The 49ers have some clear-cut candidates for making the Pro Bowl at the end of the season, but these less-known players could get in, too.
The San Francisco 49ers have four or five shoo-in Pro Bowl players on the roster in 2021.
EDGE Nick Bosa, wide receiver Deebo Samuel, tight end George Kittle and left tackle Trent Williams should all be there. And fullback Kyle Juszczyk gets there almost by default, given the lack of competition at his position.
Yet it’s important to remember the initial Pro Bowl roster is essentially a popularity contest, voted upon by the fans with no real limit how many times they can vote. And while most of the players above have some sort of name recognition, it’s always difficult for less-known players to receive the kind of praise they otherwise should deserve.
Until the alternates start getting voted in. That’s where things get interesting.
After not being played a year ago, the 2022 Pro Bowl will kick off on Feb. 6 from Las Vegas, Nevada. And these five underappreciated Niners players could (and potentially should) be receiving some Pro Bowl recognition for their work in 2021.
49ers Dark-Horse Pro Bowler No. 5: Safety Jimmie Ward
A national fanbase and media might not be paying attention to free safety Jimmie Ward, but San Francisco fans clearly understand the team’s defense is vastly better with Ward in the fray than without him.
Having taken on a bigger leadership role this season, Ward is a massive reason why the 49ers defense still ranks fifth best in fewest passing yards allowed (2,772) despite having some serious deficiencies at cornerback. Ward, who has 61 tackles on the season and two interceptions, might not be at the very top, statistically, among all safeties.
Yet Pro Football Focus is recognizing his efforts, giving him an 80.2 overall grade on the year, tied for sixth best among safeties who have played at least 50 percent of the team’s defensive snaps, and his 32.0 passer rating allowed when targeted is better than anyone else ranked above him.
Ward, who has never been named to the Pro Bowl, is certainly deserving this season and hasn’t received anywhere near the credit he should.
49ers Dark-Horse Pro Bowler No. 4: Nose Tackle D.J. Jones
Going back to the fan-based voting standards, it’s hard to recognize run-stuffing defensive tackles unless they’re totally piling up tackles left and right.
Considering 1-technique nose tackles aren’t always involved in three-down sets and usually come off the field in obvious passing situations, thereby cutting down on sack totals (those help a lot in Pro Bowl voting), someone like nose tackle D.J. Jones has an awfully big long shot at making it to the Pro Bowl this season.
Yet he’s certainly deserving of consideration.
For starters, Jones’ tackles are up there on the Niners defense, relatively speaking, with him having 47 on the year, which is fifth best. And while his lone sack this season won’t jump out for voters, it’s worthy of pointing out his two forced fumbles. Additionally, Jones has been a massive reason why San Francisco has cut down on being a defensive run-game liability in recent weeks, holding opponents to less than 100 yards in four of its last five games.
No wonder Jones’ 76.1 overall Pro Football Focus grade ranks 11th out of all interior defensive linemen with at least 50-percent snaps.
The big-name defensive tackles like the Los Angeles Rams’ Aaron Donald and the Kansas City Chiefs’ Chris Jones will get the recognition and will receive the votes.
But Jones should be one of those names on the short list of alternates.
49ers Dark-Horse Pro Bowler No. 3: Linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair
The 49ers’ best linebacker on the roster remains 2020 first-team All-Pro Fred Warner.
And while Warner might be having slightly less impressive a season in 2021 than he did a year ago, it still wouldn’t be shocking to see him get in as a Pro Bowler for early February.
Yet the bigger dark-horse candidate, and someone who needs to receive at least a little recognition, is fellow backer Azeez Al-Shaair, the third-year pro who suddenly found himself thrust into a starting role in the wake of linebacker Dre Greenlaw’s nearly year-long groin injury.
Al-Shaair hasn’t disappointed. At all. In fact, he’s been outstanding in a role no one saw him seizing.
The former undrafted free agent is only three tackles behind Warner’s team lead of 99, yet Al-Shaair also has added a whopping nine tackles for a loss, best at his position on the team there, five passes broken up, a forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and 1.5 sacks.
Again, this might not be enough to catch the eye of the non-Niners casual fan, but Al-Shaair’s all-around quality play needs to deserve some attention.
Potentially en route to a Pro Bowl nod.
49ers Dark-Horse Pro Bowler No. 2: Running Back Elijah Mitchell
If there’s one glaring reason why rookie running back Elijah Mitchell won’t get in the Pro Bowl this season, it’s because he’s dealt with a number of injuries that have held him out of four of the 13 games San Francisco has played this season.
Still, only a handful of fans and analysts predicted Mitchell, a sixth-round pick of this year’s NFL Draft, would have the kind of impact he’s had thus far.
Taking over the starting job after veteran runner Raheem Mostert was lost to a season-ending knee injury way back in Week 1, Mitchell’s Mostert-like speed has been something to watch, going along with his decisive cutback and gap-attacking prowess that makes him look far more polished as a runner.
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Despite the injuries, Mitchell already has 759 yards rushing with five touchdowns, averaging 4.6 yards per attempt, and he’s added 126 yards through the air, too.
But what could make him a Pro Bowl candidate is the fact he set a new franchise record for most 100-yard rushing games in his rookie year with four. And if he’s able to return later this season after suffering a concussion in Week 13, there’s a chance he’ll add to that tally.
Which should help him in Pro Bowl alternate consideration.
49ers Dark-Horse Pro Bowler No. 1: Left Guard Laken Tomlinson
Trent Williams is, without any sort of question, the 49ers’ best offensive lineman by a long shot.
However, one should also point out just how great the player lined up next to him, left guard Laken Tomlinson, has been this season.
Tomlinson, who hasn’t missed a start since acquired by the Niners early in the 2017 season, has been the model of consistency. Not necessarily flashy and lacking the name recognition Williams has, Tomlinson has nevertheless been just as big a reason why the left side of San Francisco’s offensive line is a massive strength, both in the run game and in pass protection.
Speaking of Tomlinson’s pass-protecting efforts, he’s received only a 71.4 overall Pro Football Focus grade, which is something of a surprise. But of all guards who have played at least 50 percent of offensive snaps this year, he’s one of only seven who haven’t given up a sack.
That’s pretty elite-level production.
Tomlinson, like Jimmie Ward, is a veteran who hasn’t earned a Pro Bowl nod yet in his career, but that certainly doesn’t mean he isn’t deserving.
And while Pro Bowl fan voting has officially closed, with those opening rosters announced on Monday, Dec. 20, there should be some strong consideration for Tomlinson as an alternate if he doesn’t get in outright.