Some of the NFL's top stars are descending upon Orlando this week for the NFL Pro Bowl 2018. While some of the league's best players sit out by choice, due to injury or because they are playing in next weekend's Super Bowl, plenty of top talent is still on hand in the City Beautiful.
Evaluating the list of players who will be in town, here are the 15 best that will take the field in the game set for 3 p.m. at Camping World Stadium on Sunday.
1. Antonio Brown - Wide Receiver - Pittsburgh Steelers
Brown is the choice of many as the best wide receiver in football and some consider him the NFL's best overall player. He had another banner season, catching 101 passes for 1,533 yards and nine touchdowns.
2. Todd Gurley - Running Back - Los Angeles Rams
After a lackluster 2016 campaign, Gurley bounced back in a big way in 2017 and keyed the Rams run to the NFC West Division title. He finished second in the NFL with 1,305 rushing yards and paced all ball carriers with 13 touchdowns on the ground.
3. Jalen Ramsey - Cornerback - Jacksonville Jaguars
In his second professional season, Ramsey emerged as arguably the NFL's best cornerback. He was one of the keys to Jacksonville's ferocious defense and earned a spot on the Pro Football Focus postseason All-Pro team.
4. Zack Martin - Offensive Guard - Dallas Cowboys
Since the day he stepped foot on the Cowboys sideline it can be debated that Martin became one of the best offensive linemen in football. He has been named a Pro Bowler and an All-Pro in each of his first four seasons.
5. Von Miller - Linebacker - Denver Broncos
Miller is certainly one of the more high profile names in Orlando this week and he finishes his seventh season still regarded as one of the most dynamic pass rushers. Pro Football Focus charted him leading all edge rushers with 83 pressures.
6. Casey Hayward - Cornerback - Los Angeles Chargers
Hayward has established himself as one of the NFL's best corners since signing with the Chargers in 2016. This season he collected four interceptions, 22 pass defenses and was named Pro Football Focus' coverage defender of the year.
7. Chandler Jones - Linebacker - Arizona Cardinals
Jones is an athletic freak who reaks havoc coming off the edge for the Cardinals. He led the league with a career-high 17 sacks this season and has collected 64 sacks over his six-year career split between Arizona and the New England Patriots.
8. Kareem Hunt - Running Back - Kansas City Chiefs
Hunt has the rare distinction of being a rookie who was selected to the Pro Bowl. He is also the second straight first-year player to lead the NFL in rushing after scampering for 1,327 yards and eight touchdowns.
9. Cameron Jordan - Defensive End - New Orleans Saints
Jordan is another talented pass rusher on the list and he actually beat Jones out for a spot on the Pro Football Focus All-Pro team. His 13 sacks certainly keyed a resurgence by the Saints and helped them reach the playoffs for the first time since 2013.
10. Drew Brees - Quarterback - New Orleans Saints
With some of the other high-profile quarterbacks unable to participate in the Pro Bowl, perennial attendee Brees is the only signal caller on this list. He is still on top of his game too, leading all starters with a 72% completion percentage in 2017.
11. Le'Veon Bell - Running Back - Pittsburgh Steelers
Bell is the second Steelers offensive weapon on this list, but he could certainly make an argument to climb closer to his teammate Brown at the top spot. He also compares favorably to the other backs ranked after running for 1,291 yards and nine touchdowns this season.
12. David DeCastro - Offensive Guard - Pittsburgh Steelers
Part of what makes Bell so successful is that he has DeCastro paving his way. He also did not allow a sack of Ben Roethlisberger all season, rightfully earning a place in his third Pro Bowl.
13. Xavier Rhodes - Cornerback - Minnesota Vikings
Rhodes earned a Pro Bowl nod for the second straight season and was named a first-team All-Pro for the first time. He keyed a Vikings defense that made it to the NFC Championship Game and led the league in total defense.
14. Jurrell Casey - Defensive Tackle - Tennessee Titans
Casey racked up six sacks this year, a strong number for an interior lineman. He has been selected to the last three Pro Bowls.
15. Geno Atkins - Defensive Tackle - Cincinnati Bengals
Atkins earned the sixth Pro Bowl nod of his career this year and makes it back-to-back defensive tackles to round out our list. He registered nine sacks for the second straight season.
Carson Ingle has been a sportswriter and sports talk radio host based in Orlando for the past ten years. He can currently be seen several times a week on Spectrum Sports 360's Face-Off segment at 10:30 p.m. on Central Florida News 13, channel 1013. Follow him on Twitter.
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