Year In Review: 2022 Veterans
Image credit: Michael Owens (Getty Images) NBC Sports, Chaz Palla (Tribune-Review)
The 2022 was a season to remember for NFL fans. Plenty of exciting games, memorable moments, and a playoff bracket that lived up to the hype. Some players will always remember their 2022 season. Others, meanwhile, may be looking to refocus. Some want to leave this past season as far in their rearview mirror as they possibly can. So which players fit into which category? Let’s take a look at the good, the bad, and the ugly of the 2022 NFL season. If you missed out on my review of the 2022 rookie class, you can read that here. With that said, on with the show…
Who Played Well…
Jalen Hurts, QB, Philadelphia Eagles
Jalen Hurts burst onto the scene with an MVP-caliber season in 2022. He lost out on that award to Patrick Mahomes of Kansas City, but jumping out to an 8-0 start en route to a division title and the number one seed in the NFC. Hurts got it done with his arm and his legs throughout the season, and his value was truly showcased by holding a 16-2 record as a starter this year for Philly. The Eagles lost both games that Hurts missed due to injury, with another loss coming at the hands of the Chiefs in the Super Bowl. Hurts has established himself as a top 5 QB in my eyes, and he isn’t number 5 or number 4. #spoileralert.
Christian McCaffrey, RB, San Francisco 49ers
Christian McCaffrey is so talented, that once he was traded from the Carolina Panthers to the 49ers, both teams got better. How does that make sense? CMC cannot be stopped, only slowed down. This was evidenced against the division rival Rams where McCaffrey scored a rushing, receiving, and a passing touchdown in a single game. Kyle Shanahan truly unlocked the ultimate offensive weapon. It also helped that CMC stayed healthy, his biggest hurdle over the last couple years. Exciting times remain ahead for San Fran’s offense.
Alex Highsmith, EDGE, Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers found TJ Watt a partner in crime. Highsmith had the spotlight put on him due to Watt missing a good chunk of the year, so it fell on the shoulders of Highsmith to be the havoc wreaker up front for this talented Steelers defense. I remember watching the NFL Combine a few years ago and being impressed with Highsmith’s workout. I kept tabs on him throughout the draft process, and was unsurprised to see him end up in Pittsburgh. It was just a matter of time until the breakout season occurred, and it happened in 2022 with 14.5 sacks and 5 forced fumbles. If their was an award for Defensive Breakout of the Year, Highsmith would have my vote.
Who Was Meh…
Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Miami Dolphins
Tua Tagovailoa was 8-5 as a starter in 2022. But take out games where Tua either did not finish or was not healthy, and that record becomes nearly undefeated. It was a season highlighted by a few nasty concussions, leading offseason talk to surround Tua’s future not only in Miami, but playing in general. I like his game, and as long as the medical reports come back clear Tua should remain the starting QB for the Miami Dolphins. But health was a concern for Tua coming out of college, and it remains a question mark as the time for a new contract looms.
D’Andre Swift, RB, Detroit Lions
As someone who had Swift in fantasy football in 2022, I still have a large headache as a result. When Swift was on, he was on fire. The problem was injuries and his ability to get back into the lineup. Swift would be healthy (at least we think) and barely log any snaps or touches. The way head coach Dan Campbell eased Swift back into things at times made me believe we could see the talented running back get traded this offseason. It didn’t help Swift’s case by seeing fellow RB Jamaal Williams set a franchise record for rushing touchdowns in a season. Sure, a lot of those TDs were goal line carries, but breaking a Barry Sanders record is a huge deal. Swift clearly didn’t blow away any Lions staff members this season, and we’ll see what his future holds moving forward.
Khalil Mack, EDGE, Los Angeles Chargers
Mack had a respectable 8 sacks on the year, but that feels kind of disappointing for someone like Khalil Mack, who you would expect to be a lock for near 15 sacks. I also want to lump Joey Bosa in here, as this tandem was supposed to be instilling fear in opposing offenses all year. Instead, another year of Chargers football came and went, highlighted by Bosa spiking his helmet in frustration not once, but twice as the talented Chargers saw a massive playoff lead evaporate before their eyes in Jacksonville. Mack didn’t feel like the heavyweight addition to this defense he was meant to be. Should that continue in 2023, Mack could once again find himself on a new team.
Who Was Bad…
Russell Wilson, QB, Denver Broncos
Broncos Country, Let’s Ride…right off a cliff. What more really needs to be said about the equally disappointing and frustrating Russell Wilson experiment in Denver? Maybe expectations were set too high, but even then the delivered product was hard to watch at times (most of the time). The hope is that Sean Payton can course correct this former franchise quarterback, as Denver found more draft capital to trade away for some other teams’ legacy individual. With the AFC as stacked as it is, I just don’t see Denver making a leap big enough this year. Payton may find success in Denver, but it won’t be with Wilson as his QB. Wilson played better once Hackett was let go, but the eye test felt like torture. Wilson left part of his game in Seattle, and I fear it was the magical part of his game.
Allen Robinson, WR, Los Angeles Rams
Speaking of failed experiments, how about the Robinson experiment in LA? He was supposed to be the next big weapon behind Cooper Kupp with Robert Woods traded and Odell Beckham not getting resigned. Instead, it felt like Robinson was missing in action despite playing 10 games. The last two years have been forgettable for Robinson, and the Rams granted him permission to seek a trade. Surely a receiver-needy team will give up a Day 3 draft pick for the former star player, hoping he can find his groove again. The book isn’t closed for Allen Robinson, but with dozens of talented pass catchers coming out every year, this may be his last chance.
Kenny Moore, CB, Indianapolis Colts
Moore was a microcosm for the Colts in 2022. All of the potential in the world, only to be met with disappointment. Moore finally earned his long awaited Pro Bowl nod in 2021,and was tabbed as one of the game’s best slot corners. The 2021 season didn’t end the way the Colts or Moore wanted, with the team dropping games against the Raiders and Jaguars to lose out on a playoff berth. Moore struggled heavily in those games, and he and the team were in sync for 2022. Moore had a mini contract holdout by skipping various voluntary workouts. Between the drop off in results and the differences in defensive scheme, I’d be surprised if Moore is still a Colt in 2023. Could he be involved in an Indy trade up to number one overall in the draft with the Chicago Bears? That hypothetical move would reunite Moore with Matt Eberflus, the former Colts defensive coordinator and current Bears head coach who Moore enjoyed making a name for himself playing for. An interesting offseason awaits, to say the least.