The NFL announced its Pro Bowl rosters on Tuesday night, a collection of 42 offensive players, 36 defenders, and eight special teams players. The list features the usual suspects such as Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, and Aaron Rodgers, as well as new faces like Le’Veon Bell, T.Y. Hilton, and Chris Harris, and can be viewed in full right here (PDF link).
Among the 86 players initially selected to appear in the game, several have signed new contracts in 2014, many more will be eligible for new deals in 2015, and others will receive a bump in pay based on their Pro Bowl nods. Here’s a breakdown of the Pro Bowl players with notable contract situations:
Recently signed or extended:
- Jamaal Charles, RB (Chiefs): Signed two-year, $18MM extension in July.
- Vontae Davis, CB (Colts): Signed four-year, $36MM contract in March.
- Jimmy Graham, TE (Saints): Signed four-year, $40MM contract in July.
- Brent Grimes, CB (Dolphins): Signed four-year, $32MM contract in March.
- Joe Haden, CB (Browns): Signed five-year, $67.5MM extension in May.
- Chris Harris, CB (Broncos): Signed a five-year, $42.5MM extension in December.
- Devin Hester, KR (Falcons): Signed three-year, $9MM contract in March (changed teams).
- Jason Kelce, C (Eagles): Signed six-year, $37.5MM extension in February.
- John Kuhn, FB (Packers): Signed one-year, $1.03MM contract in April.
- Pat McAfee, P (Colts): Signed five-year, $14.5MM contract in March.
- Gerald McCoy, DT (Buccaneers): Signed seven-year, $95.2MM extension in October.
- Jordy Nelson, WR (Packers): Signed four-year, $39.05MM extension in July.
- Jason Peters, T (Eagles): Signed four-year, $38.3MM extension in February.
- Patrick Peterson, CB (Cardinals): Signed five-year, $70.05MM extension in July.
- Maurkice Pouncey, C (Steelers): Signed five-year, $44.14MM extension in June.
- Robert Quinn, DE (Rams): Signed four-year, $57MM extension in September.
- Darrelle Revis, CB (Patriots): Signed two-year, $32MM contract in March (changed teams).
- Richard Sherman, CB (Seahawks): Signed four-year, $56MM extension in May.
- Matt Slater, ST (Patriots): Signed two-year, $4MM extension in November.
- Tyron Smith, T (Cowboys): Signed eight-year, $97.6MM extension in July.
- Darren Sproles, PR (Eagles): Traded by Saints, then signed two-year, $7MM extension in March (changed teams).
- Joe Staley, T (49ers): Signed two-year, $19.6MM extension in July.
- Aqib Talib, CB (Broncos): Signed six-year, $57MM contract in March (changed teams).
- Earl Thomas, S (Seahawks): Signed four-year, $40MM extension in April.
- Adam Vinatieri, K (Colts): Signed two-year, $5MM contract in March.
- T.J. Ward, S (Broncos): Signed four-year, $22.5MM contract in March (changed teams).
- DeMarcus Ware, OLB (Broncos): Signed three-year, $30MM contract in March (changed teams).
- J.J. Watt, DE (Texans): Signed six-year, $100MM extension in September.
Eligible for free agency in 2015:
- Dez Bryant, WR (Cowboys)
- Tashaun Gipson, S (Browns), restricted
- Stephen Gostkowski, K (Patriots)
- Justin Houston, OLB (Chiefs)
- Mike Iupati, G (49ers)
- John Kuhn, FB (Packers)
- DeMarco Murray, RB (Cowboys)
- Ndamukong Suh, DT (Lions)
- Demaryius Thomas, WR (Broncos)
- Julius Thomas, TE (Broncos)
Received Pro Bowl bonuses:
(via Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap)
Perhaps the most interesting – or at least unusual – takeaway from this data is the abundance of cornerbacks on the first list. In fact, all eight cornerbacks initially named as Pro Bowlers (Davis, Grimes, Haden, Harris, Peterson, Revis, Sherman, and Talib) have signed new contracts, either extensions or free agent deals, since March. Rival teams hoping to get their hands on a Pro Bowl corner this offseason will have to focus on Revis — he’s the only one of the eight who can reasonably be expected to become available within the next few months, due to the structure of his contract with the Pats.
Data from Over the Cap was used in the creation of this post.
