Being selected to the NFL Pro Bowl is an outstanding accomplishment. Players who perform the best during a given season should be rewarded with the nod.

The reality is that players’ legacies are partly defined by the number of times they are named to the Pro Bowl. That's why it’s frustrating when the players who ball out don't get the recognition they deserve.

Here are the five biggest Pro Bowl snubs for this season.

1. Kirk Cousins

Kirk Cousins has been the best quarterback in the NFC North in 2019. And yet, it’s Aaron Rodgers getting the nod for the Pro Bowl.

Cousins, the signal-caller finally living up to the $84 million guaranteed contract the Minnesota Vikings handed him, has dominated over the past 10 games. He has thrown 22 touchdowns against three interceptions, spearheading the Vikings to an 8-2 record in that span.

Cousins has been incredibly efficient. He is the only quarterback other than Russell Wilson with 25 or more touchdowns passes and five or fewer interceptions. Cousins is fourth in the NFL (second in NFC) in both passer rating and completion percentage. In addition, he ranks among the league’s top five QBs in yards per attempt, adjusted yards per attempt and interception rate.

The Vikings are 10-4 and likely headed to the postseason. The Cousins-led offense is the strength of the club.

Rodgers has had another fine year, so his inclusion into the Pro Bowl is not completely surprising. However, it’s absurd the NFL named Drew Brees a Pro Bowler. Brees, the NFL’s all-time leader in passing yards and TDs, missed five games already due to injury. That’s a huge chunk of a season to sit out and still make a Pro Bowl, particularly when there are other worthy candidates. It appears the league is, regrettably, giving Brees the spot because of his legendary career, rather than his 2019 results.

2. Dak Prescott

Cousins wasn’t the only quarterback snubbed because of the NFL’s decision to gift a spot to Brees. Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott was also robbed of a Pro Bowl selection, despite playing elite football all year.

Prescott has amassed 4,334 passing yards (second-most in the NFL), 344 completions (third-most) and 26 TDs (tied for fourth) thus far. He has managed these feats despite an NFL-high 25 drops from his pass catchers.

The analytics are on Prescott’s side. Pro Football Focus places Prescott as the No. 1 QB for Defense-adjusted Yards Above Replacement (DYAR). DYAR measures a quarterback’s total value.

According to Pro Football Reference’s advanced passing metrics, Prescott ranks No. 2 in completed air yards and third in air yards per completion. Prescott’s deep throws have been on the mark this season, and these metrics prove that empirically.

https://twitter.com/Cowboys_Videos/status/1173297749833465857

3. Justin Simmons

Denver Broncos free safety Justin Simmons will be among the most coveted free agents this offseason—despite not being named to the initial Pro Bowl roster.

Pro Football Focus grades Simmons as the best safety in the NFL.

Simmons leads all safeties in pass breakups (14) and is second in interceptions with four.

https://twitter.com/CoachAddazio/status/1206309951930548225

Simmons has allowed a 29.5 passer rating to opponents this season, the second-lowest in the league. He has not missed a single snap all season for Denver.

4. Eric Kendricks

Minnesota’s defense has flaws—mainly in the secondary—but it also features premier talent. Safety Harrison Smith and defensive end Danielle Hunter rightfully made the Pro Bowl. However, linebacker Eric Kendricks was a glaring omission from the NFC’s All-Star roster.

Kendricks has excelled in coverage, amassing an NFL-high 12 pass deflections by a linebacker. He has yielded the lowest percentage of targets caught in coverage at his position (56.3).

The 27-year-old leads the Vikings in tackles with 110. Kendricks has 4.5 tackles for loss and forced two fumbles.

He is ranked the No. 1 linebacker by Pro Football Focus.

Kendricks is still seeking his first Pro Bowl selection. He hasn’t got his due by the league, but the Vikings certainly appreciate his contributions to the defense. Kendricks signed a five-year, $50 million extension before the 2018 season and has lived up to the hefty contract.

5. Julian Edelman

New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman has never been to a Pro Bowl, a major blow to his Hall of Fame chances.

The reigning Super Bowl MVP has built his legacy during the playoffs. Edelman has 115 postseason catches for 1,412 yards, ranking second all-time behind only Jerry Rice in both playoff categories.

This should have been the season Edelman was recognized for his regular-season output. Edelman sits fourth in the AFC in receiving yards (1,019) and has the second-most receptions (92). He has caught six touchdowns despite seeing only seven end zone targets.

Tyreek Hill and Jarvis Landry made the All-Star squad over Edelman. The Patriots wideout has achieved more statistical success than Hill and Landry.

There are plenty of other players deserving of Pro Bowl status besides the aforementioned players. Below are some other Pro Bowl snubs, in no particular order:

  • Preston Smith, linebacker, Packers
  • Tyrann Mathieu, safety, Chiefs
  • Ryan Ramczyk, tackle, Saints
  • Jamie Collins, linebacker, Patriots
  • Kenny Golladay, wide receiver, Lions
  • Darren Waller, tight end, Raiders
  • Aaron Jones, running back, Packers
  • Tremaine Edmunds, linebacker, Bills
  • Austin Ekeler, running back, Chargers
  • Marcus Williams, safety, Saints
  • Joe Schobert, linebacker, Browns
  • Devin McCourty, safety, Patriots