The Los Angeles Rams have four players on the initial Pro Bowl roster, including Matthew Stafford, Puka Nacua, Jared Verse, and Byron Young. This is Stafford’s second trip to the Pro Bowl with the Rams, which is more than he had in 12 years with the Detroit Lions. It is Verse’s second Pro Bowl nod in as many seasons, which comes as a bit of a surprise as he’s just 33rd in sacks and he was ranked even lower in 2024.
Not to say that Verse isn’t worthy, it’s just surprising that voters acknowledge Verse’s
contributions in spite of relatively low sack totals. Typically voters, especially fans, only look at sacks.
But one aspect to the Pro Bowl voting that stands out this year as far as the Rams are concerned are two former players who have made the rosters as special teamers: Former Rams receiver and seventh round pick Ben Skowronek and former Rams offseason kicker Cameron Dicker.
How badly could the Rams have used these players in 2025?
Skowronek’s second season with the Steelers is going better than Van Jefferson’s career in Pittsburgh. The Notre Dame alum and special teams standout isn’t contributing much on offense (although he has a touchdown) and he’s made his first career Pro Bowl. It was obvious from the moment he was drafted that L.A. wanted Skowronek for his practice and special teams habits, of which he had a stellar reputation.
Dicker could have transformed L.A.’s outlook at kicker, a position of great turmoil under Sean McVay. The Rams are on their second kicker of 2025 and Harrison Mevis is making everyone nervous after missing a potential game-winner from 48 yards against the Seahawks last week. Dicker currently has the best field goal percentage in NFL history.
The Steelers had another former Rams player, cornerback Jalen Ramsey, on the Pro Bowl list. Would Ramsey be a major upgrade over Emmanuel Forbes right now?
Verse was the only Rams player to make the initial Pro Bowl roster in 2024. Byron Young has a career-high 11 sacks and now 26.5 in his three-year career. Puka Nacua has made his second Pro Bowl in three years, which would probably be three-in-three if he didn’t miss games in 2024.
“Snubs” could be all over the board for the Rams, from Kyren Williams to A.J. Jackson to Kobie Turner to Nate Landman to Kamren Curl. Which one stands out to you? Let us know in the comments.
Days after the Rams fired Chase Blackburn for special teams errors throughout the season, amid a season with multiple big personnel changes on that side of the ball, the inclusion of Skownronek and Dicker on the Pro Bowl lists emphasize one note over Blackburn’s contributions: These problems with the Rams special teams start up top.
