Make Or Break Season For Five Prominent NFL Players

For five prominent NFL players, the 2024 season will be quite significant. To become stars again. Those who have recently been through difficult times must demonstrate that they are capable of turning things around. These five NFL players are all at a turning point in their prominent careers. Whether it be due to injuries that have restricted their output or simple regression. 2024 may be their last opportunity to correct course and establish themselves as viable candidates for NFL teams. As several of their contracts are about to expire. In light of that, the following five well-known players are entering a crucial 2024 campaign.

WR Rashod Bateman, Baltimore Ravens

First person being named on this list of the five prominent NFL players list is Rashod Bateman. With the No. 27 overall pick in the 2021 draft. The Baltimore Ravens selected Rashod Bateman to address a significant wide receiver need. But because of injuries that have hindered his ability to go on the field and have an impact. His NFL career has gotten off to a poor start.

Bateman missed the first five games of the season due to recovery from groin surgery. However, Bateman had his finest performance as a rookie that year. Recording 515 yards on 46 receptions. Before his sophomore season. He was elevated to a full-time starter. But could only play in just six games due to a foot injury. This past season Bateman played in a career-high 16 games. However, Bateman no longer held a prominent role in Baltimore’s offense.

He performed admirably in the shadow of breakout rookie Zay Flowers. With seasoned free-agent arrival Odell Beckham Jr., catching just 32 catches for 367 yards and one touchdown. OBJ signed a free-agent contract with the Miami Dolphins in 2024. Therefore Bateman has the opportunity to prove himself again. The only noteworthy pass-catcher the Ravens added to their roster this summer was Devontez Walker, a fourth-round selection. This could be Bateman’s last chance to show he can still be a playmaker.

RB Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers

When Najee Harris was selected to the Pro Bowl as a rookie in 2021. The Pittsburgh Steelers appeared to have the league’s next big running back. Regretfully, he has been plagued by the unsettling efficiency numbers that he showed that year.

In his debut season. Harris gained 1,200 yards and seven touchdowns in the air. But it took him a whopping 307 carries to get there. In his sophomore year, he ran 272 times for 1,034 yards and seven touchdowns, an even lower level of efficiency. Even though Harris at last averaged over four yards per carry in 2023. He still just made it past the barrier with 1,035 yards and eight touchdowns on 255 carries.

Jaylen Warren, a 2022 un-drafted free agent, has reduced Harris’ workload. As a rookie, Harris played 84% of the offensive snaps with the Steelers. By 2022, that percentage had dropped to 66%. In 2023, he participated in just 53% of offensive snaps, a career low. While Warren dominated pass-catching snaps and increasingly took on rushing duties.

The combination of Harris’ ineffective rushing and Warren’s outstanding play. Made the Steelers decide not to pick up Harris’ fifth-year option. Harris’s value as a free agent will be determined by how well he performs in the upcoming season. In which Pittsburgh should adopt a considerably more offensive strategy than it has in previous years.

QB Daniel Jones, New York Giants

The Daniel Jones era of the New York Giants has been marked by considerably more lows than highs. Despite appearing to be a legitimate successor to Eli Manning and displaying potential as a rookie. The No. 6 overall choice in the 2019 draft has since fallen flat.

Jones had a breakthrough year in 2022, his first and only time he’s played 16 games or more. In addition to recording 15 passing touchdowns against just five interceptions. Jones finished with career highs in completion percentage (67.2%), passing yardage (3,205), rushing yards (708), and rushing touchdowns (seven).

Jones received a massive four-year, $160 million contract extension from the Giants as a result of his successful comeback season. Which also marked the team’s first playoff victory since their 2011 Super Bowl triumph and first playoff trip since 2016. Regretfully for the G-Men, the quarterback’s performance declined right away after agreeing to that contract. Last season, Jones played in just six games before sustaining a neck injury that ended his season. Before he was injured. Jones was performing appallingly, going 1-5 in his six games with only two touchdown throws and six interceptions.

Although Jones won’t face direct competition from a high-profile rookie quarterback. The Giants took wideout Malik Nabers with the No. 6 overall pick in this year’s draft. Instead of a passer the G-Men could easily move on from him after this season. If they cut or traded him after June 1 next offseason. They’d be left with a dead cap hit of only $11.1 million.

Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns

After a dismal 2021 season. The Cleveland Browns were so desperate for a quarterback that they traded away several precious draft picks for Deshaun Watson. Who was then given a record-setting five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed contract extension. Cleveland gave Watson that contract without contributing since the 2020 season.

After missing more than half of the 2022 season because of a suspension. Watson’s performance in his first six games as Cleveland’s starter was, beginning to come around. He was limited to just six games before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury. He was unable to improve on his promising performance in the second half against the Baltimore Ravens. In which he led a come back victory.

The Browns have only used Watson for 12 games as we enter the third year of his contract. Despite starting those games and posting a respectable 8-4 record. He has only completed less than 60% of his throws for 2,217 yards, 14 touchdowns, and nine interceptions.

A turnaround is still possible in this situation, but it needs to happen soon. The Browns cannot afford to lose any more time while they wait for Watson to become well. Should he fall short of expectations. The team might have to make the same costly decision as the Denver Broncos. They may have to cut ties with an overpriced and unimpressive Pro Bowl quarterback well before his contract is up. Of all the five prominent NFL players on this list Watson may have clearest path to return to form.

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Edge Chase Young, New Orleans Saints

Chase Young appeared to be the next big pass-rusher in the NFL a few years ago. The 2020 Washington Commanders’ No. 2 overall pick proved to be a formidable force. Amassing 7.5 sacks and four forced fumbles en route to Defensive Rookie of the Year and Pro Bowl recognition. But that was the pinnacle of Young’s career. He is running out of opportunities to demonstrate that he is still that kind of impact player.

Midway through his sophomore season, Young suffered a severe knee injury that drastically changed his destiny. After missing 22 games, he returned toward the end of the 2022 season. He appeared to be a shadow of his former self.

Young did show glimpses of his extraordinary ability early in 2023. Recording five sacks in the first six games. Nevertheless, a midseason trade to the San Francisco 49ers had more negative effects than positive ones. Young only recorded 2.5 sacks in nine regular-season games. While playing with some of the league’s most powerful defenders, such as Nick Bosa. The 2022 Defensive Player of the Year and a former Ohio State colleague.

Young did not have a robust market when he became a free agent this offseason. He ended up taking a $13 million one-year prove-it deal with the New Orleans Saints. Which put him outside the top 25 in terms of average salary for the position. Young might still have a successful, lengthy career. Having played just 2,097 defensive snaps in his first 43 NFL games. He is just entering his age-25 season and doesn’t have much tread left on his tires. By far the youngest of the five prominent NFL players. Young could be the one still with the brightest future.