7. DeSean Jackson, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
DeSean Jackson entered 2017 with five 1,000-yard seasons under his belt. Being paired with Mike Evans seemed like a move that would take his deep threat to a whole new level. Immediately, the Buccaneers sported what appeared on paper to be one of the best receiver combos in the NFL, but expectations never materialized. Jackson finished the year with only 668 yards, which was the second-lowest total of his career, and just three touchdowns, which was also the second-lowest of his career.
6. Terrelle Pryor Sr., WR, Washington Redskins
Perhaps no player in the NFL under-performed at the level Terrelle Pryor did in Washington. Expectations weren’t exactly sky-high for him, but he failed to deliver and that will likely cost him in free agency in 2018. When all was said and done, he appeared in just nine games, recording 20 receptions for 240 yards and one touchdown. Considering Pryor had eclipsed 1,000 yards receiving in 2016 with the Browns, it was a rapid and dramatic fall from grace.
5. Solomon Thomas, DE, San Francisco 49ers
A first-round pick (No. 3 overall) of the 49ers in the 2017 NFL Draft, Solomon Thomas was expected to come in and help completely revamp the team’s pass rush. Instead, he recorded just 41 tackles (34 solo), which was 27th among rookies, and three sacks, which was tied for eighth among rookies. His 53.2 PFF grade also ranked 92nd among all edge rushers. Needless to say, Thomas failed to live up to his early billing as a top-5 pick. He has the remainder of his career to course correct.
4. Taco Charlton, DE, Dallas Cowboys
When the Cowboys selected Taco Charlton in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft, many believed he was a steal who would provide Dallas with an elite pass rusher they needed so badly. But it was that pre-draft hype that may have done Charlton in — it was a lot to live up to. The NFL transition was a tough one for Charlton, who recorded just 19 tackles (15 solo) and three sacks in his rookie season. His PFF grade of 52.5 was also ranked 94th among all edge rushers in 2018. Needless to say, he didn’t live up to some of the massive expectations set for him.
3. Jay Ajayi, RB, Philadelphia Eagles
After rushing for nearly 1,300 yards and scoring eight touchdowns in 2016, expectations were off the charts for Jay Ajayi entering the 2017 season. However, it became clear the Miami Dolphins were going in a different direction offensively and Ajayi wasn’t buying in. So after averaging just 3.4 yards per carry midway through the season, the Dolphins decided to pull the plug and send him to Philadelphia. With the Eagles, Ajayi did find a niche role, serving as a rotational back alongside LeGarrette Blount and Corey Clement. And while his 5.8 yards per carry average looks impressive, if you were to take away a 71-yard run, Ajayi would have gained just 337 yards at 4.9 yards per carry. The average per carry is still strong, but the overall product (873 yards and one touchdown) in 2017 wasn’t.
2. Dez Bryant, WR, Dallas Cowboys
Once upon a time, Dez Bryant was considered among the most elite receivers in the NFL. That, of course, has not been the case in recent years, but it didn’t stop the hype from building entering 2017. The belief was that Bryant would finally return to form with Dak Prescott under center, but that didn’t happen. For the third straight season, Bryant failed to reach the 1,000-yard mark or record double-digit touchdowns (he only had six). His PFF grade of 75.2 also ranked him as the 47th receiver in the NFL. Perhaps a Cowboys/Bryant divorce could be upcoming?
1. DeVante Parker, WR, Miami Dolphins
A 2015 first-round pick of the Dolphins, DeVante Parker had high expectations from the get-go. However, after two sub-par seasons, the pressure was really on to perform in 2017. And the overriding belief was that Parker would not only break out, but establish himself as one of the most elite talents in the league. Remember what Jay Cutler said about him before the season? In the end, Miami ended the season “frustrated” with their No. 1 receiver, who recorded just 57 receptions for 670 yards and a career-low one touchdown. His 73.1 PFF grade also ranked 54th among all wide receivers. Unfortunately for the Dolphins, perhaps Parker has reached his ceiling and all that hype wasn’t warranted.
