After a lackluster rookie season as the number one overall pick, Bryce Young seemed to completely disintegrate in the first two starts of 2024. Yet, when he returned to the lineup after getting benched, he looked like a completely different player and brought some hope back for Carolina. Let’s dive into how he resurrected his young career!
We’re back for the second half of yet another two-part series, only this time in written form, as we switch sides of the ball and talk about some of my favorite second- and third-year defenders, who I expect to take the next step. Just like we did in the offensive edition last week, we’ll discuss seven players today.
Once again, to identify what would qualify a “breakout” or rather players excluded in this discussion, I’m largely relying on statistical measurements that they haven’t reached yet – no front-seven defenders who recorded double-digit sacks or tackles for loss, players who intercepted 4+ passes, earned a Pro Bowl/All-Pro nominations or are just generally considered one of the better performers at their respective positions. I also generally stay away from players who have barely seen action in the pros yet. That makes names like Cardinals defensive lineman Darius Robinson and Eagles cornerback Kelee Ringo, for example.
Daiyan Henley emerged as one of the best linebackers in all of football after making the list a year ago, but I’m still waiting on names like B.J. Ojulari and JuJu Brents to stay healthy and show if they can justify me putting them up there in the most recent version of this. Let’s get into these next few names for 2025:
These last two months have been loaded with video content, discussing basically every single offseason move made by all 32 teams and, most recently, going through one burning question for each of them. So now it’s time for one of my favorite projects in written form every year – breakout candidates. Split up into offense and then defense next week, we’re looking at seven players on each side of the ball, coming off their rookie or second season, who I project to make a leap in 2026.
Since it’s tough to set the guidelines for what would qualify a “breakout” for the purposes of this exercise, I’m relying mostly on statistical metrics that the players in question haven’t reached yet – no 1000-yard rushers or receivers, players that have scored double-digit touchdowns, earned a Pro Bowl/All-Pro nominations or are just generally considered one of the better performers at their respective positions already. I also generally stay away from players who have barely seen action in the pros yet. That makes names like Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy and Steelers offensive tackle Troy Fautanu ineligible, for example.
Chase Brown, Khalil Shakir and Cam Jurgens all delivered on the lofty expectations I set for them last July, while Anthony Richardson is someone I’m still rooting for to reach his sky-high potential. Here’s this year’s list:
In the second half of this annual series, we’re switching over to the defensive side of the ball and outlining young players around the NFL, who I expect to make a leap in 2024.
For the purposes of this exercise, considering it’s tough to set the guidelines for what counts as an actual “breakout”. Therefore, I relied mostly on statistical metrics that exclude players from this category – no front-seven defenders who recorded double-digit sacks or tackles for loss, players who intercepted 4+ passes, earned a Pro Bowl/All-Pro nominations or are just generally considered one of the better performers at their respective positions. Also, I generally stayed away from players who have barely seen action in the pros yet.
Also, in order to not repeat myself, I won’t mention names like 49ers edge rusher Drake Jackson (who had a hot start before suffering a quadriceps injury that ended last season early for him), Broncos edge rusher Baron Browning (who missed the first half of the season but did put up strong pressure numbers from that point onwards) and Bengals safety Dax Hill (whose grading looks worse than his raw production, but I expect to align more now and Cincinnati’s defense generally bouncing back with him in year two as a starter), since they made the list last year.
Let’s begin:
We have come to the final edition of our 2023 NFL draft & roster review series!
And we’re finishing off with a bang, as we’re looking at the division that includes the reigning Super Bowl champions and three challengers at different stages of their team life cycles!
The last week of our divisional draft and roster analyses has arrived and we’re finishing up with the NFC and AFC West!
This particular group of four teams is pretty interesting, since two of them could be competing for the conference when it’s all said and done, while the others I would label as two clearly rebuilding franchises.
We’re closing week three of these divisional draft and roster breakdowns, by looking at the AFC South – which collectively selected three of the top four quarterbacks in the draft, while the fourth team could turn themselves into one of the favorites for the conference!
Now starting the second half of our divisional draft & roster reviews, we’re breaking down every single player drafted, their role on those rosters and what those classes mean for the Falcons, Panthers, Saints and Buccaneers!
Finishing up the first half of our divisional draft & roster breakdown series, we’re looking at the division, currently projected to win the most games league-wide – the AFC East.
Once again, we’re analyzing every single player selected, their role on the new team, those classes overall & how they compare to each other!
Kicking off week two of our divisional draft & roster breakdown series, we’re looking at the Cowboys, Giants, Eagles & Commanders.
I’m looking at the draft classes of each team, give a quick scouting report on every single player selected, how the new faces fit within the rest of the roster and then compare the classes against each other.
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