'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#3 Sauce Gardner | New York Jets
NFL Draft night in 2022 ended with the City of New York believing it had done the best work.
Both the Giants and the Jets snared elite defensive prospects in the form of Kayvon Thibodeaux and Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner.
So, there was understandable frustration at how Gardner appeared to underwhelm on a Jets defense that suffered at the hands of the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1.
Gardner made just two tackles and wasn’t able to be the game-changing presence many thought he would be upon arrival in the Big Apple.
With that being said, his performance was average to okay, it’s just expectations were much higher.
The talent is clearly there. He did allow only one catch for eight yards on debut, but surely, there is more to come from the cornerback.
PFF ranked him as the eighth-best CB to play in the NFL in Week 1, which is not bad, but expectations from Jets fans are that he will be a lot closer to the top 5 for much of the season.
#4 Mac Jones | New England Patriots
Mac Jones endured a rough start to the season in Miami with the Dolphins defense getting to him on two occasions.
He simply couldn’t build the rhythm that marked him out as one of the standout rookies in the 2021 NFL season. He threw for just one touchdown against the Dolphins.
He also threw an interception and was unable to guide his team into any real position to win in Miami.
Bill Belichick knows how to get his team winning, but with confusion over who exactly is calling offensive plays this term, it’s not hugely surprising to see Jones struggling early on.
#5 Russell Wilson | Denver Broncos
In what was the big story in Week 1 of the 2022 NFL season, Russell Wilson made his return to Seattle as a member of the Denver Broncos.
After a blockbuster trade in the offseason, Wilson was given a mixed reception by Seahawks fans, yet he didn’t necessarily make them regret their taunts and boos on the field.
Getting used to a new offense is always a process for a player. While there were no glaring moments of calamity in Wilson’s performance on Monday, he wasn’t able to win the game, which is what he has been brought in to do. He completed 29 of 42 passes for 340 yards and one touchdown.
Years of under-par QB play have left Broncos fans yearning for someone like Wilson to come in and be their savior. Nathaniel Hackett made the curious decision not to give Wilson the chance to win the team the game with seconds remaining. Instead, he opted to try for a 64-yard field goal, which was always going to be a tough ask.
Wilson will be a star for the Broncos, likely starting in Week 2 of the NFL season, but his debut for Denver did not mark the improvement fans expected at the position.
