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10 second-year NFL players who must step up in 2024

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10 second-year NFL players who must step up in 2024

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Not every rookie can be C.J. Stroud or Puka Nacua.

Of course, all NFL teams would be comforted if their rookies provided instant payoffs in the fashion that the Houston Texans quarterback and Los Angeles Rams wide receiver did in their respective record-setting debuts. But there are only so many young players who can deftly maneuver all the rigors that come with a transition to the pros, as learning a new scheme and adapting to a much higher level of competition can produce a steep learning curve for even the most promising prospects.

Yet while there are plenty of examples of early draft picks who shook off slow starts, patience can be at a premium throughout the NFL. All teams depend on getting meaningful contributions from players on rookie contracts, and the pressure to perform is only amplified when significant draft capital is involved.

With that in mind, here are 10 second-year NFL players who have to step up this season:

QB Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers

The first choice for the list is also the most obvious. Young’s debut season was so disastrous that it prompted an organizational overhaul, with coach Dave Canales and general manager Dan Morgan being tasked with setting things right for both the quarterback’s development and the franchise’s trajectory. Significant upgrades were made to the supporting cast, most notably on the interior offensive line with high-priced guards Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis and at receiver with Diontae Johnson and first-round rookie Xavier Legette. Even with all that, Young still likely won’t be expected to carry a comparable load to Stroud, as Carolina’s offense should be paced by its run game and a heavy dose of play-action passes. Still, with his front fortified and new targets in place to reliably gain separation, the Panthers surely will want to see quicker decision-making after Young was sacked a league-worst 62 times last season. Without meaningful progress from the former Heisman Trophy winner, Carolina’s trade to move to the top of the board last spring will look even more costly.

QB Will Levis, Tennessee Titans

Much like Young, Levis was saddled with plenty of limitations as a rookie, leaving questions about whether his volatile showings could be properly evaluated. And Tennessee responded in kind, transitioning to a substantially more pass-heavy attack orchestrated by first-year coach Brian Callahan, who is already working to clean up the signal-caller’s footwork. One year after the receiving corps looked like one of the league’s worst groups, Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd are set to join DeAndre Hopkins in what actually looks to be a formidable set of pass catchers. And while a highly suspect offensive line received reinforcements with first-round left tackle JC Latham and center Lloyd Cushenberry, the real difference-maker up front might be offensive line coach Bill Callahan, Brian’s father and one of the league’s most highly respected assistants. Levis has a chance to seize control of this job if he’s able to return Tennessee to playoff contention, but as a former second-round pick, he might not have the same margin of error as some of the more highly touted selections on this list.

WR Quentin Johnston, Los Angeles Chargers

Perhaps no former first-rounder needs a mulligan after last season more than Johnston, the No. 21 pick who was plagued by a series of costly drops. The TCU product called the miscues “unacceptable” and attributed them to a lack of focus. A fresh start should be ahead thanks to the arrival of Jim Harbaugh, who is well aware how explosive Johnston can be after seeing the 6-3, 215-pound receiver burn his Wolverines for 163 yards – including a 76-yard touchdown – in a 2022 College Football Playoff semifinal. While Johnston is more of a vertical threat than Joshua Palmer or second-round rookie Ladd McConkey, he must establish his trustworthiness to Justin Herbert.

OT Wanya Morris, Kansas City Chiefs

While the two-time defending champions infused some substantial speed into their receiving corps this offseason with the additions of Marquise “Hollywood” Brown and first-round pick Xavier Worthy, another position might go a long way toward determining how much more explosive this unit can really be. Morris is set to battle second-round rookie Kingsley Suamataia for the left tackle job, the one starting role that’s still up for grabs on offense. The third-round pick out of Oklahoma has the advantage in experience after starting four games last year in place of Donovan Smith, who was not re-signed this offseason. But he’ll still have to hold off Suamataia, a stellar athlete who has drawn strong reviews from Andy Reid and Brett Veach. Regardless of how the position battle pans out in training camp, there will be no shortage of attention on Patrick Mahomes’ blindside protection.

DE Tyree Wilson, Las Vegas Raiders

Pairing defensive tackle Christian Wilkins with defensive end Maxx Crosby gives the Silver and Black one of the NFL’s most formidable duos up front. But how much better would this front four be if its recent top-10 pick lived up to his billing? Wilson, the No. 7 overall pick in 2023, posted just 3 ½ sacks and a 4.9% pass rush win rate, according to ESPN, a far cry from the lofty standards set by fellow top-10 pass rushers Will Anderson Jr. (seven sacks) and Jalen Carter (six sacks). Still, things seem to be trending in the right direction for the 6-6, 275-pounder, who was more effective in the latter half of the season with then-interim coach Antonio Pierce taking over for Josh McDaniels. Wilson faces an uphill battle to displace Malcolm Koonce as the starter opposite Crosby, but his effectiveness crashing inside and utilizing his length should earn him opportunities, particularly in sub packages.

DT Mazi Smith, Dallas Cowboys

In making Smith their first first-round defensive tackle selection since Russell Maryland in 1991, the Cowboys seemed to send a distinct signal about their need to add some heft to the underdeveloped interior of their front. But after losing weight and partaking in just 28.4% of the Cowboys’ defensive snaps last season, Smith was hardly the tone-setting presence Dallas had hoped for. With Johnathan Hankins gone and new defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer’s scheme looking like a better fit for a player who often was asked to attack upfield as a rookie, the Michigan product has a shot at a clean slate. To make good on it, Smith – who underwent offseason shoulder surgery – will have to be a leading force in controlling the line of scrimmage and stopping the run.

LB Trenton Simpson, Baltimore Ravens

The third-round pick out of Clemson was left to learn largely by watching rather than doing as a rookie, never playing more than eight defensive snaps in a single game until Week 17. Now, however, he’s poised to take over the starting role left vacant by Patrick Queen’s departure to the rival Pittsburgh Steelers. At 6-2 and 238 pounds, Simpson exhibits extensive range as a tackler while also boasting the speed and athleticism to be a major asset in both coverage and as a blitzer. Playing with consistent composure will be a key step in his development, but he should be helped by working alongside All-Pro linebacker Roquan Smith.

CB Emmanuel Forbes, Washington Commanders

Washington rolled the dice on Forbes with the No. 16 pick last year, hoping the Football Bowl Subdivision’s all-time leader in interceptions returned for a touchdown (six) would electrify a stagnant secondary with big plays. Instead, those big plays too often went the other way in 2023. Forbes was benched in October, one week after he gave up 147 yards and two touchdowns when matched up with Philadelphia Eagles receiver A.J. Brown. New coach Dan Quinn will be counting on the former Mississippi State standout to help turn around a defense that surrendered a league-worst 262.2 yards passing per game and 39 touchdowns through the air, and the implementation of a scheme that emphasizes playmaking ability and creating takeaways should serve Forbes well. But the 180-pound cornerback will need to prove he can hang with physical receivers after his first few showings did little to alleviate concerns about his rail-thin frame.

CB Deonte Banks, New York Giants

With two-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Brian Burns coming aboard to join Dexter Lawrence and Kayvon Thibodeaux, the Giants figure to pose plenty of problems for any opposing quarterback who holds onto the ball for long. The back end of the defense, however, is in flux after Xavier McKinney left for the Green Bay Packers and Adoree’ Jackson was not re-signed. The 6-2, 200-pound Banks once looked perfectly fit as an outside, press-man corner for Wink Martindale’s hyper-aggressive scheme, even if his overall performance in 15 starts as a rookie was underwhelming. Now, last year’s No. 25 overall pick will need to exhibit a more discerning approach to align with new defensive coordinator Shane Bowen. One advantage: Banks should have a lot more help thanks to an abundance of two-high safety looks and much fewer blitzes, which routinely left the Maryland product on an island in 2023.

CB JuJu Brents, Indianapolis Colts

Indianapolis tolerated its exceedingly young secondary being exposed in several spots last season, with the group seemingly built to suffer through growing pains. That same pass won’t be available this season, as general manager Chris Ballard made it clear he wants improved play from a collection he vehemently defended throughout the offseason. The key figure for that potential growth could be Brents, a second-round pick out of Kansas State whose litany of injuries before and during the season inhibited his development. With a fully healthy offseason, the 6-3, 198-pound Brents could find the footing he was unable to establish as a rookie and become exactly the kind of long, physical cornerback that defensive coordinator Gus Bradley relishes.

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