NFL's Most Likely Candidates to Break Out of Their Sophomore Slumps

One step forward and a half-step backward—that's what many players go through after showing flashes during their rookie terms. 

Fortunately for players in sophomore slumps, they have time to turn their seasons around with eight or nine games left on the schedule. Some of them have battled injury or sickness. Others may need time to adjust with turnover across the roster and in the coaching ranks. 

Progression isn't always linear. While some second-year players won't build off strong starts to their pro careers, five sophomores should have surges in production as we head into November.

We've ranked those budding talents, with the top spot the player most likely to break out in the second half of the 2019 season. The selections are based on what we saw last year, health status, roles within the offense or defense and strength of schedule—focusing on units such as pass defenses.

5. WR Christian Kirk, Arizona Cardinals

Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images

Going into his sophomore campaign, Christian Kirk had an opportunity to overtake Larry Fitzgerald as the top Arizona Cardinals wide receiver in receptions and yards, but he's faced some adversity.

First, he must adjust to quarterback Kyler Murray after the team moved on from Josh Rosen within a year. Cardinals reporter Kyle Odegard pointed out a moment when the rookie signal-caller may have cost Kirk a 100-yard game in Week 8. 

"Kirk would have surpassed 100 receiving yards in the game if quarterback Kyler Murray didn’t leave an easy completion short after a nice scramble in the second half," Odegard wrote.

Beyond the chemistry lapses between Murray and Kirk, the wideout had to overcome a high-ankle sprain, which cost him three games. Although he returned to action last week, he's not back to full strength.

"I'd love to say I'm that I'm 100 percent, but when you recover from the injury I got, there are still some minor things you can't really recreate during physical therapy," Kirk said.

Last year, he displayed flashes of promise before he landed on injured reserve with a broken foot, logging 590 receiving yards and three touchdowns while averaging 13.7 yards per catch.

This season, Kirk has yet to reach the end zone and is averaging 10 yards per reception. As time progresses, he should feel better when pushing off his ankle. The 22-year-old's growing rapport with Murray will likely lead to more explosive plays downfield and touchdown receptions. The Texas A&M product could still reach 1,000 yards with two big games and steady production in the second half of the season.

4. LB Roquan Smith, Chicago Bears

Jeffrey Phelps/Associated Press

Last year, Roquan Smith became an instant factor in the Chicago Bears defense. He recorded a sack on his first play against the Green Bay Packers and didn't stop wreaking havoc until the team's season ended in the NFC Wild Card Round. 

He produced several impact plays as a rookie, registering eight tackles for loss, five sacks, five pass breakups and an interception. This year, we haven't seen the same disruptive player in the middle of the defense.

Smith also didn't suit up for Week 4 because of personal reasons that head coach Matt Nagy chose not to delve into prior an NFC North matchup with the Minnesota Vikings.

Those looking in may point to the transition at defensive coordinator from Vic Fangio to Chuck Pagano after Fangio accepted the head coaching job in Denver. Pagano has utilized a single inside linebacker (Danny Trevathan) in some of his play designs, which limits the 22-year-old Smith's time on the field.

Nagy thinks the Georgia product can do more as well, per Nathan Smith of the team's official website.

"He can definitely play better," Nagy said, "and he knows that. That's where we're at right now. And he's gonna. I think he will. We all know exactly what we've all done together in the last couple weeks."

Smith acknowledged that he's a bit hesitant but didn't provide an exact reason for his indecisiveness on the field.

In Week 7, he recorded his first pass breakup of the season against the New Orleans Saints. He also played 89 percent of the defensive snaps against the Los Angeles Chargers last week. Because of his versatile skill set, Smith should eventually break out of his slump. Trevathan, Khalil Mack and Leonard Floyd will command attention, which will keep the primary focus away from the second-year playmaker.

Unlike Kirk, Smith doesn't have to overcome an injury to finish the season on a strong note. He just needs to reassert himself between the white lines.

3. RB Sony Michel, New England Patriots

Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images

In 2018, the New England Patriots displayed a balanced offensive attack, ranking eighth in passing and fifth in rushing yards per game. Sony Michel missed three contests but finished 11th in rushing yards per game (71.6).

This year, the Patriots ground attack doesn't pack a downhill push, ranking 23rd leaguewide. Michel logged a three-touchdown performance against the New York Jets in Week 7, but he's averaging just 3.3 yards per carry and 58 yards per contest. 

First, we have to look at the offensive line. The Patriots lost left tackle Trent Brown, who signed with the Oakland Raiders as a free agent. The club placed his potential successor, 2018 first-rounder Isaiah Wynn, on injured reserve with turf toe after two games. Center David Andrews will miss the entire season because of blood clots. 

Michel may have needed an adjustment period with the injuries and personnel changes across the offensive line. Secondly, running backs coach Ivan Fears wants the second-year ball-carrier to take a more decisive approach after the handoff, per Mac Cerullo of the Gloucester Daily Times.

"We've got to stop going backwards," Fears said. "That's part of it with Sony; he can't take a chance and say I'm going to bounce this thing or go east-west all day. He's got to freaking get downhill."

Assuming Michel takes the cue from his position coach, he should move the ball effectively in the second half of the season. He's already tied his touchdown total from last year (six), but the Patriots need more consistency from him and the ground attack outside of the red zone. 

As the offensive line jells, Michel and a renewed focus to running north-south will yield optimal results. He ranks one spot higher than Smith because of his clear-cut role as the lead ball-carrier, logging 59.3 percent of the team's carries. Pagano may still use a single inside linebacker in certain matchups, limiting Smith's impact. 

2. QB Sam Darnold, New York Jets

Stephen B. Morton/Associated Press

Sam Darnold made his fair share of mistakes as a rookie, including a rocky start after an interception in his debut against the Detroit Lions. However, he showed enough promise down the stretch to indicate a bright future under good coaching.

Unfortunately for Darnold, his sophomore season ran off the rails early when he missed three games with mononucleosis. Upon his return, he gave Jets fans renewed hope with a stellar Week 6 performance. He carved up the Dallas Cowboys defense in victory for 338 yards and two touchdowns, with just one miscue on a red-zone interception.

Nonetheless, turnovers come with Darnold's playmaking ability, as evidenced by his 15 interceptions last year. The Jets coaching staff has to do its best to limit those errors in the red zone. Last week, the 22-year-old quarterback tossed three picks to the Jacksonville Jaguars in a 29-15 loss. 

When you consider Darnold's comment about "seeing ghosts" on the field while facing the Patriots defense, he's had a nightmarish sophomore term. 

But during the second half of the season, the Jets will be playing six different teams that rank 17th or worse in pass defense, starting with the Miami Dolphins, who are on the slate twice. 

Secondly, tight end Chris Herndon—who developed a solid rapport with Darnold last year, catching four touchdown passes from the signal-caller—could return from a hamstring injury in the near future, and he missed the first four games because of a suspension.

Darnold will have a clear opportunity to turn his season around. He's not a complementary component like a wide receiver (Christian Kirk) or running back (Sony Michel). The Jets' future success revolves around his development.

With subpar pass defenses coming up, we'll likely see more of Darnold's good traits with several quality performances through the first two weeks of December.

1. QB Baker Mayfield, Cleveland Browns

Billie Weiss/Getty Images

After registering a near 2-1 ratio of touchdowns to interceptions last year, Baker Mayfield hasn't thrown for multiple scores in a game this season.

In fact, he has double the amount of interceptions (12) to touchdowns (six) through seven contests. 

Among the Cleveland Browns' previous opponents, six have records of .500 or better. The San Francisco 49ers and Patriots field the Nos. 1 and 2 pass defenses, respectively.

Through the next nine weeks, Cleveland will face seven pass defenses that rank 18th or worse in either yards or touchdowns allowed. Only two of its remaining opponents boast winning records.

With the difficult part of Cleveland's schedule in his rearview mirror, Mayfield will start to look more like the quarterback who threw for 3,725 yards, 27 touchdowns and 14 interceptions last season. He's ranked one spot above Darnold because of the weapons at his disposal.  

The Jets don't have a wide receiver talent in his prime years like Odell Beckham Jr. Four-time Pro Bowler Jarvis Landry is a solid 1A pass-catching option.

In Week 10, running back Kareem Hunt could return to the field after serving an eight-game suspension for shoving and kicking a woman at a Cleveland hotel. He's also recovering from sports hernia surgery.

Hunt is a more reliable pass-catcher than Nick Chubb and should help boost the Browns' short passing game.  For his career, the dual-threat tailback has 79 receptions for 833 yards and 10 touchdowns.

On the ground, Chubb and Hunt can offset aggressive pass-rushers who plan to attack the offensive line, which is ranked 26th in pass protection, per Football Outsiders.

Mayfield showed a lot of promise and kept the Browns alive in the postseason hunt late last year, helping his team to five victories over non-playoff clubs after Week 9. Expect to see the same through November and December as he develops with a plethora of playmakers at the skill positions.