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NFL: 10 players sure to breakout in their contract year

By Jeff Weisinger

Oct 27, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders running back Darren McFadden (20) rushes for a touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second quarter at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 27, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders running back Darren McFadden (20) rushes for a touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second quarter at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jul 28, 2014; Napa, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Matt Schaub (8) throws at training camp at Napa Valley Marriott. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 28, 2014; Napa, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Matt Schaub (8) throws at training camp at Napa Valley Marriott. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

QB – Matt Schaub, Raiders

Oakland first traded for him and then drafted his successor in Fresno State quarterback Derek Carr in the second-round of the draft, thus making 2014 a make-or-break year for Matt Schaub.

Normally Schaub’s job would be safe if he was still the same Matt Schaub that led the Texans to the playoffs in 2009, throwing for a career-high 4,770 yards with a career-high 29 touchdowns, or even the same Matt Schaub that threw for over 4,000 yards in 2012 leading Houston to a 12-4 record.

Unfortunately, he’s known as the Matt Schaub that fell apart in Houston last year, throwing a pick-six in an NFL record four-straight games.  He only started in eight games last year, the least amount of games since becoming the starter with the Texans.

While the original plan in Oakland is for Carr to sit out the 2014 season and learn behind Schaub, that could change if Schaub cannot recover from his nightmare in Houston last year.  Anything short of the playoffs in Oakland could spell the beginning of the end for Schaub’s stint in Oakland.

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