As the common wisdom goes, the average length of an NFL career is 3.3 years. Being drafted highly lengthens the average career considerably, but there are still no guarantees for the rookies entering the league this year that they’ll stick around for long.But some rookies have even more to prove than simply why they deserve their roster spot. Here are the five under the most scrutiny.Caleb Williams, QB, Chicago BearsBeing the first overall draft pick promises you nothing but pressure. Will your career path turn out like Peyton Manning’s or JaMarcus Russell’s?Williams may have been one of the highest-graded quarterback prospects in recent history, but now his job is to translate his talent to the big leagues—for a team that chased Justin Fields out of town after 38 starts to make room for him.Chicago has never had a true star quarterback, and it feels like an uphill climb for Williams to make himself the first. He’s already had to deal with the ridiculous firestorm some fans kicked up over getting his nails painted pink. If the Bears don’t get off to a great start, hold on for dear life.Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Arizona CardinalsThis April’s draft was chock full of second-generation talent (or nepo babies, if you’re cynical). You remember Kris Jenkins and Jeremiah Trotter, don’t you? Welcome to the NFL, Kris Jenkins Jr., and Jeremiah Trotter Jr. Heck, Brenden Rice, the son of Jerry, was a seventh-round pick by the Chargers, basically an afterthought.None of them have more to prove than Marvin Harrison Jr., whose famous name combined with his undeniable talent made him the fourth overall pick by Arizona. As we wrote Sunday, Harrison also carries the responsibility of elevating Kyler Murray’s play as the Cardinals’ immediate WR1.Bo Nix , QB, Denver BroncosBe honest, did anyone have Nix—the sixth-best QB in this draft class—coming off the board in the top 12? Then again, this is what you get with Denver, a team that’s swung and missed on Drew Lock, Paxton Lynch, and, to a different extent, Tim Tebow. After the Russell Wilson disaster, the Broncos reached for a 24-year-old college vet with the 12th pick.Nix’s “competition” is Zach Wilson and Jarrett Stidham, so he’s more likely to start Week 1 than fellow rookies like Michael Penix Jr. in Atlanta or J.J. McCarthy in Minnesota. He had better show that he’s the right fit for coach Sean Payton’s system.Tyler Guyton, OL, Dallas CowboysYou’ve made it to the pros; now would you mind changing positions for us? Part of what Guyton must prove in the NFL is his ability to switch from right to left tackle for the Cowboys. He played right tackle at Oklahoma, protecting the blind side of lefty quarterback Dillon Gabriel, but the 29th overall pick is projected to start on the left side of Dallas’ usually vaunted O-line, keeping Dak Prescott upright.Besides that, it’s the Dallas freaking Cowboys. You can’t escape the spotlight there, even if you wear a jersey number in the 60s.Adonai Mitchell, WR, Indianapolis ColtsA first-round talent at wide receiver, Mitchell took one of the biggest slides in the draft before being selected 52nd overall by the Colts. The report that Mitchell interviewed poorly and had attitude concerns related to how he manages his Type 1 diabetes—and the way Colts GM Chris Ballard chose to respond after drafting him, calling the reports “bull****"—will have Mitchell under a microscope as a rookie.The bright side for Mitchell? All that will be forgotten if he flashes the same talent he showed at Georgia and Texas. Playing opposite Michael Pittman Jr., he figures to get a bunch of targets as a rookie and could quickly become a star. Relatedfootball sportsbooksbetting sites for nflcollege football sportsbooksnba online betting sitesbetting on mlb gamesbet on nhl gamesbetting sites for ufcsoccer betsfree copa america sportsbooks
Related Posts
Felipe Anderson will not be leaving West Ham United this summer, according to Sky Sports and their sources.
Anderson arrived to the London Stadium in 2018 for club transfer record of £35 million, and he has adapted to the challenges of the Premier League very well, scoring nine goals and laying on five assists in 36 games he has played in all competitions this season. His form has sparked the interest of Real Madrid.
The Champions League holders are looking to sign Eden Hazard first and foremost, but should they fail in their attempt to land the Belgian, Anderson would be a decent alternative in their eyes.
However, it appears that West Ham co-owner David Sullivan isn t interested for the club to part ways with the 25-year-old winger, despite believing that …
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola believes it would be impossible for him to emulate Crystal Palace counterpart Roy Hodgson and remain in football management until the age of 71.
Hodgson and Palace play host to Guardiola s men on Sunday, a little over two hours before Premier League leaders Liverpool welcome Chelsea to Anfield.
The race for the 2018-19 title looks set to go down to the wire and the reigning champions will be wary ahead of their visit to Selhurst Park, having lost 3-2 at home to Palace prior to Christmas.
Hodgson has since become the oldest man to manage a team in a Premier League fixture, but Guardiola has no desire to remain in the game anywhere near as long as the former England boss.
In my case? No way. It s impossible. Roy Hodgso…
Lukas Podolski was left angered by criticism of his inclusion in Germany s 23-man squad for the upcoming Euro 2016.
Social media users were surprised by Podolski s call-up, despite Borussia Dortmund s Marco Reus being left out of the tournament due to injury.
Podolski scored 13 goals for Galatasaray in 2015-16, including the winner in their 1-0 Turkish Cup final win over rivals Fenerbahce.
The 30-year-old hit back at claims he is only going to France as a mascot , and believes he can play a big part in Germany s push for a first European Championship in 20 years.
I m not going as a mascot as some people have described it, Podolski said.
I find it shows a total lack of respect. I ve got over 100 caps. To describe me as a mascot, I think…
After a poor outing in Champions League quarterfinals, Juventus are preparing for a big summer. Loss to Ajax at Allianz Stadium did not go well with the board of the club and the Old Lady is ready to make some moves in the market. One of them could be coming from France.
Juventus are one of a number of top clubs interested in signing Lyon s Nabil Fekir, according to L Equipe. The attacking midfielder that almost signed for Liverpool last summer is now even more expected to leave the French club and join a bigger side in another top five European league. After he reportedly failed a medical at Liverpool although details were never officially released the Reds cold be once again going after him.
Fekir is 25 years old and has 12 goals and seven assists in 36 appea…
Manchester City F.C. goalkeeper Joe Hart has put pen to paper on a new long-term deal at the Etihad Stadium.
The England international, who has joined the likes of Aleksandar Kolarov, David Silva, Edin Dzeko, Samir Nasri, and Sergio Aguero in signing new contracts with City in 2014, is now under contract with the English Premier League champions until the summer of 2019.
I m really happy, I ve been here a long time now and I want to keep that going, Hart told mcfc.co.uk.
The new deal means I get to stay longer – the Club’s doing amazing things at the moment, we ve created history and we want to keep doing that.
Wanting to stay here was never going to be an issue for me I ve loved every moment since I joined.
I m really a…
Metz striker Modibo Maiga has earned a recall to the Mali squad for the Africa Cup of Nations.
The on-loan West Ham frontman has not featured for his national team since a 3-1 friendly defeat to South Korea in October 2013.
Maiga s last competitive outing came at AFCON 2013, but the 27-year-old s four goals in 10 league appearances have caught the eye of Mali coach Henryk Kasperczak, despite the striker being disciplined by the Ligue 1 club for an unauthorised absence earlier this month.
Ajaccio goalkeeper Oumar Sissoko is dropped from the squad in favour of N Tji Michel Samake who, along with Maiga and midfielder Abdou Traore, is one of three players not to have played a qualifying fixture ahead of the tournament in Equatorial Guinea.
Roma midfielder Sey…
Best Odds: 1/1
Bookmaker:
Turning their attention back to Premier League duties on Sunday afternoon, Arsenal will travel to Craven Cottage when they meet Fulham.
Fulham
Starting with the hosts, watching their eye-catching flurry come to an abrupt end against local rivals Brentford earlier in the week, Fulham will be seeking an immediate response here. Eventually slumping to an action-packed 3-2 defeat when they made the trip across west London on Monday night, Marco Silva’s men should still find the mood in their camp at a red-hot high. While the Cottagers might have only made their Premier League return this season, they now find themselves sat in pole position to claim a shock top-half finish come May. Only continuing to gain a string of plaudits on either …
Rob Page expects to welcome Tom Lockyer back into the Wales squad in September after the Luton defender collapsed during Saturday’s Sky Bet Championship play-off final.
Lockyer was carried off on a stretcher after just eight minutes of the Hatters’ Wembley win against Coventry and remains in hospital.
But Luton boss Rob Edwards has reported the 28-year-old is “fine” and Wales manager Page said Lockyer was in good spirits during a 20-minute telephone conversation he had with the central defender on Monday.
“You are always going to phone your players and show them support,” said Page after confirming Lockyer would be absent from next month’s Euro 2024 qualifiers against Armenia and Turkey.
“It was just to say that we are here for him, in any…
Nigel de Jong has stressed that he remains available for Netherlands and has set his sights on representing his country at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
The combative midfielder has not worn the Oranje jersey since the 1-1 draw with Turkey in March 2015, but has made it clear he still dreams of adding to his 81 caps.
Of course, Netherlands should have been there at Euro 2016. I have not missed a major tournament in ages, De Jong told Metro.
Oranje must qualify for the 2018 World Cup now. I definitely want to be there.
I never said I retired from Oranje duty. I am still only 31. I have a few more years in me.
Netherlands coach Danny Blind previously suggested De Jong would have to return to Europe in order to have a chance of making his intern…
Ivan Rakitic expects former club Sevilla to cause Barcelona plenty of problems in Sunday s Copa del Rey final at the Vicente Calderon.
Copa holders Barca clinched the Liga title on the final day of the season with a 3-0 win over Granada and will have enjoyed two weeks rest before they bid to win a second successive domestic double.
Sevilla, on the other hand, come into the match off the back of a Europa League final triumph an incredible third in three years against Liverpool in Basle, and will have had just four days to recover for the Copa showdown.
But Rakitic, who swapped the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan for Camp Nou in 2014, expects his old boss Unai Emery to have Sevilla meticulously prepared to cause an upset.
When you re in a final, you have to be at…