As the 2025 NFL season nears its close, the Cleveland Browns find themselves in a familiar and frustrating spot-staring down another double-digit loss campaign and searching for answers. This isn’t how things were supposed to go when the pads first popped in training camp. But while the team’s overall performance has fallen short, there are still individual standouts earning recognition on the league’s biggest stage.
Despite the struggles, two Browns have punched their ticket to the Pro Bowl: defensive end Myles Garrett and cornerback Denzel Ward. Both have been consistent forces on a defense that’s often carried the weight of the team’s shortcomings.
Let’s start with Garrett. Simply put, he’s been a one-man wrecking crew.
With 22 sacks on the season, he’s just half a sack shy of tying the all-time single-season record of 22.5. That kind of production doesn’t just happen-it’s the result of elite athleticism, relentless motor, and a deep understanding of the game.
This marks Garrett’s seventh Pro Bowl selection, the most by any defensive player in Browns history. He’s now tied for fourth in total Pro Bowl appearances in franchise history, which puts him in rare company.
For a team that’s had its share of defensive legends, Garrett is carving out his own legacy-one sack at a time.
On the back end of the defense, Denzel Ward continues to be a lockdown presence. This is his fifth Pro Bowl nod, surpassing Browns great Frank Minnifield, who had four.
Ward’s impact goes beyond the stat sheet. The Browns have now gone 43 straight games without allowing a 300-yard passer-the longest active streak in the NFL.
That’s not just a testament to scheme or pass rush; it’s about corners like Ward taking away half the field and making quarterbacks think twice. Simply put, opposing offenses have learned to avoid his side entirely.
While Garrett and Ward are headed to the Pro Bowl, a few others on the roster are waiting in the wings as alternates. Safety Grant Delpit earned alternate honors as a special teamer, and three rookies made the list as well: tight end Harold Fannin Jr., running back Quinshon Judkins, and linebacker Carson Schwesinger. Among them, Schwesinger is the name that really jumps out.
The rookie linebacker has been a revelation. With 148 total tackles, he’s fourth in the league-and yet, somehow, he wasn’t named a Pro Bowl starter.
That’s a head-scratcher. For comparison, the AFC starters at linebacker include Roquan Smith (124 tackles), Azeez Al-Shaair (96), Nik Bonitto (43), Tuli Tuipulotu (47), and T.J.
Watt (53). Watt’s inclusion is understandable given his pass-rushing prowess, but Schwesinger’s production and impact suggest he should’ve been more than just an alternate.
He’s also widely considered the frontrunner for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, and deservedly so.
Another notable omission? Left guard Joel Bitonio.
He’s been a rock on the offensive line for years and is putting together another strong season. This would’ve been his eighth Pro Bowl, and by all accounts, he’s earned it.
But for whatever reason, his name didn’t make the cut this time around. Sometimes, consistency gets taken for granted.
Looking ahead, the 2026 Pro Bowl Games will see a shift in format. Gone are the multiple events and skills competitions leading up to a final game.
This time, the flag football contest will stand alone as the main event. It’s a streamlined approach, and while it may not carry the same weight as a full-contact showcase, it still gives fans a chance to see the league’s top talent on the same field.
For the Browns, the Pro Bowl selections are a silver lining in an otherwise cloudy season. Garrett and Ward continue to set the standard, while young players like Schwesinger are proving the future may not be as bleak as the standings suggest. The team’s overall performance might not be Pro Bowl-worthy, but these individual honors remind us that elite talent still resides in Cleveland-and that’s something to build on.