Every year football fans are treated to a new batch of NFL stars, or near stars. The following is a player from each team that I think could be a breakout star this year. The NFC teams are up first. May is the perfect time for NFL exercises like this. June too.
Minnesota Vikings
Dalvin Cook, RB
Cook kinda broke out last year as a rookie but a knee injury ended the season at 3.5 games. He can do it all. Run, catch, his pass blocking could be more consistent but he's a three-down back and three-down threat. Kirk Cousins enters the Vikings offense this year but Cook will likely be the engine of it. He has to play 16 games hopefully at least three playoff games.
Green Bay Packers
Blake Martinez, LB
Martinez was a consistent nuisance at Stanford and he's looking like a consistent nuisance with the Packers. It feels like he's been in the league for five years but this will only be his third season. He may never be a "star" but he'll always be around the ball, making plays. As a Cal and Vikings fan I've already seen more than enough of him.
Chicago Bears
Roquan Smith, LB
While Martinez may never be a "star" Smith might be a "star" and team pace-setter the moment he steps on the field for his first NFL game. It might be more of a surprise if Smith doesn't breakout as a rookie.
Detroit Lions
Jarrad Davis, LB
A third breakout linebacker in the NFC North? I was curious about Davis coming out of Florida last year. His rookie season might've been a little up and down but he had far more ups. He should be the leader of the Lions defense for at least a decade.
New York Giants
Evan Engram, TE
The Giants have so many explosive weapons on offense. Odell Beckham Jr. and Saquon Barkley will get so much attention that Evan Engram and Sterling Shepard could get a little lost. I don't think that I've ever seen one team field physical freaks the likes of Beckham, Barkley, and Engram.
Washington Redskins
Jonathan Allen, DE
It felt like Allen was on the verge of breaking out last as a rookie until his season was cut short by a foot injury. He's a terrific, disruptive player that can line up anywhere on the defensive front.
Philadelphia Eagles
Dallas Goedert, TE
It felt like every player on the Eagles that could break out last year broke out in their run to the title. So, I had to go with a rookie. The Eagles lost tight ends Brent Celek and Trey Burton this offseason. For a team that uses the position as the Eagles do they needed another to pair with standout Zach Ertz. It has been a golden few months in Philadelphia to be able to trade out of the first round and still land a player as skilled as Goedert. Perfect team, perfect player, perfect timing. How could he not break out?
Dallas Cowboys
Jourdan Lewis, CB
The Cowboys will probably be fielding a ridiculously inexperienced secondary. Second-year players Jourdan Lewis, Chidobe Awuzie, and Xavier Woods are all penciled in as starters. Any one of the three could break out. I'm going with Lewis simply because I think that he's most talented of the bunch.
New Orleans Saints
Marcus Williams, S
Williams was the target of way too much criticism for his passive attempt to tackle Stefon Diggs on that thrilling final play of the Saints season. New Orleans wouldn't even have been in a position to win the game if not for his interception that triggered his team's comeback. He's a terrific safety and cornerstone player for the Saints.
Carolina Panthers
Curtis Samuel, WR
I thought that Samuel would be a bigger part of the Panthers offense as a rookie last year. He can do so many things and score from anywhere on the field. If the offensive coaches can harness all of his talents they have an explosive, versatile football player.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Vita Vea, DT
Talking heads around the league are raving about defensive tackle combos like Aaron Donald-Ndamukong Suh of the Rams, Fletcher Cox-Timmy Jernigan/Haloti Ngata of the Eagles, Linval Joseph-Sheldon Richardson of the Vikings. I'm most curious to see (after Joseph-Richardson, of course) Vea paired with Gerald McCoy. Vea was one of the my favorites in college football last year and in the draft. A human that size isn't supposed to move like he does.
Atlanta Falcons
De'Vondre Campbell, LB
I really like the speedy defense that the Falcons are putting together. It was a toss up between Campbell and defensive end Takkarist McKinley. The latter will get the sacks so he'll get the attention but I'll go with Campbell simply because he'll be on the field more.
San Francisco 49ers
Jerick McKinnon, RB
While I hated to see McKinnon leave Minnesota I'm thrilled to see him get his much-deserved shot to be the top back for a team. I'm especially thrilled to see him get that shot in Kyle Shanahan's offense. McKinnon can do a little bit of everything and Shanahan and quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo will take advantage of that.
Los Angeles Rams
Gerald Everett, TE
The Rams have a plethora of offensive weapons. Everett seems to get lost among that collection. Head coach/playcaller Sean McVay and quarterback Jared Goff have to find a way to take advantage of Everett's silly physical talents.
Seattle Seahawks
Rashaad Penny, RB
If Penny can survive that injury plague that has hit Seattle runners in recent years he should be able to shine. I don't think he was ever tackled when his San Diego Aztecs played Cal in 2016.
Arizona Cardinals
Sam Bradford, QB
I really should go with one of the Cardinals talented second-year defenders, Budda Baker or Haason Reddick, but I'm going with the quarterback that everyone considers a placeholder for Josh Rosen. Bradford is one of the most gifted throwers in the NFL. His throw up the seam to Jarius Wright in last season's opener against the Saints was ridiculous. Very few quarterbacks could throw it let alone even consider it. He simply hasn't been able to stay healthy. If Bradford can stay healthy Rosen might have the first wait of his quarterbacking life.
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