10 players on the decline heading into the 2017 season
The NFL carousel keeps turning. Every year, new players prove worthy of being considered among the cream of the crop while some stars begin showing signs of decline.
Entering the 2017 season, here are 10 players facing a downturn in their careers.
Randall Cobb, Packers
Jordy Nelson's comeback season, the emergence of Davante Adams, and Ty Montgomery's transition from receiver to running back have pushed Cobb to the background.
Formerly one of Aaron Rodgers' favorite targets, Cobb has seen his production decrease steadily since 2014. He came short of 1,000 yards in 2015 and injuries reduced him to 610 yards and four touchdowns last season.
Cobb is a candidate to be cut after this upcoming season as he'll only count for $3.25 million against the cap. If he ranks third on the team in receiving again, as he did last year, he'll likely be wearing a different jersey in 2018.
Vontae Davis, Colts
Davis allowed the lowest passer rating in the league in 2014 at 38.8. Last season was a far different story, however, as that number ballooned to 85.1, up from 76.9 the previous year.
His coverage snaps per reception also dropped to 11.8. In short, the Colts' top corner was far from his previous form. His poor showing coincided with Indianapolis ranking 27th in passing defense.
Help came by way of the draft in the form of safety Malik Hooker and corner Quincy Wilson, but if the Colts are to rebound from their 8-8 season, they'll need Davis to bounce back as well.
Blake Bortles, Jaguars
It was thought Bortles was on the rise after throwing 35 touchdown passes in 2015. That career year was quickly erased by his dreadful performance in 2016, though.
Behind Bortles, the Jaguars struggled to win three games last season. Entering his fourth season, the quarterback has spent the majority of his offseason overhauling his mechanics, as clear a sign as any that Bortles is running out of time to prove himself a franchise QB.
If he abandons his improved footwork and more compact throwing motion during live game action, he may have nowhere else to turn to improve his prospects in 2018.
Terrell Suggs, Ravens
The decline had to come at some point. Even Ray Lewis faced slowing production at the close of his career. His longtime running mate is beginning to show the same signs.
In a 15-game season in 2016, Suggs posted 35 total tackles, his lowest total with that amount of games since his rookie year. However, the linebacker still added eight sacks and three forced fumbles.
He'll be entering his 15th year and his eventual replacement is in house after the Ravens drafted Tim Williams in the third round.
Suggs has shown nothing less than the heart of a lion, fighting back from various serious ailments to resume his career at previous times. Nonetheless, no one can fight off Father Time.
Dez Bryant, Cowboys
It's been two years since Bryant's monster 1,320-yard season. Since then, signs of age and wear and tear have shown in the Cowboys' receiving threat.
Bryant has battled injuries for the better part of the past two seasons and has made a valiant effort to get on the field when able. In his 13 games last year, he learned he's no longer the focal point of the Dallas offense. The Cowboys have instead built their team around the running game.
Bryant vows that, if healthy, he'll prove he's still a superstar. He's continued to show the ability to dominate single plays, but his years of 1,300-yard seasons appear to be behind him.
Joe Haden, Browns
Formerly a lockdown corner, Haden was ranked the 84th best at his position in 2016 by Pro Football Focus. He drew a porous 53.9 coverage grade for his 13-game performance.
Playing in the secondary for a 1-15 team is no cushy gig, but Haden has seen his individual play slip up to the point he's no longer considered in the top tier. He revealed that a groin injury impeded his speed in 2016. Now over that ailment, the Browns are counting on Haden to return to his All-Pro level of 2013.
Muhammad Wilkerson, Jets
The former Pro Bowler broke his leg at the close of the 2015 season and it may have played a part in his poor 2016 campaign.
Wilkerson saw his sacks drop from 12 in 2015 to 4.5 last year. Pro Football Focus also dropped his overall rating from 86.2 to 44.1.
The defensive end now finds himself as the old head of a young and talented D-line. He's entering his seventh season and hoping to prove last season wasn't a look at what's to come from him.
Philip Rivers, Chargers
Rivers has always been a gunslinger. Without top target Keenan Allen for much of 2016, though, he finished the year with his lowest completion percentage since 2007. He barely completed 60 percent of his passes and threw for the most interceptions of his career (21).
Entering his 14th season, Rivers has logged nearly 6,000 pass attempts. Now, he'll be tasked with turning around a Chargers team that faces the added stress of relocation and playing in a stadium built to house a soccer team.
He'll have Allen back to start the year, but his trusty safety valve Antonio Gates isn't getting any younger. Neither is Rivers.
Giovani Bernard, Bengals
The Bengals' backfield just got even more crowded.
When Bernard first arrived in Cincinnati in 2013, he was thought to be the eventual answer at running back. For the past three seasons, he's had to contend with Jeremy Hill for carries. Now, enter Joe Mixon.
Bernard played in 10 games in 2016, but with Hill ahead of him on the depth chart and Mixon a real threat to steal both of their jobs, Bernard has been rendered an afterthought.
Matt Forte, Jets
Forte spent nine seasons as a premier running back in the NFL. He was pushed out of Chicago after the 2015 season, however, and was brought aboard by the New York Jets to help them contend in 2016.
Though he still managed 800-plus rushing yards and seven touchdowns, his receiving skills were wasted.
Under a new offensive coordinator, Forte expects to get more work out of the backfield. Working against him is the fact the Jets are undergoing a complete roster makeover and Bilal Powell is charging hard for his job.
After years of high usage, Forte should expect to see his touches take a substantial dip.
(Photos courtesy: Action Images)
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