5 Denver Broncos players making the Pro Bowl in 2022

It is no secret that the Broncos have struggled with Pro Bowl selections in recent years. Over the past three seasons, the Broncos have only had four players featured in the Pro Bowl: Bradley Chubb, Justin Simmons, Von Miller, and Courtland Sutton, who replaced DeAndre Hopkins as an alternate in 2019. Additionally, the Broncos broke a 41-year streak by failing to have a single player represent them in the Pro Bowl last season for the first time since 1980.

So, how can the Broncos avoid any more Pro Bowl snubs? By winning more games.

Teams with winning records are typically represented well in the Pro Bowl, while teams sub-.500 are not. Looking at the last three seasons in which the Broncos struggled with Pro Bowl selections, on average only about 10 players out of 44 Pro Bowl slots came from teams with losing records.

It’s also worth noting the Pro Bowl isn’t what it once was. While the selection process has been somewhat uniform since 1995, social media now has a stronger influence on voting amongst fans, players, and coaches. The Broncos should benefit from that this season as they are scheduled to play in seven nationally televised games, five of which will take place in primetime. This is a major step up from the team’s two primetime games last year.

Now under new ownership, a new coaching staff, and a new quarterback, the Denver Broncos finally seem to be turning the tide. Here are five Broncos primed for a Pro Bowl appearance this season.

Denver Broncos Pro Bowler No. 1: Russell Wilson, QB

This one should come as a surprise to absolutely no one.

After pulling off one of the biggest trades in NFL history, the Denver Broncos acquired their purported missing piece, a quarterback.

Not a stranger to success, Russell Wilson threw for over 37,000 passing yards and 292 touchdowns during his tenure in Seattle. Last season, he joined Peyton Manning as the only quarterbacks to amass 100 wins in their first 10 seasons.

Now hitting the reset button in Denver, Wilson should make a smooth transition into the Broncos’ new offense. He will be supplied with a plethora of receiving threats, a strong running back duo, and a coaching staff that is committed to building an offense that will protect him while allowing him to play to his strengths.

Wilson is also presented with a unique opportunity this upcoming season. If able to secure wins in both the season opener against his former team, the Seattle Seahawks, and at least one of two meetings against the Los Angeles Chargers, Wilson will become only the fifth quarterback in NFL history to beat all 32 teams.

Wilson has made the Pro Bowl nine times in ten years since entering the league. A winning season under the spotlight in Denver should be sufficient enough to get Wilson his 10th Pro Bowl this upcoming year.

Denver Broncos Pro Bowler No. 2: Javonte Williams, RB

Last season, the Denver Broncos boasted the NFL’s best running back tandem in Melvin Gordon and Javonte Williams. The two combined for over 2,300 total yards and 17 touchdowns through the air and ground.

In his rookie season, Williams racked up 1,219 total yards and 7 touchdowns while evenly splitting carries with Gordon. In his only start last season, Williams piled up 160 total yards and a touchdown on 27 touches.

But what really made Williams’ rookie season so special is that he did it all while obliterating opposing defenses on a weekly basis. Williams forced 63 missed tackles, the second most in the NFL. Additionally, his 0.31 missed tackles per carry was the highest rate among all running backs since Marshawn Lynch in 2014.

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Unsurprisingly, the Broncos felt confident moving forward with Javonte Williams as the new starting running back. Unfortunately for Gordon, it also meant the Broncos felt no need to re-sign him in the offseason and ultimately let him walk. However, after not finding much in the open market, Gordon agreed to return to the Broncos on a one-year, $2.5 million deal.

It’s important to note that Gordon’s $2.5M cap hit this season is $5.5M less than last year, a difference significant enough to potentially play a factor in the Broncos’ ball distribution this upcoming season. Meaning the team will no longer be as obligated to keep giving Gordon the ball, as they aren’t paying him as much.

This could result in a monster second season for Javonte Williams. As previously seen in Green Bay, Hackett seems to allow talent to dictate running back touches. If that is the case, there is no question Williams will be taking most of the volume and be primed to make his first Pro Bowl this coming season.  Nevertheless, with the duo reuniting once more, their dominance should carry into this upcoming season.

Denver Broncos Pro Bowler No. 3: Courtland Sutton, WR

No one benefited more from the Russell Wilson trade than the Broncos receiving corps, including Courtland Sutton. Last season, Sutton’s production was hindered by a Pat Shurmur-led offense that featured ongoing quarterback controversy.

Unfortunately for Sutton, this isn’t anything new. Since entering the league in 2018, Sutton has caught passes from five different starting quarterbacks in Denver.  While it still didn’t stop him from making the Pro Bowl as an alternate in 2019, a huge bump up in both quality play and consistency at the position should help him reach his full potential.

In Seattle, Russell Wilson’s main target was D.K. Metcalf. In each of his three seasons with Wilson, Metcalf finished with no less than 100 targets and 900 receiving yards. Sutton will likely play a similar role in Wilson’s new offense in Denver.

Based on recent camp reports, Sutton has emerged as Wilson’s favorite target near the start of the regular season.

"“It’s us having the player-led meetings, us having those extra meetings of just sitting down and watching practice, just Russ and the skill guys. It’s allowing us to be able to learn the offense to a different level. Understanding the why to what we’re doing and not just, ‘This is what I have to do.’ … I just want to be a reliable guy for Russ on every play.” – Courtland Sutton via Broncos PR"

Now another year removed from his ACL injury, Sutton could soon be playing the best football of his career with Russell Wilson as his new quarterback.

Denver Broncos Pro Bowler No. 4: Justin Simmons, S

Over the past few years, Simmons has arguably been the best safety in the NFL.

According to ESPN, Simmons’ 53.5 disrupted dropbacks (interceptions, pass breakups, sacks) over the past three seasons leads all safeties in the NFL. So it was clear to see why the Broncos made him the highest paid safety of 2021, with a four-year, $61 million contract.

Last season, Simmons followed up that big contract by recording 60 solo tackles, five interceptions (tied for the most among all safeties), and 12 passes defended (tied for second-most among all safeties). By the season’s end, he was named to the Associated Press second-team All-Pro team.

Yet, he wasn’t selected for the Pro Bowl. Why?

Simmons’ lack of recognition could be correlated to the Broncos’ lack of success. Despite Simmons’ production on the field, the seven-year pro has yet to experience a winning season since entering the league in 2016 when the Broncos went 9-7 and narrowly missed the playoffs.

With so much change in Denver this offseason, including a new quarterback and coaching staff, Simmons could hit the perfect trifecta: a winning season, a playoff berth, and a Pro Bowl Selection. Although, a Super Bowl title would be nice too.

Denver Broncos Pro Bowler No. 5: Patrick Surtain II, CB

Surtain almost immediately established himself as one of the best outside cornerbacks in the NFL as a rookie. While lining up against the best of what opposing teams had to offer, Surtain allowed the second-lowest passer rating in coverage (69.7) among 42 players with at least 75 targets in coverage, according to PFF.  He also led all rookies with four interceptions, one of which he ran back 70 yards for a pick-six.

As his rookie season progressed, it became clear that opposing quarterbacks were starting to avoid throwing Surtain’s way. And when they did, they paid the price. He ended the season earning All-Rookie honors and was named a Pro Bowl alternate.

For Surtain, like many players on the team, the addition of Russell Wilson is bound to create opportunity. If the Broncos’ offense can find ways to get off to early leads, Surtain could find himself playing in more favorable situations, prime for game-changing plays.

5 players that would be shocking cuts for the Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos have to cut their roster down from 85 players to 80 by Tuesday afternoon. By next week, surprising cuts could be made to get to 53.

Already a focal point throughout training camp, Surtain is picking up right where he left off last season. It should only be a matter of time until Surtain sees his name etched in next year’s Pro Bowl roster.