Packers: Four biggest Pro Bowl snubs in 2019 season
Za’Darius Smith
Of course, we can’t talk about Preston Smith without mentioning his teammate Za’Darius Smith. Both players have been dominant this season, but Za’Darius Smith has been the Packers’ defensive MVP in 2019. Even when he’s not making sacks, he’s impacting the game in some way.
Smith lines up everywhere. He rushes off the edge and from the inside. And he’s having a dominant season. Smith ranks ninth in the NFL for sacks with 10 and third for QB hits with 30. According to Pro Football Focus, Smith entered Week 15 leading edge defenders in pressure rate.
What’s all the more impressive is how Smith continues to dominate despite regularly seeing double-teams.
The Smith Brothers have more combined sacks than any other tandem in the league, they both rank in the top-10 for sacks and quarterback hits individually, yet neither player was selected to the Pro Bowl. That’s hard to believe.
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If we had to rank Packers players most deserving to make the Pro Bowl, Za’Darius Smith would be No. 1. But he was instead chosen as a first-alternate. Don’t be surprised if Smith becomes yet another Packer to be an All-Pro selection but not go to the Pro Bowl the same season. Just ask David Bakhtiari about that.