Every NFL Team’s 2022 Breakout Player Candidate

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With minicamps over and training camp on the
horizon, there’s no better time to look over every NFL team’s roster and
highlight some breakout candidates.

Although these players may not
have accomplished much of note during their professional careers to date, all are set to put themselves on the map during the 2022 season.

Whether they’ve finally gotten
healthy, emerged atop the depth chart at their respective positions or landed with a team that can maximize
their talents, these breakout contenders have found themselves in a situation
where they can thrive.

With that in mind, here’s a
look at one candidate from each team who’s on the verge of having a career-best
showing.

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Thearon W. Henderson

While the Arizona Cardinals added speedy wideout Marquise Brown in a draft-night trade, an unheralded running back could be their breakout player
this year.

Eno Benjamin spent his first two NFL seasons buried on
the Cardinals’ depth chart. The 2020 seventh-round pick saw the field for the first time last year, playing in nine
games, but he finished with only 118 yards and a touchdown on 34 carries and 42 yards on six receptions.

Benjamin has the
potential to do far more. He was a shifty, dangerous back during his
tenure at Arizona State and proved his worth as a pass-catcher, reeling in 77
receptions over his final two seasons in Tempe.

Former Cardinals running back Chase
Edmonds signed with the Miami Dolphins this offseason, which opens the door for Benjamin to see
significantly more work than the 95
offensive snaps he received in 2021. Edmonds played 58 percent of Arizona’s offensive snaps in the 12 games in which he appeared last season.

James Conner is still around and figures to be the Cardinals’ workhorse tailback after scoring 18 rushing touchdowns last year. But Benjamin should be able to take over Edmonds’ role and serve as Arizona’s primary pass-catching back.

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The Atlanta Falcons are set to feature a new-look receiving
corps this season. Rookie No. 8 overall pick Drake London will be a focal point, but Bryan Edwards should also play a big role
for them.

The Falcons acquired Edwards, who spent the first two years of his NFL career with the Las Vegas Raiders, and a 2023 seventh-round pick for a 2023 fifth-round pick in mid-May. He’s coming off a promising sophomore campaign in
which he snagged 34 receptions for 571 yards and three touchdowns.

While Edwards may not be the second coming of Julio Jones, he should provide stable, reliable production for a receiving corps that lost
Calvin Ridley to a season-long suspension and Russell Gage in free agency.

The
Clemson product can capitalize on the defensive attention that
London and rising star tight end Kyle Pitts draw, allowing him to take advantage of
single coverage against lesser corners.

It helps that Edwards already comes with some built-in
rapport with Marcus Mariota, Atlanta’s projected starting quarterback this year, as the
pair spent the last two seasons together in Vegas. They should quickly get in sync as they take on bigger roles with their new club.

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One of the main reasons the Baltimore Ravens could feel comfortable parting with Marquise Brown this offseason was the in-house replacement they
already have lined up.

Rashod Bateman is ready to take on a larger workload in 2022
after a promising rookie campaign. In 12 games (four starts), last season, the first-round pick hauled in 46 receptions for 515 yards and one touchdown.

Bateman got off to a relatively slow start after he landed on IR while dealing with a groin injury that required surgery.
He wasn’t activated until mid-October and didn’t have his first 100-yard game
until December, but he flashed potential as he became more
familiar with the offense and the speed of the NFL.

The Minnesota product is now one of the more proven
pass-catchers on Baltimore’s roster. Along with star tight end Mark Andrews,
Bateman will be one of Lamar Jackson’s top targets this year.

Bateman should be up for the task. By using his big 6’2”,
210-pound frame, huge catch radius and crisp route-running abilities, the wideout
will put up big numbers in 2022.

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Gabriel Davis gave a sneak peek of the big plays
he’ll regularly be making this year during the Buffalo Bills’ playoff run this past season.

The second-year wideout exploded against the Kansas City
Chiefs in the AFC divisional round. Kansas City had no answer for the shifty, 6’2”,
210-pound playmaker as he gashed them for 201 yards and four touchdowns
on eight receptions.

Buffalo appeared to have unlocked Davis’ potential late in
the 2021 season. The UCF product scored four of his six regular-season touchdowns
during a three-game stretch between Weeks 13 and 15 before going on to add five
more scores in the postseason.

With Cole Beasley and Emmanuel Sanders no longer on the
roster, Davis should be a much more reliable contributor in 2022. Stefon Diggs
is still the clear-cut No. 1 wideout in Buffalo, but superstar quarterback Josh Allen
will likely look to Davis far more often this season.

Diggs and Jamison Crowder will provide a steady flow of
chain-moving receptions, but Davis will be the big-play specialist who finds the most paydirt in this offense.

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Tommy Tremble was an intriguing breakout candidate after the
Carolina Panthers traded away tight end Dan Arnold three weeks into the 2021
season.

Despite teasing his potential and starting 11 of the 16 games he was active for, the rookie out of Notre Dame caught only 20 balls for 180 yards and one score.

That production should see a sizable boost in 2022 for
several reasons.

The Panthers are likely to have better quarterback
play—regardless of whom ends up winning the starting job—after improving an offensive line that Pro Football Focus ranked as the league’s second-worst this past season. The presence of
first-round pick Ikem Ekwonu alone will lift this unit and better protect the
signal-caller.

Tremble is also likely to retain his starting role and
receive plenty of volume as a hybrid tight end/possession receiver in
Carolina’s offense. The club has a new offensive coordinator in former New York Giants head coach Ben McAdoo, under whom tight end Evan Engram had a career-best
season in 2017.

Tremble should be in line for a much better sophomore campaign, one that could put him on the path to stardom.

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By trading away Khalil Mack, the Chicago Bears opened the
door for third-year edge-rusher Trevis Gipson to shine.

Gipson looked fantastic during his limited reps last year, tallying seven sacks while playing fewer than 50 percent
of Chicago’s defensive snaps.

At 6’4” and 253 pounds, Gipson has the frame and
athleticism to speed-rush past his defenders and cause chaos in the backfield.

The Tulsa product was a disruptive force in his
sophomore NFL campaign, notching 17 pressures, eight hurries, seven tackles for a
loss, five forced fumbles and a quarterback knockdown in addition to his impressive sack
count.

If the Bears don’t trade Robert Quinn, he and Gipson should form one of
the more dangerous pass-rushing tandems in the league. Gipson appears to be a
star in the making and could become a household name if he continues his
current trajectory.

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The Cincinnati Bengals elected not to retain C.J. Uzomah in
free agency. They instead signed 2018 first-round pick Hayden Hurst to a one-year, $3.5 million deal to replace him.

While Hurst has gotten off to a relatively disappointing start, he’ll have a chance to turn his career around in Cincinnati. The
28-year-old spent the last two seasons with the Atlanta Falcons and caught a career-high 56 passes for 571 yards and six touchdowns in 2020.

Hurst hauled in only 26 receptions for 221 yards and three scores last season, but the Falcons collectively took a step back
during a down campaign. The 6’4”, 260-pound tight end still has a shot at
living up to his first-round billing, particularly now that he’ll be catching passes from Bengals star quarterback Joe Burrow.

According to James
Rapien of All Bengals, head coach Zac Taylor said he has “high expectations” for
Hurst. The South Carolina product is
gearing up to play in his third system in six years, but Taylor claimed the
tight end quickly grasped his squad’s offense during spring practices.

That understanding, coupled with his athleticism and
pass-catching skills, should help Hurst reach new highs while serving as the Bengals’ first-string tight end.

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The Cleveland Browns pulled off one of the
steals of the 2021 draft when they selected Notre Dame linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah at No. 52
overall.

The rangy linebacker wasn’t as impactful last season as Cleveland might have hoped due to nagging injuries. However, he displayed plenty
of promise and finished second on the team in tackles despite missing three
games and starting only 10 times.

JOK made some plays last year as well, generating five
pressures, defensing four passes, forcing two fumbles and collecting 1.5 sacks
across his 598 defensive
snaps. The Notre Dame product whiffed on 17.4 percent of his tackles as a rookie, but he should improve that figure this season.

Owusu-Koramoah still has the size, speed, athleticism and
instincts that made him a prized prospect. If he can stay healthy, the Browns should have one
of the league’s better linebackers anchoring the middle of their defense in
2022.

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Ezekiel Elliott is no longer the
game-changing running back that he was early in his career. After he averaged a career-low 58.9 yards per game on the ground last season and barely
reached the 1,000-yard mark despite playing in all 17 games, the Dallas
Cowboys are ready to give Tony Pollard a much bigger share of the carries.

According to Clarence E. Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Pollard was informed that he’ll be receiving a larger role on offense. He was spotted doing drills as both a running back and receiver during OTAs as he prepares for a campaign in which he will line up in the backfield and in the slot.

Pollard has been a much more efficient back than Elliott in each of his
first three seasons. The 25-year-old just averaged a career-best 5.5 yards per
carry while racking up 719 yards and two touchdowns on only 130 carries. He also showed his
value as a pass-catching back with 39 receptions for 337 yards.

Pollard finished with only 27.5 percent of the Cowboys’ carries last season, but he should be in line for a bigger workload this year. PFF gave
Pollard the highest rushing grade of any running back last season.

Pollard will likely wind up closing the gap with Elliott and
receive a more even split of carries this year. The Cowboys will have to rely on their backfield more heavily than they have in recent years after trading away Amari Cooper this offseason, but the Memphis product should help in that regard.

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The Denver Broncos will finally get a chance to see their talented receiving corps on full display during the 2022 season.

Denver’s wideouts have been held back by a string of
middling quarterbacks ever since Peyton Manning retired prior to the 2016
season. The Broncos aimed to rectify that issue by acquiring former Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson in a blockbuster trade.

Jerry Jeudy may be the biggest benefactor of this upgrade
under center. The wideout is oozing with potential but has caught only 90 passes for 1,323
yards and three touchdowns since coming into the league as a
first-round pick in 2020.

The 23-year-old now has a chance to work with an elite quarterback for the first time in his career. He should see a major spike in production
with Wilson running the offense after suffering through tough years with Teddy
Bridgewater and Drew Lock under center.

Jeudy should be back to full strength after suffering a high
ankle sprain in Week 1 last year, which forced him to miss six games
and limited him upon his return in Week 8. The Alabama product’s health and
upside combine to make him one of the biggest breakout
prospects of this upcoming season.

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Detroit Lions cornerback Jeff Okudah is dangerously close to being labeled one of the
bigger draft busts in recent history. After participating in only 10 games over his first two seasons and struggling when he has been active, he needs a breakout year to reverse his fortunes.

Okudah has only 51 tackles, three pass defenses
and a single interception since the Lions took him with the No. 3 overall pick in 2020. The Ohio State product has allowed 44
of the 57 targets he’s faced to be completed for 703 yards and three touchdowns.

The 23-year-old earned an abysmal 42.5
PFF grade as a rookie and posted a still-concerning 53.0
grade in his lone game as a sophomore. Okudah went down with a core muscle
injury in 2020 and tore his Achilles tendon in the 2021 opener, but head coach Dan Campbell told ESPN’s Eric Woodyard that the corner should be
healthy in time for the start of the 2022 campaign.

Fellow Lions cornerback Amani Oruwariye believes Okudah
will make an “immediate impact” when he gets back on the field, according to John
Maakaron of SI.com.

The Lions used such a high pick on Okudah due to his unteachable blend of size
(6’1”, 202 pounds), athleticism and quickness. If he improved his
recognition abilities while studying film and rehabilitating, Okudah could be
one of the NFL’s most improved players this coming season.

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After losing wideouts Davante Adams and Marquez Valdes-Scantling this offseason, the Green Bay Packers need someone else to fill that void. Amari Rodgers could be in line for a much bigger role as a result.

The 2021 third-round pick was projected
to be the team’s slot receiver and return specialist as a rookie. But after the Packers traded for Randall Cobb, they used Rodgers almost exclusively on special teams. He played only 103
offensive snaps in 16 games, catching four of his eight targets for 45
yards and rushing once for 11 yards.

According to Brad
Senkiw of All Clemson, Rodgers admitted he lost confidence as a rookie, but he’s ready to be successful in his second season. He said he’s improved his
conditioning and fitness during the offseason, dedicating himself in the gym
after a disappointing first year.

That hard work should pay off for the Clemson product. His
role should expand in 2022 even with Cobb returning for his 12th season
given how thin the team at wide receiver.

With reigning MVP Aaron Rodgers returning to the fold on a
new contract, the 22-year-old wideout finds himself in a great situation and
should get plenty of opportunities to showcase his talents.

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Jonathan Greenard was one of the few bright spots for a
dismal Houston Texans team last year.

The second-year edge-rusher played only 413 defensive
snaps during the 12 games he appeared in, but he dominated
when he was on the field. He racked up 33 tackles, nine tackles for a loss, 19
pressures, 12 quarterback hits, eight sacks, five knockdowns, four pass defenses and a
pair of forced fumbles.

Those are impressive numbers for a third-round
pass-rusher on a bad defense, and they should only improve with more action in 2022.

Standing
a sturdy 6’3” and 263 pounds with long arms, Greenard has both the strength and
athleticism to become a regular Pro Bowler if he continues at this pace.

The 25-year-old possesses the type of deep and varied move
set that most young edge defenders lack, which allows him to beat his
defender in several ways. He’s only going to improve with more reps, which the
Texans should have no issues giving him as they continue their rebuild in 2022.

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The Indianapolis Colts have one of the league’s most
intriguing pass-rushers coming up for their defense.

Kwity Paye, the No. 21 pick in 2021, made an early impact as
rookie. He started in all 15 games that he played and racked up 32
tackles, three tackles for a loss, 16 pressures, 10 quarterback hits, six knockdowns, five hurries,
four sacks, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble.

While those are decent numbers for a first-year edge-rusher,
Paye has the potential to make a massive leap in 2022. The Michigan product had little support
last year, but PFF
still gave him the highest pass-rushing grade on Indy’s roster and a top-35 grade league-wide.

Paye is in line for a boost in production due to Indy’s addition of Yannick Ngakoue in free agency. The proven veteran should alleviate some attention on the second-year defender.

With more support around him and another offseason of
preparation, Paye could cement himself as one the NFL’s most feared pass-rushers this season.

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The Jacksonville Jaguars were nothing short of a mess last year. Urban
Meyer’s disastrous stint as head coach and a general lack of talent on the
roster may have hamstrung the start of Trevor Lawrence’s career, but the No. 1
overall pick in 2021 is poised for a breakout sophomore season.

The Clemson product went only gone 3-14 as a starter last season while completing 59.6 percent of his passes for 3,641 yards and 12 touchdowns
against 17 interceptions and 32 sacks. However, he noticeably polished up his game throughout the season and looked far more comfortable late in the year.

Over the final month of the campaign, Lawrence had only one
outing in which he threw any interceptions. He completed 64.7 percent of his
passes for 906 yards and three touchdowns during that four-game stretch.

The 22-year-old made the best of a tough situation, showing
incremental improvement each week while adjusting to NFL defenses and a new
offensive system.

With more weapons around him—the Jaguars brought in
Christian Kirk and Evan Engram in free agency and get Travis Etienne back after
the first-round running back missed his entire rookie campaign with an
injury—and a proven NFL head coach in Doug Pederson, Lawrence should build on
his promising finish to last season and pick up right where he left off to
start the 2022 campaign.

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The Kansas City Chiefs heavily relied on Tyreek Hill to
shoulder their pass-catching load over the last half-decade. After trading the three-time All-Pro this offseason, the Chiefs may now put more of that on Mecole Hardman’s plate.

Hardman has been a tantalizing talent during his first three
years in the league, making some big plays but struggling with consistency as a
receiver. He’s coming off a career-best season, although he still finished with only 59 catches for 693 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

The Chiefs will need Hardman to become more
reliable now that Hill is gone. The 5’10”, 187-pound burner can
not only take the top off defenses and exploit mismatches with slower corners,
but he also has a familiarity with quarterback Patrick Mahomes that the slew of
free-agent pickups and rookies Kansas City brought in lack.

After seeing 83 targets last year, Hardman’s volume should
see a massive bump this coming season. If the 24-year-old shows he can handle the
No. 1 role in this offense, he has a legitimate chance to emerge as a star.

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The Las Vegas Raiders appear poised to take a step forward
on offense after hiring Josh McDaniels as head coach and trading for star wideout Davante Adams, but a safety could be their breakout player in 2022.

Trevon Moehrig is one of the most promising talents on the
Raiders’ roster following a strong rookie performance. The 2021 second-round pick started all 17 games last season and piled up 55
tackles, six pass defenses and an interception.

The 23-year-old didn’t miss a single defensive
snap and was equally reliable in coverage, allowing only 14 of the 24
passes he was targeted on to be completed for 181 yards and two touchdowns.

Moehrig will be an anchor for a secondary that has some
tough challenges on the horizon. With Russell Wilson joining the AFC West this
offseason, Vegas’ defensive backs will be facing a slew of elite quarterbacks
in 2022.

Fortunately, Moehrig should only be better this season,
elevating a secondary that will need to be locked in to make another playoff
run.

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Injuries cost Asante Samuel Jr. a significant
portion of his rookie season, but the young cornerback gave a glimpse of his
potential during the 12 games he appeared in.

If the 2021 second-rounder can stay healthy this season, the Los
Angeles Chargers are primed to get a nice return on their investment.

The 22-year-old already proved his lack of size—he’s only 5’10” and 180 pounds—wasn’t a deterrent to providing rock-solid coverage. He
allowed a 62.1 percent completion rate when targeted, giving up 479
yards and four touchdowns last year.

Samuel flashed playmaking skills and tackling ability in
equal measure, securing a pair of picks to go along with 11 pass defenses and
43 tackles. The Bolts should feel secure in Samuel’s ability to continue
manning an outside cornerback slot across from free-agent pickup J.C. Jackson,
but he can also cover the slot if needed.

If Samuel can stay healthy, Los Angeles
will boast one of the most reliable sets of starting corners in the NFL.

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Although the Los Angeles Rams haven’t had much draft capital following a series of blockbuster trades, the organization has
unearthed a surprising amount of value with its precious few picks. They might have found another gem in linebacker Ernest Jones, the No. 13 overall pick last year.

The South Carolina product appeared in 15 games as a rookie, starting seven of
them, and tallied 61 tackles, four pass defenses, two interceptions and a
sack while playing only 43 percent of the Rams’ defensive
snaps.

Jones came up big for the Rams late in the season, providing
a reliable option in the middle after the team struggled to get consistent
linebacker play earlier in the year.

He had one of his best games in the Super
Bowl, logging 57
snaps and accumulating seven tackles, two tackles for a loss, a trio of quarterback hits and a
pass deflection to help L.A. capture the Lombardi Trophy.

The Rams can now pencil Jones in as a starter alongside free-agent
pickup and future Hall of Famer Bobby Wagner. Their linebacker corps has been one of the weaker points on an otherwise standout defense in recent seasons, but that should no longer be the case this year.

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The Miami Dolphins spared no expense upgrading their offense this offseason. While pricey additions like Tyreek Hill will help them in their quest to
return to the postseason, one of their best weapons is a holdover from
last year’s squad.

Wideout Jaylen Waddle made an immediate imprint after the Dolphins selected him with the No. 6 overall pick last year. Although Miami was a middle-of-the-road passing offense and scored only 21 times through the air last year, the Alabama product led the team in receptions (104), targets (140) and receiving yards (1,015).

Waddle displayed impressive chemistry with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, whom the Dolphins have since committed to this offseason. With Hill now helping to keep defenses honest, Waddle should feast against single coverage and
lesser cornerbacks in 2022.

Don’t be surprised if he makes the first of what should
be a string of Pro Bowl appearances following a breakout season.

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Few players should be happier than Cameron Dantzler about the
Minnesota Vikings’ decision to make a regime change this offseason. The third-year pro was clearly Minnesota’s best cornerback
last year, but he started only seven games and was even a healthy
scratch in Week 1.

Dantzler’s stat line—53 tackles, eight pass defenses, one forced fumble and one interception— doesn’t tell the full story of his coverage skills . The 23-year-old allowed a meager 54.1
percent completion rate to opposing quarterbacks, giving up only 349 yards and
three touchdowns across the 686
defensive snaps he played.

The 6’2”, 190-pound defensive back has the build and
athleticism to lock down almost any wideout. He still needs to work on his
consistency, but a fresh start with a new coaching staff should do wonders for
Dantzler.

Dantzler should play a major role on this revamped defense
along with second-round pick Andrew Booth Jr. If both enjoy the breakout seasons
many are projecting, the tandem could make life difficult for opposing offenses
for years to come.

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The New England Patriots lost one of their most reliable contributors
when longtime safety Patrick Chung retired following the 2020 campaign. After some searching, the club seems to have finally developed an in-house replacement with Kyle Dugger.

The Patriots raised some eyebrows when they took Dugger in the second round
out of Lenoir-Rhyne University back in 2020. While it took him some time to get up
to speed after playing Division II ball—he logged only 518 defensive
snaps as a rookie—the 26-year-old made a noticeable leap last season.

Dugger appeared in 15 games (including 13 starts) and amassed 92
tackles, five tackles for a loss, five pass defenses, four interceptions and a fumble
recovery. PFF gave him a grade of 71.8, an
improvement over the 64.1
he posted as a rookie.

Dugger’s strength is clearly his tackling. He missed only 8.9
percent of his attempts this past year while recording at least five tackles in all but four
of his 15 games. He appears to be more comfortable with
his role and will rarely give up a big play now that he’s adapted to the pro
game.

While Dugger still needs to hone his coverage skills—he
gave up 32 completions for 295 yards and three touchdowns on 50 targets last season—the rising star safety will likely shine even brighter in
2022.

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New Orleans Saints defensive lineman Payton Turner had a rough rookie year. The 2021 No. 28 overall pick played in only five games because of calf, elbow and shoulder injuries.

Now that he’s healthy again, he’s a prime candidate to break out in 2022.

A late riser in the predraft process due to his strong
testing numbers, Turner quickly rewarded the Saints’ faith in his abilities. In
his NFL debut, the 6’6”, 270-pound lineman compiled five pressures, three
tackles for a loss and a sack while playing only 31 snaps.

Although Turner isn’t the most powerful player, he can line
up at several positions in New Orleans’ defensive scheme. That versatility
will increase as he gets more experience and adds some bulk to his frame.

Turner’s upside on the edge is undeniably high despite a rather limited
pass-rushing moveset. The 24-year-old displayed growth in that area last year, and the Saints will want him to continue honing those skills this
summer.

The Houston product has all of the physical traits to be an excellent
defender capable of filling several roles at a high level. If Turner can stay
healthy and expand his repertoire, he will be a nightmare for opposing offenses to deal with.

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New York Giants wideout Kadarius Toney is off to a polarizing start to his NFL career. He had some memorable outings as a rookie but was held back by inconsistency,
some immature moments and health.

Toney’s best performance came against the Dallas Cowboys in
Week 5. He exploded for 10 catches and 189 yards against Big Blue’s NFC East
rival, exploiting soft spots in the Dallas defense and beating All-Pro
cornerback Trevon Diggs several times in one-on-one matchups.

The Florida product was also ejected from that contest after
he threw a punch at safety Damonte Kazee, a disappointing end to an otherwise
masterful showing. Toney then struggled to replicate his production from that game going forward, failing to top 40 yards in any game over the rest of the season and never
once finding the end zone.

Toney missed seven games with ankle, quad, oblique and
shoulder injuries, and he underwent knee
surgery in May that kept him sidelined during OTAs. His outlook is better in 2022, as he’ll be one of the focal points in an offense that should improve courtesy of a regime change.

With head coach Joe Judge and offensive coordinator Jason
Garrett being replaced by Brian Daboll and Mike Kafka, respectively, the G-Men should
feature a much more creative and explosive scheme than the one they used in
recent years.

Expect the Giants to work diligently to get Toney the ball
this season, even if it takes a variety of screens, sweeps and gadget plays to
make it happen. The 23-year-old is an electrifying playmaker who was woefully
underutilized as a rookie, which this new coaching staff should quickly
rectify.

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By drafting Elijah Moore last year, the New York Jets secured
one of the most dynamic wideouts on the board and a player who could develop into a superstar.

Despite his upside, the Ole Miss product failed to get in sync
with fellow rookie Zach Wilson early on, catching just one pass on four targets
for minus-three yards in the season opener.

By Week 7, Moore had totaled only nine receptions for
79 yards.

But in Weeks 8-13, Moore went off for 459 yards and five touchdowns on 34 catches. The
22-year-old was sidelined with a quad injury after that,
ending the promising surge on a sour note.

He will be back and better than ever this year as
part of a loaded Gang Green offense, a unit that finally seems ready to carry the team out of
its rebuild.

The Jets drafted another potential star wideout in Garrett
Wilson at No. 10 this year. His presence—along with Corey Davis and
Braxton Berrios—will make it impossible for defenses to focus on Moore, creating an opportunity for the shifty playmaker to shine.

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The Philadelphia Eagles were one of the best rushing teams in the league last year. But rookie running back Kenny Gainwell never carved out a role.

Gainwell did have encouraging showings—including
the season finale in which he drew his lone start and had 12 carries for
78 yards and a score—and made nice plays as a receiver out of the
backfield, finishing with 253 yards and a touchdown on 33
receptions.

Because of starter Miles Sanders’ well-known durability issues—he appeared in only 12 games in each of the last two seasons—and backup Boston Scott’s
limitations as a pass-catcher, the door could open for Gainwell to become the feature back.

No team ran the ball more than the Eagles last season—they rushed
on nearly half
of their offensive snaps—and that trend is likely to continue after the ground
game led Philadelphia to a playoff appearance.

Even if the club continues to use a committee approach, Gainwell should get enough volume to separate himself from the pack as a versatile option out of the backfield.

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It’s notoriously difficult for a rookie tight end to make an
immediate impact in the NFL. Few have made the college-to-pros transition look
as easy as Pat Freiermuth did during his first campaign with the Pittsburgh Steelers
last year.

The Penn State product established himself as an up-and-coming player, appearing in 16 games and
drawing nine starts while catching 60 of his 79 targets for 497 yards and seven
touchdowns. After sharing time with Eric Ebron for the first half of the season, Freiermuth is now the unquestioned No. 1 option.

He will likely log more snaps after earning just 683. The 23-year-old’s statistics and playing time will see a bump after Pittsburgh elected not to retain Ebron in free agency.

Freiermuth largely worked as a safety valve for Ben
Roethlisberger during the quarterback’s final season. The offensive line barely gave the signal-caller time to get the ball out, so Freiermuth averaged 8.3 yards per reception.

Even with the Steelers transitioning to a new quarterback, that
figure could improve significantly thanks guard James Daniels and center Mason Cole joining the offensive line.

Thanks to his hulking size and large catch radius,
the 6’5″, 258-pounder will remain a focal point in the red area regardless
of which signal-caller wins the starting job.

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The San Francisco 49ers are ready to enter a new era
with Trey Lance. While Jimmy Garoppolo remains on
the roster, it’s Lance’s time to
shine in the Bay Area.

The second-year signal-caller’s unique skill set will allow
the Niners to get creative with their play-calling. The team already features
one of the most unique offenses in football under Kyle Shanahan, but the head
coach has been limited by Garoppolo’s inability to create on the move the way Lance can.

The No. 3 pick in 2021 earned valuable
starting reps as a rookie, replacing the injured Garoppolo twice and leading the
team to a 1-1 record.

Lance completed 41 of 71 passes for 603 yards and five touchdowns against two
interceptions, adding 168 yards and a score on 38 rushes.

That experience will only help Lance hit the ground running
in Year 2. According to Jennifer
Lee Chan of NBC Sports Bay Area, NFL analyst and former 49ers fullback Michael Robinson said Lance will lift
his offense in a way no other quarterback has in a decade:

“I truly believe that if you have a quarterback
with some movement skills like a Trey Lance, it just takes this Kyle Shanahan
offense to new heights.

“I don’t think we’ve seen it since maybe when RG3
was running this style of system. That wasn’t truly able to evolve to what it
was capable of because the next year he got hurt. Trey Lance, once he owns this
offense, I think the sky is the limit for the team.”

The 6’4″, 224-pounder has a cannon arm and
quickness that few other quarterbacks can match. While he was
criticized for facing lesser competition during his collegiate days at North Dakota
State, Lance has already proved capable of navigating defenses.

With a full training camp to prep as the starter and
Shanahan guiding him, Lance is ready to have a breakout season.