Detroit Lions lone Pro Bowler highlights team’s biggest need

The Detroit Lions only had one player named to the Pro Bowl on Tuesday night. That fact only highlights the team’s biggest need in 2019.

Last season, only one of the Detroit Lions players was voted onto the 2018 Pro Bowl roster based on the initial ballot. On Tuesday, it was déjà vu for Motor City fans as that same exact player was once again the Lions’ lone representative voted into the NFL’s version of an all-star game.

For the second year in a row cornerback Darius Slay has been nominated to the Pro Bowl on the NFC roster. Joining Slay in that backfield at cornerback will be the Chicago Bears’ Kyle Fuller*, the Arizona Cardinals’ Patrick Peterson and the Dallas Cowboys’ Byron Jones.

Last season, Slay was named to his first Pro Bowl on the heels of leading the league with eight interceptions, tied with Tennessee Titans’ safety Kevin Byard. He would also record 60 total tackles and a career-high 26 pass defends.

So far this season Slay has posted 37 combined tackles, 15 pass defends, three picks and has one defensive touchdown through 13 games.

The fact the Lions are again potentially only sending one player to the Pro Bowl this year highlights the biggest need on the roster. That’s the need for playmakers. Detroit simply needs more talent across the roster. There has to be some hope that their younger players like wide receiver Kenny Golladay, linebacker Jarrad Davis and running back Kerryon Johnson can continue to develop and become elite.

Although Slay was the only Lion nominated to the Pro Bowl last season initially, Detroit ended up sending offensive guard T.J. Lang and special teams returner Jamal Agnew to as alternates. Safety Quandre Diggs has been named as a possible alternate for the 2019 Pro Bowl and could join Slay in the NFC’s secondary.

Diggs has started at safety in every Lions’ game so far this season, posting a career-high 66 total tackles. The fourth-year defender has also recorded seven pass defends, two interceptions and one defensive score.

The biggest possible Pro Bowl snub for the Detroit Lions is defensive tackle Damon Harrison. Snacks was a Pro Bowler in 2016. This season, he’s recorded 74 total tackles and a career-high 3.5 sacks through 15 games. The midseason trade for Harrison is credited for revitalizing the Lions’ putrid rushing defense.