The stars of the NFL are well-known and established heading into the 2024 season. However, every year, there are younger, lesser-known players who emerge and break out.
With training camps starting next month, let’s take a look at one potential breakout candidate for all 32 NFL teams in 2024.
Potential Breakout Players To Watch in Training Camp
Arizona Cardinals: Michael Wilson, WR
New rookie sensation Marvin Harrison Jr. is getting a lot of attention, and deservedly so, but those around the Cardinals know not to sleep on Wilson this season. The second-year WR from Stanford has a chance to step up in a big way in 2024, and while he is fresh off of a 38-reception, 565-yard season, it feels like he is just scratching the surface.
Atlanta Falcons: Bijan Robinson, RB
The fact of the matter is Robinson wasn’t used enough last season. The promising rookie didn’t explode on the scene like he was supposed to in Year 1, but Year 2 should be an entirely different situation. With a QB upgrade and a new regime that has big plans for him, look for Robinson to show more regularly he is who everyone thought he was.
Baltimore Ravens: Rashod Bateman, WR
Those around the Ravens have been excited about Bateman, and with a new deal in place, those around the league will soon find out why the organization is so high on the 24-year-old wide receiver. He has shown glimpses of promise throughout his young career, but 2024 is primed to be a true breakout year for him in Baltimore.
Buffalo Bills: Khalil Shakir, WR
Absence breeds opportunity, and such is the case for Shakir in 2024. Playing behind Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis no more, the young WR has a chance to become Josh Allen’s favorite target. And with all the changes in Buffalo, they may need him to step into that role.
Carolina Panthers: Jaycee Horn, CB
Horn’s issue to date has been his availability, not his ability. The former Gamecock cornerback has chosen glimpses of promise when healthy, and at one point was viewed as one of the brightest budding stars in the NFL. If he can stay healthy this season, Horn may re-enter that conversation going forward.
Chicago Bears: Gervon Dexter, DT
The Bears’ offseason has been exciting, and while there are many new faces to be fired up about in Chicago, their biggest breakout candidate is someone who isn’t being talked about enough. Dexter has a chance to be a force in the middle for their defense, and with a team that now has playoff aspirations, having that presence in the middle will be vital.
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Cincinnati Bengals: Andrei Iosivas, WR
Cleveland Browns: Cedric Tillman, WR
The Browns added to their WR room this offseason with Jerry Jeudy, but their sophomore receiver could be the team’s breakout. The former Tennessee Volunteer showed promise last season, and Tillman will fight for more snaps in 2024. Early indications are that Amari Cooper and Tillman will play outside, with Jeudy playing in the slot.
Dallas Cowboys: DeMarvion Overshown, LB
A lot will be asked of Overshown this season following a rookie year that ended before it even started. The young LB tore his ACL in a preseason game last year, and despite that, the feeling is Overshown will play a huge part in the middle of the Cowboys’ defense this year. There’s plenty of excitement about his potential, and if he is as good as some think, he could be a perfect breakout candidate.
Denver Broncos: Marvin Mims Jr., WR
The Broncos need playmakers, and with a new QB and a fresh start underway, Mims may be the beneficiary here. Mims showed glimpses of game-breaking ability last year, but heading into 2024, he will be counted on to do more of that, at a more consistent pace.
Detroit Lions: Jack Campbell, LB
Campbell is the exact type of linebacker a Dan Campbell team needs — physical, fearless, and instinctual. He has a chance to be the leader in the middle of that defense for a decade, and perhaps that potential will begin to be realized in 2024.
Green Bay Packers: Carrington Valentine, CB
Valentine is becoming an increasingly tougher secret to keep. The Packers love his development, and if the early reports around him this offseason are any indication, it won’t take very long this year for the optimism to be understood around the league.
Houston Texans: Brevin Jordan, TE
The Texans’ offense has a lot of mouths to feed, but Jordan may command attention in an already-loaded pass-catching room. Despite the Texans adding Diggs, bringing Dalton Schultz back in free agency, and drafting Cade Stover, the 23-year-old Jordan is still going to figure into the offensive game plan with a real chance to break out.
Indianapolis Colts: Anthony Richardson, QB
This is an obvious one. The former Florida Gators star had a promising start to his rookie campaign before an injury cut his season short. Fast forward to the current day, and the excitement continues to grow, with the promise of a bright future on the shoulders of Richardson in Indianapolis.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Devin Lloyd, LB
The Jaguars are a good, young team looking to put it all together. The same could be said for Lloyd, who has shown promise but hasn’t been able to piece it all together. The 2024 season offers a chance for him to firmly plant his flag in the middle of the Jags’ defense and be the force many expected him to be.
Kansas City Chiefs: Felix Anudike-Uzomah, EDGE
The Chiefs are hunting for their third championship in a row, and Anudike-Uzomah will play a big part in that, much like the entire defense did in 2023. You can never have enough pass rushers, and with Anudike-Uzomah looking to get more chances to get after opposing quarterbacks in 2024, no one should be surprised to see a breakout this season.
Las Vegas Raiders: Zamir White, RB
Josh Jacobs is no longer in Las Vegas, setting up White to get his first real chance to break onto the scene. He had been productive at times in limited capacities, but his chance to shine and change the trajectory of his NFL career begins in 2024. The talent is there, and now the timing is too.
Los Angeles Chargers: Joshua Palmer, WR
The Chargers’ offense will be vastly different this year after the departures of Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Austin Ekeler, and Gerald Everett. With that comes a real opportunity for Palmer to become one of Justin Herbert’s most trusted targets.
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Los Angeles Rams: Steve Avila, C
Avila is known for being a mauler, and the interior offensive lineman is going to be a staple in the middle of the Rams’ offensive line for years to come. Offensive linemen don’t often get much praise, but with Avila settling in at center, and his early returns from last season, there is a lot of excitement about his future in LA.
Miami Dolphins: De’Von Achane, RB
The Miami Dolphins, AKA the NFL’s track team, has another speedster ready to take the league by storm. Achane is another one of the burners in this Miami offense, and while he showed glimpses of what he could do last season, 2024 looks to be a chance to put Achane on the map, both in real life and fantasy football.
Minnesota Vikings: Mekhi Blackmon, CB
The Vikings entered the offseason with question marks at the CB position, and as the season creeps close, they still have some of those questions. However, Blackmon hopes to be the answer for them, and those around the team believe he can be. The young DB has a chance to make a name for himself in 2024 and solidify a unit that needs it.
New England Patriots: Christian Gonzalez, CB
When it comes to Gonzalez and his star ability, it’s not a matter of if he’ll break out but when. The Patriots cornerback got off to a promising start during his rookie season before hurting his shoulder early. Entering 2024, he’ll look to stay healthy and emerge as one of the young budding stars in the NFL.
New Orleans Saints: A.T. Perry, WR
The days of Michael Thomas dominating secondaries for the Saints are over. However, while they have some young intriguing pieces in the room, second-year WR A.T. Perry should be talked about as a breakout candidate more often. The hope is still there that Perry could become one of Derek Carr’s most trusted weapons when it’s all said and done this season.
New York Giants: Eric Gray, RB
Saquon Barkley is gone, and the Giants are desperate for offensive playmakers. The running back room is unsolidified, but if Gray can come in and win the job, he could be a breakout for the Giants and surprise some across the league.
New York Jets: Will McDonald, EDGE
The Jets did some wheeling and dealing this offseason, including adding Haason Reddick to the fold, but that doesn’t mean McDonald isn’t going to get his chances to break out. McDonald’s impact has been minimal to this point, but with another year of development under his belt, 2024 could be the year it comes together for him.
Philadelphia Eagles: Cam Jurgens, C
Jason Kelce is gone, and those are some big shoes to fill. However, Jurgens is a player the Eagles love. Even though he is filling in for a legend, Jurgens may be able to step in and keep the train rolling for an already dominant Eagles offensive line.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Keeanu Benton, DT
The Steelers had quite a few moving parts this offseason, but Benton in the middle of their defense is another thing to be excited about. The 2024 season will be about trying to establish himself, and if he can be a force in the middle both in the run game and in the pass rush, Benton has a chance to explode onto the NFL scene this year.
San Francisco 49ers: Ji’Ayir Brown, S
The secondary appears to be the weakest of the three levels of the 49ers’ defense. With the vicious pass rush, and the middle of the field manned by Fred Warner, the two groups in front of the secondary are elite. However, Ji’Ayir Brown looks poised to elevate his game and become a piece that gets spoken about similarly.
Seattle Seahawks: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR
When you’re a rookie behind Tyler Lockett and D.K. Metcalf, it’s a challenge to shine. However, Smith-Njigba had his moments last season. Now, as he heads into Year 2, those around the league are bullish on the former Ohio State Buckeye. More opportunities should come his way in 2024, allowing him to realize his full potential.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Cade Otton, TE
A QB’s best friend is the TE, and despite Baker Mayfield having the ever-reliable Mike Evans to throw to, Otton will see his fair share of opportunities again in 2024. Otton has consistently developed early in his career, but we haven’t seen a true breakout yet. That may be in line this season as everything clicks, and he becomes a focal point of the offense.
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Tennessee Titans: Tyjae Spears, RB
The Titans saw the departure of Derrick Henry, only to welcome the addition of Tony Pollard. However, despite the presence of Pollard in the backfield, the dynamic has changed and more players will get opportunities in the Titans’ backfield in 2024. With his speed and shifty ability, Spears should be a complement to Pollard.
Washington Commanders: Brian Robinson Jr., RB
Dan Quinn is changing things in a big way for the Commanders, and with a ton of new pieces in place, the running game is going to be a rookie QB’s best friend. Following a season in which Robinson showed some exciting potential, 2024 could be the year he puts himself in the breakout category.
