Being a first-round pick doesn’t seem to convey the job security it once did, even for quarterbacks.
WR Quentin Johnston isn’t the only first-rounder on the Chargers who needs to step it up in 2025.
Injuries and inconsistent performance have contributed to the struggles of some first-rounders.
Former Houston Oilers and Atlanta Falcons head coach Jerry Glanville, probably appropriately, said it best years ago: ‘NFL stands for ‘not for long.’ ‘
It’s true for the capricious league’s coaches, general managers and certainly its players, even ones with a seemingly relative level of security brought by the status of being drafted in the first round. But even that is an ever-diminishing safety net.
Just last month, the Tennessee Titans released WR Treylon Burks, albeit with an injury designation, only three years after he was drafted 18th overall as the presumed replacement for A.J. Brown when he was traded on the same night Burks was picked. But with 53 catches in three seasons, Burks obviously didn’t approximate Brown’s value, his roster spot in obvious jeopardy even before he broke his clavicle in the early portion of training camp.
Other recent first-rounders will doubtless share fates adjacent to Burks’, whether it comes during next week’s roster cutdowns or in the coming months. The upcoming season also happens to be a pivotal one for players taken in Round 1 of the 2023 draft as their clubs must decide next spring whether or not to pick up their highly lucrative (and fully guaranteed) fifth-year options for the 2027 season.
Going into the 2025 campaign, here are 25 recent first-rounders who are already on a bubble in some manner or could soon find themselves in various levels of jeopardy:
QB Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts
Seems like it was only five minutes ago that first-round quarterbacks, and certainly those taken within the top five picks, had a lengthy leash to justify the investment in them. Alas, those days are gone, Richardson, the No. 4 overall pick in 2023, losing the battle to retain his QB1 status earlier this week to Daniel Jones – maybe ironically so given Jones, the sixth overall pick in 2019, is now on his third roster in less than a year. Maybe the light will come on for Richardson, a tremendous dual-threat talent but a raw player with very little football experience despite how far his ability has carried him. But, at the moment, he’s quite clearly on a trajectory likely to land him on another roster in 2026.
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QB Kenny Pickett, Cleveland Browns
The only first-round passer in 2022, chosen 20th overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers, Pickett collected a Super Bowl ring as a backup with the Eagles last season after washing out in Steel City. He was traded to Cleveland in March, but a hamstring injury has prevented him from playing in the preseason and ruined any shot he had at winning the Browns’ four-man QB1 battle. What happens moving forward remains to be seen given the unlikelihood the Browns would cut rookies Dillon Gabriel or Shedeur Sanders.
2021 quarterbacks
Five passers were selected in the first round four years ago – yet, with the exception of the Jaguars’ Trevor Lawrence, all of them have joined their third teams this year. Heading into Week 1, only Lawrence and the New York Jets’ Justin Fields, who’s been a victim of circumstances as much as his own shortcomings, are slated to start. Meanwhile, Zach Wilson (Miami Dolphins), Trey Lance (Chargers) and Mac Jones (San Francisco 49ers) are all – once again – ticketed for backup roles, Jones the only one currently under contract beyond 2025. Hardly ideal conditions to achieve career longevity or attain opportunities at redemption.
2021 running backs
Najee Harris and Travis Etienne Jr. were the only Round 1 backs four years ago, drafted 24th and 25th overall, respectively. But while Harris’ 1,277 touches since his rookie year lead the league, the Steelers let him walk in March, when he joined the Chargers. However a fireworks mishap during a Fourth of July event damaged one of his eyes, leaving Harris mostly as a bystander during training camp – and allowing first-round rookie Omarion Hampton the opportunity to establish himself as the Bolts’ bellcow. As for Etienne, whose first year in the NFL was wiped out by a foot injury, he managed a career-low 812 yards from scrimmage in 2024, leaving new Jags coach Liam Coen answering questions about his role and status during the offseason. Heading into his walk year, Etienne could be headed for a three-way timeshare in Jacksonville’s backfield.
A flock of Philadelphia Eagles
The reigning champs have somehow wound up as something of a football halfway house for 2022 first-rounders, currently carrying four on their roster. But DT Jordan Davis, the only one Philly actually drafted, was also the only one to secure his fifth-year option. Among the trio of WR Jahan Dotson, G Kenyon Green and S Lewis Cine, who suffered a compound fracture to his leg during his rookie season with the Minnesota Vikings, only Dotson seems like a virtual lock to even make the 53-man roster – and, coming off a 19-catch effort in 2024, his prospects took something of a hit given the trade for fellow WR John Metchie III earlier this week.
DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Kansas City Chiefs
You’re forgiven if you don’t recall him being K.C.’s first-rounder two years ago. Anudike-Uzomah has three career sacks and 41 tackles in 34 career games. Those totals won’t improve in 2025, a hamstring injury already landing him on season-ending injured reserve. Almost no chance his option is picked up and maybe only a moderately better one that he’s still with the team in 2026.
A coupla Cowboys
Dallas drafted DT Mazi Smith with the 26th pick in 2023. The Cowboys swung a deal with the Bills for 2022 first-round CB Kaiir Elam earlier this year, which tells you how things went for him in Buffalo. Smith has been a major disappointment to date and, despite starting all 17 games in an unproductive 2024 campaign, could see veteran Solomon Thomas take a major cut of his snaps. Elam has had a decent offseason with Dallas but has to prove a better option than highly compensated (but currently injured) Trevon Diggs if he’s going to stick around beyond this year.
G Cole Strange, New England Patriots
One of the, well, stranger first-round picks in recent years – Bill Belichick, not necessarily known for his drafting acumen, took the Chattanooga lineman much earlier than most draft observers expected – Strange has not yet fulfilled his former coach’s faith in him. A major part of the issue was a torn patellar tendon that cost Strange 21 games over the past two seasons. Unsigned beyond this season, he’s trying to crack what was a terrible line in 2024, one the Pats heavily attempted to remedy this offseason.
Bolt brothers
WR Quentin Johnston, a first-rounder of the Los Angeles Chargers two years ago − before current coach Jim Harbaugh and GM Joe Hortiz arrived − might have to beat out surging rookies Tre’ Harris and/or KeAndre Lambert-Smith … to be the team’s No. 3 wideout now that Keenan Allen is back and teamed with Ladd McConkey. Johnston can make big plays but doesn’t do it frequently enough. His inconsistent track record – but consistent issues with drops – is unlikely to help his case, and opportunities could be limited on a run-oriented offense. Worst of all, he was carted off the field Saturday with a concussion.
G Zion Johnson‘s option for 2026 was declined this year. The Bolts have tried him at guard, center and the second team this summer, factors portending a future elsewhere next year.
Struggling Saints
OL Trevor Penning, drafted 19th overall in 2022, had his option declined this year. He and the team are hoping a switch to guard, assuming he overcomes a recent turf toe injury, can revitalize his career after he failed to cut it at both tackle spots. DT Bryan Bresee, the 29th pick in 2023, showed signs of life in his second season, but it’s been a struggle so far. As New Orleans switches to a base three-man front under new coordinator Brandon Staley, Bresee also needs to take advantage of relative change of scenery in hopes of kickstarting his career.
A two-Pack in Green Bay
The 2025 season will doubtless be a defining one for the careers of Packers LB Quay Walker and DL Lukas Van Ness. Drafted 22nd overall in 2022 with the pick obtained in the trade of WR Davante Adams, Walker has been solid if unspectacular while starting 43 games in his career. But his fifth-year option was declined, and he must also overcome ankle surgery that wiped out his offseason and a good chunk of training camp as he tries to convince Green Bay or another team he’s worthy of a significant payout in 2026. Meanwhile, Van Ness never started at Iowa but shined as a situational pass rusher. He’s effectively had the same role during two NFL seasons, yet to start a game, however has just seven sacks and 22 pressures in 34 appearances. He’ll need to show much more this year if he wants his option activated afterward.
LB Devin Lloyd, Jacksonville Jaguars
Similar to Walker, he’s been a solid player, Lloyd’s biggest sin perhaps the fact his off-ball ‘backer position just isn’t a highly valued one. Though his career started with NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month honors after his first three games in 2022, his first season was uneven overall. But Lloyd has been reliable since, starting 46 games overall and averaging nearly 120 tackles during his three seasons. But his option wasn’t picked up for 2026, and with Foyesade Oluokun entrenched in the middle of the Jags’ defense, Lloyd may very well have to hit the bricks next year and hope a market develops for him elsewhere.
DE Myles Murphy, Cincinnati Bengals
Maybe you’d heard that Cincy’s underwhelming defense desperately needs to get DE Trey Hendrickson back in the fold? Or that DE Shemar Stewart was drafted in Round 1 this year to help prop it up following the retirement of Sam Hubbard? One of the underlying issues to those subplots has been the utter lack of production from Murphy, who’s supplied all of three sacks and 15 pressures in two seasons and has yet to earn a regular-season start.
OL Evan Neal, New York Giants
Drafted seventh overall in 2022, he was expected to fortify a line, presumably as the bookend to hyper-talented LT Andrew Thomas. Instead, Neal is now listed as a backup guard after becoming the highest-drafted player in his class to not earn his fifth-year option.
CB Emmanuel Forbes Jr., Los Angeles Rams
He’s starting his first full season in LA after hooking on with the Rams midway through his second year, when the Washington Commanders’ new regime decided he needed a fresh start. A pick-six machine in college – Forbes had an FBS record six for Mississippi State – he’s swiped all of two balls in 22 NFL games, not nearly enough to offset his limitations, namely his 6-foot, 166-pound frame coming out of Starkville. The Rams now list Forbes at 180 pounds, and his best bet is probably to try and secure a dime back role and hope to expand his snap count from there.
OT Jedrick Wills Jr., free agent
This is a fascinating case study. Wills was a serviceable, if not dominant, left tackle for the better part of five seasons in Cleveland. But his tenure ended on a poor note at the end of the 2024 season, Wills removing himself from the lineup last November as a “business decision” in order to recover from a knee injury. Per Fox Sports, he’s prepared to sit out all or part of the 2025 season in a bid to get the joint fully healthy. Wills missed 21 of his final 34 games with the Browns but is only 26 and plays a highly coveted position. Should be interesting to see if demand for his services outstrip questions about his recent durability issues and approach to handling them.