Kerby Joseph and 4 Lions who could be first-time Pro Bowlers in 2025

As the Detroit Lions have become one of the best teams in the NFL, their best players have naturally gotten more recognition on a national scale. That has been reflected by being well-represented at the Pro Bowl (now the Pro Bowl Games), with voting weighed in equal measure from fans, players, and coaches.

In recent years, the list of candidates to be first-time Pro Bowlers for the Lions has been thinned and replenished at the same time, as players graduate from the list and are replaced by fresh candidates who are ready for their star-making turn.

Without further ado, here are five Lions who could be first-time Pro Bowlers this season.

5 Detroit Lions who could be first-time Pro Bowers in 2025

5. LB Jack Campbell

After making notable steps in his game last season, particularly in coverage, Campbell is set to step into a leadership role for the Lions' defense (which he may not surrender for a while) in Year 3. Alex Anzalone may surrender the "green dot" to the team's leading tackler from last season.

From when Anzalone was injured in Week 11 through the rest of the season, Campbell was an every-down player. If he has that kind of role from the start this season, and he should, a massive tackle total would naturally drive some Pro Bowl consideration.

4. CB Terrion Arnold

Arnold was thrown right into the fire in the Lions' man-coverage-heavy scheme as a rookie last year, and after a penalty-filled start, he performed pretty well. He also benefited from not always going against the opposition's No. 1 wide receiver. That will be different this year, even if newcomer DJ Reed takes some of that responsibility.

Arnold needs to transition from playing cleaner coverage to delivering some on-ball production in his second season. He's still looking for his first career interception, and for all the coverage reps he had last year, 10 pass breakups land as underwhelming.

If Arnold stands up against opposing WR1s this season and picks off a chunk of passes, Pro Bowl voters will have a hard time ignoring him.

3. OT Taylor Decker

Speaking of Pro Bowl voters ignoring someone, Decker makes this list again despite being one of the most solid left tackles around. To be fair, it's very hard to crack the NFC Pro Bowl team at offensive tackle these days, but Decker's importance to the Lions' offensive line will be ratcheted up this year.

The Lions will have three interior offensive line starters who are new or in new positions come Week 1, including Christian Mahogany at the guard spot next to Decker on Jared Goff's blindside. And with the Green Bay Packers making a huge trade for Micah Parsons, there's another top-end top edge rusher to contend with in the NFC North.

At this point, it's becoming likely Decker calls it a career before he earns a Pro Bowl nod. But the stars are aligning for him to garner more attention this year, so it might be now or never.

2. WR Jameson Williams

Williams followed offseason buzz with a breakthrough season in 2024, as he topped 1,000 yards for the first time in his career while finishing second in the league in yards per catch (17.3). The breakout buzz reached a different pitch this offseason, and the combination of his own growth with the presence of offensive coordinator John Morton may unlock another level for him this year.

Williams is not directly in a contract year, as the Lions picked up his fifth-year option for 2026. However, he is absolutely looking to prove he's worthy of a significant second deal, and circumstances are aligning for him to be a complete receiver. If big production follows, Pro Bowl consideration would easily come.

1. S Kerby Joseph

Joseph was the most egregious Pro Bowl snub in the league last season. All he did was lead the league with nine interceptions, while being Pro Football Focus' No. 1-graded safety, with their top coverage grade among all defensive backs (91.5). He was the No. 1 NFC safety in the fan segment of Pro Bowl voting, so it was the player and coach segments of the voting that cost him a nod.

Last season, according to Next Gen Stats (h/t to Kevin Patra of NFL.com), Joseph had the fourth-lowest missed tackle rate in the league (4.7 percent; minimum 80 tackle attempts). His target EPA (-53.7) was No. 1 (Nate Wiggins' -28.4 target EPA was second place).

Joseph had some things to refine in his game, and he did it in a big way last year.

As a further exposure of the fallacy of Pro Bowl voting, and attaching financial implications to it in the CBA, Joseph was a first-team All-Pro last year. He acknowledged how that honor means more to him (and it means more in general, if we're being honest).

Joseph should have been a first-time Pro Bowler last year, so he's easily No. 1 on this list for this season. As long as he stays healthy, that wrong should easily be righted.

Honorable Mentions: K Jake Bates, CB DJ Reed, LB Alex Anzalone