Bryce Young, Jaxon Smith-Njigba headline 10 NFL breakout candidates for 2024

Eric Williams

NFC West Writer

Players showing up at training camp and unexpectedly playing at an elite level is nothing new in the NFL.

Just last year, Los Angeles Rams receiver Puka Nacua and running back Kyren Williams, Houston Texans receiver Nico Collins and Dallas Cowboys cornerback Daron Bland emerged from relative obscurity to become some of the best players at their positions.

With that in mind, here’s a look at 10 players who have a chance to break out this season. The list features two quarterbacks who are former top-three picks, three pass-catchers ready to elevate and a few players you’ve probably never heard of.

But you will.

1. Bryce Young, QB, Panthers

After a disappointing rookie year, the Alabama product is looking for a bounce-back performance in his second season in Carolina. And new head coach Dave Canales is now in charge of making that happen.

Canales has already shown what he can do with quarterbacks, helping Baker Mayfield revive his career last year in Tampa Bay. Canales also served as quarterback coach for Geno Smith during his rebirth with the Seahawks and worked with Russell Wilson during his early days in Seattle.

Canales will try to design an offense that best suits Young’s skill set, a run-based scheme with play-action and pocket movement that accentuates Young’s running ability. 

2. Drake London, WR, Falcons

New Atlanta offensive coordinator Zac Robinson has experience creating opportunities for talented receivers from his time with the Rams, where Nacua and Cooper Kupp dominated the target share in Sean McVay’s scheme.

According to Next Gen Stats, the Rams were in 11 personnel (3 WRs, 1 TE) for a league-high 1,043 snaps on offense last season. Although tight end Kyle Pitts could be considered a receiver, Robinson should find innovative ways to get both London and Pitts the ball in space using similar concepts from his time in Los Angeles. 

And this year, London will be catching passes…


Source link : https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/bryce-young-jaxon-smith-njigba-headline-10-nfl-breakout-candidates-2024

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Publish date : 2024-07-24 20:28:39

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