5. Ty Montgomery, RB, Green Bay Packers
Ty Montgomery is such an interesting story.
The 2015 third-round pick joined the Green Bay Packers as a versatile athlete who was poised to see time at wide receiver and on special teams. Unfortunately, his rookie campaign was cut short due to an ankle injury, and then he returned in 2016 to uncertain fate.
Ultimately, with an increasing problem at running back, the Packers decided to roll the dice and plug Montgomery into the backfield. He immediately provided a spark as a multi-faceted asset who can create matchup nightmares as a receiver out of the backfield.
By season’s end, the Packers had switched Montgomery to running back outright, which is where he’ll remain in 2017. And with precious little competition at the position, it appears as if Montgomery will become the Packers’ No. 1 back. But he’ll still need to prove that faith is warranted in training camp because, if there’s even a hint that he can’t handle the load, it’s possible for Green Bay to seek out a veteran replacement following the league-wide cut-down days.
4. Jared Goff, QB, Los Angeles Rams
After a limited and relatively unsuccessful rookie campaign, Jared Goff went into the offseason with the desire to be “great.” In order to make that happen, he’s been putting in extra work whenever possible to ensure that once Week 1 rolls around, he’ll be ready to go.
Of course, all of those things are much easier said than done.
Goff’s first season in the NFL is one that he’d like to forget. The No. 1 overall pick from a year ago finished in the bottom of the league in almost every statistical category and not once did he experience the taste of victory as a starter. But those are the lumps most rookie quarterbacks experience; it’s how they react that matters.
Coming into training camp, the Rams will need to see some improvement from Goff. He’ll need to prove that at 22, he’s capable and ready to lead an NFL franchise.
3. Calvin Pryor, S, Cleveland Browns
The writing was on the wall for Calvin Pryor all offseason with the Jets. The team had been shopping him and finally traded him to Cleveland for Demario Davis.
Pryor now will have to compete with first-round pick Jabrill Peppers on his new team, though the Browns could choose to play both safeties at the same time.
#Browns Gregg Williams said could play safeties Jabrill Peppers, Calvin Pryor together. "We'll play as many good players in package as need"
— Scott Petrak ct (@ScottPetrak) June 15, 2017
The 2014 first-round pick has a new home but still has a lot to prove. Either way, he’s excited to have a fresh start.
“I feel like it was a great opportunity — have a fresh start, learn a new system and buy into a new culture,” Pryor said last week, via Cleveland.com. “I had a feeling [with the Jets] drafting two safeties, but I can’t control that. I’m excited. I can’t thank (the Browns) enough.”
Pryor needs to come out in Cleveland and show the world why he was a first-round pick not long ago.
2. Jeremy Hill, RB, Cincinnati Bengals
Prior to the 2017 NFL Draft, Jeremy Hill insisted that if the Cincinnati Bengals selected another running back, that player would ride the pine behind him.
It was a confident statement, but not one necessarily steeped in fact. The reality is, Hill has struggled to replicate his strong rookie campaign, ultimately losing some snaps to Giovani Bernard and now sitting idly by as the Bengals bring in Joe Mixon and all of his off-field concerns to potentially take his job.
Hill may believe he’s got a lock on the starting job, but that attitude is what may eventually lead to him losing it. The Bengals are clearly dismayed with his recent production, and if he doesn’t arrive at training camp ready to battle, he may not only lose his job, but also find himself looking for a new team.
Rumors have already begun to swirl about Hill potentially hitting the trade block, so a strong performance in training camp is an absolute must.
1. Blake Bortles, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars
If a player is destined to become a franchise quarterback, that usually becomes clear entering their fourth season. So for the Jacksonville Jaguars and Blake Bortles, that means the time is now.
The Jaguars have done an admirable job piecing together quality talent over the previous few years, and with Tom Coughlin now in charge of football operations, the timing is right to make a run. The only thing potentially preventing them from that is the development of Bortles, who has been criticized for the last several months.
Still, Jacksonville has stuck with the young gun-slinger, but his time may soon be running out. If he enters training camp and continues to display the sort of inconsistencies that have plagued him throughout his first three years in the NFL, it would not only mean the Jaguars are delayed from seriously competing in the AFC, but that they may need a new quarterback.
For now, the Jags are trying to get Bortles to focus on limiting his turnovers.
“If you don’t turn the ball over, you’ll win football games,” Bortles said last month. “Turnovers are going to happen. We get that. You have to make sure to minimize them as much as possible and stay away from the stupid ones.”
To his credit, Bortles has spent the offseason in California working with quarterback guru Tom House, but now he has to show progress on the field. He’s run out of time, and the team has run out of carrots.
