NFL Season in the BooksNFL Season in the Books
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NFL Season in the Books

NFL Season Recap

Henry Anderson • DE • Indianapolis Colts • Third season • @HenryAnderson91

Two years removed from suffering an ACL tear, Anderson was back at his best before a season-ending throat injury in Week 9. He finished with two sacks, a career-high five quarterback hits and 11 hurries in nine appearances. One of the Colts' aims in the offseason is to improve its defense, and Anderson, one of Indianapolis' few bright spots defensively, will be a key contributor moving forward.

Johnson Bademosi • CB/ST • New England Patriots • Sixth season • @J_Bademosi24

In a last-minute trade to New England, Bademosi went from being a core special teamer in Detroit to playing snaps on defense in the Super Bowl. Bademosi played an important role for the Patriots all season, filling in as needed at cornerback while playing a majority of special teams snaps. In the regular season, he allowed 13 receptions for 164 yards on 145 snaps in coverage. Bademosi enters 2018 as an unrestricted free agent and should net a deal similar to his most recent two-year, $4.5 million contract as one of the league's elite special teamers.



Doug Baldwin • WR • Seattle Seahawks • Seventh season • @DougBaldwinJr

Baldwin made his second consecutive Pro Bowl after leading the Seahawks in receptions (75) and yards (991) with eight touchdowns. One of few bright spots in a largely disappointing campaign for Seattle, Baldwin finished as Pro Football Focus' sixth-highest rated NFL receiver (88.2). Baldwin enters year two of a four-year, $46 million extension he signed last offseason, and will likely be Russell Wilson's top target again in 2018.

Alex Carter • S • Free Agent • Second season • @AlexCarter

Carter spent time on the Seattle and New England practice squads after his release by Detroit. The former third-rounder in 2015 is under contract with the Seahawks for 2018.

Noor Davis • LB • Free Agent • First Season • @NoorDavis

Davis was released by Minnesota after a 30-9 loss against Miami in the preseason. Davis made his one tackle of the preseason in a 32-31 win against San Francisco.

David DeCastro • G • Pittsburgh Steelers • Sixth season

DeCastro picked up Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors for the third consecutive season, helping Pittsburgh win the AFC North before exiting against Jacksonville in the divisional round. The former first-round pick finished the season with the second-highest Pro Football Focus grade among guards (91.7), behind only Zack Martin (92.2). DeCastro's run-blocking grade ranked second (90.6), while his pass-blocking grade ranked third (89.0) – he was the only guard to rank top-four in both categories. DeCastro helped the Steelers clear $5.1 million in cap space for 2018 by restructuring his five-year, $50 million extension signed two seasons ago.

Zach Ertz • TE • Philadelphia Eagles • Fifth season • @ZErtz_86

Ertz capped a career year by catching the game-winning touchdown in Super Bowl LII. Ertz reached 1,000 receiving yards while earning his first Pro Bowl berth, finishing the regular season with 74 catches for 824 yards and eight touchdowns in 14 appearances. On the biggest stage of his career, Ertz finished Super Bowl LII with seven catches for 67 yards and one score. He enters year two of a five-year, $42 million extension he signed in 2016, a contract that has paid dividends for Philadelphia.

Coby Fleener • TE • New Orleans Saints • Sixth season • @Coby

Fleener appeared in 11 games before a season-ending injury in New Orleans' 26-20 loss at the Los Angeles Rams. He made one start on the season, totaling 22 catches for 295 yards and two touchdowns. Fleener has three years left on a five-year, $36 million contract signed in 2016.

Cameron Fleming • T • New England Patriots • Fourth season • @cammyjfresh

Starting the first 12 weeks on the bench for New England, Fleming turned 2017 into a career year after a season-ending injury to starting right tackle Marcus Cannon. Since starting Week 13 at Buffalo, Fleming logged positive Pro Football Focus ratings in seven of his final eight appearances – during that span, Fleming allowed just nine pressures and three sacks on 505 offensive snaps. The Patriots bid for a sixth Super Bowl win came up short, but Fleming should net a multi-year contract in free agency after four solid seasons in Foxborough.

Joshua Garnett • G • San Francisco 49ers • Second season • @IamJoshG

Garnett missed all of 2017 while recovering from a knee injury – head coach Kyle Shanahan announced before the regular season that he, Garnett and general manager John Lynch agreed it would be in all's best interests to aim for a full recovery in 2018. Garnett will re-join a 49ers team whose fortunes took a massive turn after acquiring quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.

Ryan Hewitt • FB • Cincinnati Bengals • Fourth season • @Huey85

One of the league's highest-paid fullbacks, Hewitt finished the second season of a three-year, $7.5 million contract with two catches for 22 yards, having appeared on 13.4 percent of offensive snaps.

Kevin Hogan • QB • Cleveland Browns • Second Season • @KHoagie8

Hogan appeared in four games in 2017, including his first career start. He finished the season 46 of 75 passing for 517 yards with four touchdowns and five interceptions, adding 10 carries for 71 yards. Hogan is an exclusive-rights free agent with Cleveland heading into 2018.

Austin Hooper • TE • Atlanta Falcons • Second season • @AustinHooper18

Hooper saw more involvement in Atlanta's offense in his second season, catching 30 more passes (49) and nearly double the receiving yards (526) from his rookie year. Hooper also earned the eighth-highest blocking grade among 69 eligible tight ends (80.7), per Pro Football Focus. Hooper has two years left on his rookie deal, with his role in the Falcons' offense solidified.

Andrew Luck • QB • Indianapolis Colts • Sixth season • @ALBookClub

Luck did not appear in 2017, with Indianapolis badly struggling and his throwing shoulder not up to speed. General manager Chris Ballard revealed last week that Luck is still not throwing the ball, but that his eventual comeback will "prove a lot of people wrong". The Colts need lots of reinforcements and a healthy Luck to challenge for the AFC South in 2018.

Blake Martinez • ILB • Green Bay Packers • Second season • @Big__Blake50

Martinez tied for the league lead in tackles (144) in a breakout season for Green Bay. He added one sack and eight passes defended while playing 978 of 1,051 possible snaps (93.1 percent). According to Pro Football Focus, Martinez's 89.7 grade against the run ranked eighth among 91 eligible inside linebackers, while his 80.2 overall grade ranked 23rd. Martinez will start in new defensive coordinator Mike Pettine's scheme in 2018, and expect the Packers to add more pieces on defense.

Josh Mauro • DE/DL • Arizona Cardinals • Fourth season • @JustJoshin90

Appearing on 33 percent of Arizona's defensive snaps, Mauro finished the season having appeared in 13 games with 22 tackles, 11 run stops, one sack and eight total pressures. Mauro enters the final year of a two-year, $5.8 million deal signed in 2017.

Christian McCaffrey • RB • Carolina Panthers • First season • @run_cmc

McCaffrey put forth an impressive rookie season after being drafted eighth overall in the 2017. McCaffrey was one of five finalists for Offensive Rookie of the Year after setting a rookie franchise record with 80 receptions. He averaged the most yards per carry of any Panthers running back, cracked 1,000 all-purpose yards and finished with seven total touchdowns, including five receiving. Carolina has its sights set on more production for McCaffrey in 2018, as evidenced by Ron Rivera replacing offensive coordinator Mike Shula with Norv Turner.

Ty Montgomery • RB • Green Bay Packers • Third season • @TyMontgomery2

Montgomery was primed for a strong season after a breakout year in 2016, but he was lost for the season after an injury at Chicago on Nov. 12. One of many Packers to finish the season on injured reserve, Montgomery racked up 273 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 71 carries, catching 23 passes for 173 yards and one score. Montgomery will return for 2018 in a crowded backfield which includes 2017 fourth-rounder Jamaal Williams and fifth-rounder Aaron Jones.

Kyle Murphy • OT • Green Bay Packers • Second season • @KyleMurphy78

Murphy played every snap of the first three games of the season before suffering a season-ending injury prior to Week 4. Murphy was seeing the most playing time of his career with David Bakhtiari and Bryan Bulaga sidelined, and will return for this third season with two years left on his rookie deal.

Trent Murphy • DE/OLB • Washington Redskins • Fourth season • @TMurphy_93

Murphy missed 2017 after tearing his ACL and MCL in Washington's preseason opener. The fourth-year man had a breakout season in 2016, setting career highs in tackles (47), sacks (10), quarterback hits (15), hurries (30) and run stops (24). The injury came at an inopportune time for Murphy, who will become an unrestricted free agent this offseason.

Francis Owusu • WR • Free Agent • First season

Owusu caught his only two targets of the preseason for 45 yards and one touchdown before Miami released him with an injury settlement. The Dolphins signed Owusu to a futures contract in January, and will bring him back for offseason activities and training camp.

David Parry • DT/NG • New Orleans Saints • Third season • @DavidParry58

Parry was released by Indianapolis before signing with New Orleans' practice squad. Parry suffered a season-ending ankle injury in his only appearance of the season for the Saints. Parry is a restricted free agent heading into 2018.

Andrus Peat • T/G • New Orleans Saints • Third season • @AndrusPeat

Peat was a key contributor for New Orleans, one of the league's most surprising turnarounds. Playing mostly at left guard, Peat helped Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara both make the Pro Bowl, the latter winning Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. Peat departed the Saints' Wild Card round win but should be ready for 2018 – all five of New Orleans' starting offensive linemen are under contract next season.

Michael Rector • WR • Free Agent • First season • @michaelrector

Rector spent training camp and most of the preseason with Detroit, finishing with three catches for 44 yards before his release.

Ed Reynolds • S • Free Agent • Third season

Reynolds is a free agent after his release by Cleveland in September. Reynolds sprained his MCL in training camp, and was in line to see significant snaps for the Browns. He will likely get a training camp invitation for 2018, having played significant and frequent snaps in the league.



Jordan Richards • S • New England Patriots • Third season

Richards played a career-high 315 snaps on defense in 2017, helping New England reach Super Bowl LII before falling just short against Philadelphia. He totaled 27 tackles, six run stops and two pressures, earning significant defensive snaps in the Super Bowl. A core special teamer for one of the league's elite special teams units, Richards enters the final year of a four-year, $3.7 million deal he signed as a rookie.

Brennan Scarlett • OLB • Houston Texans • Second season • @BScarlett17

Scarlett was seeing regular defensive snaps until he sustained a season-ending injury in a Week-12 trip to Baltimore. After early-season injuries to J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilus, Scarlett started seeing regular playing time in Mike Vrabel's defense, finishing the season with two sacks, 13 pressures, 23 tackles and 15 run stops on 302 defensive snaps. Scarlett enters the final season of a three-year, $1.625 million contract he signed as a rookie in 2016.

Aziz Shittu • DL • Philadelphia Eagles • Second season • @AzizShittu

Shittu claimed his first Super Bowl ring when Philadelphia defeated New England, 41-33, in Super Bowl LII. Shittu spent his first two seasons on injured reserve, and enters year three of a three-year, $1.625 million contract he signed as a rookie in 2016.

Richard Sherman • CB • Seattle Seahawks • Seventh season @R_Sherman25

Sherman put forth another All-Pro caliber season before an Achilles injury in Week 10 ended his season. On 330 snaps, Sherman was targeted 41 times, allowing just 19 catches for 302 yards with two interceptions. Among cornerbacks who played more than half of his team's snaps, Sherman's 19 catches allowed ranked third, while his 302 yards allowed ranked ninth. Sherman, who will be 29 in 2018, enters the final season of a four-year, $56 million extension signed in 2015.



Shayne Skov • LB • Free Agent • Third season • @ShayneSkov

New Orleans' practice squad picked up Skov after his release by San Francisco near the end of preseason. The Saints extended Skov's stay in New Orleans through next season, signing him to a futures contract that will make him a restricted free agent in 2019.

Michael Thomas • S • Miami Dolphins • Fifth season • @Michael31Thomas

Thomas only appeared on 18 percent of Miami's defensive snaps in 2017 but cemented his status as one of the league's best special teamers. He made 10 special teams tackles (with no missed tackles) and was a key piece of all four special teams units – on the season, Miami's special teams owned the sixth-highest rating in the league, per Pro Football Focus.

Solomon Thomas • DL • San Francisco 49ers • First season • @SollyThomas90

San Francisco's top pick in 2017 was unable to participate in organized team activities or minicamp due to Stanford's academic calendar, but still made his mark in a solid rookie season. Despite missing time with an MCL sprain, Thomas finished with more tackles (41) and tackles for loss (10) than any other rookie defensive lineman, adding three sacks to his haul. With newly-signed quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and several other high-ceiling pieces on defense, Thomas and San Francisco are certainly trending upwards after winning six of their last seven games.

Levine Toilolo • TE • Atlanta Falcons • Fourth season • @LevineToilolo

Toilolo appeared on 46 percent of Atlanta's offensive snaps, with the Falcons earning the fourth-highest offensive rating (+65.1), per Pro Football Focus. He finished the year with 15 appearances, including 12 starts, totaling 12 catches for 122 yards.

Griff Whalen • WR • Free Agent • Fifth season • @GriffWhalen

Whalen made one appearance for Baltimore in 2017, catching four passes for 23 yards in a 24-16 loss at Minnesota in Week 7 after starting the season with the Los Angeles Chargers. Whalen is an unrestricted free agent heading into 2018.

David Yankey • OL • Carolina Panthers • Third season • @Papa_yank

Yankey is a restricted free agent heading into 2018 after spending two seasons in the Carolina Panthers organization. Yankey's six regular-season appearances came for the Panthers in 2016.