Brandon Graham

Brandon Graham snubbed from 2017 NFL Pro Bowl

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 5:48 p.m. ET

Fansided, Ryan Quigley/FanSided via Inside the Iggles

Brandon Graham just got snubbed.

Defensive end Brandon Graham has arguably been the Philadelphia Eagles‘ best player in 2016. Despite this, he was not selected to go to the 2017 NFL Pro Bowl. Two Eagles players who are going to the Pro Bowl, however, are Jason Peters and Fletcher Cox. Both of whom underperformed in 2016.

The Pro Bowl is a popularity contest and Graham just learned that the hard way.

In 14 games this season, Graham has recorded 5.5 sacks, 53 tackles and two forced fumbles. While his statistics don’t necessarily jump off the page, his play on the field certainly does. Graham is effective both as a pass rusher and run stopper and is steadily earning recognition around the league.

According to Pro Football Focus, Graham ranks fourth in the NFL among edge defenders in total pressures. Earlier in the year, PFF ranked Graham as the top edge defender in the league along with Khalil Mack of the Oakland Raiders.

Graham has been named a first alternate for the Pro Bowl, so there is still a reasonable chance that he could end up going to the first All-Star game of his career. However, it’s a bit surprising that he wasn’t named to the Pro Bowl roster from the start.