Photograph USA TODAY Sports activities Pictures For each NFL participant who has a breakout season, there’s one other who collapses.
Just one ball can go round in a circle. Just one staff can win every sport. There will likely be just one locker and all of the cameras will likely be arrange there first to interview essentially the most influential gamers.
Someplace alongside the best way, another participant will likely be questioning why their efficiency is declining as a substitute of surging.
Listed here are 5 gamers who might underperform in 2024.
Stefon Diggs, Houston Texans
Stefon Diggs has lots on his plate after being traded from the Buffalo Payments to the Houston Texans. Picture supply: Getty Pictures All of it appears to be like engaging on paper. Diggs is now enjoying for the Houston Texans, the place he will likely be paired with excellent second-year quarterback C.J. Stroud.
However there is a purpose the Buffalo Payments traded Diggs, together with a 2024 sixth-round choose and a 2025 fifth-round choose, to Houston in alternate for a large receiver and a 2025 second-round choose. This, together with the canine already in Houston’s WR room, will make it tougher for Diggs to take management. Remember, Diggs will likely be 31 years outdated this season, and he averaged 69.6 receiving yards per sport this season and fewer than half of his touchdowns.
He nonetheless has expertise, however the brand new jersey cannot cover his diminishing returns.
Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
Justin Herbert passes for Los Angeles Chargers. Picture supply: Getty Pictures Herbert can pitch; there isn’t any query about it. He will put in loads of nice performances this season that may make him appear to be a famous person.
However should you look deeper, you will see that the Los Angeles Chargers are a staff in flux. Jim Harbaugh is prepared to hang around on the sidelines and may very well be a superb rent all through his contract, however his first yr is anticipated to be a bumpy transition.
The staff traded Keenan Allen and will depend on rookie receiver Ladd McConkey as its prime move catcher. There are such a lot of indicators that Herbert’s efficiency will ebb and circulate from week to week.
TE Travis Kelce, Kansas Metropolis Chiefs
Kansas Metropolis Chiefs tight finish Travis Kelce (87) takes the sphere earlier than the sport in opposition to the Chicago Bears at GEHA Area at Arrowhead Stadium. Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports activities Sorry, Swifties. This isn’t a private matter. Someday, you too will undergo the getting older course of. You will get up and your ft will damage, however you will not know why. Each time you get up from the sofa, you begin making involuntary noises. You will buy a chicken feeder and excitedly watch out of your window as your new friends fly in to dine.
In any case, this isn’t an autobiography in any respect; Ahem, that is all about Kelce. He turns 35 in October. He had his fewest receiving yards since 2015.
TE Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons tight finish Kyle Pitts (8) catches a landing move through the first half in opposition to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Photograph credit score: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports activities It is humorous (possibly not humorous, haha) to incorporate Pitts on this record after Kelce. Kelce is on the decline of his Corridor of Fame profession. Pitts is younger, athletic and filled with potential, the alternative of an getting older star.
But Pitts has made us appear to be fools twice. Does anybody actually need to do that thrice in a row? The Falcons tight finish had 28 catches for 356 yards and two touchdowns in his second NFL season in 2022, and adopted that up with 53 catches for 667 yards and three touchdowns in 2023. Positive, Kirk Cousins might help, however possibly it is time to get off the Pitts hype prepare.
WR Garrett Wilson, New York Jets
New York Jets broad receiver Garrett Wilson catches a move from the Cleveland Browns. Supply: Getty Pictures It’s a tricky sport as a result of Wilson is actually good. He is getting into his age-24 season and has had back-to-back 1,000-yard video games, and he has all of the makings of a star NFL receiver.
So why is he on the record of people who find themselves prone to underperform? That is as a result of his quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, is a freaking dinosaur who will likely be 41 this season should you really consider that common of 365 1/4 days per yr. That is as a result of his offensive coordinator, Nathaniel Hackett, has a playbook with all of the firepower of a backyard hose.
Wilson will likely be nice in the long term, however there are too many questions this season. Did we point out his quarterback is a bizarre dinosaur?
