Matt Williamson is a former scout for the Cleveland Browns, and spent the last 10 years at ESPN as a scout and co-host of "The Football Today Podcast."
Things change very quickly in the NFL. For one thing, football is such a physically demanding sport that playing with the slightest of injuries or "losing a step" because of age can be the difference between having a good season and a not-so-great one. Plus, teams change coaches and schemes all the time, and that can have a major effect on a player's productivity during the course of a campaign. Finally, an NFL season is just 16 games, a very small sample size when analyzing a player's effect on the game.
Below are seven defensive players that could bounce back from down seasons. As seen by the number of players in the "Honorable Mentions" section, this list could have been much longer. Perhaps coincidentally, and perhaps not, there are a lot of Steelers and Ravens on this list - two once very proud and elite defenses.
Related: 7 offensive players who will bounce back in 2016
Kiko Alonso, Dolphins
Since his rookie season, Alonso has done little of note. Clearly, injuries have been a huge hindrance to him, as has changing teams and schemes. So his inclusion on this list is a bit of a leap of faith.
The Dolphins, Alonso's third team already, must have faith in his ability to become the supreme playmaker he was during his rookie season with the Bills and throughout his time at Oregon. The Eagles, who were with him last year, albeit with a different coaching staff, clearly felt he was expendable.
Obviously, this is a pivotal year in his once extremely promising career, but Alonso enters Miami with a clear path to steady playing time, and should be protected by an excellent group of defensive tackles, highlighted by Ndamukong Suh. Alonso is a linebacker who is certainly at his best when protected. A year further removed from his injury, he needs to seize this new opportunity.
Vic Beasley, Falcons
Beasley was up and down during his rookie season, and battled injuries early this year. The Falcons are officially moving him to strong side linebacker from defensive end, where he played a year ago. While Beasley might drop into coverage a little more - and he has the athletic ability to do so - he will still be playing close to the line of scrimmage, and, most importantly, will be rushing the passer.
Beasley is explosive, with a very quick get-off. He did a good job racking up pressures as a rookie, but the sacks just didn't come as they should have after beating opposing tackles with some regularity. What he needs to work on - and has reportedly been doing so since last year - is being able to expand his pass-rushing repertoire, as well as learning counter moves once his first attempt fails. Beasley could be primed for a huge season in 2016.
Star Lotulelei, Panthers
It wasn't apparent to many observers because the Panthers' defense was so good last year, and the team obviously had a very successful season, but Lotulelei was very average in 2015.
The Panthers used their first-round pick on Vernon Butler, and Lotulelei is set to hit free agency after this season. Clearly, Carolina values Kawann Short over Lotulelei, but Lotulelei also now has a lot to play for this upcoming year.
While he never will rush the passer from the interior like Short, expect him to bounce back this season and give the Panthers an exceptional group of defensive tackles and then demand big money once he becomes a free agent.
Gerald McCoy, Buccaneers
McCoy is a great player and pretty much has been since entering the league. That's why he's on this list, and is sure to bounce back in a big way in 2016 after a down year by his standards.
Always an interior force as a pass-rusher, where McCoy had a tough time last year was against the run. It makes you wonder if the fact that Tampa Bay hasn't surrounded him with many other difference-makers on the defensive line might be beginning to take a toll on him. Every week, the offensive blocking scheme is designed to slow McCoy down.
Tampa Bay signed Robert Ayers and drafted Noah Spence in the second round. Maybe that will help. However, they're still very thin at the defensive tackle position, with the exception of McCoy.
C.J. Mosley, Ravens
Starting with Ray Lewis, the Ravens have an impressive history of great linebacker play. When Mosley entered the league, he looked as though he would keep that lineage alive without much problem. He is a leader, an every down player, and a linebacker without obvious flaws in his game.
But last year, as was the case with the majority of Baltimore’s roster, Mosley had a down season. Let's chalk that up to being an anomaly on a team that was brutalized by injuries the entire year. He should be back very strong in 2016 to command Baltimore's defense.
Jason Pierre-Paul, Giants
Pierre-Paul is a rare physical specimen. By that, I mean his explosion, rare length, fluid athleticism, and power for his body type ... not his damaged and mangled right hand.
With those physical gifts, Pierre-Paul is showing that he can overcome a major setback like the one that damaged his hand. He exceeded expectations since returning from the injury, but still wasn't his dominant self.
Last year, we often saw JPP beat his blocker and get into the backfield, against run or pass, but then struggle to finish the play. Surely his inability to grab cloth with his right hand was a major hindrance in this regard.
Working on a one-year deal in New York, Pierre-Paul has plenty to play for in 2016. Expect him to take another step forward since his injury and begin to put running backs and especially quarterbacks on the ground now with more regularity as he better adapts to his unique situation.
Lawrence Timmons, Steelers
Timmons is coming off his worst season as a pro. He has been a fixture on the second level for Pittsburgh since they used a first-round pick on him in 2007, but is now 30 years old and beginning to be overshadowed by Ryan Shazier.
While Timmons might not move with the explosiveness that he once did, and can find himself mismatched in coverage, he has a great command of Pittsburgh's complex defense and should rebound in 2016. He has an exorbitant contract ($15-million-plus cap hit) that pays him a ridiculous amount of money next year, but instead of kicking the can down the road, Pittsburgh has decided to pay him the huge amount his upcoming year. They believe he'll rebound while acting as a quality leader on what has become a very young and athletic defense.
Honorable Mentions: Stephone Anthony, Jadeveon Clowney, Bud Dupree, Senquez Golson, Timmy Jernigan, Eric Rowe, Jimmy Smith