Aging NFL Stars Poised for a Rebound Season

The one thing every human being knows that it has no control over is age. You can’t fight it.

Then again, why would you? Consider the alternatives.

For professional athletes, it is no doubt an uncomfortable topic, but it is reality. For the many performers in the NFL, the combination of years along with the physical toll the game takes from a player is a no-win combination.

Here we have picked out 10 veterans who come off less-than-scintillating showings in 2014 whom we predict will bounce back with a vengeance this upcoming season. Some of these players have changed teams this offseason, which will play a factor in their revivals.

So keep any eye on all of these vets in 2015, especially when we get around to that NFL Comeback Player of the Year thing down the road.

WR Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals

Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

We have seen this kind of season before from one of the most productive wide receivers in NFL history.

Back in 2012, Arizona Cardinals veteran Larry Fitzgerald caught 71 passes for 798 yards and just four touchdowns. Then again, the Cards utilized four different starting quarterbacks that season.

The eight-time Pro Bowler rebounded one year later with Carson Palmer behind center. He would total 82 receptions with 10 for scores, his highest touchdown total since 2009 and the days of quarterback Kurt Warner.

This past season, the 11-year pro once again led the Cards with 63 catches. But Fitzgerald reached the end zone just twice—a career low—and did not play in all 16 games for the first time since 2007.

Has the wear and tear started to catch up with the Arizona wideout? Or was it the fact that once again the team went through multiple starting quarterbacks? Regardless, look for a bounce-back year from the league’s 19th-leading receiver of all time (909 catches) who is just 11 scores short of 100 touchdown receptions.

OLB Jared Allen, Chicago Bears

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Over the past decade or so, few players in the league have been as reliable and consistent as Jared Allen…until this past season.

No matter the reasons, the 11-year pro totaled a career-low 5.5 sacks in his first season with the Chicago Bears. Allen began his career with the Kansas City Chiefs and totaled 43 sacks in four seasons (61 games) with the club.

The Chiefs traded the standout defender to the Minnesota Vikings, and in six seasons with the club, he started all 96 regular-season games, totaled 85.5 sacks and amassed at least 11 sacks in each season.

Thanks to the youth movement in Minnesota, Allen wound up in the Windy City. He missed one game for the first time in his career since 2007, and the five-time Pro Bowler looks to make amends for a disappointing season.

Look for Allen to make an impact once again as a pass-rusher in Vic Fangio’s 3-4 defense. As far as his pass-coverage skills when it comes to the outside linebacker position, that figures to be a work in progress as the veteran makes the transition from defensive end.

WR Dwayne Bowe, Cleveland Browns

Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

We don’t really have to remind anyone of wide receiver Dwayne Bowe’s statistics from a year ago, at least when it comes to one specific number.

This past season with the Kansas City Chiefs, the eight-year veteran finished second on the team with 60 catches for 754 yards. But as we all know by now, neither he nor any other Chiefs wideout reached the end zone this past season, at least when it came via the pass. Kansas City quarterback Alex Smith threw 18 touchdown passes in 2014, all to tight ends or running backs.

The club released Bowe, who signed with the Cleveland Browns. Their quarterback situation at the moment looks less than ideal, unless Josh McCown recaptures some of his 2013 form with the Bears or the light comes on for second-year pro Johnny Manziel.

But Bowe is talented enough at 31 years old to make a difference and help a team that scored through the air only 12 times this past season.

WR Andre Johnson, Indianapolis Colts

Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

In essence, the Indianapolis Colts have traded in their 14-year wide receiver for a 12-year wide receiver.

Reggie Wayne, who was not re-signed by the club this offseason, ranks seventh in NFL history with 1,070 receptions. Former Houston Texans wideout Andre Johnson, now with the Colts, ranks ninth with 1,012 catches.

This past season, Johnson led the Texans with 85 catches. But they added up to only 936 yards and three scores, as the productive performer and seven-time Pro Bowler averaged a disappointing 11.0 yards per catch, his worst-such performance in that regard since 2005.

Then again, Johnson will now be catching passes from the live arm of quarterback Andrew Luck. The Colts have other weapons such as young receivers T.Y. Hilton and Donte Moncrief, but that doesn’t mean this old Texan doesn’t have a few new tricks up his shoulder pads.

And Johnson couldn’t be happier to be with Luck, as he told Zak Keefer of the Indianapolis Star back in late May. "This decision has absolutely nothing to do with the Texans," said Johnson, who was released by Houston this offseason. "This decision has everything to do with winning a Super Bowl."

RB Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings

Hannah Foslien/Getty Images

On March 21, Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson turned 30 years old.

Oh no. There’s that dreaded number when it comes to NFL running backs.

But it’s also one of those statistics that has somewhat of an urban legend feel to it. The fact is that age is not a running back’s enemy per se—the problem is actually carries.

After totaling 348 attempts for 2,097 yards (12 touchdowns) during his NFL MVP season in 2012, Peterson has played in just 15 games the past two seasons and totaled just 300 combined carries, including just 21 attempts in 2014.

We all know the reasons why Peterson didn’t see much playing time this past season. Now let’s spin it forward and know that this talented and well-rested running back is primed for a big year.

QB Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Wait a minute...a player who tied for the NFL lead in passing yards in 2014 actually made this list?

Yes indeed.

There’s little doubt that New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees is one of the game’s greatest hurlers. His career 56,003 passing yards and 396 touchdown tosses both rank fourth in NFL history.

Forget the fact that the Saints finished 7-9 this past season because win-loss records belong to the team and not the quarterback. Brees did complete 69.2 percent of his throws in 2014 and record 33 touchdown passes, but he also committed 20 turnovers in 16 games. The 14-year signal-caller served up 17 interceptions and lost three of his seven fumbles.

The Saints will feature a new-look attack this upcoming season, as tight end Jimmy Graham, wide receiver Kenny Stills and running back Pierre Thomas are all gone. What Sean Payton’s club needs this season is for Brees to cut back on those mistakes.

T D’Brickashaw Ferguson, New York Jets

Jeff Haynes/Associated Press

Back in 2006, the New York Jets spent a pair of first-round picks on tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson and center Nick Mangold.

According to Pro Football Focus, Ferguson comes off a disappointing year despite the fact that the team ranked third in the NFL in rushing yards in 2014. The nine-year veteran had his problems early in the season in terms of run blocking, while his ability to protect the quarterback was erratic at best.

The Jets were as busy as any team this offseason in terms of bringing in talent. They also added new head coach Todd Bowles and new offensive coordinator Chan Gailey.

While Mangold showed no signs of slowing down this past season, Ferguson looks to rebound after a disappointing year. And with some of the new faces on offense, expect the left tackle to make amends for a shaky season in 2014.

DE Justin Tuck, Oakland Raiders

Brian Bahr/Getty Images

In nine seasons with the New York Giants, defensive end Justin Tuck earned a pair of Super Bowl championship rings as well as two Pro Bowl invitations. He totaled 60.5 sacks with the team, recording 10 or more sacks in four of his nine campaigns.

So it was only natural to think that Tuck, who was coming off an 11-sack campaign in 2013, would help an Oakland Raiders team in need of all kinds of defensive assistance. The veteran defender inked a deal with the silver and black and would go on to lead the Raiders in sacks this past season.

Of course, Oakland got to opposing quarterback just 22 times, and Tuck was the leader with a paltry 5.5 sacks. But the 32-year-old defender should benefit from the arrival of new head coach Jack Del Rio, new defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. and the continued development of players such as linebackers Khalil Mack and Sio Moore.

Don’t be shocked if Tuck rings up double-digit sacks in 2015.

TE Vernon Davis, San Francisco 49ers

Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

In Week 1 of 2014, San Francisco 49ers tight end Vernon Davis caught four passes for 44 yards and a pair of touchdowns in a 28-17 victory over the Cowboys at Dallas.

And that was that.

Davis’ ninth NFL season saw him catch just 24 passes for 201 yards in his remaining 13 games. He did not score a touchdown the remainder of the season, and the questions began. Yes, he did miss two games in 2014, but is he on the downside of his career?

There have been a lot of changes in San Francisco this offseason from top to bottom. But don’t be surprised if the addition of free-agent wideout Torrey Smith proves to be a great thing for Davis. The speedy performer figures to stretch the field and give the two-time Pro Bowl tight end some more opportunities.

Of course, a better season from quarterback Colin Kaepernick and the offensive line would help as well.

FS Dashon Goldson, Washington Redskins

Pablo Martinez Monsivais/Associated Press

Talk about a veteran looking to completely turn things around after a couple of disappointing seasons.

According to Pro Football Focus, out of 181 safeties evaluated this past season, then-Tampa Bay Buccaneers free safety Dashon Goldson ranked next-to-last on the list.

The two-time Pro Bowler, who is now a member of the Washington Redskins, hopes to do a 180 after finishing No. 180 in the PFF rankings.

Goldson hopes to get a lot of help from his new teammates, who have a lot of other new faces up front in the form of defensive linemen Terrance Knighton, Jerrell Powe, Stephen Paea and Ricky Jean-Francois. Outside linebacker Ryan Kerrigan is a steady pass-rusher, and keep an eye on second-year pro Trent Murphy.

More importantly, keep an eye on Goldson, whose Pro Bowl days came with the San Francisco 49ers. He hopes to help a defense that allowed a league-high 35 touchdown passes in 2014.

All free-agent information and player signings/transactions are courtesy of Spotrac. Depth chart information comes via Ourlads. Unless otherwise noted, all player and team statistics come from Pro Football Reference and ESPN.com.