Will Witherspoon’s NFL Career Be Over Soon?

Will Witherspoon’s NFL career may be coming to an end soon. The 35-year-old linebacker is a free agent and has not received any interest from teams so far this offseason.

Witherspoon’s Struggles

Will Witherspoon has been one of the most consistent wide receivers in the NFL for the past few years. But now, at the age of 32, his production is starting to decline. He’s not the only one. Many NFL wide receivers see a sharp decline in production around this age. So, is Witherspoon’s NFL career coming to an end?

Witherspoon’s declining stats

Will Witherspoon had a very decorated collegiate and NFL career. He was a 3-time Pro Bowler and 1-time All Pro. After 11 seasons in the NFL, Witherspoon’s production has declined in recent years. In 2017, he had the lowest tackles per game (3.6) and sacks per game (0.3) of his career.

Witherspoon’s struggles can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, he is now 33 years old and is nearing the end of his physical prime. Additionally, the Rams have shifted to more of a 4-3 defensive scheme, which does not play to Witherspoon’s strengths as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme.

It is uncertain if Witherspoon will be able to regain his previous form and production. If he is unable to do so, his NFL career may be coming to an end sooner than expected.

Witherspoon’s injuries

Will Witherspoon’s NFL career could be coming to an end sooner than expected. The former Pro Bowl linebacker has been plagued by injuries over the past few years, and he’s now reached a point where his body is no longer able to bounce back.

Witherspoon has missed a total of 16 games over the past three seasons, including 11 in the past two years. He was placed on injured reserve twice in 2015, first with a hamstring injury and then with a neck injury. He also suffered a concussion during the season.

All of these injuries have taken their toll on Witherspoon, who will turn 34 in May. His body is no longer able to recover as quickly as it once did, and he’s no longer able to play at a high level.

Witherspoon is currently a free agent, and it’s unclear if any team will be willing to take a chance on him given his recent injuries. His days in the NFL may be numbered, and it’s possible that his career could come to an end sooner than expected.

The End of Witherspoon’s Career?

Will Witherspoon’s NFL career might be coming to an end soon. The 35-year-old linebacker is a free agent and he has only received interest from a few teams. Witherspoon has had a great career, but it appears that his time in the NFL might be coming to an end.

Witherspoon’s age

Witherspoon will be 32 years old by the start of next season. That’s not ancient for an NFL player, but it’s not young, either. Witherspoon has already shown signs of wear and tear, as he’s missed four games due to injury over the past two seasons. And when he has been on the field, he hasn’t been as effective as he was in his prime. Over the past two years, Witherspoon has only managed to rack up a total of 1,090 yards and four touchdowns.

The young talent at WR

The Carolina Panthers drafted three wide receivers in the 2020 NFL Draft. Witherspoon is now 31 years old and is coming off his worst statistical season since his rookie year. The writing may be on the wall for Witherspoon’s days as a Panther.

Witherspoon has been a solid receiver for the Panthers over the past few years, but he has never been a true number one receiver. He has always been the second or third option behind other receivers like Kelvin Benjamin and Devin Funchess.

Now, with the Panthers drafting three young receivers, it seems likely that Witherspoon will be pushed out of the starting lineup. He may even be released by the team before the start of the season. If this happens, it is very possible that Witherspoon’s NFL career will be over.

Witherspoon’s contract

Witherspoon is currently signed to a three-year, $22 million contract that includes $10.75 million guaranteed and a $500,000 roster bonus. He is scheduled to make base salaries of $5 million in 2019, $6 million in 2020, and $7 million in 2021. None of the money remaining on his contract is fully guaranteed.

What’s Next for Witherspoon?

NFL free agent Will Witherspoon’s future is up in the air as his career might be coming to an end. The 36-year-old veteran linebacker was let go by the Tennessee Titans last month and has not been signed by any team since. Witherspoon has played for 11 seasons in the NFL.

Witherspoon’s options

With his recent release from the Tennessee Titans, many are wondering what’s next for wide receiver Rishard Matthews. The eight-year vet has eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark just once in his career, but he has been a reliable target for Marcus Mariota over the past two seasons.

Matthews is still just 28 years old, so he should have plenty of good football left in him. However, it’s possible that his best days are behind him. Let’s take a look at three potential landing spots for Matthews in 2019.

1. Baltimore Ravens: The Ravens are in need of a reliable WR2 opposite of superstar wideout Michael Crabtree. Matthews would give quarterback Joe Flacco another dependable option to target, and he would also help Crabtree by taking some attention away from him.

2. Green Bay Packers: The Packers could use an upgrade over incumbent WR2 Geronimo Allison. Allison is a decent player, but he’s not the type of receiver who is going to take over a game. Matthews would be an upgrade in the Packers’ offense, and he would give Aaron Rodgers another quality target to work with.

3. Houston Texans: The Texans have been searching for a dependable WR2 opposite of DeAndre Hopkins for years now. Will Fuller has shown flashes of being that player, but he can’t stay healthy. Matthews would be a nice complement to Hopkins and would give quarterback Deshaun Watson another quality receiving option.

Witherspoon’s future

It’s no secret that Witherspoon has struggled mightily since joining the Giants. In four seasons with the team, he’s failed to live up to the lofty expectations that accompanied his arrival, and his statistics have been downright abysmal at times. He’s also battled injuries throughout his tenure with the team, which has no doubt contributed to his struggles.

With all of that being said, it’s fair to wonder if Witherspoon’s career with the Giants is nearing its end. He’s set to count $12.5 million against the salary cap in 2019, and the team can save $9 million by releasing him. Given their current cap situation, it seems unlikely that they’ll be able to keep him around at that price tag.

If Witherspoon is indeed released, it’s hard to imagine him having much success elsewhere. He turns 32 in September, and he doesn’t have much left in the tank at this point in his career. It’s possible that he could catch on with another team as a depth option, but it seems more likely than not that his days in the NFL are numbered.