Second chances are extremely common in the NFL. Whether a player is in the final year of a contract or they’re on a “prove-it” deal, there is always a chip on someone’s shoulder.
In 2025, George Pickens was traded to the Dallas Cowboys and quickly established himself as a top-10 wide receiver. Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, Daniel Jones, and many other current stars had to “prove it” at one point. Who’s carrying that weight in 2026?
Tua Tagovailoa was drafted fifth overall by the Miami Dolphins in 2020, and the hype behind him was electric. The term “tank for Tua” was huge during the preceding season. For a while, it seemed he was worth the hype.
Just three years ago, Tagovailoa put up a league-leading 4,624 passing yards, along with 29 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. He followed that up in 2024 with a 72.9% completion percentage but played only 11 games.
Tagovailoa’s final year in Miami was nothing short of a dumpster fire. He threw for 2,660 yards, his lowest since his rookie year. He also threw 20 touchdowns and 15 interceptions, and generally looked lost at times.
After being released this offseason, Tagovailoa signed with the Atlanta Falcons on a one-year, $1.215 million deal. The Dolphins are still paying him $54 million as well. They’re taking on a record-breaking $99.2 million in dead cap after letting the QB go.
The Falcons’ offense is arguably an upgrade over the last two years of Tagovailoa’s career. Between that, the QB competition with Michael Penix Jr., and a new head coach in Kevin Stefanski, this may be the Alabama product’s last shot.
Kayvon Thibodeaux is entering the final year of his rookie contract with the New York Giants. The team picked up his fifth-year option, giving him another shot to prove himself.
Thibodeaux hasn’t been a bad player by any means. The problem is that he was drafted fifth overall in 2022 and came in with sky-high expectations. Fast forward to last offseason, and the Giants may have already drafted his replacement in Abdul Carter.
Thibodeaux has played in 53 games over four seasons, recording 152 combined tackles, 86 solo tackles, 23.5 sacks, and 31 tackles for loss (TFLs). Injuries have hindered him over the last two years as well.
A stat sheet like Thibodeaux’s is nothing to scoff at, but expectations are everything in the NFL. He’s a talented and versatile player for any defense. If he can replicate his 2023 success, he’ll almost certainly earn a huge payday.
Kyler Murray’s career is eerily similar to Tagovailoa’s in many ways. He was drafted first overall in 2019 by the Arizona Cardinals with extremely high expectations. He won the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year award and was off to a great start.
Murray’s first three years saw him never go below 3,700 yards or 20 touchdowns in a season. Injuries started to rear their ugly head in 2022, declining his production.
Since 2022, Murray has only played one full season. In 2024, he threw for 3,851 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. Numbers he hadn’t seen in three years. Another season-ending injury in 2025 ultimately ended his Cardinals tenure.
Murray signed a one-year, $1.3 million deal with the Minnesota Vikings this offseason. He’s walking into the best offense he’s ever had. Between wide receiver Justin Jefferson and former Coach of the Year Kevin O’Connell, this is a perfect situation for a QB looking to prove himself.
Riq Woolen started his career in impressive fashion. The Seattle Seahawks selected him 153rd overall in 2022, and he immediately exceeded expectations.
In his rookie year, Woolen recorded 63 total tackles, 46 solo, three fumble recoveries, and a league-leading six interceptions. Over the following three years, he never met any of those numbers.
Woolen only started seven games last season while the Seahawks’ “Dark Side” defense started to pass him by. They won the Super Bowl and moved on from the former fifth-round pick.
Woolen joins the Philadelphia Eagles on a one-year, $12 million contract. He’s in the best possible situation at this point in his career. The Eagles have one of the NFL’s best defenses, but they needed a CB. He fills that need and gets a golden opportunity to produce at a high level once again.
The discourse around Keon Coleman reached a fever pitch following the Buffalo Bills’ Divisional Round exit. They fired head coach Sean McDermott and quickly placed the blame on him for drafting the wide receiver.
Coleman was taken 33rd overall in the 2024 NFL Draft and has not come close to Buffalo’s expectations. In 18 starts, he’s recorded 960 yards and eight touchdowns.
Coleman suffered a wrist injury in his rookie year and faced disciplinary action from the Bills in 2025. It seemed that the team didn’t believe in him, but new head coach Joe Brady insists that the receiver is still part of the gameplan.
With two years left on his contract, Coleman is entering a pivotal season. If he can break out in 2026, he can start negotiating a new deal next offseason. If he struggles once again, he might be on the chopping block sooner than expected.
These players have each been on their own respective roller coaster and are seeking stable success. They’ve been fan favorites, and they’ve been hated by their fanbases, but this is the year they change that.
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