NFL players who we could see playing their last games

The NFL's oldest defensive back at 37, Adams has been a regular starter for five teams dating back to 2005. He suffered through 49ers and Browns rebuilds before catching on as a two-year Broncos safety from 2012-13 and starting in Super Bowl XLVIII. Adams then made back-to-back Pro Bowls as a Colt before being a starter on the past two Panthers defenses. He has 30 career interceptions, 17 of which coming since his age-33 season. His contract expires at season's end. Brian Dawkins is the only pure safety to play past 37 this century.

A late-bloomer, Alexander morphed from nine-year special-teamer to twilight-years starter. The Bills have received stunningly solid work from the 35-year-old outside linebacker since 2016, when he emerged from out of nowhere for 12.5 sacks. With 6.5 this season in a 4-3 scheme, Alexander has graded all year as one of Pro Football Focus' top edge defenders. Alexander's two-year contract expires after Week 17, and although he believes he has one more season left, he has considered retirement. 

In a similar boat as Adams, Bethea has been doing it almost as long. Adams actually replaced Bethea in Indianapolis in 2014, and Bethea relocated to make his third Pro Bowl that year, doing so with the 49ers. He started as a rookie for the 2006 Super Bowl champion Colts, intercepting two passes in the playoffs that year, and he has been a full-time starter for most of his career. He'll be 35 in July, and his Cardinals contract is up. Arizona likely will have another new coaching staff in 2019, and there will be a crowded safety market come March.

Blount may play into what would be his age-33 season in 2019, but the well-traveled running back has struggled in Detroit. The three-time Super Bowl champion enters Week 17 averaging a career-low 2.8 yards per carry and is not signed past 2018. A team seeking short-yardage help could call on Blount, but many backs on Blount's level — or ones with even higher pedigrees — have been finished by Year 10. The 2010 undrafted free agent has already overachieved, making a good career for himself at a time when running back longevity is at its worst.

This is an obvious long shot, with a retirement at 41 going against Brady's repeated play-until-45 declarations. But this season brought slippage the Patriot legend put off for so many years. Brady will almost certainly return for 2019, especially with the post-Jimmy Garoppolo Patriots having no post-Brady plan. That will be important to buy the franchise time to construct one. But in case the first-ballot Hall of Famer does decide he does not want to show more regression next year, be sure to appreciate Brady's upcoming playoff slate.

One of the marvels of this era, Davis is still going strong in his 14th season. He began this one with a four-game PED suspension and may want to exit on better terms. The longest-tenured Panther has overcome three ACL surgeries to be a three-time Pro Bowler. He was a cornerstone defender in the Jake Delhomme and Cam Newton eras and grades 11th among linebackers, per Pro Football Focus, this season. He is not signed beyond 2018, and while the Panthers could bring Luke Kuechly's longtime sidekick back, Shaq Thompson is a cheaper replacement as a three-down 'backer.

Fitzgerald is the oldest active wide receiver at 35. The Cardinals cratered in 2018, dragging down Fitz (65 receptions, 698 yards) in the process. He has taken a year-by-year approach to retirement in recent years. With this offense ranking last in both points and total yards, would the future Hall of Famer shut it down rather than see a rebuild that likely won't end while he's still playing? Fitz has said he will not play for another team. The NFL's non-Jerry Rice receiving yards leader is only 26 catches away from the No. 2 spot on that list, too. Seems tempting for a still-productive player. 

Gates' career may have ended after 2017 had Hunter Henry not gone down in the offseason, but he has further padded his legacy this year. He added two more touchdown receptions to his tight end-record total (now 116, sixth among all pass-catchers), but this feels like the end for Gates. He will turn 39 next summer and seems bound to go into the Hall of Fame in 2024 rather than 2025. This thicker version of Gates, though, still has a role to play for the best Chargers team in nine years. 

A former undrafted free agent out of a Division II school, Grimes has been one of this century's top NFL success stories. Earlier this year, the Buccaneers re-signed him for $7 million. But Grimes has not played as well as he did last season, and the Bucs — who have struggled all year on defense — will likely have a new coaching staff soon. They also drafted two second-round cornerbacks this year. The four-time Pro Bowler considered retirement after last season and will turn 36 in 2019. Few modern corners have voyaged past 35. 

At his apex, Gronkowski was probably the most dominant tight end in NFL history. Longevity will hurt his tight end GOAT case. Worn down by numerous injuries, Gronk is not the weapon he was even last season, which ended with a 116-yard, two-touchdown Super Bowl LII showing. The four-time All-Pro surmounting injuries and returning to full-season work in 2014 and '15 helped Tom Brady revitalize his form, opening the window for more Patriots titles. But the 29-year-old phenom considered retiring after 2017. Injured, declining and unlikely to be in the Pats' 2019 plans, he might follow through this time.

Kalil announced after last season this one would be his last. Unless the 12th-year Panthers center backtracks on his intentions, Sunday will be his final game. The five-time Pro Bowler rebounded from back-to-back injury-shortened seasons to play in 14 games this year. While it's possible the 33-year-old blocker could reverse course to play one more year with younger brother Matt, the Panthers may not have Matt in their 2019 plans. 

Operating as the No. 3 tight end for a Packers team that will have new coaches soon, Lewis may be closing out what has been a quality career. The 2006 first-round pick played 12 seasons with the Jaguars, sharing huddles with Fred Taylor and Dede Westbrook. The Packers picked up the 34-year-old tight end but have only used him on 187 offensive plays. Playing behind Jimmy Graham and Lance Kendricks, Lewis has just three catches. It seems like the end of the road for one of the league's longest-tenured skill-position players.

Manning has one more season on his contract, and it is starting to look like the Giants may give him a 16th season in 2019. Manning will be 38 next week and is no longer a high-end passer, but despite being saddled with another poor offensive line, the likely Hall of Famer has been more statistically productive than in the Giants' 2016 playoff season. Of course, the Giants could pull off something major at quarterback in the offseason. That happening may induce a retirement, as Manning has repeatedly said he does not want to play elsewhere.

Matthews' Packers tenure may have one game left. The 10th-year linebacker's contract expires after this season, and he has declined in recent years. The six-time Pro Bowler has a career-low 3.5 sacks this year. While top-tier edge rushers almost never hit the market, thus increasing the demand for second-level or middling pass pursuers, Matthews may not generate great interest based on his age and recent work. He could presumably play elsewhere for far less money. If this is it for Matthews, he will end his 10-year career as the Packers' all-time leading sacker (by nine) with 83.5. 

We may not see McCown on Sunday, since Sam Darnold will start for the Jets, but CBS should consider cutting to the backup quarterback. It probably will be his final time in an NFL uniform. McCown has experienced an interesting career, being mostly a backup from 2002-13, but his work in relief of Jay Cutler for the '13 Bears kept getting him starting gigs. He started for the Buccaneers, Browns and Jets from 2014-17 and made three starts this year, earning $10M to back up Darnold. But a new Jets coaching staff will soon arrive, and McCown will be 40 next summer. This feels like his swansong. 

Despite being far removed from the five-year mid-career stretch that produced five Pro Bowls and two All-Pro honors, Ngata has remained a key cog wherever he's played. The 13-year veteran has started 174 of his 179 regular-season games, including nine for this year's Eagles. He will turn 35 in January and would have to accept another one-year deal, at probably close to the veteran minimum, to play in 2019. While he will have a role to play in the Eagles' bid to make the playoffs, the former first-round pick might be ready to walk away.

Peppers has been in the public eye longer than nearly every NFLer. He was part of a North Carolina basketball team that made the 1999-2000  Final Four and has been one of the Panthers' quintessential players. Although the North Carolina native may have a path back to the Panthers for an 18th season, the 2002 first-round pick does not have anything else to prove. His sack (four) and QB-hit (10) numbers are down from 2017 (11, 17), and he is already the NFL's No. 4 all-time sack artist (158.5). Peppers, who is just 1.5 sacks away from Kevin Greene on that list, will be 39 next month.

The Eagles are $10 million-plus over the projected 2019 salary cap. They are going to have to make moves to fix this, and releasing a soon-to-be 37-year-old tackle may be part of that equation. Unless Peters retires. The nine-time Pro Bowler entered the league in 2004 and became one of the best left tackles of his era. He has a $10.6M cap hold in 2019, and the Eagles considered jettisoning him two offseasons ago. After Peters was lost midseason in 2017, he's played through a torn biceps this season. Fifteen years might be enough for the decorated edge blocker.

If Peterson has anything to say about this, he will not be retiring after this age-defying season. He is closing in on 1,100 rushing yards — for a Washington team using mostly backup offensive linemen and on quarterback No. 4. But Derrius Guice will also be back next season, making Peterson's spot in Washington less certain. He could stick around to team with Guice, but offering little in the passing game and nearing 34, Peterson does not complement the second-round pick well. He may again need to accept a team's near-league-minimum offer to play in 2019, as impressive as his '18 season has been. 

Having already backtracked on one retirement, Sproles enters what could be the final game of his career. The all-purpose yards demon suffered an injury early during the Eagles' Super Bowl season and vowed 2018, instead, would be his last. Sproles, 35, battled more injuries this year; he's played in only five games. Sunday (and possibly a playoff journey) could be it for a player who has already achieved much more than expected, having scored 64 touchdowns (seven via punt return) and served as an essential piece for three franchises. 

We may have just seen Thomas' final game. The Texans' No. 2 wide receiver tore his Achilles tendon Sunday. Thomas turned 31 on Christmas Day, so it's obviously possible he comes back. But Houston will move on from his non-guaranteed $14M 2019 salary, and months of rehab are in store. Thomas is probably the second-best wideout in Broncos history but has played through steady injury trouble. Although Thomas showed flashes of his former elite version this season, he has not been as productive. It would not be surprising if the well-paid nine-year veteran ends up calling it a career.

A Vinatieri retirement may not be imminent, but the future Hall of Fame kicker turns 46 this week. He is a year-to-year proposition. While the NFL's all-time scoring leader has remained a quality kicker in his 23rd season, only three players — George Blanda, Morten Andersen and John Carney — have played past age 45. Vinatieri's latest Colts contract expires after the season. Indianapolis would surely take him back if he wants to return, but Vinatieri's career stopping after 2018 would make it no less legendary. 

Long a Bills centerpiece, Williams is wrapping up his 13th season. He re-signed to stay in Buffalo in March and added five sacks to his career total (48.5). Buffalo has deployed one of the NFL's best defenses, and another Williams one-year pact could commence. But the five-time Pro Bowler will turn 36 in June. And the Bills may still be in the rebuilding stages in 2019 (based on what Brandon Beane and Sean McDermott can do to upgrade a horrendous offense). Williams shutting it down after this season would add up; he will go down as one of the best defenders in Bills history.

The Saints brought Watson back this offseason on a one-year, $2M deal. The 38-year-old pass-catcher was the lone post-Jimmy Graham tight end to do much for New Orleans, when he hauled in 74 passes for 825 yards and six touchdowns in 2015. The enduring talent (372 yards in 2018) has since overcome a 2016-nullifying torn Achilles and is nearing the end. No tight end has ever played past age 38, so Watson's offseason decision will be interesting. If the Saints win Super Bowl LIII and Watson retires, his career will have started and ended with championships. (He began his career on the 2004 Patriots.)

Whitworth's decision will be fascinating. It would make sense for the Rams left tackle to come back. He has a $10M base salary due in 2018 and remains one of the NFL's best blockers. But Whitworth will be 38 at this time next year. Modern offensive linemen do not play in age-38 seasons, but given the struggles young blockers have coming from college to the NFL, we may see the old guard stay longer as a result. However, it would also not be shocking — especially if the Rams can win Super Bowl LIII — to see Whitworth hang it up.