10 NFL Starters Whose Jobs Are On The Line In 2022

There is simply no shortage of big-named NFL players who are under a lot of pressure to break through in the 2022 season. Now, most teams have a strong idea as to which players will start at the most important positions in 2022. That said, there are still several players who are running out of time to prove themselves as capable long-term starters.

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Some of these players are veterans, and others are young players completing their rookie deals. Some of them are starting out with a new team, and others are trying to make it work on the club that drafted them. With that all said, here are 10 NFL players whose starting jobs are on the line in 2022.

10 Baker Mayfield

After constant back-and-forth discussions, the Carolina Panthers agreed to a trade with the Cleveland Browns for Baker Mayfield. Regardless of what head coach Matt Rhule tells you, it's obvious that he'll open as the starter over Sam Darnold.

It may feel unfair to put Mayfield on this list considering that he's never played a snap for Carolina. But make no mistake: If he doesn't provide competent QB play in 2022, the Panthers will most likely take a signal-caller in the ultra-deep 2023 quarterback class. So it's on Mayfield to play well and show Carolina they don't need to look for a new quarterback after next season.

9 Mekhi Becton

Becton had a superb rookie season for the New York Jets in 2020, but a knee injury forced him to miss the final 16 games of his sophomore year.

Despite his age and high ceiling, Becton is already the subject of trade rumors in Gotham. Are the Jets already considering moving on from the 2020 first-round pick? An uninspiring 2022 season could prompt head coach Robert Saleh and GM Joe Douglas to move on from Becton. He'll need to stay healthy and produce a good year to convince his team that he belongs here beyond 2022.

8 Jalen Reagor

The Philadelphia Eagles made a drastic mistake by selecting Jalen Reagor (21st overall) over future Minnesota Vikings superstar Justin Jefferon (22nd) in 2020. Reagor has 695 receiving yards through two seasons, whereas Jefferson already has 3,016 receiving yards, 17 touchdown catches and two Pro Bowl campaigns under his belt.

The Eagles traded for Tennessee Titans superstar wideout A.J. Brown, thus providing Jalen Hurts with another playmaker to complement DeVonta Smith. The pressure is now on Reagor to at least produce like a capable WR3, otherwise he won't be an Eagle in 2023.

7 Dexter Lawrence

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The New York Giants may have picked up the fifth-year option on Lawrence's rookie contract, but it doesn't mean that he's guaranteed a starting job past next year.

The Clemson product, whom the Giants drafted 17th overall in 2019, still hasn't played more than 70 percent of the team's defensive snaps in a season. He also went from 15 starts as a sophomore to just 10 in year three. With only nine career sacks through 48 games, Lawrence needs to produce consistently if he wants to stick with the Giants long-term. Otherwise, the new GM-coach regime of Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll may move on.

6 Clyde Edwards-Helaire

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Edwards-Helaire may have put up 1,100 yards of offense in his 2020 rookie season, but the Kansas City Chiefs expected Pro Bowl-caliber play when they used a 2020 first-rounder on him.

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CEH has been good-but-not-great in KC. He's averaged 4.4 yards per carry and only 57.4 rushing yards per game. That's not gonna cut it for an offense that is trying to create more balance to accommodate Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs signed power back Ronald Jones II (978 rushing yards in 2020) in free agency, and they won't hesitate to start him if Edwards-Helaire fails to make an impact early.

5 Devin Bush Jr.

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This is it. Last chance for Devin Bush Jr. to show what he can do for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Plain and simple.

The Steelers traded up to land Bush with the No. 10 pick in 2019. They've gotten inconsistent play from Bush, who only has four sacks, two forced fumbles and 11 quarterback pressures through three seasons. He has also been a giant liability in coverage for the Steelers, who have more than enough star power to make up for Bush's inconsistent play. Pittsburgh declined the fifth-year option on Bush's rookie deal, which means one thing: It's now or never.

4 Johnathan Abram

Rookie safety Trevon Moehrig was instrumental in leading the Las Vegas Raiders to the playoffs last season, but the same cannot be sasid about Johnathan Abram.

The Raiders have gotten uneven play out of their 2019 first-round pick and safety. He's a decent ball-hawker and all, but Abram has been ultra-inconsistent in coverage. Pro Football Reference had him down fo 483 yards and five touchdown passes allowed in coverage last season.

Vegas signed veteran Duron Harmon to help out the safety group. Don't be surprised if the former New England Patriot overtakes Abram as the starting safety alongside Moehrig.

3 Ezekiel Elliott

Let's be real: The only reason Ezekiel Elliott is still with the Dallas Cowboys is because of his contract. If Jerry Jones didn't hand him a $90 million deal in 2019, "America's Team" would have totally moved on by now.

Elliott may have recorded 1,000 rushing yards last season, but he did average a career low 58.9 yards per game. Backup Tony Pollard was more explosive and reliable with the ball last year. Dallas shouldn't worry about Zeke's contract at this point. If Pollard is the better running back in 2022, it's time to make Elliott the understudy.

2 Marcus Mariota

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The Atlanta Falcons signed Mariota to a two-year pact following the Matt Ryan trade. That doesn't at all mean that the No. 2 pick of the 2015 Draft will be the starter from Week 1 to 18, though.

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Atlanta used the No. 74 pick on intriguing Cincinnati product Desmond Ridder. If Mariota struggles, and/or if the Falcons are well out of the playoff race mid-season, don't be stunned if head coach Arthur Smith gives Ridder the starting duties. This feels like Mariota's final chance to prove himself as a starter in the NFL.

1 Daniel Jones

There's no debating this one. The Giants reached big time for Daniel Jones in the No. 6 spot three years ago. What they've gotten out of Jones up to this point is far from ideal: 12 wins, 25 losses, 45 touchdowns, 29 interceptions and a whopping 36 career fumbles. And he only appeared in 38 games through three seasons.

New York signed journeyman Tyrod Taylor to back up Jones...for now. The Giants should give Jones no more than two games to show improvement. If it doesn't come, he'll have failed his final opportunity to assert himself as the starter. Taylor will take over, and perhaps the Giants will eye a QB in the first round of next year's draft.