In a matter of a few years, the Cincinnati Bengals have constructed one of the best rosters in all of football. So it might be a bit surprising to hear that only four of their players have made the Pro Bowl in the last two years combined.

More eyes and ears are focused on teams who win; the Hall of Fame is not filled with very many players who spent their careers losing. In the same vein, while production still carries much weight, Pro Bowl teams are also mostly built of players from prominent teams in the spotlight. This should be a benefit for the Bengals, but there's still more players who deserve their recognition.

Whether it be contextless stats, or an under-the-radar profile that keeps them from getting votes, these three Bengals specifically are worthy of achieving Pro Bowl status for the first time in their respected careers. And with luck, this will be the year it happens.

3 Bengals who should make their first Pro Bowl in 2023

WR Tee Higgins

There’s no position with a greater abundance of talent than wide receiver, which makes it incredibly difficult to separate yourself against the elites. Higgins is right on the verge of that threshold, and when isolating his production with and without two-time Pro Bowler Ja’Marr Chase on the field, you can see his case for being one of the very best in the game.

Since 2021, Higgins is averaging 2.08 two yards per route run in regular season action despite playing alongside Chase and Tyler Boyd. In the last two regular seasons, he's sixth among starters in yards before catch per reception (10.4) and third in passer rating when targeted (112.8) in that same timeframe. Translation: he gets down the field and good things happen. 

Higgins' production is enhanced by consistently showing up in the playoffs, where he's put up 457 yards in seven outings. In the regular season, he's yet to eclipse 1,100 yards in a year. Clearing that threshold by a good margin while playing a full and healthy year on one of the best teams in the NFL will make him more prominent on the ballot come December. 

CB Chidobe Awuzie

Defensive players earn Pro Bowl honors with selective stats. There are no yards or touchdowns attached to their names, at least not on the actual ballot seen by voters. Intercepting the ball is king for defensive backs, with tackles being a secondary factor. That’s where Awuzie, one of the game’s best cover corners, needs to shine. 

He's got the coverage aspect down. His last full season in 2021 earned him a coverage grade of 84.2 from Pro Football Focus, and has surrendered a passer rating of 69.52 in regular season action since joining the Bengals two years ago. But in 2,712 career coverage snaps, he's amassed just seven career interceptions. 

Awuzie turning pass breakups (he's got 16 in a Bengals uniform) into turnovers would skyrocket his name up the ballots, and his respect around the league will reach where it rightfully belongs.

DT DJ Reader

Speaking of respect, Reader gets very little for reasons outside of his control. Which is ironic because very few players control the line of scrimmage as well as Cincinnati’s nose tackle.

Playing that position makes it tough to garner enough Pro Bowl votes unless you somehow manage around 10 sacks. Finishing at the quarterback is not a nose tackle's game, and yet they're judged like it is. This is why the Pro Bowl features primarily 3-techniques and 5-techniques at defensive tackle. 

Reader did his absolute best to break the ceiling last year, finishing with a pass rush grade of 84.3 that was fifth among all interior defenders for the regular season. Unfortunately, he had just one sack in 10 games. The former fifth-round pick will continue to be a dominant force against the run (42 regular season stops since 2021), and if he can turn a few more pressures into sacks with his limited opportunities against the pass, perhaps he can gather more votes. 

Bengals insider just gave Tee Higgins more negotiating power

Higgins’ value for Cincinnati is greater than you think.

Featured image via © Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK