Recent NFL first-round picks who face crucial 2023 season
Once-upon-a-time hyped-up draft prospects can quickly devolve into waiver-wire fodder in a short period of time.
Enter Washington Commanders defensive end Chase Young, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft. For one season, the on-field production matched the significant pre-draft hype as Young was named defensive rookie of the year. The past two seasons for Young can best be described as "incomplete."1 Now, a player advertised as the best in his draft class and one the Commanders thought would a cornerstone of their defense for years to come could hit free agency after the 2023 NFL season.
Young is not alone. Hopes that were high can fade quickly as anticipated production expectations are not attained. Young is among 23 former first-round draft picks that Paste BN Sports' Nate Davis has identified as potentially being on thin ice entering this season, a list that also includes eight quarterbacks (EIGHT!).
Dak Prescott is 'embracing' mounting criticism
Dak Prescott, heading into Year 8, didn’t exactly guarantee that this will be the year the Dallas Cowboys – the once "America's Team"2 now "America’s Biggest Tease" – break out with a Super Bowl triumph.
➤ PHOTOS: Cowboys head coaches through the years
'Johnny Football' examined with in-depth Netflix documentary
The phenomenon known as "Johnny Football" is highlighted in a new Netflix documentary debuting Aug. 8, with the 111-minute production chronicling Johnny Manziel's rise as the 2012 Heisman Trophy winner3 to 2014 first-round draft pick4 by the Cleveland Browns, and then subsequent crash landing. Examined are the drinking, partying, domestic violence allegations, and the infamous Las Vegas trip, when Manziel showed up in a fake mustache, wig and glasses even though the Browns had a game that weekend in Cleveland.
➤ PHOTOS: Ups and downs of Johnny Manziel's football career
More from around the NFL
- Eagles bolster defense with two veteran free-agent linebackers
- Which teams are trade fits for Colts RB Jonathan Taylor?
- Saints star suspended 3 games by NFL for Las Vegas fight
- NFL suspends Chiefs lineman, Seahawks receiver for six games
- Packers narrow their backup QB competition by releasing Danny Etling
- Season-ticket sellout shows Detroit Lions' fans are on the hype train
- Jets' Hackett on Sean Payton's 'unfortunate' remarks: 'There's a code'
- When does 'Hard Knocks' with the Jets start? This week!
➤ PHOTOS: NFL players on the move during 2023 offseason
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1 During the 2021 season, Chase Young tore his ACL in Week 10. He was placed on the PUP (physically unable to perform) list during training camp of 2022 and did not return to the active roster until November. Young has appeared in 12 games over the last two seasons.
2 The "America's Team" nickname was born out of the 1970s when NFL Films came up with the moniker for the team's 1978 highlight film. The Cowboys reached their fifth Super Bowl in nine years that season.
3 In the 2012 Heisman Trophy voting, Johnny Manziel finished just over 300 points ahead of the second-place finisher, Manti Te'o of Notre Dame. Those two were followed by Kansas State QB Collin Klein, USC WR Marqise Lee, Ohio State QB Braxton Miller and South Carolina DE Jadeveon Clowney. Manziel finished fifth in the Heisman voting in 2013, when Florida State QB Jameis Winston won the award.
4 In the 2014 NFL draft, Johnny Manziel was selected 10 picks ahead of Teddy Bridgewater, 14 spots before Derek Carr and 40 picks before Jimmy Garoppolo. Players with multiple Pro Bowl selections drafted after Manziel include DeMarcus Lawrence, Joel Bitonio, Davante Adams and Jarvis Landry.