Quinton Coples had thought this was going to be the year.
The Jets' 2012 first-round pick assumed this would be the season that he'd get to do what he was drafted to do: Rush the quarterback.
But that hasn't happened.
Instead, in what could be his final chance to prove himself to the Jets, Coples appears to be an afterthought on a defense that features Sheldon Richardson, Muhammad Wilkerson and, now, rookie Leonard Williams.
The Jets picked up Coples' option for 2016, but because it's guaranteed only for injury, the team still can cut him at the start of the new league year next March without any financial ramifications - unless he gets hurt and misses the entire 2016 season.