Three biggest Pro Bowl snubs for the 49ers

Jan 4, 2024, 8:45 AM | Updated: 9:45 am

Brandon Aiyuk #11 of the San Francisco 49ers catches a pass during the first quarter against the Lo...

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

San Francisco 49ers Beat Writer

The San Francisco 49ers cleaned up on Pro Bowl selections for the 2023 season, with an NFL-leading nine players making the Orlando games. But did some members get snubbed?

More impressively, the Red & Gold have 12 Pro Bowl alternates this year. Put that together with the players who made the initial list, and that’s 21 members of the 49ers up for individual accreditation this season. San Francisco also had 13 players lead in fan voting, meaning some positions did get snubbed due to limit spots in Orlando.

Here are the top-3 49ers to get snubbed for the 2024 Pro Bowl.

The AFC and NFC rosters for the 2024 Pro Bowl Games: pic.twitter.com/r6QJyC4uYP

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 4, 2024

WR Brandon Aiyuk

If there was a head-scratcher on the ballots this season, it’s Brandon Aiyuk not making his first Pro Bowl.

The speedy 49ers wide receiver has taken his game to elite level in 2023, currently at 1,317 yards on 72 catches in 15 games played. He also has seven touchdowns on the year. Additionally, “BA” is first in yards per reception, second in yards per route run and first in Pro Football Focus grade for NFC WRs (92.1).

And if that’s not enough, check out this stat:

How big of a snub was Brandon Aiyuk? Amount of targets that it took 2 of the NFC Pro Bowl WRs — A.J. Brown and Puka Nacua — to reach 1,400 yards:

151
147

Amount of targets that it took Brandon Aiyuk to reach 1,317 yards:

97

— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) January 4, 2024

The 49ers wideout currently has 101 targets, 46 and 50 less than two players who made the games for 2024. The final NFC WR to make it, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Mike Evans, has more targets (128) but less yards (1233) than Aiyuk.

Simply put, the Rocklin native should be heading to his first Pro Bowl.

LB Dre Greenlaw

Dre Greenlaw has been playing at a Pro-Bowl level for two seasons now, but sadly due to voting constraints, he hasn’t made it yet.

The Arkansas native has formed the most ferocious linebacker tandem with All-Pro Fred Warner. Greenlaw holds his own though, recording 120 combined tackles for the second consecutive season. He also has five tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and four pass break-ups on the year.

The problem: There’s only two spots for inside/middle linebackers on the ballot.

The NFL declares outside linebackers more so as pass rushers, with Danielle Hunter, Micah Parsons and Haason Redick taking up the spots. Greenlaw is not a pass rusher. He plays in the middle of the park, just like Warner.

For 2024, the committee took Warner and Seattle Seahawks legend Bobby Wagner. Because of that, Greenlaw hasn’t sniffed a Pro Bowl yet, causing many to advocate on his behalf.

“My heart hurts, for him”

Fred doesn’t get why Dre Greenlaw isn’t getting the Pro Bowl recognition he deserves pic.twitter.com/Huz2kpEvbR

— The Warner House (@TheWarnerHouse_) January 3, 2024

Maybe one year Greenlaw will make it. But for now, the 49ers’ second-best LB stays off the ballot.

P Mitch Wishnowsky

Punters are people too, and frankly, 49ers Mitch Wishnowsky has a reason for his feelings being hurt.

The Australian-born punter has been booming this season, with a career-high 47.7 yards per punt. He also has a longest punt of 67 yards (second-highest of his career) and only two touchbacks (tied for lowest). Wishnowsky has also been a wizard inside the 20-yard-line, with 51% of his punts downed there, while also having a 4.1% touchback rate.

The Aussie has been lacing them this season.

If you're one to get upset about Pro Bowl snubs, the two #49ers most deserving who didn't get the nod this year, in my opinion:

WR Brandon Aiyuk
P Mitch Wishnowsky

Obviously, the Niners have much bigger goals but Pro Bowl nods are meaningful for players in multiple ways.

— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) January 4, 2024

But there is only one spot, and it went to Dallas Cowboys’ Bryan Anger.

While Anger holds a higher yards per punt (51.4), he has fewer total yards, a lower longest punt, and less punts inside the 20 than Wishnowsky. The 49ers P also has more punts than Anger (44).

It’s a head-scratcher as well, but it’s Dallas, what else would you expect?

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