The NFL season is off to a fantastic start but some big names have fallen short of expectations. Here are five players that need to improve as the season progresses.
Brandon Aiyuk (WR) San Francisco 49ers
Aiyuk missed training camp and all three preseason games while “holding in” for a new contract. He eventually signed a four-year, $120M extension before the team’s first regular season game but has looked nothing like the player that led the team with 1,342 yards in 2023.
This year, Aiyuk has 13 catches on 25 targets for 167 yards and no scores. Per Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer, the 49ers were moments away from trading their No. 1 receiver to the Steelers before Aiyuk agreed to a deal. Terms weren’t disclosed but at this point it’s fair to wonder if San Francisco regrets bringing him back.
Bryce Huff (DE) Philadelphia Eagles
Huff broke out with 10 sacks for the Jets last season but has no sacks since joining the Eagles. Philadelphia gave Huff a three-year, $51M deal to replace edge-rusher Haason Reddick, making him the highest-paid defensive player on the team. So far, the fifth-year pro has failed to deliver.
Through four games, Huff has just two tackles.
Sam LaPorta (TE) Detroit Lions
LaPorta caught 86 passes for 889 yards as a rookie in 2023. His 10 touchdowns were the most of any tight end, but he’s yet to find the end zone in 2024. Last year, LaPorta helped lead the Lions to their first division title since 1993 and first playoff appearance since 2016. This year, he’s averaging just 36.8 yards per game after posting 52.3 yards per contest last season.
To be fair, LaPorta suffered an ankle injury in Week 3, but it didn’t keep him out of Monday night’s game against the Seahawks. He finished the game with a season-high 53 yards on four catches which could mean better days are ahead for the popular Lion.
Trevor Lawrence (QB) Jacksonville Jaguars
Four years after taking Lawrence with the first pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Jacksonville gave their franchise quarterback a five-year, $275M extension, making him the highest-paid quarterback in the league with a $55M annual salary.
Currently, Lawrence ranks 23rd among NFL quarterbacks with 729 yards and four touchdowns. He’s also taken 12 sacks while completing a career-low 53.3% of passes as the Jaguars have been outscored 109-60 across four losses to open the season.
Lawrence hasn’t won a game for Jacksonville since the Jaguars beat the Texans 24-21 in late November 2023. If things don’t improve in upcoming games against the Colts, Bears and Patriots, the quarterback’s poor play could cost head coach Doug Pederson his job.
Bryce Young (QB) Carolina Panthers
Like Lawrence, Young entered the league as the first-overall pick. Most expected Young to struggle, but few thought he’d be benched in favor of Andy Dalton two games into his sophomore season.
Not that he didn’t deserve it. The Panthers went 2-15 with Young in 2023 and started the 2024 season 0-2. The 23-year-old quarterback completed just 55.4% of passes in two starts while averaging 4.4 yards per attempt and failed to throw a single touchdown.
Panthers fans hoped new head coach Dave Canales could do for Young what he did for Baker Mayfield as offensive coordinator of the Buccaneers last season, but Young’s league-low 44.1 quarterback rating speaks for itself.
Carolina traded two first-round picks, two second-round picks and wide receiver D.J. Moore to Chicago to get Young but may have to trade him for pennies on the dollar.
This content was brought to you by: Yardbarker: NFL
