Every season, a different set of players face a crossroads or have something to prove for a variety of reasons. The most common reasons are related to age, contract or salary cap concerns, injury, poor performance or off-the-field issues.
Here are 10 offensive players, who aren't quarterbacks, who fit into one of those categories to keep an eye on in 2022.
Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Cowboys
Elliott has been trending in the wrong direction statistically since becoming the first running back in league history to sign a $100 million contract. The two-time rushing champion signed a six-year, $90 million contract extension, which made him the NFL's highest-paid running back, shortly before the start of the 2019 regular season to end a lengthy preseason holdout. Elliott, who had two years remaining on his rookie contract, established new standards for running backs with $50,052,137 in overall guarantees and $28,052,137 fully guaranteed at signing in the deal.
Elliott averaged a career-low 58.9 rushing yards per game last season. Prior to Elliott getting his contract extension, he averaged 101.2 rushing yards per game. Elliott wasn't Dallas' most efficient running back last season. It was Tony Pollard, who some believe is the best running back on the Cowboys' roster.
If that proves to be the case this season, it's hard to imagine Elliott back with the Cowboys in 2023. It would probably be a necessity to part ways with Elliott to retain Pollard, who is in a contract year. There is already speculation that Elliott will be released next offseason regardless of what happens with Pollard.
Elliott is scheduled to make $10.9 million on a $16.72 million salary cap number in 2023. The Cowboys would have $11.86 million of dead money, a cap charge for a player no longer on a team's roster, by letting Elliott go without using a post-June 1 designation.
Michael Thomas, WR, Saints
Thomas missed the 2021 season after suffering a setback in rehabbing from the ankle surgery he had that June. The Saints were already frustrated with Thomas for waiting until several weeks before training camp to have surgery on the left ankle injured during the 2020 season.
The 2020 season was also challenging for Thomas. He was the subject of trade rumors after a one-game suspension because of a practice altercation with a teammate and limited to seven regular-season games because of the ankle.
Thomas has been an afterthought in the best wide receiver discussions with the emergence of several younger players at the positions over the last two seasons. In 2019, Thomas' last healthy season, he set the single record for receptions with 149 and was named NFL Offensive Player of the Year.