Every NFL team's top breakout candidate for 2023
There's always room for more superstars in the NFL.
With every new season comes the opportunity for another group of players to take the next step in their development and establish themselves among the league's elite.
Let's take a look at the most interesting non-rookie breakout players for every NFL team.
Arizona Cardinals
Rondale Moore, WR
It's slim pickings for the Cardinals - especially when the organization's not-so-subtle tanking efforts have seen two promising young players shipped out in the last two weeks. But Moore remains a player to watch. Kliff Kingsbury was never quite able to take advantage of the former second-round pick's explosiveness, and it's fair to assume the new staff will at least try to be more creative. Plus, the Cardinals spend most of their time playing from behind, so Moore could be poised for an obscene amount of targets.
Atlanta Falcons
Drake London, WR
The Falcons all but refused to throw the ball in 2022, leading the NFL in rushing attempts, yet London still managed to put up 866 yards and four touchdowns as a rookie. While the offense will remain focused on the run game - especially with No. 8 pick Bijan Robinson as the star of the show - the passing attack should be a far more reliable complement with Desmond Ridder as the new full-time starter under center. London's contested catch prowess and underrated movement skills make him a potential No. 1 target.
Baltimore Ravens
Rashod Bateman, WR
Last year was supposed to be the year Bateman truly broke out at the NFL level, but injuries once again got in the way. The flashes we've seen to this point, particularly with his ability to separate, have been incredibly encouraging. He'll have every opportunity to emerge as a star playmaker in the Ravens' passing game if he can stay healthy in 2023.
Buffalo Bills
James Cook, RB
Cook's rookie season total of 500 rushing yards wasn't exactly spectacular until you consider it came on an impressive 5.7 yards per carry. Already one of the league's most explosive backs, the Georgia product racked up six runs of 20-plus yards on only 89 attempts. Damien Harris' presence will limit his opportunities in short yardage - and perhaps his touchdown numbers as a result - but there are still plenty of opportunities for Cook to make an impact in this Bills offense. Don't sleep on his abilities as a pass-catcher, either.
Carolina Panthers
Jaycee Horn, CB
You're not going to get an argument out of us if you consider last season as Horn's true arrival after a rookie campaign lost to injury. But getting national recognition as one of the league's best corners would be a different level of breakout. There's no reason he can't get there this year after a sophomore campaign in which he had a 52.6 passer rating against and didn't give up a single touchdown, according to PFF.
Chicago Bears
Justin Fields, QB
Fields was a fantasy football darling last year once the Bears finally realized his value as a runner. The former first-round pick still has a long way to go as a passer, but we're betting that another year of development and a new group of weapons, headlined by top wideout D.J. Moore, will help him get there. Even becoming a league-average passer would make Fields a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses.
Cincinnati Bengals
Daxton Hill, S
The problem with getting drafted by a team as stacked as the Bengals is that even first-round draft status may not be enough to get you on the field. Stuck behind Jessie Bates and Vonn Bell, Hill started just two of his 15 games as a rookie. He owns a lead job heading into his sophomore season, however, and all indications are that he's ready to take off. A player with this kind of range in the deep middle could take Cincinnati's defense to another level.
Cleveland Browns
Elijah Moore, WR
Moore didn't make much of an impact over his first two years with the Jets, but are we really going to put that entirely on him? The sad state of the New York passing game prior to this season is well known at this point. Moore was the No. 34 pick in 2021 for a reason. The young wideout even getting reps in the backfield during training camp can be taken as a sign that the Browns are already seeing the value in getting him the ball however they can.
Dallas Cowboys
Sam Williams, EDGE
There were only so many opportunities for Williams as a rookie with Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence handling lead duties on the edge. He flashed in his limited reps, though, tallying 22 pressures and four sacks on just 165 pass-rush snaps, according to PFF. It's only a matter of time before a young pass-rusher with this much talent forces his way into the rotation, chewing into Lawrence's workload opposite Parsons. We're betting on it happening sooner rather than later.
Denver Broncos
Javonte Williams, RB
Williams' sophomore season was cut short due to a torn ACL, but avoiding the physically unable to perform list to start training camp suggests he's full steam ahead for Week 1. The former second-round pick remains one of the NFL's most promising young runners. Let's not forget that he racked up 901 rushing yards as a rookie despite an even split of carries with designated starter Melvin Gordon. The arrival of Sean Payton, along with the aggressive moves to rebuild the offensive line, should help Williams get right back to the trajectory he was on prior to the injury.
Detroit Lions
Jameson Williams, WR
Williams' breakout season will be delayed due to a six-game suspension for a violation of the league's gambling policy, but how can he not be the pick here? The former Alabama star missed nearly all of his rookie season due to a torn ACL suffered in the national title game. His two touches in limited action after a Week 13 debut? A 41-yard touchdown catch and a 40-yard run. The Lions adding that kind of explosive playmaking ability to an expertly designed offensive system will be a headache for defensive coordinators around the league.
Green Bay Packers
Zach Tom, OT
Quietly one of the best stories of Green Bay's 2022 season, Tom was an immediate contributor across the offensive line as a fourth-round rookie. He saw the majority of his work at left tackle in the absence of an injured David Bakhtiari and still finished the year having yielded just one sack and 12 pressures in 296 pass-blocking snaps, according to PFF. Tom appears poised to take over the starting right tackle job heading into Week 1. His continued success would be a major plus for Jordan Love in his first year as starting quarterback.
Houston Texans
Derek Stingley Jr., CB
Stingley's rookie season didn't get off to the best of starts, and that was a tough look considering the immediate All-Pro play the Jets got from Sauce Gardner. Let's give it some time, though. The LSU product made some major strides down the stretch, flashing some of the rare cover skills that made him worthy of the No. 3 pick. A much-improved Texans defensive front should make things easier on the secondary, putting Stingley in position for a major breakout.
Indianapolis Colts
Jelani Woods, TE
The Colts have their fair share of young players who could take a leap this season. If we're only going to talk about one, though, how about the most athletic tight end prospect we've ever seen? Woods, whose Relative Athletic Score is a perfect 10, should be in for an expanded role after a rookie season in which he started two of 15 appearances while recording 25 receptions for 312 yards and three touchdowns. A big-bodied target who can also make explosive plays downfield sounds like the perfect player for a rookie quarterback to lean on - though Woods will miss the first four games with a hamstring injury.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Andre Cisco, S
Cisco was known for his range and ball production coming out of Syracuse in 2021. We began to see those skills translate after he earned a starting safety job last year, tying for the team lead with three interceptions and recording 10 passes defended. Cisco should only have more opportunities to get his hands on the ball with the Jaguars becoming a legitimate contender and approaching territory where they're defending leads far more often than they're chasing them.
Kansas City Chiefs
Justyn Ross, WR
Don't be surprised if Ross earns a meaningful role among the top options in a crowded Chiefs receiving corps. He's a wildly skilled ball-winner and uniquely refined route-runner for his size, so it was only ever a matter of getting healthy. The former Clemson star appears to have overcome the injury concerns that resulted in him going undrafted in 2022. The rest of the league could soon be wondering how they let a player like this end up with Patrick Mahomes.
Las Vegas Raiders
Tre'von Moehrig, S
Moehrig was an impact player as a rookie for the Raiders in 2021, thriving as a single-high safety in Gus Bradley's defense. He then took a major step back in Patrick Graham's system last season, seemingly creating some doubt about his future with the team. But he got a vote of confidence when the Raiders didn't go out of their way to replace him, and all reports from camp label him as a major beneficiary of a more simplified version of the new defense.
Los Angeles Chargers
Zion Johnson, G
Johnson had his share of ups and downs as a rookie, but who doesn't? There were plenty of positives, particularly as a run-blocker, that suggest he's going to be everything the Chargers were hoping for out of a first-round pick at guard. Another full offseason program to tighten up some of the finer points of his game in pass protection should have Johnson in position to emerge as a high-level starter this season.
Los Angeles Rams
Van Jefferson, WR
Jefferson was on an upward trajectory before injuries - and the overall disaster that was the Rams offense - held him back in 2022. Now the clear No. 2 option alongside Cooper Kupp, the former second-round pick could be poised for a belated breakout in the final year of his rookie contract. Jefferson has always been a gifted route-runner, and he's got more upside as a vertical target than people might think.
Miami Dolphins
Jaelan Phillips, EDGE
Phillips is already a phenomenal player but isn't exactly a household name among a deep group of superstar pass-rushers. The "breakout" label still fits if he reaches the heights we're expecting this season. Phillips spent more time in the offensive backfield than last season's seven sacks would suggest, finishing with 70 pressures and 17 quarterback hits, according to PFF. Improvements to the Dolphins' secondary should provide more opportunities to turn those close calls into sacks - and perhaps Pro Bowl consideration.
Minnesota Vikings
Alexander Mattison, RB
A Vikings team that plans on contending had no issue cutting 28-year-old Dalvin Cook despite making no major addition to the offensive backfield. While some may take that as a damning sign for a crumbling running back market, we're choosing to see it as the ultimate vote of confidence in Mattison. The former third-rounder has proven to be a capable runner in spot duty behind Cook over the last few years, and it's only fair to assume that the feature role will come with an uptick in pass-game usage, too.
New England Patriots
Mac Jones, QB
One could argue that a strong 2021 campaign was Jones' real breakout year, as he finished his debut season second only to Ja'Marr Chase in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting. But Jones and the rest of the Patriots offense fell off a cliff in 2022, causing many to question whether he was the long-term answer under center. We're choosing to bet on the promise we saw from the Alabama product as a rookie. Jones will be in a position to succeed now that New England has corrected its mistake and once again has a real offensive coordinator.
New Orleans Saints
Alontae Taylor, CB
Taylor is poised to take over as the primary slot corner after the Saints cut Bradley Roby. The 2022 second-round pick was quietly phenomenal across 13 games and nine starts last season, finishing second only to Sauce Gardner among rookies with a 58.3 passer rating allowed. He's got all the tools to maintain that kind of production in a full-time role, and the league-wide respect should soon follow.
New York Giants
Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE
Some may consider Thibodeaux's output of four sacks as a rookie disappointing, especially compared to the 11 posted by fellow top 2022 pick Aidan Hutchinson. But the Giants edge rusher isn't nearly as far behind as the counting stats might suggest. Thibodeaux flashed dominant rush skills in his debut season, and although his 40 pressures were 13 shy of Hutchinson's mark, that output also came on 157 fewer pass-rush snaps. It won't be long before the sacks start piling up in a hurry.
New York Jets
Jermaine Johnson, EDGE
Johnson's pro career didn't get off to the best of starts, as he managed just 2.5 sacks last year as a rookie. But we're beginning to see signs of the pass-rush talent that made him a first-round pick. Johnson drew rave reviews all throughout camp, and he backed it up with a pair of sacks in limited action during the preseason. He figures to be a key contributor off the edge on a stacked Jets defensive line.
Philadelphia Eagles
Nakobe Dean, LB
Dean never should've been available to the Eagles in the third round of last year's draft, but the projected first-rounder slid to the back half of Day 2 due to his medicals. Nothing ever came of the injury concerns, though, and the former Georgia star is now set to lead Philly's linebacker corps after contributing in a reserve role for all 17 games last season. A player with his rare instincts can be a star in any system - the sky is the limit when he's playing behind the deepest defensive line in football.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Kenny Pickett, QB
Pickett didn't have the most captivating start to his career, throwing for a mere seven touchdowns against nine interceptions across 12 starts as a rookie. The quick game will always be his bread and butter, and he's shown the athleticism necessary to break the pocket and make plays on the move. Becoming an above-average starter at the NFL level will require improved poise to stick in clean pockets and go through his progressions. Perhaps the comfort and confidence that comes with more reps will allow him to unlock that all-important trait. We wouldn't bet against it.
San Francisco 49ers
Drake Jackson, EDGE
Jackson couldn't have asked for a better landing spot coming out of USC last year. Finding a deeper arsenal of rush moves was always going to be his key to success as a pro, and there are few teams that develop defensive linemen like the 49ers. Jackson will see plenty of one-on-one matchups as part of a star-studded front four, and a second offseason with defensive line coach Kris Kocurek should have him poised to take full advantage. Double-digit sacks aren't out of the question.
Seattle Seahawks
Charles Cross, OT
Cross hit the ground running as a rookie, immediately establishing himself as a solid starting left tackle. That'd be considered a breakout season for most, but not when there's this much more to unlock. With another offseason in the Seahawks program, he will have gotten stronger and refined his technique. That puts Cross in position to take a massive step forward. Don't be surprised if he's considered one of the league's premier pass-protectors by season's end.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, EDGE
Tryon-Shoyinka hasn't quite become the star pass-rusher the Bucs were hoping to have gotten with the No. 32 pick in the 2021 draft, as he recorded just four sacks in each of his first two seasons. But Tampa Bay is expecting big things heading into Year 3, and it's easy to see why. Tryon-Shoyinka has always had impressive burst, power, and hand usage, flashing the ability to tie those skills together in his rush. Taking the next step and improving as a finisher could lead to a major improvement in the sack department.
Tennessee Titans
Chigoziem Okonkwo, TE
Okonkwo came out of nowhere to put together an impressive second half as a rookie, demonstrating the requisite elite athleticism to be a matchup player all over the field. His ability to pick up yards after the catch, most notably, makes him a unique big-play threat for the Tennessee offense. While the arrival of DeAndre Hopkins will likely eat into his target share, the Titans would be silly to not take advantage of their dynamic young tight end. There'll be plenty of downfield opportunities for Okonkwo off play action.
Washington Commanders
Jahan Dotson, WR
Dotson's play as a rookie probably isn't getting enough attention, due largely to the bar being set so high by other young superstar receivers. But don't forget about the Commanders wideout on the ever-growing list of dynamic young playmakers. The former Penn State star earned a more significant role and may benefit from some improved quarterback play with Sam Howell heading into Year 2, so he could be set for a monster season.