8 young NFL players who could thrive on new teams in 2018

The 2018 NFL offseason will bring some painful cuts for veteran players — and in some cases, it already has. But it also means opportunities for young, perhaps misused, prospects to find new homes. A change of venue can unlock the value of an overlooked athlete and turn potential draft busts into valuable contributors.

In 2017, we saw Case Keenum go from Jared Goff’s underwhelming placeholder in Los Angeles to an instrumental piece in the Vikings’ run to the NFC title game. Jonathan Cooper developed from possible washout after stops with the Cardinals and Patriots to a useful starter on the Cowboys’ offensive line. Nick Foles became a Super Bowl MVP months after contemplating retirement.

It doesn’t always work out. Phillip Dorsett upgraded from the Colts’ unsure quarterback situation to a spot catching passes from Tom Brady but still has the fewest receptions of his short career in 2017. Former No. 2 pick Greg Robinson continued to underwhelm after moving from the Rams to the Lions.

Still, these are all worthwhile gambles for players who can pay off in the long run. Here’s a look at the young veterans who may be best served with a change of address in 2018.

Perriman is a member of an underwhelming crop of 2015 first-round receivers that included Kevin White and the aforementioned Dorsett. Injuries cost him his rookie season, and he’s been a little-used piece of the Ravens’ offense in the two years since, making just four starts in that span. What’s more troubling is that he’s caught less than 43 percent of his targets as a pro.

But the Central Florida target still carries the potential that made him the 26th overall pick nearly three years ago. His combination of solid size (6’2, 214 pounds) and elite speed (a 4.24-second 40 time at his pro day in 2015) helps offset the lingering rawness he can’t seem to shake. Perriman still has plenty of room to grow, and a new coaching staff could be the key that unlocks his Pro Bowl potential.

Fuller burst onto the scene with a strong rookie season, but injuries and Chicago’s general badness has made the former first-round pick an afterthought as he stands on the brink of free agency. He missed the entire 2016 season due to a knee injury and had the Bears decline the fifth year of his rookie contract. But a solid season should make him a useful commodity in free agency in 2018. Fuller knocked down 22 passes and made a pair of interceptions to reclaim his value, and playing in a more stable environment than a rebuilding Bears team should do wonders for his career.

Flowers has been harangued for his mistakes in New York, leading to speculation regarding whether or not he’ll be with the Giants again in 2018. The University of Miami product has failed to live up to his billing as the No. 9 pick of the 2015 NFL draft, often playing turnstile at right tackle for a dysfunctional team. Despite that, he’s still a young prospect who is solid enough as a run blocker to merit a second chance. Playing for the Giants wasn’t kind to young players in 2017 — just look at Eli Apple — and Flowers could still pay off as a low-risk pickup should he be released or traded this spring.

Matthews spent three seasons with the Eagles, even developing into the team’s top wideout, before being traded to Buffalo during the preseason in exchange for cornerback Ronald Darby. While Philadelphia’s fortunes soared, Matthews suffered through the worst season of his career, missing six games due to injury and having a limited impact in the 10 appearances he made with the Bills. When healthy, he’s a dynamic slot presence who can stretch the field and develop a strong rapport with a talented quarterback. He can thrive in the right situation — especially if he cuts back on the drops that have haunted him throughout his four-year NFL career.

Attaochu was only 21 years old when the Chargers made him the 50th overall pick of the 2014 NFL draft. He was primed for a breakout after notching six sacks in 12 starts in 2015, but injuries have derailed his upward rise. Georgia Tech’s all-time sack leader has only played in 38 games in his four-year career — albeit with a handful of healthy scratches last fall — and will be a major question mark for whoever signs him as a free agent this offseason.

The risk carries a great reward, however. Attaochu could be a bargain in a league that puts an expensive premium on pass rushing, and one healthy season could mean double-digit sacks from the potential-laden edge-rusher. Los Angeles defensive coordinator Gus Bradley noted how he’d “shown flashes,” though consistency remains an issue. He’s only 25, and that leaves him plenty of room to grow as a player and make an impact in the NFL.

Ebron was supposed to be Matthew Stafford’s security blanket in Detroit; an athletic tight end who can stretch the field up the seam, make plays in the red zone, and become a reliable presence over the middle of the field. Instead, he’s been an inconsistent weapon with the Lions, hauling in just 11 touchdown catches in his four years.

A change of pace could lead him to a team that could better utilize his talent. Detroit may balk at his $8.25 million contract and cut him with no obligation left on its salary cap. That could push him to a franchise that can unlock his 1,000-yard potential and make the 250-pound target the mismatch machine he’s supposed to be.

Gillislee was primed to be another big contributor the Patriots swiped from the Bills, but he fizzled after a three-touchdown performance in 2017’s season opener. The stout back lost his place in the Patriots’ backfield thanks to a combination of his own limited effectiveness and Dion Lewis’ emergence as a legit No. 1 option. After being a healthy scratch throughout the second half of the season — including in Super Bowl 52 — he seems like a likely offseason cut. That could provide a tailback-needy team with an efficient runner who led the league with a 5.7 yard per carry average in 2016.

The 2014 second-round pick started his career with 1,124 rushing yards and nine touchdowns as a rookie. But his yards per carry plummeted from 5.1 as a rookie to 3.6 in 2015, even if he finished the season with a league-leading 11 rushing touchdowns.

Hill was progressively phased out of the Bengals’ offense as he struggled with an ankle injury, and he fell on the depth chart behind Giovani Bernard and 2017 draft pick Joe Mixon. Now 25, Hill will hit free agency and could be a steal if he recreates his 2014 form with another roster.