2024 Pre-Season Rank #78, 2023 Pre-Season Rank #61, 2022 Pre-Season Rank #87, 2021 Pre-Season Rank #121. Peak Period: 2016-20
The run of Kirk Cousins in Minnesota was underappreciated as he earned three of his four Pro Bowls and 171 Touchdowns in purple. Cosuins departed to lead Atlanta, who promptly drafted Michael Penix Jr. in the First Round. The writing was on the wall.
Cousins had his least accurate season as a starter, allowing an NFL-high 16 Interceptions, before he was relieved for Penix. Cousins begins the season on the bench, and at age 37, his best days are likely done, though his overall numbers (42,979 Yards and 288 TDs) are nothing to be ashamed of, and if he gets significant time, he can break 45,000 Yards and 300 TDs, which is high-end company.
2024 Pre-Season Rank #38, 2023 Pre-Season Rank #48, 2022 Pre-Season Rank #57, 2021 Pre-Season Rank #118. Peak Period 2019-23
Stefon Diggs joined the 10,000 Yard Receiving Club in 2024 in his lone year in Houston, but a torn ACL held him to eight Games and less than 500 Yards. Those four consecutive Pro Bowls in Buffalo also came with the benefit of having Josh Allen as the Quarterback. He now joins the rebuilding New England Patriots, and if healthy, will be a top option. Diggs will have to compile a lot of Yards to get a Hall of Fame look, and this season will tell if he still has the wheels to make a run.
2024 Pre-Season Rank #99, 2023 Pre-Season Rank #82, 2022 Pre-Season Rank #82, 2021 Pre-Season Rank #115. Peak Period: 2019-21/23-24
The first three seasons of Kyler Murray’s career were pure excitement. He won the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2019 and was a Pro Bowl Selection in the next two. A dual-threat Quarterback, Murray was must-watch television, but 2022 and 2023 saw Murray deal with multiple injuries and a perceived bad attitude. 2024 was the crossroads year, but while healthy, his 3,851 Yards and 21 TDs were not quite the rocket back to where he was.
Again this season, it feels like Murray has a lot to prove to pundits, fans, and himself.
2024 Pre-Season Rank #73, Pre-Season #2023 Pre-Season Rank: #50, 2022 Pre-Season Rank #61, 2021 Pre-Season Rank #114. Peak Period: 2017-18/2020-23
After rocketing up this list on the strength of a monstrous 2020, where he was third in Defensive Player of the Year voting, Xavien Howard continued to have good years, but in 2023, foot issues hampered his speed. After a sub-par season by his prior standards, Miami released him, and after a year not playing, the Indianapolis Colts signed Howard. If he can reclaim most of his speed, Howard could still contribute. Let's see what happens!