NFL players heading into make-or-break years in 2017

Ansah will be a free agent following the 2017 season, and must perform better than he did last year. The former star pass rusher had only two sacks last year after accumulating 14.5 sacks in 2016.

Widely considered one of the most overpaid players in football, Austin can make plays when he has the ball but has been unable to get open down the field. The 5-8 wide receiver averaged an awful 8.8 yards per reception last season. New head coach Sean McVay could determine Austin's value.

The Jags made several big additions on both sides of the ball, but their success will come down to Bortles. He's coming off a terrible season - his third in the league - when he finished with a 78.8 Passer Rating.

Charles had surgery on both knees last year, and his market this offseason was quiet. He has a chance to figure into Denver's running back committee, but the Broncos won't hesitate to cut him if he doesn't look right in training camp.

Coates showed flashes early last season, but hand problems caused another disappointing year. The return of Martavis Bryant and drafting of JuJu Smith-Schuster puts Coates, a 2015 third-round pick, on the chopping block.

It's clear the end is near for Forte, who turns 32 in December. He averaged only 3.7 yards per carry last season, and is playing on a Jets roster that's likely playing for the future. This could be his final year if he doesn't show more burst.

Fleener was expected to have a huge year in his first season with the Saints given their history of tight end production. After a slow start, Fleener finished with only 50 receptions and three scores. The Saints expect more given the money they shelled out last offseason.

Floyd had a horrendous walk year in 2016, getting pushed to the bench in Arizona despite the team's dire need at wideout before getting cut due to a DUI arrest. After being picked up by the Patriots, he was inactive for the Super Bowl. Minnesota picked him up as a flier.

There were questions about Funchess' lack of speed when he was selected in the second round in 2015, and it's been easy to see why over the last two seasons. Despite a huge 6-4 frame, Funchess has caught only 54 of 123 targets in two seasons. He will now have to compete for snaps with rookie Curtis Samuel.

Glennon got a big contract from the Bears before the traded up to draft Mitchell Trubisky second overall. It's more likely that Glennon is auditioning for other teams needing a quarterback in 2018 now that he has a starting opportunity this year in Chicago.

While Gordon took a giant step forward in his sophomore season, he still averaged only 3.9 yards per carry for the Chargers. The team needs better, especially with Philip Rivers getting long in the tooth. The hope is that new head coach Anthony Lynn, a former running backs coach, can help.

A former top college recruit, Green-Beckham was kicked off the Missouri football team for off-field issues. He has immense raw ability, but that lost time in college has hindered his professional career and ability to run routes. The Eagles added several new receiving options in the offseason, making the former second-round pick - who has already been traded once - a candidate to be cut.

Some critics have concluded that Hackenberg was a wasted second-round pick when he didn't even sniff the field last year despite a great need for the Jets. If the same result occurs this year, that conclusion will be accurate with only Josh McCown and Bryce Petty ahead of him on the depth chart.

Hill is certainly on his last leg in Cincinnati, after the organization used a second-round pick on Joe Mixon. While averaging 5.1 yards per carry in his rookie season, Hill has averaged less than 4.0 yards per carry in each of the last two seasons.

There were rumors the new 49ers coaching staff was looking for a running back to replace Hyde at the draft. This was hair-raising after Hyde averaged 4.6 yards per carry last year, but he's also struggled to stay healthy during his career. Rookie Joe Williams could be a major threat to Hyde's playing time, as could the additions of Tim Hightower and Kapri Bibbs.

The Bengals have remained incredibly patient with Jones' off-field issues this offseason given his history. They must feel strongly that the soon-to-be 34-year-old can still play, but another slip up on or off the field could end his career.

Lacy signed an incentive-laden deal with Seattle in the offseason, and many of those incentives are based on his weight. His conditioning has been a major issue in the past, and he played only five games in Green Bay last season due to injury. This is a great opportunity for the former Alabama running back, but he needs to rebound desperately.

Nkemdiche was once considered an elite prospect, but fell all the way to 29th in the 2016 draft due in large part to a bizarre off-field incident. He's already looking like a giant bust with only one tackle last season, but Arizona will be counting on him after Calais Campbell left in free agency.

Osweiler was the top bust of 2016, eventually getting benched in Houston after signing a huge contract. The Browns took on his contract in return for a draft pick from the Texans, and they don't have much incentive to play him. Still, if Osweiler can't beat out Cody Kessler and rookie DeShone Kizer for playing time, we should consider his chances of starting in the NFL all but over.

Peterson left Minnesota after an injury-plagued 2016 season, and now joins up with Sean Payton. It's a favorable opportunity, even with Mark Ingram in front of him, but there should be no guarantee that Peterson will win a spot on the roster at age 32.

Robinson has been a complete bust for the Rams since being drafted second overall in 2014. The team is set to move him to right tackle this season, hoping to get something out of their investment.

Sherman was mentioned in trade rumors during the offseason, and rumors of his fallout with the Seahawks have been rampant. He's also coming off of a knee injured that hindered his play last season. Sherman's future in Seattle hangs on his play and behavior in 2017.

Smith has been a solid, if unspectacular, quarterback in Kansas City over the last three seasons. The team traded up for Texas Tech quarterback Patrick Mahomes, a quarterback who is capable of the spectacular. The Chiefs roster has Super Bowl upside, and they could turn to Mahomes sooner than later if it becomes clear that Smith can't get them to the promised land.

There were rumors that the Bills would move on from Taylor before trading back in the first round of the draft. He's been a solid game manager in two seasons as a starter with the Bills, but the drafting of Cardale Jones and Nathan Peterman in the last two drafts shows that Buffalo is thinking about the future.

Drafted 23rd overall in the 2016 draft, Treadwell had only one reception in his rookie season. Now he faces major obstacles for playing time behind Stefon Diggs, Adam Thielen, and Michael Floyd.