3rd-Year NFL Players with Something to Prove in 2016

The 2016 NFL draft is a couple of weeks in the past, so we naturally have a perfect handle on which teams made smart choices and which teams failed. Right? Well, not exactly.

The reality is it generally takes two to three seasons to properly judge a draft pick. This is why plenty of the post-draft analysis from this year is going to be wrong and why some post-draft analysis from a couple years ago looks downright silly now.

Remember the 2014 draft was the one in which South Carolina's Jadeveon Clowney was considered the can't-pass-on talent of the year. Clowney showed some promise last year and may turn out to be a star by the end of his third season, but he's been far from the gem of his draft class.

In fact, there have been quite a few players taken high in the 2014 draft who have disappointed to this point and could even be entering bust territory. With the possible exception of one Johnny Manziel, these players still have chances to change the course of their careers. However, they're entering the all-important third year and could be running out of time.

For former first-round picks, the 2016 season will be especially important as teams will decide whether to exercise fifth-year options next offseason.

We're going to look at some third-year NFL players who have yet to meet expectations, discuss where the disappointment stems from and examine what needs to happen to change the perception surrounding them.

Eric Ebron, TE, Detroit Lions

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Eric Ebron has yet to emerge as the playmaker the Lions thought they were drafting at No. 10 overall.

When an NFL team selects a player within the first 10 picks of the draft, they're hoping to land someone who can contribute early, often and at a Pro Bowl level. This is likely what the Detroit Lions thought they were getting with former North Carolina tight end Eric Ebron when they drafted him 10th overall back in 2014.

Ebron certainly looked like a player who would be a future matchup nightmare. He measured in at 6'4" and 250 pounds while producing an impressive 4.60-second 40-yard dash at the combine.

After the draft, NFL Media's Bucky Brooks wrote that the addition of Ebron to Detroit's offense "will keep opposing defensive coordinators up at night."

While Ebron hasn't been a total disappointment on the field, he hasn't brought the impact of a top-tier tight end. In two seasons, Ebron has caught 72 passes for 785 yards and six touchdowns. Eight different tight ends had at least 72 receptions and 785 yards last season alone. Pro Football Focus rated him 56th overall among tight ends for the year.

Ebron's status with the Lions should be safe. He has shown some flashes of dominance, especially during the 2015 season. He has surpassed former first-rounder Brandon Pettigrew as the primary receiving tight end on the roster, and he should have a larger role now wideout Calvin Johnson has retired.

However, Ebron has yet to prove he can be a true game-changing tight end. Until he does, it will be difficult to view him as a player worth the 10th overall selection of the draft, which is why the upcoming season will be important for Ebron.

Greg Robinson, OT, Los Angeles Rams

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Will this be the year Greg Robinson establishes himself as a premier left tackle?

The St. Louis Rams—as they were known at the time—landed defensive tackle Aaron Donald in the first round of the 2014 draft. There's no logical reason for the team's fans to complain about that selection. However, the Rams' first selection of draft weekend—at No. 2 overall—was former Auburn offensive tackle Greg Robinson. He hasn't quite lived up to his draft position.

Robinson was a bit raw coming out of college, but he had all the physical tools to be a Day 1 starter and develop into a premier franchise left tackle.

The problem is Robinson has been slow to develop at the pro level. He hasn't been a bust, but he hasn't become the type of dominant blindside blocker teams usually expect to get at the top of the first round.

Robinson spent time at both guard and tackle in his rookie season before settling in as the starting left tackle in 2015. He started all 16 games there last season, but his performances were more than a little uneven. Pro Football Focus rated Robinson 139th overall among the 142 offensive tackles who took the field in 2015.

Now is the time for Robinson to prove he is worthy of his lofty draft status. Los Angeles has a franchise running back in Todd Gurley and traded up to secure a potential franchise quarterback in Jared Goff this year. For Robinson, Protecting the pocket and opening holes is going to be more important this year than ever before.

Marqise Lee, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars

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Marqise Lee has had trouble staying healthy and in the lineup for the Jaguars.

For fans of the Jacksonville Jaguars, the 2014 draft will long be known as the one that yielded quarterback Blake Bortles and receiver Allen Robinson. Bortles is on his way to establishing himself as a franchise quarterback, and Robinson is fresh off his first Pro Bowl season.

However, it's easy to forget Robinson wasn't the first receiver the Jaguars drafted in 2014. With the 39th overall pick, the team grabbed former USC wideout Marqise Lee. At the time, Lee was seen as a blue-chip prospect and an absolute steal in the second round.

"The Jaguars needed a wide receiver and for Lee to be available at pick No. 39 is a bonanza for this franchise," draft analyst Mike Mayock said after the selection, per NFL.com.

Unfortunately, injuries and the emergence of other receivers have led to little production from Lee over the course of his first two seasons. He has produced 52 receptions, 613 yards and two touchdowns to date, so it wouldn't be fair to call Lee a bust. However, the Jaguars were almost certainly hoping to get a lot more out of the former Trojan standout.

Lee's challenge this season will be proving he can stay on the field.

"The big part is staying healthy, allowing us to get our hands on him and coach him," Jacksonville head coach Gus Bradley said of Lee back in February, per Mike DiRocco of ESPN.com. "The best place to get better is on the field and that's really his challenge, consistently being on the field."

Once Lee proves he can stay in the lineup, he can start proving his dominance as a pass-catcher.

Justin Gilbert, CB, Cleveland Browns

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Justin Gilbert could already be looking at his last chance to make an impact for the Browns.

We briefly mentioned Johnny Manziel at the opening of this article, and it's safe to say he could be the first official bust of the 2014 draft. However, the Cleveland Browns' other first-round selection that year has been a bigger on-field disappointment.

The Browns made Justin Gilbert the eighth overall pick in the draft that year after trading down so the Buffalo Bills could acquire wideout Sammy Watkins. The Browns added an additional first-round pick in 2015 for that deal, Gilbert looked like a strong choice at No. 8 and the whole process looked then like one that would favor Cleveland.

Shortly after the draft, NFL Media's Bucky Brooks gave the Browns an A- grade for their draft and referred to Gilbert as a guy who "should quickly establish himself as a starter."

Not only has Gilbert not established himself as a starter over the past two years, but he's had a difficult time even getting on the field. His biggest impact this past season arguably came as a kick returner—and he only returned 12 kicks!

According to Pro Football Focus, Gilbert saw just 51 defensive snaps in 2015. Considering the guy was a top-10 pick, that's simply unforgivable.

"I think a lot would have been different had we taken somebody else there,” former Browns head coach Mike Pettine recently said of the Gilbert pick, per Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland.

Pettine would probably still be out of a job had the team bypassed Gilbert, but the Browns might have at least gotten a starter out of the deal.

At this point, Gilbert shouldn't be looking to prove he was worth a first-round pick. He should worry about proving he even deserves a spot on Cleveland's roster. His challenge begins immediately.

Jadeveon Clowney, LB, Houston Texans

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Entering the 2014 draft, Jadeveon Clowney was seen as the ultimate blue-chip prospect.

It's hard to fault the Houston Texans for pulling the trigger on pass-rusher Jadeveon Clowney. The former South Carolina star flashed plenty of jaw-dropping ability on tape and wowed prospective employers at the combine. The 6'6", 266-pound Clowney ran a blazing 4.53-second 40—that's faster than many wide receivers run.

Shortly after the draft, NFL Media's Bucky Brooks explained why Houston simply couldn't pass on Clowney:

"

The South Carolina product was undoubtedly the most talented prospect on the draft board. If you bypass a generational talent like Clowney and he lives up to his pre-draft billing ... well, that's the kind of decision that costs jobs. With Clowney possessing the size, strength and length to become a dominant edge defender, the Texans have the potential to field the best front line in the AFC.

"

Of course, we know injuries and the transition to outside linebacker have slowed Clowney's progress as a pro. He appeared in just four games as a rookie, and he missed three more games in 2015. However, by the end of last season, Clowney was starting to show his ability.

Clowney produced 40 tackles and 3.5 sacks in 2015. Pro Football Focus rated him ninth overall among 3-4 outside linebackers for the year.

So Clowney has proved he can be a high-level starter at linebacker. Now he must prove he can be the type of dominant defensive talent worthy of the first overall selection in the draft. For Clowney, that goal is clear.

“I’m going to come back and dominate the league,” Clowney said after last season, per John McClain of the Houston Chronicle. “I know what I can do. I think I’m going to come back and dominate the league next year.”

Marcus Smith, LB, Philadelphia Eagles

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Through two seasons, Marcus Smith has failed to make an impact for the Eagles.

Former Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly turned a lot of heads back in 2014 when he decided on former Louisville pass-rusher Marcus Smith with the 26th overall pick in the draft. Smith was productive as a sack artist during his time at Louisville, but he had the look and feel of a long-term project.

NFL Media's Bucky Brooks wrote the following after the draft:

"

Expectations will be high for one of the first pass rushers to come off the board. The Louisville standout will be counted on to develop into a Pro Bowl-caliber pass rusher and anchor an Eagles front line that needs to create disruption against elite opponents. With Smith showing glimpses of A-plus talent and potential as an edge rusher, Kelly could enjoy the last laugh down the road.

"

Smith hasn't yielded many laughs for Kelly since being drafted, and his selection is likely part of the reason why Kelly was fired before the end of the 2015 season. In addition to being a lackluster pass-rusher, Smith has failed to make any kind of significant impact.

He didn't record a single tackle as a rookie, and he produced just seven of them to go with 1.5 sacks in 2015.

It's been a struggle for Smith to even get on the field at times. According to Pro Football Focus, he saw just 131 defensive snaps in 2015. That number is actually up from the 74 snaps Smith saw in 2014.

Smith can effectively forget about proving his worth as a first-round talent. He needs to spend the 2016 season proving he deserves to take up a roster spot in Philadelphia.

Davante Adams, WR, Green Bay Packers

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Davante Adams has struggled with both drops and inconsistency in his two seasons with the Packers.

The Green Bay Packers drafted former Fresno State receiver Davante Adams with the 53rd overall pick in the 2014 draft, hoping to give quarterback Aaron Rodgers another downfield weapon with which to assault defenses.

"I like the pick of receiver Davante Adams in the second round," Pete Prisco of CBS Sports wrote shortly after the aforementioned draft. "He fits with what the Packers want from their receivers and they've had great success with receivers in the second round."

Unfortunately, Adams hasn't found much success with the Packers since being drafted. At 6'1" and 215 pounds, Adams certainly has the physical tools needed for the position, but he just hasn't emerged as a dependable playmaker.

With 88 receptions and 929 yards receiving in two seasons, Adams isn't a total bust. Yet he has struggled with inconsistency on the field and drops. When the Packers needed Adams to emerge in the absence of the injured Jordy Nelson last season, he failed.

Pro Football Focus credited Adams with 10 drops for the 2015 season and rated him 222nd overall out of 223 NFL wide receivers.

Adams needs to prove this season that he is worthy of a starting job in Green Bay. The urgency to do so is intensified by the fact the Packers drafted former Cal receiver Trevor Davis in the fifth round of this year's draft. If Adams cannot solidify his starting role, Davis just might slide in and take it.

Darqueze Dennard, CB, Cincinnati Bengals

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Darqueze Dennard might finally get his starting opportunity in 2016.

The Cincinnati Bengals made former Michigan State cornerback Darqueze Dennard the 24th pick in the 2014 draft, and it seemed as if the team was getting a surefire starter and a future star.

"I don't think the Bengals expected him to be available," draft analyst Mike Mayock said of the selection in 2014, per NFL.com. "Dennard is the best press cornerback in this draft. He fits what defensive coordinator Paul Guenther wants to do. He is one of best pure football players in this draft."

We can't say that Dennard has been an on-field disappointment because he has spent so little time on it. Despite appearing in 24 games in his two pro seasons, Dennard has had a limited role. According to Pro Football Focus, Dennard saw just 61 defensive snaps as a rookie and 191 snaps in 2015.

A shoulder injury ended Dennard's 2015 campaign after 10 games, and he'll have to prove he is healthy in addition to proving he belongs on the field.

"I’ll take the good things and the bad things that I did in the time I did play," Dennard said earlier this offseason, per Laurel Pfahler of the Dayton Daily News. "And I’m just looking forward to spreading myself mentally, getting right physically and getting ready for the long haul.”

The Bengals haven't made a habit of rushing their young players onto the field in recent years, and Dennard has sat behind some talented corners. Therefore, he will be afforded every opportunity to grow into a significant role this season and prove himself. However, the challenge of getting on the field and staying there is definitely staring Dennard in the face.

Also staring Dennard in the face is the fact Cincinnati just drafted another cornerback in the first round this year—Houston product William Jackson III. If Dennard cannot earn a significant role, Jackson might get the opportunity.