Making it in the NFL is tough… there is no denying that. We see rookies—even highly touted ones flame out in 1 or 2 years on a regular basis… It is the nature of the beast. What makes it even more painful for NFL fans, players, and team execs alike is when the guy comes in with high expectations to succeed but becomes a bust.
There are, however, some rare circumstances in which certain players are able to bounce back after being pronounced BUSTS and have successful careers.
Let’s take a look around the NFL landscape for ten guys that might do just that in 2024!
Which NFL players are bound to shed the bust label attached to them in 2024?
Bryce Young, QB, Carolina Panthers
Bryce Young’s rookie season with the Carolina Panthers didn’t go as planned.
After being Drafted first overall, Young faced immense pressure to turn the franchise around—the only problem was that the team’s executives neglected to put any of the other pieces in place needed for him to do so.
The best he got was an aging Adam Thielen… and that was about it!
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Beyond Thielen, he had a terrible offensive line that allowed constant pressure and a lack of reliable targets, which expectedly resulted in Young struggling to find his footing.
Now… we aren’t exactly expecting Carolina to be world beaters this season… The Super Bowl is still impossibly far out of reach, BUT to give the Panthers some credit, they have managed to bolster their roster, adding key pieces across the offensive line and signing veteran wide receiver Diontae Johnson out of Pittsburgh.
People have quickly forgotten what a stud Young was at Alabama, you know… where he had an actual supporting cast, and the coaching staff tailored their offensive strategy to better suit Young’s strengths, emphasizing quick reads and rollouts to utilize his mobility and quick decision-making.
If Carolina’s new regime can play to his strengths, plus the added benefits of the improved supporting cast and a full offseason to acclimate to the NFL, Young is in prime position to shed the “bust” label in 2024.
Will McDonald, DE, New York Jets
Will McDonald, the Jets’ 15th overall pick in the 2023 draft out of Iowa State, entered the league with high expectations as a first-round pick but found himself lost in a crowded defensive line rotation with the New York Jets.
He finished his rookie season, with just three sacks and 14 combined tackles—never once cracking the starting lineup.
Granted, the Jets’ coaching turmoil and inconsistent defensive schemes didn’t help his cause… And New York probably should have prioritized a different position in the draft if this was how they planned to use McDonald, but we can’t go down the road right now. After all, it is the Jets we are talking about, and they aren’t exactly the pinnacle of good decision-making.
With a couple of shifts on the roster, McDonald has a chance to break out in 2024—in fact—we may see him end up racking up double-digit sacks!
People have quickly forgotten the dominant force McDonald was in college at Iowa State, where he consistently disrupted offenses and was a nightmare for quarterbacks. If he is actually given an opportunity to play this year with any sort of consistency, McDonald has the chance to rediscover that form.
Look for the Jets’ defensive strategy to better leverage his speed and agility off the edge, allowing him to utilize his natural talents to their fullest—and change the entire narrative about his career.
Especially now that the Jets have further invested in upgrading their linebacking corps and secondary—which should force opposing quarterbacks to hold the ball longer—and leave them as a sitting duck for McDonald to come to sack them!
Zion Johnson, OG, Los Angeles Chargers
When the Chargers took Zion Johnson 17th overall in the 2022 Draft, they did so with the idea that he was going to be a cornerstone piece for their offensive line for years to come, but that has not come to fruition.
Which is strange… because it seemed like he was off to a good start to his career… he even made the all-rookie team, but things have gone off the rails for Johnson quickly. He has gotten dinged up a few times…
But perhaps even more impactful was the injuries to other key contributors on the Chargers o-line, namely Corey Linsley, who missed the final 14 games of the 2023 season due to a heart issue, which will unfortunately, likely result in his early retirement.
Johnson looked completely lost without a seasoned NFL veteran next to him—so much so that despite his rookie accolades, folks were slapping the bust label on him left, right, and center.
But the Chargers have made a significant upgrade to their offensive line, bringing in a seasoned veteran center in Bradley Bozeman to provide stability and mentoring.
Additionally, they got a new head coach in Jim Harbaugh, who is known for instilling toughness and preparation in all 53 men on the roster—and for building teams that can run the damn ball with the best of them!
Look for Johnson to capitalize on the veteran leadership of Bozeman, as well as Harbaugh’s coaching—and o-line friendly system—to prove the doubters wrong this season and shed the bust label for good!
Bryan Bresee , DT, New Orleans Saints
Bryan Bresee’s transition to the NFL was not as smooth as anticipated. Drafted in the first round out of Clemson, Bresee was expected to be a game-changer for the Saints’ defensive line. However, the former 2nd overall pick has struggled to mesh with the Saints’ defensive schemes—and the growing consensus is that the lack of a clear role stunted his development.
That said, he still has all of the physical tools needed to be a dominant defensive tackle.
He stands at six foot five inches and clears three bills on the scale, yet possess the athleticism of a much smaller man.
With his handwork and strength, there is no reason that he shouldn’t continue to develop—provided the Saints give him an opportunity to do so.
And considering how last year ended, they will almost definitely be looking for potential solutions to tighten up their operations on the defensive side of the ball.
Finding a way to get the most out of their talented young tackle should be at the top of that list!
Also Read: 5 Reasons Why Caleb Williams Is A Future NFL BUST… And 5 Why He’s The REAL DEAL Superstar
Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Washington Commanders
2023 was a nightmare for Emmanuel Forbes, the Washington Commanders’ 16th overall pick in that year’s draft.
The defensive back out of Mississippi State, Emmanuel struggled mightily throughout his rookie season with the Commanders and was consistently targeted by opposing quarterbacks.
The expectation was that Forbes would be a lockdown corner for Washington, but that was a far departure from reality.
In fairness to the rookie, though, Washington’s entire defense, their whole team really, was a mess last year. The lack of a pass rush and disjointed secondary didn’t do him any favors.
We are ready to buy low on Forbes and look for him to shake off a tough 2023 and the NFL bust label in one fell swoop this year!
Cole Strange, OL, New England Patriots
There were a lot of questions raised when the Patriots took Cole Strange 29th overall in the 2022 NFL Draft, as the general consensus was that the former University of Tennessee Chatanooga lineman would’ve been available much later in the draft, like two or three rounds later—should New England have waited to take him then.
He was able to secure and maintain the starting job during his rookie year, but it wasn’t always pretty.
Strange often looked overmatched by NFL caliber defensive lineman, who possessed a level of athleticism that he simply doesn’t.
To make matters worse, he missed a good chunk of the 203 season due to a torn patella tendon in his left knee.
That said…
He will be back this year with something to prove—especially with Jerod Mayo and a whole new coaching regime in pace that he has to validate his roster spot to.
Once Strange gets back out on the field this year, look for him to re-establish himself as the starter and then some. There will be no more bust talk—or speculation as to whether or not the Pats should’ve taken him as high as they did.
Skyy Moore, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
There have been very few second round picks with as high of expectations heading into their rookie year as Skyy Moore.
But then again, not everyone is as fortunate as Moore was—to be a wide receiver getting slotted into Andy Reid’s offense, with Patrick Mahomes throwing the ball to him!
There were some concerns about Moore’s size transitioning to the NFL level, but most scouts thought that between his 4.41 speed and his impressive agility and route running, he would be able to mitigate and disadvantage he had there.
But that couldn’t have been further from the case.
Moore has looked completely lost out there… He hasn’t gone for more than 250 yards in either of his two NFL seasons—and has essentially been a non-factor.
That said, the potential for Moore to develop in that offense is still there. He hasn’t burned that bridge down like Kadarius Toney did…
And with the right tweaks to his game, the Western Michigan standout can still turn into a solid pro and shake free of that dreaded NFL bust label.
Trey Lance, QB, Dallas Cowboys
Okay… This one is a little bit of a long shot… but hear me out!
Trey Lance’s tenure with the San Francisco 49ers was plagued by injuries and lack of opportunity. The former third overall was expected to be the 49ers’ franchise quarterback, but an onslaught of injuries halted any chance of that ever happening in San Fran.
And… I get it; when he did get in—he didn’t exactly look like a world-beater… But that is because his development was stunted by the lack of playing time and recurring injuries.
The trade to Dallas, however, gave him a fresh start and a chance to reset his career—under Dak Prescott’s mentorship.
That said… Dak is still definitively the starting quarterback in Dallas… Just like Tony Romo was when they drafted Dak.
But considering the surly quarterback’s injury history, it is not just a possibility, but a likely one—that he ends up missing significant time due to injury.
And who is to say that Lance doesn’t do what Prescott did to Romo and Wally Pip him—with help from the Cowboys’ strong supporting cast?
Leaving the Bay Area could’ve been a blessing in disguise. It gave him the opportunity to develop at his own pace—and now he could find himself slotted in behind the Cowboys’ offensive line with dynamic playmakers that could help him finally live up to his potential.
Obviously, this one has a major dependency, but it could happen!
Kaiir Elam, CB, Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills drafted Kaiir Elam in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft and after only two seasons folks are eager to call the former Florida Gators’ cornerback as a bust.
Elam was slotted into action earlier than he probably should have been due to injuries… And while the chance to start was a great opportunity—he wasn’t ready for it, and in both of his outings, he looked outmatched—in part due to a foot ailment—and couldn’t keep the starting job.
He was soon placed on injured reserve, and once he returned, he was a healthy scratch for the remainder of the year.
Heading into 2024, Elam should have something to prove. He should be fully healthy and eager to show Buffalo’s coaching staff that he is NFL-ready and not a bust.
Jameson Williams, WR, Detroit Lions
It is amazing what a couple of bad seasons will do. It feels like no one even remembers what an electric playmaker, Jameson Williams, was like in Alabama.
In 2021, he consistently torched defenses with his speed and route-running prowess to the tune of 1572 yards and 15 touchdowns… And he added two touchdowns in the return game.
The man couldn’t be stopped.
Unfortunately, his foray into the NFL has been a different story. In part, this was due to the ACL tear that he suffered early in Alabama’s 2022 National Championship Game loss to Georgia.
Considering he had seven receptions for 184 receiving yards and two touchdowns in the SEC Title Game when they beat Georgia—you have to think that was a painful injury for Williams and Crimson Tide fans alike, as his absence was a HUGE factor.
In any case, the injury also cost him 11 games in his rookie year and seemed to throw his entire developmental curve off.
Then, in 2023, he was one of four Lions players suspended for violating the NFL’s gambling policy, costing him another four games.
Now that he has had a full offseason to prepare and will hopefully have his first full season without interruption, there is a great chance that Williams is poised to finally live up to the expectations and shed the “bust” label.
Also Read: 5 NFL Rookies That Will Be STARS…And 5 That Will Be Big-Time BUSTS
