Top 3 potential breakout players for 2014

The ever shifting NFL landscape weaves its way around a few offseason tent poles. In the weeks before the free agent market opens excess baggage is shed as general managers meet the rigid demands of the salary cap. Then they purchase more football humans during free agency, and about six weeks later other needs are addressed during the draft.

But not all of them, as often free agent signings or draft picks are made knowing another chess piece is already in place. This is when a general manager has a younger, and therefore much cheaper option waiting on his depth chart, ready to ascend and likely provide a higher quality of play.

That’s how men in suits -- often with really great hair -- view the following players and their 2014 potential. For front offices, having these pieces in place is a fundamental exercise in roster building, one rooted in the draft each spring.

For the rest of us, we come to know these men as breakout candidates. Here are three of them to get all giddy about.

Montee Ball

In his rookie year Montee Ball received his share of touches, but he still found himself on the lower end of a time share with Knowshon Moreno. That was largely a product of the Broncos coaching staff not trusting Ball with pass blocking duties, a role that’s especially important in their backfield because Peyton Manning’s neck is held together with bailing twine. Ball then received 160 total touches to Moreno’s 301 (which led to Moreno’s first career +1,000 yard rushing season).

Now with Moreno in Miami (and looking a little blimp-ish?) Ball’s workload is set to change in a hurry.

The seeds for Ball’s increased role after a year learning were planted when a second-round pick was invested last April in his services. Then his blossom slowly started late in the 2013 season. Of Ball’s eight games with double-digit carries including the playoffs, five came starting in December.

After Ball averaged 4.7 yards per carry and broke off three runs of 20 yards or more even with his moderate workload, he’s easily the best breakout candidate of 2014 in a still loaded offense that just added Emmanuel Sanders and Cody Latimer.

Markus Wheaton

He’ll be challenged by Martavis Bryant in the bare knuckle fight to fill the hole left by Emmanuel Sanders in Pittsburgh. But if Markus Wheaton can hold him off throughout the offseason we’ll get to see his abundant speed and versatility utilized far more often.

Wheaton is the ideal fit for a Todd Haley offense primarily focusing on short, high percentage passes that put receivers in space, giving them the opportunity to find green grass after the catch.

At Oregon State (where he’s the all-time leader in receptions with 227) Wheaton was often used in that capacity in the slot, and even more directly out of the backfield. Over four seasons he had 83 carries for 631 yards and five touchdowns.

With his 4.45 speed displayed during the Scouting Combine last year, Wheaton can also stretch the seam vertically, putting pressure on the secondary and forcing safeties into a decision between him and Antonio Brown. Often, they’ll make the wrong one.

Robert Woods

The Bills’ leading pass catcher last year had 655 receiving yards, which came from tight end Scott Chandler. Sure, collectively those who caught footballs in Buffalo had to deal with the erratic EJ Manuel, and his equally wayward injury replacements, Thad Lewis and Jeff Tuel (Tueltime still >>>> Tebowtime). But even if some monstrosity combining Ryan Leaf and Tim Couch is under center, having Chandler lead all pass catchers with that total is a pretty bad look.

With a first-round pick invested in Sammy Watkins -- and a risky investment too after a trade up -- more field stretching should happen. And that’s a good look for Woods, who’s sure-handed with plenty of quicks too.

After the Watkins pick and a trade to acquire Mike Williams from Tampa, the Bills have a fully loaded wide receiver depth chart. But given his familiarity with the system, Woods is expected to start on the outside, and he’ll play the Stevie Johnson role (now departed for San Francisco) in three-wide receiver sets, sliding to the slot.

Despite both the inconsistent quarterback play in 2013, Woods still turned nine of his 40 receptions into gains of 20 yards or more. He runs precise routes, and has the burst and leaping ability to win balls up the middle as the ideal complement to Watkins, who will often be running very far, and very deep.