With training camps for all 32 NFL teams under way now, I thought it was time to go through every single roster once again and identify what I believe are some of the more key position battles, which I would classify as an actual competition, which could take all of preseason to play out potentially.
I tried to include one example for each position, without repeating teams, and at the end I will mention a few other competitions that I will have my eyes on.
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Second- and third-year NFL players ready to break out in 2021 – Defense edition:
Once again, we have reached a part of the offseason, where there’s not many transactions or otherwise important moves to analyze around the NFL. So I took the time to put on the tape of players from the 2019 and ’20 drafts and identify which of them are bound to break out this upcoming season.
To avoid subjective interpretation of which players are or are not eligible for making this list anymore, I already stated that they can’t have made a Pro Bowl / All-Pro team so far or are just generally considered one of the top players at their position already, like a Quinnen Williams or Darnell Savage for example. To go along with that, players that have reached double-digit sacks or tackles for loss, or led his team in another major category, are excluded. Oh, and the players that made my list already last year, won’t repeat doing so.
Defensive Rookie of the Year candidates like Antoine Winfield and Jeremy Chinn did not qualify, Derrick Brown may not be in position to rack up big numbers, but he was already dominant for stretches in the middle of that Panthers defense this past season and Cardinals linebacker Isaiah Simmons was too obvious for me, since he was my number two overall prospect a year ago and should be in much better position to make plays, in a more defined role.
Just like the offensive edition, two of the first three players mentioned here were selected in the middle of the first round, but the other six names all went on day two or later.
Second- and third-year NFL players ready to break out in 2021 – Offense edition:
Now that we’re in this sort of dead part of the offseason, where all the main player acquisitions have been processed and all the moves have been analyzed, it was time for me to put on the tape of players from the 2019 and ’20 drafts and identify which of them are bound to break out this upcoming season.
Since that is a subjective definition, I set myself parameters of some statistical milestones and other factors that these players must not have reached yet. So you won’t find anybody who has already made a Pro Bowl or All-Pro team, quarterbacks are excluded if they have already thrown for 4000 yards or 25 touchdowns in a season and for running backs and receivers, they’re not allowed to have already cracked 1000 yards rushing or receiving respectively and/or double-digit touchdowns. And if somebody is just generally considered one of the top players at their position already, I didn’t mention them either. Plus, you won’t see guys on here that already my list a year ago.
A lot of these lists primarily include first-round picks and a couple of guys that already broke out, but people didn’t really know about before last season. You won’t see any running backs or wide receivers from 2019, because those guys have either broken out already or I had them on my list last year – D.K. Metcalf, A.J. Brown, Terry McLaurin, Josh Jacobs, David Montgomery and others. As far as last year’s rookie class goes, Joe Burrow to me has already shown the ability to be a franchise quarterback, other than Henry Ruggs III and Jalen Reagor, all the other receivers that went in the first round last year were at least flirting with the 1000-yard mark, and two of the three offensive tackles drafted in the top 20, that actually played the majority of games as rookies, have established themselves as long-term starters in my opinion (Jedrick Wills and Tristan Wirfs).
So while we start with a high draft pick from 2020, most of the guys on this list went quite a bit later.
Biggest remaining needs for each team in the AFC:
In the second part of this “biggest remaining needs” breakdown, we’re going team by team in the AFC this time and looking at which position (group) each of them I believe should still address this offseason. Make sure to still check out the NFC version as well!
Biggest remaining needs for each team in the NFC:
The main parts of the NFL offseason are in the books, in terms of player acquisition via free agency, trades and the draft. But while team building is mostly complete, there are still a few needs that need to be addressed, and we’ll run through them team-by-team – starting with the NFC today!
Most improved position groups of the 2021 NFL offseason:
The main parts of the offseason and player acquisition are now over and it’s time to look at who was able to upgrade their roster – on paper at least. In this write-up, we will analyze which teams managed to address a certain position group and really improve it compared to a year ago, through free agency, trades and the draft.
For the purpose of this exercise, we only look at who these squads actually had for the season, but at the same time they don’t get points for getting a player back, that already was on the roster and didn’t miss the majority of the year with injuries. So the Giants running backs aren’t going to make the list, just because Saquon Barkley is coming back, for example.
Let’s dive into it:
AFC West Draft Breakdown 2021:
And there it is! Our final division to run through, explaining every single draft pick that was made, discussing each class and comparing them to each other. Let’s finish up strong!
NFC West Draft Breakdown 2021:
We enter the final week of our divisional draft breakdown series, as always starting with the NFC side of things, as we move West! Let’s talk about the Cardinals, Rams, 49ers and Seahawks!
AFC South Draft Breakdown 2021:
In this division, we had the team with first overall selection and another one that didn’t even pick until the third round. So we have a wide spectrum. Let’s discuss what the Texans, Colts, Jaguars and Titans did in the draft!
NFC South Draft Breakdown 2021:
Kicking off the second half of our divisional draft breakdown series, by discussing the Falcons, Panthers, Saints and Buccaneers. Reports for the North and East in both conferences are already up!
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