NFL Stars with the Most to Prove in 2016

There’s less than four months to go before things get real in the NFL.

Which means it will be retribution time for any number of players who are looking to bounce back from disappointing years. It’s also an opportunity for a few performers to prove any skeptics wrong when it comes to some lofty expectations.

Hence, here’s a look back at what went wrong this past season and a glance ahead to how each of these 10 players (in alphabetical order) will fare in 2016.

CB Brandon Browner, Seattle Seahawks

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Can you imagine being at the very bottom when it comes to your craft?

Pro Football Focus rated 218 NFL cornerbacks this past season. Any guess where Brandon Browner finished as a member of the New Orleans Saints?

The 31-year-old veteran was the worst player at his position in the league in terms of overall performance (minus-43.6). Browner was also dead last in regard to both pass coverage (minus-34.3) and defensive penalties (minus-6.6).

Now he’s back with the Seattle Seahawks, a team he earned a Pro Bowl berth with in 2011. And he’ll have a new role with the club, according to Pete Carroll.

“We’re going to play him at safety in base downs and then in nickel we’re going to use him to match up in different spots playing inside,” the head coach said on the Brock and Salk Show on ESPN 710 Seattle on April 9. “So we may be able to develop a really unique role for him.”

A return to familiar surroundings should be a big plus for Browner, who picked off 10 passes in 36 games in his three seasons with the Seahawks.

OLB Jadeveon Clowney, Houston Texans

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Now would be a good time for the first pick in the 2014 draft to show he was worthy of that choice. Injuries have played a part in the slow start for the former University of South Carolina standout.

As a rookie, Jadeveon Clowney appeared in only four games and totaled seven tackles. This past season, the 23-year-old defender played in 13 contests and racked up 40 stops, 4.5 sacks and knocked down six passes.

He’s part of a Houston Texans front seven that includes three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt (17.5 sacks in 2015) and outside linebackers Whitney Mercilus (12) and John Simon (five). Only four teams amassed more sacks than the Texans (45) this past season, and the quartet totaled all but six of those quarterback traps.

If he can remain healthy this year, it could be a banner campaign for the talented performer. Flanked by Mercilus while being pushed by Simon for a starting job helps as well. A double-digit sack season is in Clowney’s immediate future.

RB Melvin Gordon, San Diego Chargers

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It turned out to be a pretty forgettable 2015 for running back Melvin Gordon. The San Diego Chargers traded up to get the former University of Wisconsin standout, but he failed to produce.

While the 15th overall pick in last year’s draft did lead the Bolts in rushing, he managed just 641 yards on 184 carries. Gordon also caught 33 passes but for only 192 yards. And he failed to score a touchdown while losing four of his six fumbles.

He’s on the mend from microfracture knee surgery, but it’s so far, so good for the 23-year-old pro.

“I’m getting better. I’m getting better,” Gordon told Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune. “I’m not where I want to be, but I think I’m ahead of schedule. I’m sprinting pretty well. I’m cutting. … No question, I'll be ready for training camp. I'm not even worried about that."

Along with his improving health is the fact that offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt is back with the team after a 23-game stint as the Tennessee Titans head coach. He’ll stress the running game, and that means a lot more carries for Gordon, who will come close to doubling his rushing total from a year ago.

QB Robert Griffin III, Cleveland Browns

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If all goes well over the next few months, RG3 will become Robert Griffin XXV.

That would be the 25th different starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns since the franchise returned to the league in 1999. The team also has a new head coach in Hue Jackson.

But there’s no guarantee that the former Washington Redskins signal-caller has the job. There’s the matter of beating out Josh McCown.

“It doesn’t bother me at all because everything you obtain in this world is earned. It’s not given,” the 2012 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year said to Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal. “So throughout my career, I’ve earned everything that I’ve gotten, and when things didn’t work out, it was my fault.”

That statement was made even before the Browns used a third-round pick in April to select USC quarterback Cody Kessler.

It says here that Griffin will emerge as the starter come September. But don’t be surprised if it’s a year of ups and downs for a quarterback who didn’t see the field in 2015 and also struggled the two previous seasons with consistency and health.

Given his style of play, especially when it comes to him leaving the pocket, the odds are against seeing Griffin for all 16 games this season.

RB Eddie Lacy, Green Bay Packers

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Take 27, add P90X and you are minus close to 20.

In simpler terms, look for a smaller version of Green Bay Packers running back Eddie Lacy this fall. You may recall that head coach Mike McCarthy had some choice words for his 25-year-old performer after the 2015 season was over.

“Eddie Lacy, he's got a lot of work to do,” McCarthy said, per Jason Wilde of ESPN 540 Milwaukee. “His offseason last year was not good enough, and he never recovered from it. He cannot play at the weight he was at this year.”

And apparently he won’t. ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky reported that the three-year pro has dropped 15-18 pounds.

“I think Eddie looks good, man,” defensive end Mike Daniels said. “We'll see when the pads come on and everything, but I do think he’s a guy who rises to the occasion. He comes from a great program where they do things the right way. He came under a lot of fire, so I think he’s a guy that he got put on the spot and he responded.”

Now Lacy must prove it on the field. He was benched on more than one occasion in 2015, and although he led the club in rushing with 758 yards, it was a down year for a performer who had run for 1,100-plus yards in each of his first two seasons.

Sounds like the Green Bay offense is in pretty good shape these days.

RB DeMarco Murray, Tennessee Titans

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During the first week of the NFL’s new fiscal year in March, the Philadelphia Eagles and Tennessee Titans swapped fourth-round draft choices, and the latter also acquired running back DeMarco Murray.

One season after garnering NFL Offensive Player of the Year honors and leading the league in rushing, the former Dallas Cowboys standout was part of the mess in the City of Brotherly Love.

After joining the Birds via free agency last offseason, he didn’t appear wanted at times by head coach Chip Kelly. So the player who ran for 1,845 yards with the Cowboys in 2014 was limited to 702 yards on only 193 carries.

Now the well-rested runner joins a Tennessee club that failed to run for at least 1,400 yards as a team each of the past two seasons.

However, could Murray once again not be the workhorse he was in 2014? The Titans drafted Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry in April. Could we see another battle in the backfield in Nashville? The veteran doesn’t appear concerned.

“Everyone gets this misconception of ‘I want to be the only running back,’” Murray said to Jim Wyatt of TitansOnline.com earlier this month. “But everywhere I’ve been, (in college at) Oklahoma, in Dallas, Philadelphia, I have always had other guys with me. I think the Titans are going to do a good job of letting me do what I do, and I think the other guys will have a chance as well."

And as for Henry? "He’s going to be a great asset to this team for years to come,” Murray said. “I think in the second half, the fourth quarter, he’s going to be wearing people down. I am excited to get to work with him. He is a downhill runner just like myself. … Picking him, it’s kind of a smashmouth football team, and let Marcus (Mariota) do his thing.”

It’s Murray who will be the smash come this fall—the key factor in reviving the league’s 30th-ranked offense.

QB Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons

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Five games and five wins into the 2015 season, the Atlanta Falcons were the talk of the NFL. Off a 6-10 showing the previous year, Dan Quinn was already being touted as a candidate for NFL Coach of the Year.

Of course, it slowly came apart for the team as it dropped eight of its final 11 contests. One of the issues was an erratic offense that got off to a good start but withered as the year unfolded. A team that averaged 32.4 points per game during its 5-0 start managed just 16.1 points per contest during a 3-8 finish.

Quarterback Matt Ryan wasn’t his usual steady self as well. His 21 touchdown passes were the second-lowest season total of Ryan’s eight-year career. His 16 interceptions were the second most in one campaign by the three-time Pro Bowl signal-caller.

That figures to change in 2016 as the veteran performer (who turns 31 on May 17) becomes more acclimated with the current system. Better blocking (keyed by new center Alex Mack) will help a ground attack that ranked 19th in the league this past season. And a more balanced approach will put Ryan back on track this year.

DE Olivier Vernon, New York Giants

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There are a number of players mentioned in this piece looking to rebound from disappointing seasons.

When it comes to New York Giants defensive end Olivier Vernon, it’s about validation.

When you sign a five-year, $85 million contract and $52.5 million is guaranteed, rest assured there are a lot of people who feel you have something to prove.

Vernon was a player who caught the eye of Giants head coach Ben McAdoo last December. As the team’s offensive coordinator in 2015, a little film study in preparation for a Monday night clash with the Miami Dolphins was eye-opening.

“He jumps off the film,” McAdoo said late last year to Jordan Raanan of NJ.com. “He’s a talented guy. He looks like he’s hungry. He has a lot of energy, brings a lot of energy to the game and has a nice skill set. We’re going to have to account for him as well.”

Now it’s Vernon who’s doing the counting, at least financially. Eventually the time will come to add to his sack total. In 64 games with the Dolphins, he accounted for 29 quarterback traps. Although the Giants brought back defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, it’s the newcomer who will feel the heat if Big Blue doesn’t improve on its team total of 23 sacks in 2015.

Vernon may come in and give his club great production. Fair or unfair, it’s hard to match any expectations that involve that big a price tag.

WR Mike Wallace, Baltimore Ravens

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In four seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, wide receiver Mike Wallace totaled 235 catches for 4,042 yards and 32 scores. He averaged an impressive 17.2 yards per reception.

Over the past three seasons, the one-time Pro Bowler spent time with the Miami Dolphins and Minnesota Vikings. It added up to 179 receptions, 17 of those for touchdowns, while Wallace averaged only 12.7 yards per catch.

Cast off by Minnesota this offseason, the 29-year-old wide receiver is back in the division where he began his NFL career. And like his days in the Steel City, he will be playing with a quarterback who likes to push the ball downfield and has led his team to a Super Bowl victory.

Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun tweeted that Joe Flacco is “excited” about what the suddenly well-traveled wideout brings to the team. The Ravens are looking to rebound from a 5-11 season, and with Wallace and Steve Smith Sr. at wideout, Baltimore’s deep passing attack will be in fine form.

DE Mario Williams, Miami Dolphins

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It was 10 years ago that the Houston Texans made North Carolina State defensive end Mario Williams the first overall pick in the 2006 draft.

Now with his third team, the 31-year-old defender wants to erase last season’s disappointing final year with the Buffalo Bills and his well-documented issues with head coach Rex Ryan’s designs.

Just like his final campaign with the Texans in 2011, Williams totaled just five sacks. The difference was that the talented defender was limited to five games with Houston, compared to 15 contests with the Bills.

In an April conversation with Alain Poupart of Dolphins.com, the 10-year pro talked about what he brings to the table:

"

The No. 1 thing that you can definitely look forward to (from me) is attitude. I think any year, no matter what happens previous, you can’t look at the future or anything like that, but you can handle right now. And my biggest thing, every day I wake up is going to be the best attitude I’ve ever had. And with attitude, everything is going to follow. I know for sure I’m going to be out there humming 100 miles per hour and it’s going to be full attitude.

"

Williams now teams with defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and defensive end Cameron Wake to give Miami a stellar defensive front. He will thrive on a defense that appears determined to bounce back from a troubling season.

“Everybody is fired up, man,” said the four-time Pro Bowler, who’s totaled 96 career sacks. “Anytime you see anybody walking around—it doesn’t matter, from the front office to equipment guys, it doesn’t matter—everybody has the same type of enthusiasm, and that’s definitely what I had in mind when I first came for the visit, and it’s what I got.”

Williams has totaled 10 or more sacks in five of his 10 seasons. He will add another double-digit performance to his resume.