There is a reason the NFL unofficially stands for “Not For Long”. The league is so competitive that players truly cannot afford a down season or two, or else their organizations start looking for upgrades at their respective positions. These eight NFL players have the most to prove entering the 2023 season.
8 NFL Players With the Most to Prove In 2023
Mac Jones
After a decent rookie season, New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones took a major step back in Year 2. Stuck in an admittedly terrible situation, the quarterback looked like one of the worst passers in the game, while rookie backup Bailey Zappe played well in a small sample. The Patriots have a real offensive coordinator in Bill O’Brien, so if Mac Jones comes up short again, he won’t have his starting job much longer.
JuJu Smith-Schuster: “Most definitely” have enough weapons to support Mac Jones. pic.twitter.com/x8OkMEBPQq
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) May 2, 2023
JC Jackson
Year 1 of the JC Jackson West Coast Experience was an unmitigated disaster. The big-money free agent was arguably the worst cornerback in the league before injuries ended his season, and he’s still not back to 100%. He proved that he could be a good player during his time with New England, but if the 2022 version of Jackson shows up, then he will not be on the team in 2023.
Rashod Bateman
Rashod Bateman has played well during his young career, but injuries have limited him to just 18 games over two seasons. The wideout is supposedly healthy now, and he should have a starting job opposite Odell Beckham. However, if he gets hurt again or just underperforms, Zay Flowers will steal his job, and he might not ever give it back.
Russell Wilson
You don’t need to be Gordon Ramsey to take offense to whatever it was Russell Wilson was cooking last year. The Broncos moved heaven and Earth to acquire Wilson as their much-needed missing piece, and he rewarded that faith by performing like a bottom-five quarterback. The Broncos have no choice but to stick with Wilson for at least the start of 2023, but if he doesn’t improve, Jarrett Stidham could take over in the back half of the year. If Stidham’s not up for the task, there will still be plenty of NFL players willing to take the job.
https://twitter.com/RespectMyCos/status/1650662194626060289?s=20
Trevor Penning
You never want to give up on a first-round pick after one year, especially when that player missed a lot of time to injury. However, even when Trevor Penning was on the field, he didn’t play particularly well. The Saints believe themselves to be contenders, which means they won’t want to wait around for someone like Penning to develop. If he can’t protect Derek Carr, then New Orleans will find someone that can.
Chase Young
Washington Commanders edge rusher Chase Young was supposed to be one of the best pass-rushing prospects to ever hit the NFL. However, after a Pro Bowl rookie season, injuries have prevented him from living up to his potential. The Commanders recently declined his fifth-year option, so if he finally puts it all together, he could earn a huge payday in 2023.
Kadarius Toney
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Kadarius Toney is one of the most electric and dangerous players in the league when on the field. However, he’s rarely on the field. The Chiefs desperately need someone to step up at the wide receiver position, and Toney is in perfect position to take advantage of this opportunity. If he can’t break out in 2023, it’s unlikely he ever will.
Terrace Marshall
After an incredibly disappointing first season in the league, Carolina Panthers wide receiver Terrace Marshall started showing some signs of life down the stretch in 2022. While he was no superstar, he looked like he belonged in an NFL passing attack. With a wide open depth chart loaded with cost-effective veterans, Marshall will have to fight to prove that his hot finish to 2022 wasn’t a fluke.
Main Photo: Kirby Lee – USA Today Sports
