Cardinals’ DeAndre Hopkins, Budda Baker pacing NFL Pro Bowl voting

Arizona Cardinals receiver DeAndre Hopkins and safety Budda Baker lead their position groups in fan voting for the NFL’s 2021 virtual Pro Bowl.

Hopkins has garnered 177,254 votes to lead the NFC West and is ahead of the top AFC vote-getter at receiver, Buffalo’s Stefon Diggs, who has 149,739 votes.

At safety, Baker’s 136,594 votes edge AFC leader Jordan Poyer’s 102,525 to represent the Bills.

Leading all positions is Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who has 206,525 votes.

Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson (203,444), Minnesota running back Dalvin Cook (188,767), Tennessee running back Derrick Henry (185,494) and Kansas City tight end Travis Kelce (185,218) round out the top-five vote-getters in the NFL as of Wednesday.

The Pro Bowl will play out on the EA Sports Madden NFL 21 video game after the real-life version of football’s all-star game was canceled.

The NFL opened month-long fan voting in November for the first virtual Pro Bowl, which could feature players whose team makes the Super Bowl because they won’t have to attend and play in real life.

The game itself scheduled for Jan. 31 in Las Vegas was called off because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s the first time the Pro Bowl has been canceled since 1949, and owners voted to hold the 2022 version in Las Vegas if it happens.

Fan voting, which can be done here, is open through Dec. 17, while Players and coaches will cast their votes Dec. 18 for the 2021 video game pro bowl. A total of 88 players will be selected, 44 each from the AFC and NFC.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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