2015 NFL Stock Down: Week 2

Every week during the season I’ll take a look back at the games and select three players who are entering important stages of their contract that could have hurt their upcoming negotiations with their play on gameday. In addition we will also look at one player signed in the offseason to a new contract that did not live up to his new contract.

Stock Down

Sam Bradford– Bradford has a lot riding on this season with 50% thinking he’s worth borderline starter money and the other 50% thinking he’s worth $17 million a year. Based on Sunday he’ll be lucky to finish the season as starter. Bradford just seemed overcome by the situation of playing in a big game at home, was mistake prone, and couldn’t get anything going all day in a game that they had every chance to win.

Courtney Upshaw- With Terrell Suggs out and Pernell McPhee gone, Upshaw will never get a better chance to prove he deserves big money. The Ravens constantly springboard such players to big contracts elsewhere, but Upshaw is doing nothing with the opportunity. Upshaw provided no pass rush or run defense that would indicate any hope of him turning it around.

Haloti Ngata– The Lions defense is not playing well and Ngata is in a tough position because he is replacing the player that was the best player on that defense. The team is getting hased in the run game and Ngata needs to stand out and make a lasting impact in the game if he wants to get another big contract in 2016.

New Contract Disappointment Of The Week

DeMarco Murray– Two weeks in a row for Murray, who right now looks like he could go down as the worst signing of the season. Granted its not all his fault as his offensive line is terrible and they don’t seem to call plays to his strengths, but the knock on him was that 70% of his success came from the line in Dallas and right now that looks accurate.