Byron Jones, originally from New Britain, Connecticut, was a versatile defensive back who played multiple positions for UConn, before being selected in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys. During his time in Dallas, Jones excelled at cornerback, earning Second Team All-Pro honors and a Pro Bowl selection in 2018. After five years with the Cowboys, he spent two seasons with the Miami Dolphins before retiring with a total of 444 combined tackles, four interceptions, and five forced fumbles.

Bernardrick McKinney was a standout college football player at Mississippi State and was named an All-SEC Selection. He played as a linebacker in the NFL and spent almost all of his career with the Houston Texans, except for his final year when he played for the New York Giants.

McKinney was selected in the second round of the 2015 NFL draft and quickly earned the starting role as an Inside Linebacker. He had his best season in his second year, recording career-highs in Combined Tackles (129), Sacks (5.0), and Quarterback Hits (11), which led to his selection as a Second Team All-Pro.

McKinney was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2018 and had two consecutive seasons of breaking the 100 Tackle mark. Unfortunately, in 2020, he suffered a shoulder injury and only played four games for the Texans before being released. McKinney finished his career with 559 Combined Tackles.

Oh boy.

There is a lot to discuss when examining the career of Antonio Brown, the dynamic wide receiver. For the most part, throughout his career, there were no red flags. In fact, he was arguably the best wide receiver of the decade.

Brown was a two-time All-American from Central Michigan and proved to be a great pick for the Pittsburgh Steelers, who drafted him 195th overall. He was used sparingly in his rookie year, but broke out with 1,108 receiving yards as a sophomore. Brown was considered an elite player from 2013 to 2019, with his expert route-running skills and ability to cut on a dime. He made the Pro Bowl in every season, including a four-year streak (2014-17) of First Team All-Pros. He twice led the NFL in receiving yards (2014 & 2017) with two second-place finishes, and was also at the top of the Receiving Touchdowns standings in 2018. Brown finished the decade with the most yards of any wide receiver and easily made the All-Decade Team.

Despite his success, Brown never won a Super Bowl with Pittsburgh. Late in the 2018 season, he and his quarterback had a falling out, and he asked for a trade, which he received, with Oakland as his landing spot. This began his dramatic downfall.

Brown never played for Oakland, as he missed most of training camp due to blistered feet from cryotherapy and later over not being able to wear his old helmet. He had an altercation with his GM and asked to be released, which he was, hours before his money was to be guaranteed. Brown later signed with New England and was also dealing with sexual misconduct claims, but that stay lasted only one game. He was then picked up by Tom Brady and Tampa Bay, where he finally won a Super Bowl. However, a year later, he ran off the field during a game after refusing to go in for a play. Brown continued to make headlines, but always for the wrong reasons.

If Brown had retired after leaving Pittsburgh, he might have been a lock as a Pro Football Hall of Famer. Regardless, his legacy is what it is, and we have no idea what will happen next!

Ali Marpet made history in 2015 as the highest ever draft pick from a Division III school (Hobart) when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected the Offensive Lineman in the Second Round.

Marpet won the starting job at Right Guard as a rookie, where he played two years before he was shifted to Center for a year as Tampa Bay had a need to fill, and thought he could perform adequately.  The year after, Marpet was moved back to the Guard position, this time on the left side, and held his ground for four years, including his final one where he was chosen for the Pro Bowl, and protected the legendary Tom Brady on the road to a Super Bowl win.