We’re in the thick of NFL Draft season. When you read write-ups about the prospects, you can’t help but laugh at every other player getting the “future Pro Bowler” tag or something along those lines.
History should be taken into account when you’re placing lofty expectations on these prospects. Roughly 14 players, on average, made the Pro Bowl at least once in their career in the drafts from 2010 through 2019. The likelihood of these players producing at a quality starter level simply isn’t high.
Ideally, the San Francisco 49ers select one of these Pro Bowl players. They’ll probably need to do it in one of the first two rounds, unless they’re banking on another outlier on Day 3. What if the next Pro Bowler is already on the roster?
This is a team that annually sends a handful of players to the Pro Bowl. That’s been consistent under Kyle Shanahan. Christian McCaffrey, Kyle Juszczyk, George Kittle, Trent Williams, Fred Warner, and Nick Bosa have all been mainstays.
Looking at Sports Info Solutions to help gauge which players have the best chance using their “Total points earned/saved” metric, the following players have a chance in 2026:
RT Colton McKivitz
RG Dominick Puni
C Jake Brendel
Deommodore Lenoir
Before the 2025 season, McKivitiz set a personal goal to make the Pro Bowl. Lenoir said he wouldn’t make the Pro Bowl because the 49ers would be in the Super Bowl. He also said, I ain’t really worried about the Pro Bowl.”
Had he stayed healthy and continued to produce as he did during the first month of the season, Ricky Pearsall would have easily earned a nod to the Pro Bowl. But health stands in the way of Pearsall’s recognition. He needs to prove he can stay healthy.
A player that might make the most sense is Osa Odighizuwa, who has produced at a high level in each of the previous three seasons. Odighizuwa will be the best interior pass rusher on the roster since DeForest Buckner. If the 49ers can force teams into passing situations, Osa should thrive under Raheem Morris. He’d be my answer.
Who are you picking as a potential first-time Pro Bowler that’s already on the roster? Scroll down below and let us know in the comments.
