In the NFL, first-round picks are expected to become high-level contributors to their respective franchises within at least a season, if not immediately.
Oakland Raiders cornerback DJ Hayden, a former first-round pick a few short seasons ago, has failed to live up to that narrative, struggling to make much of his NFL or Raiders career to this point.
Injuries and ineffectiveness have turned a played Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie once thought highly enough of to make him the 12th-overall pick in the first-round of the 2013 NFL Draft into a player few are expecting much, if anything from, going forward.
While Hayden has an uphill battle ahead of him to prove to new Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio that he deserves a chance at a starting gig this season, it seems early returns in OTAs are promising - even if the expectations have been lowered quite a bit.
"Another #Raiders source on CB D.J. Hayden: 'May never be a star, but way he closed last season left everyone excited about his progress,'" ESPN NFL Insider Adam Caplan tweeted.
In two NFL seasons, Hayden has dealt with a number of injuries and thus appeared in just 18 games. In that time, he's put together 72 tackles, one forced fumble, two interceptions and 12 passes defensed.
The revelation that the Raiders coaching staff has already given up on him as a potential star is eye-opening, even considering his limited production to date.
Hayden still possesses good foot quickness and change of direction. He's still tough and tackles well. It's simply a matter of putting it all together and proving to the Raiders new coaching staff that there's more than what has, to this point, met the eye.
Considering the Raiders lack of depth on the outside of their defense, Hayden's path to a starting spot likely isn't all that difficult heading into 2015.
If he's to make good on the promise that made him a first-round pick in 2013 though, he'll have to prove to Del Rio and defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. that he's more than just a serviceable starter.
