The NFL is a rough place. Not For Long very much applies to this league and players don’t have much of a grace period before they must produce or face career consequences. Below is an alphabetical list of “make or break” players. Their fates could go either way.
Eli Apple | Vic Beasley | Austin Corbett | Corey Davis | Josh Doctson | Bud Dupree | Dan Feeney | Leonard Floyd | Leonard Fournette | Jimmy Garoppolo | Vernon Hargreaves III | Charles Harris | Marcus Mariota | Ethan Pocic | Billy Price | Solomon Thomas | Tim Williams | Jameis Winston
Eli Apple, CB, New Orleans Saints
Apple’s first contract expires after this season and he has already been on two teams. He has a very good long body type to excel as a press man coverage corner, but inconsistencies have followed Apple at every turn thus far. There is ability here to work with for sure, but can Apple finally put it all together and set himself up for a nice contract? That is debatable.
Vic Beasley, DE, Atlanta Falcons
Beasley has always had more brand name value than true worth on the field. He did have one year in which he racked up a lot of sacks, but even then, Beasley’s numbers were greater than his true impact on the game. Now, Beasley is set to become a free agent after this year. Beasley lacks power and is far too reliant on beating his blocker right off the snap. That rarely works over and over at his level and every offensive tackle he faces knows the book on Beasley.
Austin Corbett, OG, Cleveland Browns
The trade of Kevin Zeitler to the Giants is a ringing endorsement for Corbett. Now Corbett has to seize the moment and help solidify what should be the biggest weakness on Cleveland’s potentially dangerous offense. Corbett shows a lot of promise and there is no reason to think that he won’t be up to the task, but he does make this list because the Browns could be in a lot of trouble if he isn’t a rock at the guard position immediately.
Corey Davis, WR, Tennessee Titans
Tennessee added Adam Humphries and AJ Brown to their wide receiver corps this past offseason. When watching tape of Tennessee’s passing game last year, not only did Davis draw a murderer’s row of cornerbacks, but also most opposing defenses also clearly feared him more than the other Titans pass catchers. So criticizing Davis, who also has had borderline quarterback play at times in his career, is probably a little unjust. But it is make or break time for Davis nonetheless and in his case, a breakout could be coming as soon as 2019 even though his production to this point doesn’t stand out.
Josh Doctson, WR, Washington Redskins
The Redskins have one of the worst groups of wide receivers in the NFL and Washington still didn’t grant Doctson his fifth year option. An Achilles injury in Doctson’s rookie year pretty much derailed his entire first seasons in the league and that is tough to overcome, but Doctson’s hasn’t really stepped up since either. Not a real crisp route runner, Doctson’s best attributes were his downfield presence and ability to play above the rim. He must develop more as an all-around receiver to make an impact in this critical, and possibly final, season in Washington.
Bud Dupree, OLB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Dupree is a power player. He doesn’t bend the edge real well or show the ability to string pass-rush moves together when his first effort is stymied. But he is also explosive in a straight line. Dupree is in a very good position to succeed but he has been the weakest part of Pittsburgh’s defensive front of late. The Steelers picked up Dupree’s fifth year option, but he is set to hit the open market after this season. If he steps up this year, Dupree will be in line for a big payday. But thus far, we haven’t seen enough from him to indicate that advancement is coming. Dupree did really shine in the Steelers second preseason game though.
Dan Feeney, OG, Los Angeles Chargers
Coming out of college, Feeney looked like a very safe prospect. But wow, his career has not gone that way at all with the Chargers. In fact, Feeney has been a major liability the majority of the time he has been on the field and Los Angeles just can’t count on him as a worthwhile starter right now. He is at a career crossroads.
Leonard Floyd, Edge-rusher, Chicago Bears
Floyd came out of Georgia as a long-limbed edge-bender, but not a real powerful or physical edge player. That hasn’t changed much at the NFL level and Floyd needs to show more in this department as he matures. Floyd is in the perfect position to succeed with Khalil Mack on the opposite side demanding massive amounts of attention and a very good power defensive line between these two edge players. Now, Floyd has to step up.
Leonard Fournette, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Not only does Jacksonville’s offense have to operate through Fournette, the Jaguars don’t have much behind him. In fact, Jacksonville released Benny Cunningham. This implies that they see Fournette as a true every down back. While that might have sounded crazy earlier in Fournette’s checkered career, to his credit, he has improved mightily as a receiver. Still, this is a guy with chronic ankle issues that has spent plenty of time in Tom Couglin’s doghouse. With little in the passing game, Jacksonville is putting an awful lot of faith in Fournette. If he comes through this year, and he has a lot of ability for sure, we will all see this player in a different light.
Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, San Francisco 49ers
Garoppolo made his long awaited return to the field in San Francisco’s second preseason game…and stunk out the joint. That’s not exactly what 49ers fans wanted to see! The 49ers are paying Garoppolo a lot of money and we saw Nick Mullins far exceed expectations when he was thrust into Kyle Shanahan’s quarterback-friendly offense while Garoppolo was sidelined with yet another injury. And that is the key here. Garoppolo must show that his body can withstand being a starting quarterback in the NFL first and foremost. Then he needs to play a heck of a lot better then he did the other night.
Vernon Hargreaves III, CB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Frankly, Hargreaves has disappointed in the NFL. Now, Tampa Bay has dramatically changed schemes. Gone are the predictable zone coverages, which is what Hargreaves was drafted to do as the 11th overall pick in 2016. Meanwhile, the Bucs have used quite a bit of resources in the cornerback position over the past two drafts. And in this past draft class, they drafted cornerbacks with more man coverage prowess to fit Todd Bowles’ aggressive blitzing scheme. Hargreaves might not fit in.
Charles Harris, DE, Miami Dolphins
Fortunately for Harris and the Dolphins, their former first round pick has stood out this preseason. But that is the preseason. Will it translate for Harris when the games count for real? Harris has just three career sacks, but with Cameron Wake now in Tennessee and the Dolphins undergoing a youth movement as they rebuild, Harris should see the most snaps of his career in 2019. It’s time he produces.
Marcus Mariota, QB, Tennessee Titans
This is an obvious one. There are just so many reasons as to why Mariota hasn’t shined yet and all are justified. Injuries, of course, are at the top of the list. But several coaching/scheme changes in a very short amount of time as well as really questionable receiving weapons also have slowed down Mariota as well. But at this point of his career, there just isn’t any more time for excuses and his supporting cast very well could be the best Mariota has ever had in Tennessee.
Ethan Pocic, OG, Seattle Seahawks
Pocic isn’t even guaranteed to make the Seahawks’ final roster. Pocic started 11 games in his rookie season and just four last year. Pocic has been subpar in those showings, but a huge problem he is going to have currently is that he just isn’t powerful enough for Seattle’s smashmouth system. Pocic is much more of a finesse type of lineman and that isn’t what his current team wants from the guard position.
Billy Price, C, Cincinnati Bengals
Price is extremely young to be on this list. However, last year’s first-round pick was very underwhelming during his rookie season and reports thus far this year are also concerning. This is especially important when considering the sorry state of Cincinnati’s offensive line after Clint Boling retired and this year’s first rounder, Jonah Williams, was already lost for the season. The Bengals need Price to anchor the middle.
Solomon Thomas, DE, San Francisco 49ers
Thomas was the third overall pick in the 2017 draft and has done little to nothing to verify that selection. Many saw him as the 49ers’ version of Michael Bennett in their Cover 3 scheme, but Thomas has been mostly a guy without a true defined role or home. Meanwhile, San Francisco is not just resting on their laurels and waiting for Thomas to emerge. They have been very active in acquiring pass-rush help. Thomas’ leash might be a short one.
Tim Williams, Edge-rusher, Baltimore Ravens
When considering Baltimore’s offseason losses at this position, there is a golden opportunity for Williams to step up in his third NFL season. A flexible speedball off the edge, Williams showed a lot of promise coming out of Alabama. He has flashed a little as a pro, but if he is going to ever fulfill his promise, this might be the year for Williams.
Jameis Winston, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Winston and Marcus Mariota will be forever linked as the top two selections in the 2015 draft. Both of their fifth-year options were picked up, but that doesn’t ensure that they will lead their respective teams again in 2020. Winston’s outlook is rosier than Mariota’s, however. He has flashed more high points in his career and has more weaponry around him in Tampa. With Bruce Arians now at the controls, it is time for Winston to truly break out. But in order to do so, he absolutely must cut back on the number of terrible decisions he makes with the football.
A former scout for Pitt, Akron, and the Cleveland Browns, Matt Williamson worked with ESPN’s Scouts, Inc. for years. He is a contributor to Touchdown Wire and currently works for the Steelers Nation Radio Network.
