When it comes to the NFL, loyalty to a starter only goes so far. At some point, the coaches have to make that tough call: either ride it out with a struggling player or make the bold move to bench them.
Even when they are a big-name star!
So, let’s dig into the players who are holding their teams back and break down why— whether it’s due to inconsistent play, age catching up, or just a poor fit with the scheme—that these starters need to take a seat—like, yesterday.
Which 10 NFL players aren’t quality starters anymore?
Anton Harrison, RT, Jacksonville Jaguars
Anton Harrison came into this season with a lot of hope and a lot of hype after a decent rookie campaign, but 2024 has been nothing but a reality check for him and the Jags… and a harsh one at that.
After a string of tough losses and some questionable protection on the line, he’s starting to look more like a liability than an asset. Harrison himself even admitted things are slipping, saying, “It sucks, knowing we’re a better team,” second-year right tackle Anton Harrison said. “We can put out a lot better than we do. Just knowing that every week and just coming out on the losing side, it sucks. You just have to try to keep getting better and doing the right things to get Ws.”
Sure, but when you’re graded 58.2 and the 82nd out of 126 tackles by PFF, that’s just unacceptable… Maybe you should focus more on turning your own performance around rather than the rest of the team!
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If the Jaguars want any chance of getting back on track, it’s time to explore other options at right tackle.
Jordyn Brooks, LB, Miami Dolphins
Jordyn Brooks, who came over with solid expectations from his time in Seattle, just hasn’t been cutting it in Miami. Granted… not much has been working for the Dolphins this season, as they have been battling some pretty serious injury issues across the board…
But still!
Against Buffalo, their most recent loss, it was like he was running around out there blindfolded—missing tackles, taking poor angles, and simply getting pushed around.
When James Cook broke free on that 49-yard dash, Brooks was nowhere to be found, caught out of position yet again.
And this isn’t a one-time thing; this has been a trend week in and week out. If the Dolphins are serious about a playoff push or even turning this season into a respectable one, they can’t keep trotting out a linebacker who’s basically been a ghost out on the field this year.
Zamir White, RB, Las Vegas Raiders
Though he has been toggled back and forth with Alexander Mattison, the Raiders have made it clear that White is their go-to guy—at least up until recently when his usage has finally started to dwindle.
Yet, the Raiders keep waiting for Zamir White to deliver, but it’s like they’re waiting for a miracle. The guy has talent, sure, but his production this season has been a disappointment—and is missing the mark of what they need, considering their lackluster passing game, by a significant margin.
Also Read: 8 NFL Teams That Will Definitely Have A New Quarterback Next Season
Nick Chubb, RB, Cleveland Browns
Inspirational stories mean a lot in the cities where they happen, but not to the rest of the NFL fans who have to watch.
He clearly doesn’t seem like he’s back to his regular self yet, and until he is, there is no reason to have him on the field, especially not as the starter.
I get that Chubb has been the heart and soul of the Browns’ backfield for years. But after his recent knee injury, Chubb just isn’t the same explosive force he once was.
Cleveland fans love him, and for a good reason, but sentiment can’t put points on the board, and it’s tough to watch a player who’s been such a reliable stumble like this.
As much as it hurts, the Browns need to make the hard call and consider other options until Chubb is back to full speed. Otherwise, they’re just setting themselves up for heartbreak.
Carl Granderson, DE, New Orleans Saints
It has been tough sledding this season for the Wyoming product, Carl Granderson, down in NOLA because, despite playing across from Cam Jordan, he has really struggled to get any meaningful pressure on the opposing quarterback.
In fact, he had three sacks in the first three weeks of the season but has only managed half of one since—which has unsurprisingly coincided with the team’s skid…
It is impossible to deny that his momentum has hit a wall, and he’s been virtually invisible since.
It’s one thing to go through a dry spell, but when you’re playing across from Jordan, who is going to draw the attention from opposing offenses—you’re supposed to take advantage of that!
To make matters worse, this is the first season for Granderson coming off the four-year, $52 million contract extension that includes $35.3 million in guarantees, he signed this NFL offseason.
A half-sack over multiple games just isn’t going to cut it. We all know this!
It’s time for New Orleans to see if someone else on their roster can bring the heat because right now, Granderson is nothing more than a money suck that is eating up a valuable spot on the field in addition to all that cap room.
Lil’Jordan Humphrey, WR, Denver Broncos
The sixth-year wide receiver has appeared in 41 games over his NFL career, which started back with the Saints in 2019… and in the time since he has bounced around a bit going from the New England Patriots in 2022 to the Denver Broncos in 2023, where he had one of his best seasons, tallying 31 catches for 477 yards, with six touchdowns.
Credit to Humphrey for parlaying that performance into a new opportunity in the Mile High City, where he has settled into the wide receiver 2 responsibilities.
Granted, there are some inherent challenges to having a rookie quarterback in Bo Nix under center, but still… It might be time for the Broncos to take a look down their bench for someone else who can step up…
Because with Humphrey in the middle of their efforts, Denver’s receiving corps is in rough shape.
As the team’s WR2, he’s supposed to be a key target, but you’ve seen his production through nine games. It’s clear he’s not living up to the billing.
The Broncos desperately need production, and Humphrey’s failing to deliver in the red zone and on third downs. They’ve got Marvin Mims Jr. waiting in the wings, and if they’re looking for a spark, he might be the guy. Humphrey’s got the experience, but Denver can’t keep waiting for him to show up; it’s time to give someone else a shot.
Geno Smith, QB, Seattle Seahawks
This long, strange trip that Seattle has taken with Geno Smith? Well, it’s starting to look like it could derail.
Don’t get me wrong, Geno’s done plenty of good—he’s actually leading the league in passing yards, showing he can air it out with the best of them.
The Seahawks have options, too. They picked up Sam Howell in a trade this past March—a move that raised some eyebrows but also told us Seattle had a backup plan.
Howell showed a lot of promise as a rookie, and obviously, Seattle’s staff seems to see something in him, even though head coach Will Macdonald didn’t pick Geno himself; he inherited him from Pete Carroll before Carroll stepped down.
So, if the Seahawks are thinking about a change, the timing couldn’t be better.
The next game is against the 49ers, a team Geno’s never beaten as Seattle’s starter. And with the way things have been going? Not much suggests he’ll pull it off this time, either… So maybe they turn around and give Howell a shot at getting it done.
Smith has provided them with stability, but he is becoming a turnover machine, and right now, Howell might just be the safer bet—and with more upside long-term.
Kenyon Green, LG, Houston Texans
DeMeco Ryans said that everything was on the table when it came to the Texans’ struggling offensive line. He backed up those words Sunday.
After left guard Kenyon Green, the lowest-graded performer from a road loss to the Green Bay Packers with a 29.0 pass-blocking grade, started the game, the former first-round draft pick and Texas A&M consensus All-American from Atascocita High School was benched when he surrendered a sack in the first quarter. He was replaced by center-guard Jarrett Patterson.
To his credit, Green, 23, was accountable for his shortcomings in the game.
“I wasn’t playing well,” Green said. “So, they had to make changes. .. It’s football. You have ups and downs. So, just continue to keep going, keep pushing.”
The calamity of the line continued, though. Patterson suffered a concussion on running back Joe Mixon’s touchdown run. So, the Texans sent Green back into the game. That said, he didn’t look much better after his return to action, and we think that it is high time that the Texans benched him for good.
Otherwise, they may risk losing their star quarterback, C.J. Stroud, due to injury at some point this year, as he has been taking an absolute beating.
Gardner Minshew, QB, Las Vegas Raiders
Last, we have Gardner Minshew. Yes, the mustached man himself, who first made his name with the Jacksonville Jaguars all those years ago.
In the time since, he has spent a few seasons bouncing around the NFL, most recently landing the starting gig with the Raiders, but let’s be honest here: it hasn’t exactly been impressive by any means.
And to make matters worse for the journeyman, recently, Minshew’s percentage has taken a nosedive.
His completion percentage? Dropping. Passing yards? Dropping. The guy just can’t sustain a drive to save his life, and it’s leaving the Raiders’ offense stuck in neutral and in the loss column week after week.
So much so, that we saw the Las Vegas Raiders pick up Desmond Ridder of all people off the scrap hear and slot him into the action during their Week 9 loss.
Crazy as it is to say, it may very well be Ridder Time in Sin City… Because it’s time to quit doubling down on Minshew’s magic. That genie has gotten out of the bottle for good, and it is time for him to ride the bench; it’s the only logical move left.
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