SUMMARY
- Ezekiel Elliott is currently serving as a free agent after a season with the Patriots.
- Khalil Mack is edging towards the end of his career after losing his prime.
Several NFL players have started their football careers with the tag of upcoming legends on their names. Fans, experts, and everyone else have a lot of expectations from them. Their skills and abilities fascinate everyone. However, as the days pass, their form and performance seem to fade, and they are no longer key figures for their teams. The reasons behind this are either injuries or their poor lifestyle.
Here, we will take a brief look at some of the best NFL players who are no longer in their prime and should consider hanging up their helmets. The top five players in the league are listed below.
1. Ezekiel Elliott
One of the fantastic stars of American football, Ezekiel Elliott, who started his professional football career with the Dallas Cowboys with too many expectations, is now in search of his lost potential. Elliot last played for the New England Patriots after making his move before the beginning of the 2023 season, and he is currently serving as a free agent.
From 2016 to 2023, the running back stats reflect that he attempted 2,065 rushes, covered 8,904 yards, had 71 touchdowns, made 356 receptions, and had 2,649 receiving yards. Elliott performed 322 and 242 rushes in his first two seasons, while in his last two seasons, he attempted only 231 and 184 rushes, which showcased his downfall in performance.
Not only that, in the first two seasons, the running back covered 1,631 and 983 yards, but in the last two, he covered 876 and 642 yards. Therefore, his performance has fallen, and if he is unable to get his form back in the new season, he might consider retiring.
2. Khalil Mack
Another league’s superstar, Khalil Mack, the 33-year-old linebacker of the Chargers, needs to catch up and maintain his caliber. Mack began his NFL journey in 2014 with the Oakland Raiders, then moved to the Chicago Bears in 2018, and finally was transferred to the Chargers in 2022.
The linebacker appeared in 151 fixtures in his career and made 442 solo tackles and 149 assist tackles. Mack’s best season was in 2017 when he registered 61 solo tackles and assisted 17 tackles. During the first two seasons of his career, Mack made 153 tackles, but his performance in the last two seasons degraded, and he only managed to perform 124 tackles.
The linebacker made an astonishing comeback in 2023 after a poor 2022 season. Mack is already 33 and lacking in consistency, and making it happen is never an easy task at his age. Hence, the 2024 season will be a vital one for the linebacker. His future depends on his performance this season.
3. Julio Jones
Julio Jones is currently a free agent. Jones last played for the Eagles in the recently ended season. The wide receiver made 166 appearances, received 914 passes, and gained 13,703 yards.
Jones also scored 66 touchdowns and rushed for 163 yards. The 35-year-old played most of the time for the Falcons but also wore Tennessee Titans, Buccaneers, and Eagles shirts. With the Bucs and Eagles, Jones made only 35 receptions and rushed for 373 yards, which were considered the two worst seasons of his career.
Therefore, the above players are not in the same shape as they were during their early days in the league. Their lack of form has proved to be a headache for the franchises, and if they continue to perform like this, considering retirement might be the best option for them.
