Every NFL season is replete with both new challenges and opportunities for its standout players. This past season was no exception, featuring noteworthy performances, surprising trades, and significant injury setbacks.
Calvin Ridley's Resurgence
Calvin Ridley has had a tumultuous couple of years. After stepping away from football in 2021 to focus on his mental health, he spent the entire 2022 season suspended under the NFL's gambling policy. However, Ridley's return in 2023 with the Jacksonville Jaguars was nothing short of impressive. He posted 76 catches for 1,016 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. This remarkable comeback earned him a lucrative four-year, $92 million contract with the Tennessee Titans, averaging $23 million annually.
Stefon Diggs: A Season of Highs and Lows
Stefon Diggs had a strong start last season with Buffalo, tallying 49 catches for 620 yards and five touchdowns in just six games. However, his performance waned over the final 11 games, where he failed to surpass the 100-yard mark in any single game. In the playoffs, Diggs managed 10 receptions for 73 yards and no touchdowns over two games. Following these performances, Diggs was traded to the Houston Texans in March, a deal that saw Buffalo receiving a 2025 second-round pick. As part of this trade, Diggs' contract was reworked, increasing his salary for 2024 to $22.52 million from $19.005 million.
Nick Chubb's Injury Woes
Nick Chubb faced a devastating setback two games into the 2023 season, suffering a severe left knee injury that involved tearing his ACL, MCL, and meniscus. It's worth noting that Chubb had a career-high 1,525 rushing yards in 2022 and had previously torn his LCL, MCL, and PCL in 2015 while playing at the University of Georgia. Despite the latest injury, the Cleveland Browns retained Chubb on a revised contract, ensuring him a fully guaranteed $2.05 million, with potential earnings up to $12.225 million.
Tee Higgins' Limited Impact
The Bengals' receiver Tee Higgins was limited by injuries to just 12 games in 2023. He still managed 42 receptions for 656 yards and five touchdowns. Designated as a franchise player for $21.816 million, Higgins subsequently requested a trade. Meanwhile, the Bengals have shifted their focus to planning a blockbuster contract extension for star receiver Ja'Marr Chase.
Ronnie Stanley's Struggles with Consistency
Left tackle Ronnie Stanley has struggled with consistency since signing a five-year, $98.75 million extension in 2020. He has only managed to participate in 26 out of a possible 61 regular-season games. Last season, though, Stanley played 13 games and agreed to a pay cut for 2024, reducing his compensation to $7.5 million from $15 million. His new deal includes incentives that could boost his earnings to a maximum of $17.5 million based on playtime and honors.
Challenges for Kyle Pitts
Kyle Pitts made an impressive debut with 1,026 receiving yards and a Pro Bowl selection in his rookie season, but his production has dipped over the last two seasons due to injuries. Over these two years, Pitts managed 1,023 yards in 27 games. The Falcons, however, remain optimistic, as they have picked up his fifth-year option for 2025, worth $10.878 million. New Falcons coach Raheem Morris expressed excitement about how Pitts will be utilized in the coming seasons.
Marquise Brown and Najee Harris
Marquise Brown had a career-low 574 receiving yards on 51 catches across 14 games in 2023. He recently signed a one-year, $7 million deal with Kansas City, with potential earnings reaching $11 million with incentives. However, Brown is expected to miss the regular-season opener against the Ravens due to a dislocated left shoulder.
Meanwhile, Najee Harris has been a model of consistency, gaining over 1,000 rushing yards in each of his three NFL seasons. Despite this, the Steelers did not exercise a fully guaranteed $6.79 million fifth-year option for Harris in 2025.
New Contracts and Extensions
Among other notable deals, the Patriots extended running back Rhamondre Stevenson with a four-year, $36 million contract featuring over $17 million guaranteed. Jawaan Taylor, meanwhile, inked a four-year, $80 million contract with Pittsburgh, including $60 million in guarantees. Taylor led the NFL in penalties and penalty yards in 2023 but has a fully guaranteed $20 million salary scheduled for 2025.
Significant Moves for the Titans
The Titans made several strategic moves, signing DeAndre Hopkins to a two-year deal before last year's training camp and recently adding Tyler Boyd on a one-year contract. Together with Treylon Burks, who had 49 receptions for 665 yards and a single touchdown in 21 games since being drafted, they bolster the Titans’ receiving corps for quarterback Ryan Tannehill.
This season has certainly been a whirlwind of highs and lows for many NFL players. With each passing year, the dynamics of the league continue to evolve, bringing new opportunities and challenges to light.