It’s that time of year when we all get the chance to dream about breakout players on our favorite NFL teams for the upcoming season. Optimism is a runaway freight train as everyone is in the “best shape of their life,” and every team is undefeated for the next handful of months.
What does it take to be a true “breakout” player in today’s NFL? Well, for starters, you can’t be a rookie. Every rookie has no choice but to break out because they’ve not been in the NFL yet. You also can’t be too old to be a breakout player. Guys who are in their late 20s can still break out, of course, but they’re not going to be the candidates on this kind of list.
This list will be comprised of non-rookies and talented players from each team whose talent is ready to meet opportunity. And we’re not going for the low-hanging fruit in every case, either.
Every NFL Team’s Most Underrated Breakout Player in 2025
AFC North
Cleveland Browns: Isaiah McGuire, EDGE
Believe it or not, but Isaiah McGuire actually ended up second on the Cleveland Browns’ defense last year in total snaps played behind Myles Garrett. As McGuire’s game continues to evolve, and with Garrett back on a big-money deal, there’s no doubt that the former Missouri star is ready to take the next step in his game. After racking up nine QB hits and three forced fumbles last season, McGuire is ready for a true breakout campaign and could crack double-digit sacks with more snaps.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Roman Wilson, WR
The Pittsburgh Steelers made a blockbuster trade to acquire DK Metcalf this offseason, but the passing game is going to need more guys to step up, with George Pickens being shipped off to the Dallas Cowboys. One of the most obvious candidates is second-year player Roman Wilson, a really well-liked prospect in the 2024 draft class who did not get really any time on the field last season. Wilson has a chance to be the #2 option in the Pittsburgh offense, but who’s going to be throwing him passes?
Cincinnati Bengals: Jordan Battle, SAF
The Cincinnati Bengals are going to be hoping for a wide variety of breakout players on the defensive side of the ball after the complete debacle that was the 2024 season. Jordan Battle, a former third-round pick out of Ohio State, had a nice “soft launch” last season and as a full-time starter in 2025, he could really begin to make some noise.
Baltimore Ravens: Andrew Vorhees, LG
If the name Andrew Vorhees rings a bell for you, it’s because he was well on his way to being a top-100 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft before an injury completely derailed his stock. Knowing he would miss the entire 2023 season, the Ravens took a chance on him in the 7th round of that draft and stashed him away. This is exactly why. Vorhees is going to get a shot to start at left guard next to Ronnie Stanley and could be another big-time draft steal for Baltimore.
AFC South
Jacksonville Jaguars: Brenton Strange, TE
The Jaguars have a couple of intriguing potential breakout candidates, and the ones I like the most are Brenton Strange and Maason Smith. I chose Strange for this exercise, but you could interchange either name as the most underrated, because nobody is really talking about either guy. The Jaguars cut Evan Engram this offseason, paving the way for Strange to become the team’s TE1, and he could have a huge year.
Tennessee Titans: T’Vondre Sweat, DL
There are few defensive linemen with as impressive combination of size and athleticism as T’Vondre Sweat. The Titans took Sweat with the 38th overall pick in last year’s draft, and while that was considered a big reach at the time, Sweat can really establish himself this year as a crucial piece of the rebuild for this Titans team. He’s got the size and power to be a dominating force on the interior.
Indianapolis Colts: Jaylon Carlies, LB
With a couple of key players departed via NFL free agency, the Indianapolis Colts have a breakout candidate at the linebacker position in Jaylon Carlies, a former fifth-round pick out of Missouri who played in 10 games with six starts last year and wound up with 36 total tackles. The Colts could absolutely get a huge year out of Carlies, who has great size (6-foot-3, 225 pounds), range, and athleticism.
Houston Texans: Blake Fisher, OT
The Houston Texans are going to be desperate for anyone on the offensive line to step up in the 2025 season. You can’t fault them for trying to do something different, given how often CJ Stroud was on his back last year, but was going young across the board the right move? They are certainly going to hope so with second-round pick Blake Fisher, a former Notre Dame star who will be the team’s top right tackle this season.
AFC East
New England Patriots: Keion White, EDGE
We’ve seen glimpses already from the former second-round pick out of Georgia Tech, but the Patriots are still waiting for the “true” breakout year from Keion White. White had 16 QB hits and played over 800 snaps last year for the Pats, so the production is there, but it’s time for him to take another leap numbers-wise and he’s talented enough to do it. I think White could be in line for a Pro Bowl type of season.
Miami Dolphins: Jaylen Wright, RB
There were a lot of folks who felt like the Jaylen Wright selection was superfluous by the Miami Dolphins, and maybe it was, but he has a chance to take on a much bigger role in 2025. With Raheem Mostert departed in free agency, the Dolphins are going to need other guys to step up in that backfield along with De’Von Achane and Wright is under the microscope. It was a rough rookie year for him overall, but that would make the breakout season that much sweeter, right?
New York Jets: Braelon Allen, RB
The New York Jets are going to be going with a committee approach to the running back position this year, and I will say, I was extremely impressed with what we saw from Braelon Allen in a small sample last season. He wound up racking up 482 yards from scrimmage with three total touchdowns and just turned 21 back in January. Even with Breece Hall on the roster right now, Allen should be in line for a significant increase in workload.
Buffalo Bills: Cole Bishop, SAF
The Buffalo Bills desperately need upgrades in the secondary this coming season, and they need Cole Bishop to take one of the starting safety jobs. As much as you love the story of Damar Hamlin, are he and Taylor Rapp really the future at this position for Buffalo? The Bills used a second-round pick on Bishop, a former Utah star. He played 358 total snaps and started a handful of games, but he’s ready for more.
AFC West
Las Vegas Raiders: Jakorian Bennett, CB
If there is one team in the AFC that desperately needs players to break out at every level of the defense, it’s the Las Vegas Raiders. The Raiders had a horrendous NFL Free Agency period, and with a new group in charge of running the team, this is going to be a crucial year for a player like Jakorian Bennett. Bennett wasn’t drafted by John Spytek, but he still has a chance to emerge as the Raiders’ CB1 this season.
Los Angeles Chargers: Junior Colson, LB
Growing up in the 90s, I’m shocked that I’m just now making the connection that the Chargers have another inside linebacker with the name “Junior”. Shout out to the late, great Junior Seau. Junior Colson has a chance to be a major breakout player for the Bolts this year after playing 11 games last season. He only played 218 snaps, but considering he’s a favorite of both Jim Harbaugh and Jesse Minter, it’s only a matter of time before he’s logging 1,000 snaps and 150 tackles a year.
Denver Broncos: Troy Franklin, WR
There are a lot of intriguing, underrated breakout candidates for the Denver Broncos in 2025, but one guy being slept on by the masses is probably Troy Franklin. Devaughn Vele overshadowed him as a rookie and the team drafted Pat Bryant in 2025, but Franklin has a combination of size and speed that can thrive in Sean Payton’s offense. He should be in the mix as the team’s starting “Z” receiver.
Kansas City Chiefs: Kingsley Suamataia, LG
I don’t think there are a ton of obvious “breakout” player candidates on the Kansas City Chiefs roster right now, so maybe the most underrated is also the most obvious. Kingsley Suamataia didn’t work out as the team’s left tackle of the future, but he might have even bigger shoes to fill stepping in for Joe Thuney at the left guard spot. This is a massive opportunity for the former BYU star and Suamataia could really emerge.
NFC North
Detroit Lions: Christian Mahogany, LG
Former Boston College star and Lions sixth-round pick Christian Mahogany has a chance to be one of Detroit’s underrated breakout players this year and one of the most underrated breakout candidates in the league. The Lions need young players to step up on the interior offensive line and Mahogany will get a chance on the left side with second-round pick Jared Wilson coming in on the right side.
Minnesota Vikings: Mekhi Blackmon, CB
Mekhi Blackmon is not only an underrated breakout candidate for the Vikings this year, but he might be in a “make or break” situation for them. He didn’t play in 2024 due to injury but had a really solid year in 2023 when he allowed a QB rating of just 81.1 into his coverage (on 435 snaps). The Vikings need young guys to step up in their secondary this year and Blackmon could be a fun story to watch.
Chicago Bears: Rome Odunze, WR
There are really only obvious breakout player candidates for the Chicago Bears right now but I think the breakout potential of someone like Rome Odunze is getting overshadowed by two things. First of all, Caleb Williams is on every breakout player list. Second of all, the Bears drafting Luther Burden in the second round has given a shiny new toy for everyone to focus on. I loved Odunze coming out of Washington and he should be a 1,000-yard receiver in no time.
Green Bay Packers: MarShawn Lloyd, RB
Injuries wrecked the potential of MarShawn Lloyd pairing up with Josh Jacobs in Green Bay as a devastating duo last year. This year, Lloyd is under some pressure to live up to his third-round draft status, but can he steal snaps from Jacobs? Heck, at this point, can he steal snaps from Emanuel Wilson? The Packers will give him every opportunity to do so and he could surprise some people.
NFC South
Atlanta Falcons: Ruke Orhorhoro, DL
For Falcons fans, Ruke Orhorhoro might not be the most underrated breakout candidate. In fact, with the team cutting Grady Jarrett, he might be one of the most obvious breakout candidates and even have a lot of pressure to perform this coming season. We saw glimpses from the former Clemson star last year, and with so much youth on that Falcons defensive line, he can be the top dog on the interior, causing havoc.
Carolina Panthers: Jalen Coker, WR
There are a few receivers who are getting more attention and focus in the headlines right now than Jalen Coker, but he quietly had a strong rookie season, developing some chemistry with Bryce Young. The Panthers would love to see first-round picks Tetairoa McMilan and Xavier Legette really emerge this year as the top two options in the passing game, but Coker is going to be a big-time secondary target.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Chris Braswell, EDGE
The Buccaneers didn’t do a whole lot to upgrade their EDGE rush situation this offseason. They brought in Haason Reddick, but how much can we bank on him being the same guy we saw in Philadelphia a couple of years ago? Chris Braswell was a second-round pick in 2024 out of Alabama who ended up having eight QB hits on just 329 total snaps last season. Along with Reddick and YaYa Diaby, the Bucs might have something cooking off teh edge.
New Orleans Saints: Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB
The New Orleans Saints are another team that has both a significant need for players to break out as well as a lot of “obvious” potential breakout candidates because of that. You can really take your pick with this team. Kool-Aid McKinstry was the 41st overall pick in last year’s draft and started nine games for the Saints last season, but is still looking for his first NFL interception. Maybe he breaks out this year and winds up leading the team in that category.
NFC East
New York Giants: Theo Johnson, TE
The New York Giants already got stellar contributions from their 2024 NFL Draft class, especially at the offensive skill positions, but the Theo Johnson pick might be another home run by GM Joe Schoen. The 6-foot-6 former Penn State star wound up playing 683 snaps in 12 games, but he wasn’t even targeted 50 times. With an increased target share and a more defined role in the offense, Johnson could be a big-time second-year breakout candidate.
Philadelphia Eagles: Jalyx Hunt, EDGE
The Philadelphia Eagles lost a number of key players on their defensive front after winning the Super Bowl, and you already know Howie Roseman wasn’t going to be caught without a backup plan in place. Jalyx Hunt is poised to take over as one of the top EDGE guys in Philadelphia opposite Nolan Smith after the departure of Josh Sweat, and we really saw a glimpse of what he can do in the postseason with 1.5 sacks, 3 QB hits, and 3 pressures in the Super Bowl run.
Washington Commanders: Luke McCaffrey, WR
Outside of Commanders fans, not many people are talking about Luke McCaffrey anymore these days. McCaffrey went from being a fascinating story in the 2024 NFL Draft as a former college quarterback turned wide receiver like his dad, to drifting into anonymity and now being an afterthought behind the likes of Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel. But McCaffrey could emerge as a key third piece at receiver for the Commanders and perhaps even be WR2 by season’s end depending on who is still standing at that point.
Dallas Cowboys: Luke Schoonmaker, TE
This is maybe more manifesting than anything else. The disappointment of the Luke Schoonmaker selection just continues to hurt as the former second-round pick out of Michigan struggles to find his NFL footing. Schoonmaker has proven to be an effective blocker but he was picked in the second round to also be an impact player in the passing game. This year is his opportunity to take Jake Ferguson’s job and solidify himself as TE1 in Dallas.
NFC West
Seattle Seahawks: AJ Barner, TE
The Seattle Seahawks saw some potential TE1 type stuff from AJ Barner last year as the fourth-round pick caught four touchdown passes. Barner might be in line to take over the TE1 job from Noah Fant this year and make him expendable, especially with the arrival of receiving specialist Elijah Arroyo. Barner might end up being the top tight end in Seattle this season, despite a crowded room on paper.
San Francisco 49ers: Renardo Green, CB
The 49ers are going to be calling on a wide variety of young players to step up and be breakout players this coming season, but Renardo Green is in a great position to have some success. Green played all 17 games and had seven starts last year, playing 63 percent of the 49ers’ defensive snaps and racking up 13 passes defensed. With Robert Saleh calling the San Francisco defense again, Green is maybe one of the most slept-on young corners in the NFL ready to break out.
Arizona Cardinals: BJ Ojulari, EDGE
Injury robbed BJ Ojulari of his breakout campaign last year, so maybe he can reclaim it in 2025. Ojulari had four sacks in just over 400 snaps as a rookie in 2023, but after missing the entire 2024 season, his status with the team is up in the air. He’s going to have to beat out guys like Baron Browning for snaps, but if Ojulari is healthy, he has the type of chops to be a really effective tandem player with incoming free agent Josh Sweat off the edge.
Los Angeles Rams: Blake Corum, RB
There was some talk this offseason that Kyren Williams wasn’t as dynamic as maybe his numbers the last two seasons would indicate. I don’t know how much I would agree with that, but there are some who feel like Williams shouldn’t be getting as much of the workload as he is in Los Angeles. Perhaps that’s where Blake Corum, the former National Champion hero of Michigan, can step in. Corum only had 65 total touches as a rookie and could have a much bigger role in year two for Sean McVay and the Rams.