NFL bounce-back candidates - What went wrong for 32 struggling players, including Alvin Kamara, Baker Mayfield, plus 2022 outlooks

Every NFL player has expectations coming into each season. Some will meet them. Others will exceed them.

And then there are those who will fall short, some woefully. That's where we're putting our attention for the purposes of this exercise.

With our friends at Pro Football Focus, we identified 32 players — one from each team — who are looking to bounce back from a season that, for one reason or another, went awry. These are players who have shown in the past that they can play at a high level in the NFL. Our NFL Nation reporters also give their thoughts on how these players can improve in 2022.

Will edge rushers such as Khalil Mack, Bradley Chubb, Chase Young and Bud Dupree regain their edge? Will new surroundings benefit players such as Baker Mayfield, Allen Robinson II and Myles Jack? Can running backs Alvin Kamara, Saquon Barkley and Marlon Mack rekindle the magic of past seasons? These questions and many more are answered below (all grades and stats are from PFF):

Jump to a team:ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CINCLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | INDJAX | KC | LAC | LAR | LV | MIA | MINNE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SEASF | TB | TEN | WSH

Leighton Vander Esch, LB PFF grade in 2021: 60.8

What went wrong: Injuries. Vander Esch had one of the best rookie linebacker seasons in recent memory in 2018, yet he never has come close to that form since. The 2021 campaign was the first extended stretch in which he stayed healthy, and we finally saw flashes again of the player he was as a rookie. After a 42.7 overall grade through the first eight weeks, Vander Esch earned a 75.9 overall grade over the final nine. — PFF

Outlook for 2022: The more he plays, the better he plays, and having to split time with Keanu Neal