NFL Pro Bowl voting heats up: Five early takeaways, shocks, and rookie standouts

With Week 14 closing in, the Pro Bowl race is already starting to take shape, with fans, players, and coaches casting votes for the stars they believe have stood head and shoulders above their peers in the 2025 NFL season so far.

Which stars are pulling away? Which team is currently dominating the ballots? And which rookies have a real shot at making the team?

We answer those questions, and more, with our top five takeaways from Pro Bowl voting so far.

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Maye is a no-brainer, but Mahomes > Stafford?

It's no surprise to see MVP frontrunner Drake Maye leading the voting so far. The New England Patriots' quarterback has been playing at an extremely high level, guiding his team to 10 consecutive wins.

What is unexpected is that Kansas City Chiefs' QB Patrick Mahomes lies in second, some 500 votes ahead of Matthew Stafford, who surprisingly languishes in eighth.

Even if we ignore the Rams' superior record on the basis that Pro Bowl voting is a recognition of individual brilliance, the stats show that Stafford has been the superior player.

Battle of the rookie gunslingers

Neither Cam Ward of the Tennessee Titans nor Jaxson Dart of the New York Giants will receive a Pro Bowl nod. No shock there, and no real indictment of either player. Both have battled through tough seasons shaped by factors far beyond their own ability.

The more striking takeaway is the gap in voting: Ward sits 17th, and he's more than 500 votes clear of Dart in 25th.

• Read next | MVP tracker: Maye rules supreme after uneven Stafford performance

When accounting for the fewer games played, Dart's production compares favourably with the No.1 overall pick.

The RB race is hanging by a thread

Only 251 votes separate the number one tailback from the number six, with San Francisco 49ers' Christian McCaffrey leading Bijan Robinson, Jonathan Taylor, James Cook, Jahmyr Gibbs, and DeVon Achane in voting.

Jonathan Taylor may have been the dominant force on the ground in 2025, but voters are clearly mindful of the greater all-around contributions of some of the other contenders.

Rookie pass-catchers are turning heads

Tetairoa McMillan, WR - Carolina Panthers

When the Panthers selected McMillan with the eighth overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, they hoped to get a difference-maker. So far, so good.

The 22-year-old has enjoyed a blistering start to his career, leading Carolina in targets (98), receptions (57), receiving yards (826), and receiving touchdowns (6).

He’s producing and polling like a top-10 wideout. Keep this pace up, and McMillan could make the Pro Bowl at the first time of asking.

Tyler Warren, TE - Indianapolis Colts

Few questioned the Colts' logic when they selected Warren with the 14th overall pick back in April. He was a standout at the college level and the most NFL-ready of the tight end prospects.

• Read next | Week 14 Power Rankings: Patriots, Bears, Cowboys surge; Eagles slide

The 23-year-old has delivered from day one, forcing his way into contention for the OROY award by ranking in the top five tight ends in targets (78), receptions (58), and receiving yards (684).

Warren's exploits have not gone unnoticed in the voting process, as he currently trails only Trey McBride and Travis Kelce at the position.

Denver’s strong season gains recognition

The Broncos' incredible nine-game winning streak has been a team performance, but the individual contributions have been recognised in the Pro Bowl voting so far.

Denver's nominations reflect how dominant their defense and special teams have been, with impact players stepping up on both units each week.