Eleven players who can make a leap in the 2024 NFL season, with Trevor Sikkema
Jul 26, 2024
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NFL analyst Trevor Sikkema joins Robert Mays to discuss potential breakout players in the 2024 NFL season. They highlight young talents ready to make a leap in their performance, covering various player scenarios and recent news from training camp. The episode also includes insights on NFL teams' preseason analysis, contract negotiations, and discussing specific players like Michael Wilson from the Arizona Cardinals.
Williams is a cornerback to watch for a breakout season with impressive physique and playstyle.
Brooks, a defensive tackle, is expected to increase snap count and contribute significantly to the Packers' defense.
Wilson, a wide receiver, exemplifies a reliable number two receiver with a knack for disrupting playmaking.
Deep dives
Breakout Candidate: Joshua Williams - Kansas City Chiefs
Joshua Williams, the corner for the Kansas City Chiefs, is positioned for a breakout season. With Trent McDuffie likely handling CB1 responsibilities, Williams is in contention for the next cornerback spot. His impressive physique, combining a high percentile in height and arm length, sets him apart. Last season, he garnered a 75.2 coverage grade and displayed excellent ball disruption with eight forced incompletions on 31 targets. His knack for impacting plays and disrupting receivers positions him as a key player to watch for a breakout season.
Defensive Breakthrough: Carl Brooks - Green Bay Packers
Carl Brooks, a rotational defensive tackle for the Green Bay Packers, is poised for a breakout season. Despite being a sixth-round pick, Brooks showcased promise in his rookie year with 38 pressures. His efficient play style and ability to move towards the quarterback stand out. With a strong defensive line rotation strategy akin to hockey line shifts, Brooks is expected to increase his snap count and contribute significantly to the Packers' defensive front.
Rising Star: Michael Wilson - Arizona Cardinals
Michael Wilson, a wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals, is identified as a rising star set for a breakout season. Known for his efficiency and ability to win with both athleticism and intellect, Wilson exemplifies a reliable number two receiver. His success in forcing incompletions reflects his knack for disrupting playmaking, making him a key player to watch in the Cardinals' offense.
Potential Breakout Player: Nolan Smith - Philadelphia Eagles
Nolan Smith, an edge rusher for the Philadelphia Eagles, shows promise as a potential breakout player. As part of the defensive line rotation, Smith's strength in run defense paired with pass rush productivity positions him for an increased role. With an impressive rookie season performance, expectations are high for Smith to make a significant impact and elevate the Eagles' defense.
Keanu Benton's Potential as a Pass Rusher
Keanu Benton, a defensive player for the Steelers, showcased his potential as a dominant pass rusher despite limited opportunities in his first season. With impressive performances on third down plays last year, he is poised for an increased role in the upcoming season. Benton's transition to focusing on pass rushing in his final year at Wisconsin indicates his readiness for a more significant pass rushing role with the Steelers, contributing to the team's defensive strength.
Chase Brown's Transition as a Running Back
Chase Brown, a running back for the Bengals, is primed for a breakout year due to his adeptness in both rushing and receiving aspects. With Joe Mixon's departure, Zach Moss may handle early-down work, but Brown's receiving capabilities provide a valuable asset to the Bengals' offensive strategy. Brown's athleticism, coupled with his determination as a runner, positions him as a potential standout player in the Bengals' running back lineup, offering a dynamic element to the team's offense.
Whether it's good-to-great, average-to-good, great-to-superstar, or some other combination thereof, plenty of players make leaps every NFL season. PFF's Trevor Sikkema joins Robert Mays to highlight the players they think can make the leap on this episode of The Athletic Football Show. The guys also round up some of the big news coming from the first few days of training camp.