Not every NFL player last season was able to meet the high expectations of their organizations.
Whether through injuries or ineffective play, several players need major bounce-back years to prove they still belong in the league or that their struggling year was simply a fluke.
NFL Comeback Candidates This Season
It’s not uncommon for players to have bad years. In many cases, a nagging injury, poor coaching, or other factors outside of their own contribute to the player’s overall struggle.
Each player’s struggles are different. But the need to improve and bounce back from their struggles becomes paramount as the NFL continues to prove itself as the “Not For Long” league.
Today, we break down one player from all 32 teams that are major candidates from bounce-back seasons.
Buffalo Bills: Von Miller, EDGE
Miller may be a clear-cut future Hall-of-Famer, but he has a lot left to prove following a season recovering from a torn ACL that saw him fail to record a sack.
The Bills are still high on Miller, but they need more production from a player making the kind of contract he is (six-year, $120 million)
New York Jets: Aaron Rodgers, QB
Several Jets players can be considered for this spot, but no one is more important than the four-time NFL MVP.
Rodgers is fully recovered from his Achilles injury and can give the Jets a glimpse of what life is like with a franchise quarterback at their disposal.
New England Patriots: Rhamondre Stevenson, RB
After a very successful 1,000-yard season in 2022, the former fourth-round pick dealt with injuries throughout the 2023 season. He’s a serious bounce-back candidate under new head coach Jerod Mayo and offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt.
Miami Dolphins: Jordan Poyer, S
Poyer is 33 years old and coming off a season in which he did not record an interception despite totaling over 100 tackles. Before his “down” year of sorts, he was a Pro Bowl player in 2022, and an All-Pro in 2021.
There’s talent there that can help the Dolphins immediately, but much of their secondary will hinge on the safety play of Poyer in his 13th NFL season.
Cincinnati Bengals: Joe Burrow, QB
Even before his torn ligament injury that caused him to miss the rest of the 2023 season in November, the Bengals weren’t as dominant under Burrow as they had been before. That should certainly change next season, but Cincinnati also needs its franchise quarterback to be healthy for a full 17-game season.
Cleveland Browns: Deshaun Watson, QB
Which Watson are the Browns actually going to get? The quarterback with the Houston Texans who looked like one of the best in the game, or the inconsistent once Cleveland has been forced to play due to his fully-guaranteed contract?
MORE: NFL Pre-Camp Power Rankings: Breaking Down Every Team By Tiers
There may not be a quarterback under more pressure than Watson this year simply due to the fact he is the only one making fully-guaranteed money.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Pat Freiermuth, TE
Sure, you can put Russell Wilson here, but Freiermuth was touted as the next Heath Miller when he was drafted three years ago. After a successful start to his career, injuries and ineffective quarterback play caused the Penn State product to have his worst year last season.
With Wilson now at quarterback, Freiermuth could be a major key for the Steelers offense.
Baltimore Ravens: Marlon Humphrey, CB
At one point during the 2024 offseason, there was a major question surrounding whether the Ravens would look to replace Humphrey via trade or flat-out release. Humphrey played in 10 games last season and recorded just one pick.
Baltimore will need a big year from its top corner if the Ravens want to stay a contender in the AFC.
Houston Texans: Stefon Diggs, WR
Diggs, statistically, is coming off a perfectly fine season by recording 107 catches, 1,183 yards, and eight touchdowns.
The issue? He’s now on his third different team after whining his way out of Buffalo following another playoff exit to the eventual champion Kansas City Chiefs.
Diggs needs a bounce-back season with his new team in the Texans to show that he wants to win more than anything, and that includes giving up targets for a top quarterback like C.J. Stroud.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence, QB
When Lawrence was drafted with the first overall pick in 2021, he was seen as the greatest quarterback prospect since Andrew Luck or Peyton Manning. Since then, though, it hasn’t been smooth sailing at all.
Sure, the Jaguars won the AFC South in his sophomore season with Doug Pederson, but the team finished a disappointing 9-8 and missed out on the playoffs in 2023. Lawrence needs to show more than he has so far in his career to this point.
Tennessee Titans: Treylon Burks, WR
It’s now or never for the former first-round wide receiver out of Arkansas. With the additions of DeAndre Hopkins, Calvin Ridley, and Tyler Boyd, Burks’ spot on the roster is not guaranteed.
He needs to show something to prove he belongs in the NFL.
Indianapolis Colts: Jonathan Taylor, RB
Once the NFL’s leading rusher in 2021, Taylor’s career has become a massive question mark after signing a long-term deal with the Colts.
He has yet to record a 1,000-yard season since his first-team All-Pro season and will need to produce at a high level this year if the Colts are to compete for the AFC South crown.
Kansas City Chiefs: Travis Kelce, TE
Despite being at the top of the social media circle, the Chiefs’ All-Pro tight end had one of his worst seasons on the field in 2023, suffering from multiple drops and the least amount of yards per reception in his career.
For Kansas City to repeat for a third straight year, it will need a better year from Kelce in 2024.
Los Angeles Chargers: Justin Herbert, QB
Herbert dealt with poor coaching, bad defensive play, and an injury late in the year to put up career lows in most categories.
With Jim Harbaugh now his head coach, Herbert should be considered a favorite for comeback player of the year, and someone who will bounce back in a major way.
Denver Broncos: Javonte Williams, RB
Williams had a strong rookie season but hasn’t been able to produce at a high level over the last two seasons. With so many questions surrounding the quarterback position in Denver, the Broncos need to rely on Williams as much as possible.
Las Vegas Raiders: Davante Adams, WR
Adams may have recorded over 100 catches and 1,000 yards last season, but he was far more frustrated last season than in years past.
MORE: Who’s Under the Most Pressure? One Player on the Hot Seat for Each Team
Vegas may not look to trade him, but it’s certainly something to watch if Adams doesn’t get off to a hot start.
Dallas Cowboys: Trevon Diggs, CB
Diggs tore his ACL two games into the season and was considered a Pro Bowl player before the injury. Dallas will need the All-Pro to be as exceptional as he has been in order to stay in contention in the NFC.
Philadelphia Eagles: Jalen Hurts, QB
Hurts wasn’t bad by any stretch in 2023, but his increase in turnovers and struggling play down the stretch make him a top bounce-back candidate in 2024.
New York Giants: Daniel Jones, QB
New York may have one foot out the door with Jones, but his recovery from ACL surgery could be the deciding point between him staying as a starting quarterback or being a journeyman set to enter his final season with the Giants.
Washington Commanders: Jonathan Allen, DT
Allen has long been considered one of the top interior defensive linemen over the last few seasons. In 2023, though, Allen put forth his lowest sack total since 2020. Washington will need him to be the All-Pro player he has been in 2024.
Minnesota Vikings: Justin Jefferson, WR
Career lows in receptions and yards due to injuries put Jefferson on this list, even with a new starting quarterback.
Becoming the highest-paid non-quarterback also makes his bounce-back season even more important.
Green Bay Packers: Josh Jacobs, RB
Jacobs went from being one of the more complete running backs in the league over the last few years to someone needing to prove he’s worthy of the multi-year contract he received with the Packers.
Chicago Bears: Kevin Byard, S
Byard is an All-Pro safety who had one of his worst seasons last year in coverage with the Eagles and Titans. He’s over 30 years old and needs a major bounce-back season to prove he can still produce at a high level.
Detroit Lions: Marcus Davenport, EDGE
Davenport was coming off a nine-sack season in 2021 with the New Orleans Saints two years ago. Now, after a struggling first season with the Lions, Davenport could be the kind of player that Detroit needs to improve its mediocre defense.
Atlanta Falcons: Kirk Cousins, QB
Lost for the season early on in Minnesota last year, Cousins enters his first season in Atlanta with plenty to prove. Additionally, plenty of people are interested in the reason for the organization drafting a quarterback with the eighth overall pick.
New Orleans Saints: Cam Jordan, EDGE
Jordan had career-low sack numbers despite playing in all 17 games in 2023. He’s 34 years old and needs to show he still has something left in the tank early on in the season.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Chris Godwin, WR
Like many players on the Buccaneers, Godwin’s age appears to be catching up with him. The talented wideout had 20 fewer catches than his 2023 season and was banged up for most of the year.
A full-time move to the slot could prolong his career, but Godwin will need to show he’s still a quality second option.
Carolina Panthers: Bryce Young, QB
Young is a Heisman Trophy winner and coming off one of the worst rookie seasons in NFL history.
While much of it had more to do with his supporting cast, the former Alabama star needs to prove he can produce at a high level quickly under a new coaching staff.
San Francisco 49ers: De’Vondre Campbell, LB
Two seasons ago, Campbell was an All-Pro on the Green Bay Packers. Now? He’s fighting to stay in the NFL at 30 years old and has a clear concern with staying on the field.
Campbell will provide depth to a strong linebacking core in San Francisco, while also being used in spurts.
Arizona Cardinals: Zay Jones, WR
Jones put forth an excellent season but struggled mightily in 2023, as did many on the Jaguars.
KEEP READING: One Potential Breakout Player for All 32 NFL Teams
As attention turns to Marvin Harrison Jr. in the Cardinals’ offense, Jones needs to show he can still be a quality second option for Arizona.
Los Angeles Rams: Cooper Kupp, WR
Kupp was close to breaking Michael Thomas’ season-season reception record two years ago, but injuries have now begun to pile up for the former All-Pro.
With Puka Nacua dominating on one side, the Rams need to know how much Kupp has left.
Seattle Seahawks: Geno Smith, QB
Smith wasn’t bad in 2023, but he wasn’t as good as his career resurgence in 2022.
The former Jet and Giant will need to play at a high level this season to keep the job, or he could be out of one following the 2024 season.
