The Miami Dolphins have three Pro Bowlers, the most since the 2016 campaign. This is the last season where the team makes the playoffs, which is another sign of the team’s progress in 2022.
Tyreek Hill has been selected in his first year as a Miami Dolphins player, marking his seventh straight season with a Pro Bowl selection.
Terron Armstead is another Dolphins player to make the Pro Bowl in their first season with the organization. After a year absence, the offensive tackle is once again selected for the fourth time in five seasons.
The final player is Xavien Howard, who makes the Pro Bowl for the fourth time in five seasons. His selection is questionable, with the defensive back having an inconsistent season. The 2020 interception leader has just one pick this season and has regularly struggled in one-on-one matchups for a unit that is the sixth worst in 2022 for passing yards (3,448 ) and passing yards per game (246.3).
Tua Tagovailoa and Jaylen Waddle are two of Miami’s biggest names not to be picked, but when the players were taken ahead are Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, Hill, Stefon Diggs, Justin Jefferson, and Ja’Marr Chase, it is hard to be too disgruntled.
Defensive tackle Christian Wilkins is probably the most unjust exclusion, with the 13th overall pick from 2019 having the best season of his career. With 81 total tackles, he is on pace to beat his previous record of 89 (2021). Across the 2022 campaign, he has already recorded more forced fumbles (2) than the entire of his previous three seasons in the league combined.
However, despite some of the player snubs, the fact that the team has three Pro Bowlers for the first time since 2016 shows the team is moving in the right trajectory.
Looking Back
As it stands, Miami are making the playoffs with just three games left as the third wildcard team and the seventh seed. With the New York Jets’ loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars last night, this only helps the Dolphins’ position. A win over the Green Bay Packers on Christmas Day and a New England Patriots loss to the Cincinnati Bengals the day before, and the team could be all but in.
It is no coincidence that the last time the team made the playoffs was the last season when there were three or more Pro Bowlers. Ndamukong Suh, Cameron Wake, Jarvis Landry, and Jay Ajayi were the four players selected as the Dolphins ultimately got blown out by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wildcard Round.
Mike McDaniel has got this team back to being a contender again, and this is arguably the most exciting a Dolphins offense has looked since Dan Marino retired. With Hill, Waddle, and Raheem Mostert, Miami has speed all over.
Miami fans should be encouraged by how the season has gone, despite three straight defeats. Only the most optimistic Dolphins fan would have expected the team to win the division. Just making the playoffs was always the goal, with anything more being a bonus.
It is a good time to be a Miami Dolphins fan.
