The Best and Worst NFL Veteran Debuts with New Teams

We have often heard that you don’t get a second chance to make a first impression.

But that doesn’t mean you don’t get a second chance at all.

That’s the down side when it comes to our focus here, where we take a look at the most and least impressive debuts by veteran NFL performers who signed with new clubs or were dealt this offseason. Please keep in mind that no rookies were mentioned (or harmed) in the making of this piece.

Why did we settle on these eight performers among the numerous moves made this offseason? It's a combination of their being arguably the most high-profile of additions for their clubs and their surprising performances, both good and bad.

You could certainly add others to the list, but this group stood out the most for either the right or wrong reasons. And keep in mind that we’re only talking one game, so if you’re thinking "bust," let’s not jump to any sudden conclusions.

Best: RB Dion Lewis, New England Patriots

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Sometime, the best moves come when we are not paying attention.

While the NFL offseason is always fun for fans when it comes to free agency and trades, even before that time begins in March, teams add unsigned players to future contracts late in the season or even before the new fiscal year begins.

Such was the case with one-time Philadelphia Eagles running back Dion Lewis, who wound up being a December 31 pickup by the New England Patriots last year. Last Thursday against the Pittsburgh Steelers, he ended up in the starting lineup for the defending Super Bowl champions.

While he didn’t score a touchdown, Lewis gave Bill Belichick’s team 69 yards rushing on 15 carries and another 51 yards on four receptions. His speed and moves kept the Pittsburgh defense on its toes all evening.

At least for one game, chalk another one up for one of the best coaches of this or any other era.

Worst: RB DeMarco Murray, Philadelphia Eagles

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There’s little doubt that Philadelphia Eagles head coach would have loved to see new starting quarterback Sam Bradford finish Monday night in Atlanta going 8-of-9 with a touchdown. That would have meant the Eagles running game was getting the best of the worst defense in the league in 2014.

As it turned out, it was 2015 prized addition DeMarco Murray who finished with eight carries for nine yards rushing in Philly’s 26-24 loss to the Falcons. The 2014 NFL Offensive Player of the Year led the league in rushing and total yards from scrimmage one year ago for the Dallas Cowboys. At the Georgia Dome on Monday night, he touched the ball a total of 12 times and gained 20 yards.

Yes, Murray did score two of the team’s three touchdowns in the contest, making fantasy owners quite happy. But the reality is that he was the target of Dan Quinn’s defense all evening. Things won’t get much easier this week when he faces his former club on Sunday at Philadelphia.

Best: WR Brandon Marshall, New York Jets

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Perhaps the best thing that one of the newest wide receivers of the New York Jets did on Sunday was not catch a pass.

This offseason, new Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan gave up a fifth-round pick to the Chicago Bears for veteran Brandon Marshall, who battled injuries in 2014 but still managed eight touchdown receptions in 13 games. That equaled the touchdown total of all Jets wideouts this past season.

On Sunday in a 31-10 drubbing of the Cleveland Browns, Marshall pulled down six passes for 62 yards and a touchdown. But in the second quarter with his team down 7-0, he made perhaps an even more important play in the game. Cleveland safety Tashaun Gipson picked off Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick deep in Browns territory, but Marshall never gave up on the play. He forced a fumble, recovered the ball and returned it eight yards, setting up New York’s first touchdown of the afternoon.

“He made a good play,” said Gipson to Matthew Florjancic of WKYC.com. “At the end of the day, the only thing that was on my mind was to put the offense in good field position. He made a veteran move. I can’t tip my hat enough to him. I think that play changed the game.”

It was one of five takeaways for the Jets, a team that forced an NFL-low 13 turnovers a year ago. Plays like that are what a team coming off a 4-12 season certainly needs.

Worst: WR Andre Johnson, Indianapolis Colts

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In 12 seasons with the Houston Texans, wide receiver Andre Johnson totaled a franchise-high 1,012 catches. That was good enough to put him ninth on the NFL’s all-time receptions list but not enough for him and the franchise that made him the third overall pick in 2003 to stay together.

As the Indianapolis Colts were deciding not to re-sign veteran wideout Reggie Wayne, they would eventually add Johnson this offseason. The idea was for the savvy performer to benefit from talented quarterback Andrew Luck for the next few years.

On Sunday at boisterous Orchard Park, Johnson was targeted 10 times by his young signal-caller and pulled down just four passes for 24 yards. Meanwhile, Luck was targeted all afternoon by the Buffalo Bills defense, who sacked him twice and totaled two interceptions in a 27-14 win for Rex Ryan’s team.

Given the fact that the Indianapolis defense once again had its issues stopping the run, perhaps the Colts could have used Johnson’s help on that side of the ball. Then again, it’s just a matter of time before he and Luck get on the same page.

Best: QB Tyrod Taylor, Buffalo Bills

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A look at the NFL’s official play-by-play shows you that the Buffalo Bills opened their game against the Indianapolis Colts with veteran Matt Cassel at quarterback and quarterback Tyrod Taylor at wide receiver. It certainly didn’t fool the Indianapolis Colts, who brought down running back LeSean McCoy for a six-yard loss on the play.

But it was the Colts defense that looked foolish the rest of the afternoon with Taylor behind center. He connected with McCoy for a 20-yard gain on second down and by game’s end not only hit on 14 of his 19 throws for 195 yards and a score, but the former Baltimore Ravens backup also totaled 41 yards rushing on nine carries in the Bills’ 27-14 victory over the Colts.

At times, Taylor appeared to be an afterthought when it came to the team’s offseason quarterback competition, but looks were deceiving. He entered this season after playing in only 14 games (zero starts) in four seasons with the Ravens, throwing for a combined 199 yards and two interceptions over that span.

He more than made up for that on Sunday.

Worst: CB Byron Maxwell, Philadelphia Eagles

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On Monday night at the Georgia Dome, new Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Byron Maxwell found out Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones is pretty good.

“Julio is a great player,’’ said Maxwell to reporters, via Mark Eckel of NJ.com. “He’s big. He’s strong. He’s fast. This was my first time going against him. He’s a big, strong dude.’’

By game’s end, the former Seattle Seahawks performer didn’t realize how good, as Jones took the Eagles’ high-priced offseason addition to the schoolyard...and the woodshed. The Pro Bowl wideout totaled nine receptions for 121 yards and a pair of touchdown as the Falcons held on for a 26-24 win.

When Maxwell asked how many catches Jones wound up with, his response was “damn.” Unfortunately for head coach Chip Kelly, his revamped secondary didn’t appear to be worth that on Monday night.

Best: RB DeAngelo Williams, Pittsburgh Steelers

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His best days were supposed to be behind him. But the only things behind veteran running back DeAngelo Williams last Thursday night at Foxborough were more than a few New England Patriots defenders.

The Carolina Panthers let go of the all-time leading rusher in the franchise's history this offseason. In need of running back depth, especially with the impending suspension of All-Pro Le’Veon Bell, the Pittsburgh Steelers signed Williams this offseason.

Although Mike Tomlin’s team came up short at New England last week, the former Pro Bowler looked rejuvenated. Williams carried 21 times for 127 yards in the Steelers’ 28-21 loss to the defending Super Bowl champions. He gets another shot this week when the San Francisco 49ers come to the Steel City.

Bell returns in Week 3 when the Steelers travel to St. Louis. It will be interesting to see what kind of role Williams has from there on, especially if he has another solid game this Sunday. But the 10-year veteran suddenly gives Tomlin and offensive coordinator Todd Haley a nice option.

Worst: NT Vince Wilfork, Houston Texans

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This offseason, the New England Patriots opted not to re-sign a number of key veteran defenders who were instrumental in their Super Bowl XLIX title campaign.

While cornerbacks Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner’s departures evoked the most reaction, the decision not to bring back 11-year veteran defensive tackle Vince Wilfork was notable as well.

Last Thursday night versus the Pittsburgh Steelers, rookie defensive tackle Malcom Brown—New England’s first-round pick this spring—had a less-than-scintillating debut, per Pro Football Focus. He played a total of 26 snaps and struggled when it came to stopping the run.

Unfortunately for Wilfork, he and the Houston Texans fared worse than Brown and the Pats did. Wilfork was on the field for 53 defensive plays and failed to make a tackle. The Texans fell at home to the Kansas City Chiefs, 27-20.

There will likely be better times ahead for Wilfork, a former Pro Bowler who will eventually make life easier for the rest of the Houston front seven.

Unless otherwise noted, all player and team statistics come from Pro Football Reference and ESPN.com.