2021 NFL Draft: Which players are on thin ice in year three?
Some players from the 2021 NFL Draft are facing a very crucial third season in the NFL. Who are some of these players under a ton of pressure? There are likely multiple people from each round who are facing perhaps the most important year of their football careers.
In this piece, we’ll focus in on a few of them who are perhaps under some extra pressure. As you could imagine, many of these players facing pressure are quarterbacks. We live in an NFL world where instant gratification seems to be common, so demanding instant success isn’t uncommon anymore.
Among the 2021 NFL draftees, who are three that might be on thin ice heading into 2023?
2021 NFL Draft: Which players are on thin ice in year three?
Mac Jones, New England Patriots
This is an obvious one. Mac Jones was the 15th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and beat out veteran incumbent Cam Newton for the starting job. The Patriots then proceeded to cut Cam Newton and Mac Jones enjoyed a stellar rookie season, winning 10 games and making the playoffs.
He fell back down to Earth in year two, and his apparent rocky relationship with Bill Belichick likely has him with one foot out the door already. If Jones doesn’t rebound in a big way, I can easily see Belichick looking elsewhere.
Justin Fields, Chicago Bears
For somewhat similar reasons, Justin Fields need to have a big year three in the NFL. He was abysmal in his rookie season but really came on as a passer and runner in year two. The kicker here is that Fields was drafted by the previous regime, so GM Ryan Poles doesn’t have a connection to him.
There are still a ton of questions that Fields has to answer, and if he doesn’t do that in year three, the Bears might be looking elsewhere.
Terrace Marshall Jr, Carolina Panthers
Terrace Marshall Jr has all the talent in the world but has not yet broken out in the NFL. The former LSU product was taken in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft and seemed to become a bit of an afterthought.
He’s got just 45 receptions for 628 yards and one touchdown through two seasons in the NFL. Moreover, the Panthers sent DJ Moore to the Bears to be able to trade up to the #1 overall pick in 2023.
Marshall seems to have an inline to be a strong contributor in 2023, especially playing in a well-run offense that Frank Reich will likely install. With Jonathan Mingo and Laviska Shenault also on the depth chart, Marshall needs to have a strong season if he wants to stick around.