Analysis
7/20/23
7 min read
6 Redemption Candidates for 2023 NFL Season
In football, every team, player, coach and executive is bound to experience a rough patch: a bad week, a challenging month, or, in some cases, an entire season filled with disappointment. The truth is, no individual can maintain perfection throughout their entire football career.
An intriguing question becomes how these individuals rebound from all the setbacks. Some end up with a change of scenery, while others stay in the same spot but changes are made around them. And then there are those who just put the disappointment in the past and push forward.
Let’s take a look at some redemption candidates for the 2023 NFL season:
6 Redemption Candidates
New York Jets OC Nathaniel Hackett
No NFL coach had a rougher year than Hackett, who never got it going in his first season as Denver Broncos coach and was fired before the campaign ended. From the opening Week 1 primetime defeat against Seattle to the bitter end, Hackett found himself surrounded by negative coverage.
He strongly considered taking this season off until New York Jets coach Robert Saleh made a call and pitched him on coming to New York. The two worked together in Jacksonville and have been close friends for years.
Hackett accepted the offer, and the Jets promptly set out to acquire a veteran quarterback, ultimately securing the biggest name in the market — Aaron Rodgers, with whom Hackett had enjoyed immense success during their time in Green Bay. Rodgers has consistently praised Hackett, even citing him as a significant reason for his decision to join the team.
The Jets are all-in this year, and Hackett will play a huge role in helping them reach their full potential.
New Orleans Saints QB Derek Carr
Derek Carr took a gamble last offseason when he signed a four-year extension that gave the Las Vegas Raiders an easy “out” after one year if things didn't work out. Carr’s goal was to be a Raider for life and he believed he was the guy for the foreseeable future, even with a new front office and coaching staff coming in.
The move backfired. Coach Josh McDaniels benched Carr with two games left in the season, and the Raiders ultimately released him this offseason with no future money owed.
Carr became a free agent and signed with the New Orleans Saints. Here’s the reality: He left a division with Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert and Russell Wilson/Sean Payton and is now in a division with Bryce Young, Desmond Ridder and Baker Mayfield/Kyle Trask. He’s also in a conference that is far weaker compared to the gauntlet of the AFC.
The Saints have searched for their next quarterback ever since Drew Brees retired, and Carr has proven to be a viable option for years. There is a realistic path for the Saints to be contenders this season and they’re banking on Carr leading the way.
New England Patriots QB Mac Jones
Mac Jones was put in an unfair position last season, going from having McDaniels as his offensive coordinator in his rookie year to dealing with a combination of Matt Patricia and Joe Judge in his sophomore campaign. It was an unconventional move by New England that never panned out.
It got so tough for Jones that New England Patriots fans were booing him and wanted rookie Bailey Zappe out there. This was despite the fact Jones played most of last season with a nagging ankle injury.
Owner Robert Kraft became frustrated with the situation and was insistent on hiring an offensive coordinator. Bill Belichick made the decision to bring back Bill O'Brien, who previously was with the organization from 2007-11. As one front office member told me earlier this offseason: "Patricia to O’Brien for Mac Jones will be what Urban Meyer to Doug Pederson was for Trevor Lawrence. It’s that big of a difference.”
Atlanta Falcons TE Kyle Pitts
Many fans, especially in the fantasy community, were disappointed with how Kyle Pitts was utilized last season. For a former No. 4 overall pick, finishing with only 28 catches and 356 yards was extremely disappointing – and the Atlanta Falcons know that.
One of the first moves they made this offseason was trading for Jonnu Smith, a decision aimed at giving Pitts a chance to play more of a receiver role, which suits him best. The Falcons have plenty of weapons on offense, and they want to see more out of Pitts this season. Pitts needs to have a big year for his sake because he’ll become extension-eligible next offseason.
Buffalo Bills HC Sean McDermott
Throughout this offseason, I've noticed chatter on social media and national networks suggesting the Buffalo Bills have reached their ceiling, especially after experiencing back-to-back losses in the Divisional Round. Some of that blame is being placed on McDermott, and there is speculation he might be on the hot seat if they don’t get over the hump.
It's important to remind fans of what the Bills went through as an organization last year. Before the season, the Buffalo area faced the tragedy of the Tops Supermarket incident, and Dawson Knox's 22-year-old brother passed away. On top of that, it was revealed that co-owner and president Kim Pegula suffered from cardiac arrest in June 2022 and was dealing with significant memory issues.
On the field, Josh Allen had a nagging elbow injury, Von Miller tore his ACL and Tre'Davious White wasn't fully recovered from his ACL injury. Moreover, they were displaced twice due to snowstorms and had to deal with Damar Hamlin's on-field collapse toward the end of the season. The organization as a whole was emotionally drained.
Frankly, McDermott deserves credit for keeping the team intact through all of it. The AFC is a gauntlet and anything could happen. But the Bills are hoping for a more “normal” season, and McDermott will quiet some of the doubters.
Los Angeles Chargers OC Kellen Moore
Moore parted ways with the Cowboys this offseason after coach Mike McCarthy decided he wanted to take more control of the offense. Brandon Staley and the Los Angeles Chargers quickly moved to hire Moore and pair him with quarterback Justin Herbert.
>>WATCH: Staley Bullish on Chargers' Receiving Group
Moore showed in Dallas he’s willing to be aggressive with his playcalling – and the biggest complaint people have had with the Chargers over the past two years is they have been the exact opposite. With an abundance of offensive weapons and Herbert's immense talent, Moore could be the guy who unleashes what the general public has been waiting for.
The Chargers could be one of the most exciting offenses in the league under Moore’s leadership — and that could potentially lead to Moore getting a head coaching job in the near future.
Other names to watch: Browns QB Deshaun Watson, Rams QB Matthew Stafford, Broncos QB Russell Wilson and Giants TE Darren Waller.
