4 NY Jets players named to 2023 Pro Bowl along with 3 alternates

Pro Bowl rosters are officially out and the NY Jets will have at least four representatives in the 2023 version of the event as defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, cornerback Sauce Gardner, special teamer Justin Hardee, and linebacker C.J. Mosley were all named to the roster.

Williams, Gardner, and Hardee all led their respective positions in Pro Bowl fan votes which account for one-third of the selection process. The remaining two-thirds are decided by players and coaches from around the NFL.

Mosley finished fifth among all linebackers in fan votes but was carried to the Pro Bowl by the coach/player voting process. His reputation as a former four-time Pro Bowl certainly helped matters.

The Jets also had three players named as Pro Bowl alternates. Rookie wide receiver Garrett Wilson, cornerback D.J. Reed, and return specialist Braxton Berrios were each named alternates at their respective positions.

The NY Jets could have as many as seven representatives at the Pro Bowl this season

Williams and Gardner were essentially locks for the Pro Bowl as both have put together arguably the best season of any player at each of their positions.

That's especially true for Gardner who ranks in the top three in pretty much every cornerback statistic. It's almost impossible to argue he hasn't been the best cornerback in football this season, at least from a statistical perspective.

As for Williams, he leads all interior defensive linemen with 12 total sacks, and his 90.5 Pro Football Focus grade ranks third behind only Dexter Lawrence and Chris Jones.

Hardee has garnered a reputation as one of the best special teamers in the NFL, but this is the first time he's managed to make the Pro Bowl. The six-year veteran actually managed to supplant New England Patriots special-teams ace Matthew Slater who had made the roster in 10 of the last 11 years.

For a former undrafted free agent who has managed to carve out an unlikely career as a special teamer, one can only imagine what this means to Hardee.

Mosley has put together a solid bounce-back season in 2022 after an inconsistent performance a year ago. While his spot in the Pro Bowl might be based primarily on reputation, few players are more important to the Jets than Mosley.

It's impressive that Garrett Wilson managed to be named as a Pro Bowl alternate seeing as he didn't even crack the top 10 in AFC Pro Bowl fan votes at his position. That's a testament to just how respected he already is around the league.

As for D.J. Reed, one could certainly argue he deserves to make it over Miami Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard who claimed the final spot despite a lackluster 2022 campaign.

Berrios is another player who received his alternate spot primarily on reputation. His performance last season earned him an All-Pro nod, but his numbers have significantly declined this season.

Alternates could take the spot of players on the Pro Bowl roster in the case of injuries or withdrawals. That means Wilson, Reed, and Berrios could theoretically still be a part of the 2023 Pro Bowl.