection 5. Denzel Ward, CB
The Warden. The Lockdown on the Lake. Denzel Ward has had quite the season for the Cleveland Browns, possibly the best of his career. This season, Ward has posted three interceptions (all in the month of November, including a 99-yard pick six in Week 9), 33 solo tackles, half a sack, and eight passes defensed.
It is very possible Ward will be the next Browns player in line for an extension, but for now, he can enjoy the second Pro Bowl selection of his career. Ward is the only Cleveland Browns cornerback to be selected to the Pro Bowl since Joe Haden.
Ward’s last selection came in his 2019 rookie season. After a quiet 2020 season, he seems to be all the way back. Alongside rookie Greg Newsome, Greedy Williams, and Troy Hill, Cleveland’s secondary has made massive leaps since the Swiss cheese secondary we saw last season.
Additionally, the following Cleveland Browns were selected as alternates to the 2022 Pro Bowl:
- Jadeveon Clowney, DE
- Andy Janovich, FB
- JC Tretter, C
- Jedrick Wills Jr., T