Best 2021 NFL breakout candidate from every team

By Randy Gurzi | Jun 28, 2021

ASHBURN, VA - JUNE 02: Ryan Fitzpatrick #14 of the Washington Football Team hands the ball off to Antonio Gibson #24 of the Washington Football Team during the organized team activity at Inova Sports Performance Center on June 2, 2021 in Ashburn, Virginia. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – SEPTEMBER 27: Adam Trautman #82 of the New Orleans Saints in action during a NFL game at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on September 27, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /

New Orleans Saints: Adam Trautman, Tight End

One of the many teams facing huge changes this season is the New Orleans Saints. Since 2006, they’ve entered every season with Drew Brees as their starting quarterback and face of the franchise but that changes now.

Brees retired following the 2020 campaign and New Orleans will now turn to either Jameis Winston or Taysom Hill as the starter. Both have major questions, especially Hill who is turning 31 before the season begins and has 134 career passing attempts — 121 of which came last season.

Whoever wins the job will at least have some help around them. Michael Thomas is one of the better wideouts in the game and Alvin Kamara is as dangerous a running back as there is in the NFL. There’s also Latavius Murray and Tre’Quan Smith who can also help move the chains.

Still, the Saints will need more help and one player who could really step up and become a weapon is tight end Adam Trautman. Chosen in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft out of Dayton, Trautman was taken with the expectation that he would be a project player. As a rookie, he hauled in 15-of-16 pass targets for 171 yards and a touchdown.

Now with more time in the offense, look for him to get more opportunities — and he’s already proven that when the ball comes his way, he’s likely bringing it in. That should help him as he looks to become the Saints breakout star in 2021.

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