Accolades and Question Marks: A Look at the 2015 NFL Retirement Period

For this next blog entry, I decided to look at a little different aspect of the NFL game. People always seem to talk about the up and comers and players that are in their prime, but I wanted to take a look at the other side of the coin here, and check out the retirements from this offseason. 

This was a much more interesting retirement period, compared to others from recent memory. Many high profile players called it quits, along with some young players that hadn’t been in the league for more than the length of their rookie contracts. Definitely not something you see everyday, so let’s take a look.

The Less Surprising Retirees
Let us look at the most recent retiree, cornerback Ike Taylor for the Pittsburgh Steelers. At age 34, in 12 NFL seasons, he was a very consistent player when it came to playing time. Before last season, he had only missed 7 games in 11 years, but this past year he missed 11 games. From a durability standpoint throughout his career, that is what you want from a player. He has compiled over 600 combined tackles in his career, to go along with 140 pass deflections, 14 interceptions, 1 touchdown, and 3 sacks. Very solid numbers from a player at the cornerback position. The only issue my father had with Taylor, as a lifelong Steelers fan, was that he seemed to drop so many possible interceptions. That’s probably why he wasn’t a wide receiver, but he did have an impressive one as a corner.

Now sticking with the same team, but a different player in 8 time pro bowl safety, Troy Polamalu. It was sad to see Troy retire, especially because ever since I started to watch NFL football, it seemed like Polamalu was in the starting lineup for the Steelers. You could see him declining last year, but he has been a cornerstone for Pittsburgh for so long, it is going to be different seeing somebody else playing his position. Like Taylor, Troy has been with the Steelers for 12 years. In those 12 years, he has made countless eye popping plays that blew your mind. He gathered up 771 combined tackles, 32 interceptions, 110 pass deflections, 12 sacks, 14 forced fumbles, 7 fumble recoveries, and 3 touchdowns. Wow is all you can say, especially if you had the privilege of watching him over the years. He was a very soft-spoken player, but his play was everything but. He played like an animal, and treated every snap like it was his last. A future hall of fame player, without a doubt in my mind.

The More Surprising Retirees
To start off with this category, I feel like Patrick Willis is one of the first names that comes to mind. While 30 years old isn’t necessarily “young” in NFL terms, it isn’t an age that you expect players of Willis’ caliber to retire at. The man was a beast to say the very least, and he was the face of that 49er’s defense in my opinion. After being selected #11 overall in the 2007 NFL draft, he has lived up to his expectations, and then some. In 8 years, he made 7 pro bowls. That is the definition of domination at your position. In 112 games played, Willis finished with over 900 combined tackles, while breaking the 100 combined tackle mark in a season 6 times, with 174 combined tackles as a rookie. That number is pretty darn impressive to say the least. He also finished his year with 20.5 sacks, 16 forced fumbles, 5 fumble recoveries, 8 interceptions, 53 pass deflections, and 2 touchdowns. A great career to celebrate, even if it did end a little earlier than we all expected. Willis also could be under serious consideration to make it to Canton, Ohio as a hall of fame linebacker.

Stephen Schilling is the next player to definitely surprise people by retiring at the young age of just 26 years old. In just 4 years of play in the NFL, he played for 2 different teams. He played for the Seattle Seahawks last season, and before that he spent his first 3 years with the San Diego Chargers, after being selected in the 6th round in 2011. He was never a solidified starter in the league, but he got playing time in 26 games, while starting 5 in his career, and 3 of them came in 2014. He played college football at the University of Michigan, and was a Lombardi Award nominee, which celebrated a college offensive lineman, who had great play on the field, while still having the type of discipline that Vince Lombardi portrayed. A promising outlook, but unfortunately ending earlier than expected.

Next up is the former #8 overall pick of the Tennessee Titans in 2011, Jake Locker. Coming out of the University of Washington, many thought that he could potentially be the #1 overall pick in the NFL draft, but that turned out to be Auburn standout, Cam Newton. Locker didn’t do what Tennessee was hoping, as he only started 30 games over 4 years. That’s less than half of what the team played over that 4 year span. He finished his career with just under 5,000 yards passing, 27 touchdowns, 22 interceptions, and a 57.5% completion rate. Though he didn’t really excel in the pros, it was very surprising that he called it quits because he still had the skill set to remain on an NFL roster. Locker however wanted to be able to get out of the NFL while still being in good health, and it is hard to fault him for that.

Now onto Jason Worilds, who was also from the Pittsburgh Steelers. The 2nd round draft choice from Virginia Tech played a total of 5 years in the National Football League. This is especially surprising because of his output for the team so far in his career. In 73 games throughout his career, he brought down the quarterback 25.5 times, and 7.5 of those sacks came just last year, which was the 2nd most in his career for a single season. He also finished his career with 4 forced fumbles, and 3 fumble recoveries. Though he wasn’t a standout that offenses planned around, Worilds was still a solid starter and he had some good upside, while showing flashes of great play. Even though the Pittsburgh Steelers are known for their development of linebackers, this is still a loss for their defensive unit and a big surprise for anyone who watched him.

The last player that retired out of nowhere, who was definitely the most surprising retiree, is linebacker Chris Borland from the San Francisco 49er’s. At just 24 years old, Borland hung up his cleats after just his rookie year. In his one year with the team, Borland compiled over 100 combined tackles, 5 pass deflections, 2 interceptions, and 1 sack, which earned him consideration for rookie of the year. He definitely had a lot of upside coming out of college after playing at the University of Wisconsin, and after being selected in the 3rd round in last year’s draft. Many players had mixed reviews about his retirement, with some questioning his commitment and just wanting the money and running, while others were very comforting and understanding as to why he did it. Borland quickly diminished those who criticized him by giving back 3/4 of his signing bonus, since he only played 1/4 of his rookie contract. That definitely had to take a lot for him to walk away from the game he loved, but it’s hard to argue with a guy who cherishes his health more than his paycheck.


Whether this turns into a more common thing in the NFL or not, this was definitely a surprising retirement period in the NFL. Only time will tell if this trend will continue.

As always, thank you for reading!

2015 NFL Mock Draft and Brief Analysis

1.    Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Jameis Winston QB, Florida State

It’s no secret that Tampa Bay is very interested in taking a quarterback with their #1 overall pick in the upcoming draft. Head coach, Lovie Smith has made it clear that he likes Winston, and it seems like he is a bigger fan of him rather than Marcus Mariota. There were also rumors that the team’s current QB, Mike Glennon, has been looked at as a possible trade commodity. Winston would be in a great situation with Vincent Jackson and Mike Evans to throw to, along with Doug Martin running the football.

2.    Tennessee Titans - Leonard Williams DE/DT, USC

Many look at Williams as the top prospect in this year’s draft, and it just so happens that the Titans could use help on the defensive line. Marcus Mariota has been rumored to be liked by the  Titans organization, but the team has also been said to be all in with quarterback Zach Mattenberger. With that, I think Williams will be the pick.

3.    Jacksonville Jaguars - Brandon Scheriff OT, Iowa

Blake Bortles was sacked 55 times last season as a rookie. That isn’t good, especially for the team’s quarterback of the future. There are many other positions that are a possibility for the Jaguars, but offensive line makes the most sense.

4.    Oakland Raiders - Amari Cooper WR, Alabama

Derek Carr threw for over 3,000 yards, 21 touchdowns, with only 12 interceptions. That was without many big time playmakers on the offense. If the Raiders took Cooper, he would play opposite of James Jones, and that would be a solid receiving core, and it could help Carr out a lot.

5.    Washington Redskins - Dante Fowler Jr. OLB, Florida

Washington has a few issues to address in this draft, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they traded back or just spent this pick on an offensive lineman. Fowler Jr. is a great player though, and could definitely compliment and help out the Redskins’ defense. Pairing him opposite of Ryan Kerrigan could be a dynamic duo on the defensive side of the ball.

6.    New York Jets - Marcus Mariota QB, Oregon

The New York Jets have done some good things so far in this offseason, mainly bringing back Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie, while also adding Buster Skrine. Also on offense, they traded for Brandon Marshall to team up beside Eric Decker. Todd Bowles has done well so far, and I expect him to cement a new quarterback to signal a new era with the the Jets. I think Mariota would do well with this team, and it would be fun to watch.

7.    Chicago Bears - Vic Beasley OLB, Clemson

The Bears defense is definitely not their defense of old, so I think this would be a good pick for them to try and start to get this defense back to where they used to be. They have to start somewhere.

8.    Atlanta Falcons - Shane Ray DE, Missouri

Atlanta could use a dominant defensive presence, and Ray could definitely help in that area. With his size (6’3” 245lbs.), Ray would be a versatile weapon, and could possibly line up at linebacker in certain packages. This would be a good pick for the Falcons.

9.    New York Giants - Danny Shelton DT, Washington

The Giants are pretty set on the offensive side of the ball, and the offensive line can be addressed a little later in the draft, so I see them focusing on defense, and on the interior of the defensive line is where I see them needing the most help. Shelton could definitely help this unit and give them an intimidating defensive line when teaming up with Jason Pierre-Paul and Cullen Jenkins.

10.    St. Louis Rams - Trae Waynes CB, Michigan State

Waynes was a stud corner on the college level, and could help any team that needs help in the secondary, and the Rams are one of those teams. He would pair well with Janoris Jenkins, and could help this already solid defense.

11.    Minnesota Vikings - La’el Collins OT, LSU

Collins could step in right away for Minnesota, as he would help an offensive line that gave up the 39 sacks to their starting quarterback, Teddy Bridgewater. This would help give Bridgewater more time, and it would open up more holes along the offensive line for their running game.

12.    Cleveland Browns - Kevin White WR, West Virginia

If White is available, I don’t think Cleveland will hesitate at all to take him, especially after Josh Gordon got suspended for the entire 2015-2016 season. He would join newly signed Dwayne Bowe and he would definitely help out whoever is playing quarterback for the team.

13.    New Orleans Saints - Randy Gregory DE, Nebraska

After his recent legal issues, Gregory could definitely fall in the draft. If he is there at 13, then I would expect the Saints to take him. He could definitely strengthen the Saints defense and he would be a great compliment to pair with Cameron Jordan on the opposite side. This is of course if they don’t trade Drew Brees to the Buccaneers for the number 1 pick, who would then be Jameis Winston.

14.    Miami Dolphins - Shaq Thompson OLB, Washington

Miami could definitely use an offensive guard here, but there aren’t any that are worth taking this high, so if they stick with this pick, I think it would be a smart pickup to get Thompson. He could step in immediately and help the Dolphins defense at the linebacker position.

15.    San Francisco 49ers - Malcolm Brown DT, Texas

The 49ers have faced some tough losses with Chris Borland and Patrick Willis this offseason by retirements. I expect them to address the defensive side with these losses, and though it isn’t at linebacker, I see Malcolm Brown being a good pick. He could help with the losses that the 49ers have suffered and step in and help right away.

16.    Houston Texans - Andrus Peat OT, Stanford

This would be a smart move for the Houston Texans. Peat would be a big help for a Texans offense who has questions at quarterback at the moment, and he would help their offensive line quite a bit. If they were to trade down however, I wouldn’t be surprised.

17.    San Diego Chargers - Todd Gurley RB, Georgia

With the loss of Ryan Matthews, the Chargers need a starting running back to carry the load for the team, and Gurley could be that guy. Even though he had a serious injury to his knee, he seems to be on track to heal correctly. Big risk player, but he also comes with big reward potential. The past 3 seasons at Georgia, Gurley has averaged over 6 yards per carry. No matter what level, that is impressive.

18.    Kansas City Chiefs - Ereck Flowers OT, Miami (FL)

The Chiefs didn’t have a single receiving touchdown from a wide receiver last season, so that is also a huge possibility here, but Alex Smith was sacked 45 times last year. If he doesn’t have time to throw from the pocket, it doesn’t matter who he is throwing the football to.

19.    Cleveland Browns (From Buffalo) - Eric Kendricks ILB, UCLA

This pick would make sense, and it would complete a very intimidating linebacker core that already includes Paul Kruger, Barkevious Mingo, and Karlos Dansby. This defense would be scary, and it can only help them keep pace with the rest of the AFC North.

20.    Philadelphia Eagles - Eli Harold OLB, Virginia

Chip Kelly has made the most noise in the offseason this year, and it isn’t a secret that he is looking to make a run this year. With Harold, that would strengthen a linebacking core that is led by newly acquired Kiko Alonso. It isn’t a flashy pick, but it would be a good one.

21.    Cincinnati Bengals - Landon Collins SS, Alabama

Collins is a very talented player out of Alabama, which is pretty much a breeding ground for NFL players. He would certainly help the Bengals secondary.

22.    Pittsburgh Steelers - Kevin Johnson CB, Wake Forest

The Steelers defense has been acquiring many young and talented defensive players in the early rounds of the draft in past years, and I look for that trend to continue. Johnson would pair well with Cortez Allen, and he could fill the void with the loss of Ike Taylor.

23.    Detroit Lions - Melvin Gordon RB, Wisconsin

With the loss of Reggie Bush, Detroit may be looking for a back to fill that role. Theo Riddick played well last year when called on, but having three capable running backs is very intriguing. I think guard is a bigger need, but none are worth taking this high.

24.    Arizona Cardinals - Alvin Dupree DE, Kentucky

Dupree would probably play outside linebacker in Arizona’s scheme, and I think he would definitely help fill a need for a team that is looking for a push to make it to the big game, especially with Carson Palmer running out of time to win that big game at quarterback.

25.    Carolina Panthers - Marcus Peters CB, Washington

The Panthers are a tough team to figure out. They have the capability to beat any team that they square up against, but they also have the capability to lose to any team as well. I think Peters would definitely help their secondary that doesn’t have any shutdown corners.

26.    Baltimore Ravens - DeVante Parker WR, Louisville 

If Parker is still on the board at this time, then I think it is a no brainer for the Ravens. With the loss of Torrey Smith, they need somebody to help fill the void that he left, and Parker could do just that.

27.    Dallas Cowboys - Arik Armstead DT, Oregon

The Dallas Cowboys are almost a complete team, and I think with this pick, Armstead would be smart. Defensive tackle looks to be about the weakest spot for this team, so I see them taking care of that right away.

28.    Denver Broncos - Cameron Erving C, Florida State

Peyton Manning only has a couple years left in the league, and to make sure that he can be the best that he can be, the Broncos should draft a player to protect him. Erving could be that player, and it would be a smart pick for them.

29.    Indianapolis Colts - T.J. Clemmings OT, Pittsburgh

After obtaining Frank Gore and Andre Johnson in free agency, the Colts top priority should be to keep Andrew Luck upright, so he can totally utilize the weapons he has at his disposal. Clemmings can help with that objective.

30.    Green Bay Packers - P.J. Williams CB, Florida State

With the loss of Tramon Williams leaving for Cleveland, the Packers are weaker at the cornerback position, and in a division with Calvin Johnson, Golden Tate, and Alshon Jeffery, I don’t know if the Packers will take their chances. Williams could help them.

31.    New Orleans Saints (From Seattle) - Jake Fisher OT, Oregon

The Saints received this pick from the Jimmy Graham trade with Seattle, and I think Jake Fisher would be smart here. Giving Drew Brees as much time as possible is only a bad thing for opposing defenses, but never for the Saints’ offense.

32.    New England Patriots - Jaelen Strong WR, Arizona State

If Strong were to still be available, Bill Belichick would be very tempted to give Tom Brady another target to throw to. Brady turns average receivers into seemingly great ones, so imagine what he could do with Strong, who is already greatly talented.


As always, thanks for reading this everybody. It seriously means a lot. Now this is my best guess as to what will happen, though in reality I may only get a handful right, but hey that’s the fun of it.