Many NFL players have moved homes this season for various reasons. Maybe they needed a change of scenery or had run out of time on their previous NFL team. Many of these players will benefit from the changes, whether they were bad last year or not.
Also, some NFL players might surprise the world by playing better than anyone expects. They may have been plagued with injuries or just plain bad last year, but that’s probably not the case anymore. Here are some examples.
•
NFL Players Who Could Be Surprisingly Good Next Year
1) Allen Lazard
Allen Lazard isn’t one of the best wide receivers, having been pressured into it last year in Green Bay. He’s good, but he’s not someone the defense has particular game plans for. However, he could be surprisingly good in 2023.
If Aaron Rodgers joins him on the New York Jets, he’ll have a good relationship with his new quarterback. He will also have the benefit of defenses switching coverage to Garrett Wilson. Those two factors could make Lazard a good receiver next season.
2) Jimmy Garoppolo
Jimmy Garoppolo is not an elite quarterback. His win/loss record is due to a few things, mainly his team’s talent, but also that he has worked with good offensive minds. It’s hard for anyone to look bad with Kyle Shanahan running his offense.
However, Garoppolo could surprise people next season when he once again looks like one of the NFL’s most skilled and competent players at quarterback. Josh McDaniels isn’t Shanahan, but he has a good offensive mind. He is also familiar with Garoppolo from his time in New England. Throwing in Davante Adams won’t hurt either.
3) Miles Sanders
The Carolina Panthers don’t have the dominant offensive line that the Philadelphia Eagles have. They also don’t have Shane Steichen running their offense or Nick Sirianni helping. They also don’t have a running quarterback to take pressure off the running back.
For these reasons, many fans expect Miles Sanders to be one of the NFL players to step back next season. However, the Panthers have a very strong offensive line. They went from Christian McCaffrey to Chuba Hubbard to D’Onta Foreman and barely missed a beat.
Sanders is also a very good player who might not be as dependent on the situation as people think. He could be surprisingly good this year.
4) Odell Beckham Jr.
Odell Beckham Jr. is coming off a major ACL injury and hasn’t played in more than a season. He also has other injuries in the past that have put many teams on hiatus this offseason. However, he is likely to surprise many people with how good he is next year.
Beckham was one of the most dynamic players in the NFL when he was healthy even in 2021, the last time he played. People may have forgotten that he was headed to a Super Bowl MVP award before getting injured and helping guide the Los Angeles Rams to that game in the first place.
If the Ravens pair him with a legitimate NFL quarterback, he’s in for a surprisingly good year.
5) Kyler Murray
Kyler Murray signed a massive extension last offseason. He is currently the third highest paid player in the NFL and he was not good last season and then he got injured. When he comes back, people can remember how difficult last season was and forget how talented he is.
You will no longer be frustrated with Kliff Kingsbury. While Jonathan Gannon is a former defensive coordinator, they will probably have a better relationship regardless and his talent will shine once again.