NFL Pro Bowl 2025: 3 Minnesota Vikings who were snubbed despite team’s 6 total selections

The Minnesota Vikings have been the story of the 2024 NFL season, with names like Sam Darnold, Kevin O’Connell and Brian Flores consistently making headlines throughout their 14-2 run entering Week 18.

No one expected Minnesota to have six Pro Bowl selections from the 2024 season (see the full NFC roster below), but the Vikings were indeed one of the NFL’s most well-represented teams in this year’s voting. It’s a credit to GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, who hit big in free agency and assembled a roster devoid of any major weaknesses.

In fact, the Vikings have been so good this season, you could argue they should have had more Pro Bowl selections, closer to the league-high nine Baltimore Ravens selected for the AFC.

Here are the Vikings’ biggest Pro Bowl snubs from the 2024 season:

RT Brian O’Neill

Only three tackles make the initial Pro Bowl roster from each conference, and it’s hard to argue against the likes of Lane Johnson of the Philadelphia Eagles, Penei Sewell of the Detroit Lions and Tristan Wirfs of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but O’Neill doesn’t get the respect he deserves for locking down the right side of Minnesota’s offensive line.

He’s allowed just two sacks and 18 total pressures this season, per PFF’s advanced stats. That includes a herculean stretch midseason that saw him allow zero QB pressures or hurries in four consecutive games. It’s no coincidence, either, that that stretch started in Week 9, which was Minnesota’s first game with Cam Robinson replacing the injured Christian Darrisaw on the left side.

Darnold has been sacked 46 times this season, fourth most in the NFL. Maybe that worked against Minnesota’s offensive linemen this season. But Vikings fans have a legitimate gripe with O’Neill missing the cut. He’s been a stabilizing force this season and was the team’s top Pro Bowl snub.

LB Blake Cashman

The hometown kid — Cashman went to Eden Prairie High School — has been a boon for Minnesota’s defense. He would likely be a lock for this year’s Pro Bowl had he not missed three games with a toe injury.

Still, in 13 games, he’s racked up 104 total tackles, and his 4.5 sacks over that span is an elite number among interior linebackers. Only Lavonte David of the Bucs has comparable stats in terms of both tackles (113) and sacks (5.5), but it took him 16 games to get there.

One of the most impactful free agent additions in the NFL this season, Cashman is a lesser-known player fully deserving of Pro Bowl recognition.

S Josh Metellus

Shoutout to Vikings Nation, as Metellus ranked first at his position in the fan voting. That’s awesome, considering your average NFL fan has probably never heard his name before. That could soon change after Metellus doubled down on what was a breakout 2023 season.

Working against Metellus when it comes to the Pro Bowl is his position, as he’s not deployed by Flores like a traditional strong safety. He’s a hybrid player who spends most of his time in the box, more like a linebacker or even a slot corner. His PFF grade of 87.7 in run defense would rank top-five among safeties, but this player does it all, entering Week 18 with 98 total tackles, two interceptions, four pass breakups and one forced fumble.

Unfortunately for Metellus, the fan vote is only part of the voting process. A player listed as a safety, on a team that deploys Harrison Smith and Cam Bynum as their starters at that position, probably makes it hard to justify giving Metellus the nod. He’s more than deserving, though, as one of the most versatile defensive backs in football.

NFC Pro Bowl roster 2025

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