One NFL player at each position who will have breakout season
S Justin Reid, Houston Texans
Reid played really well last season, registering 70 solo tackles with 10 pass defenses and three interceptions. He returned one of those picks 101 yards for a touchdown. But the 22-year-old may only be scratching the surface. The Texans will count upon him more without veteran Tyrann Mathieu in the Houston secondary this season.
CB Isaiah Oliver, Atlanta Falcons
Cornerback Robert Alford was a cap casualty for the Falcons in March, but Atlanta appears to have full confidence that second-year cornerback Isaiah Oliver will become a capable starter in 2019. The 2018 second-round pick played in 14 games, starting two last season. He played well down the stretch, recording eight combined tackles, two pass defenses and an interception in December.
ILB Tremaine Edmunds, Buffalo Bills
Edmunds turned in a pretty solid rookie season, but he could be due for an even bigger second year. As a rookie, he posted 121 combined tackles, including 80 solos, 12 pass defenses, two interceptions and 2.0 sacks. In December, Edmunds recorded 24 solo tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss, four pass defenses, 1.0 sack and both of his interceptions.
OLB Leonard Floyd, Chicago Bears
Floyd became a full-time starter in 2016, but expectations for the former ninth overall pick in 2016 are higher. If he’s ever going to reach those expectations with Chicago, it has to come this year. With so many great young defenders on the Bears roster, Floyd will have plenty of opportunity for success. Opposing offenses are going to be more concerned with fellow linebackers Khalil Mack and Roquan Smith.
DT Daron Payne, Washington Redskins
Washington has a couple of defensive linemen who could break out in 2019, as the Redskins have spent high draft picks the last couple of years on the position group to fix their run defense. Payne started 16 games last season and posted 56 combined tackles, including 6.0 tackles for loss, 5.0 sacks and eight quarterback hits. He recorded 13 solo tackles and 1.0 sack in December.
DE Marcus Davenport, New Orleans Saints
The 2018 first-round pick contributed 22 combined tackles, 4.5 sacks and 12 quarterback hits as a reserve player last year. In 2019 he is expected to step into a starting role with the departure of defensive end Alex Okafor. Davenport missed three games because of injury and played only about 40 percent of the Saints snaps in 2018. He has the chance to become a real contributor as a starter this season.
C Billy Price, Cincinnati Bengals
Price played well last season, but a foot injury in Week 3 robbed him of six games. If not for that, he could have warranted a Pro Bowl appearance. With a full season in 2019, Price should fulfill his first-round potential.
G Joe Thuney, New England Patriots
The fourth-year guard has started every game since he entered the league in 2016 and has already won two Super Bowls. But in 2019, look for him to make his first Pro Bowl appearance. Thuney has been one of the most underrated aspects of the Patriots offense over the last three years. He’s already good, but he’s due to receive more recognition this fall.
T Mike McGlinchey, San Francisco 49ers
Admittedly, it’s tough to pick breakout offensive linemen. McGlinchey already played pretty well as a rookie last season, but he has the potential to become a real star. The former Notre Dame tackle was the No. 10 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft and started all 16 games last season. It’s possible he has the same impact for the 49ers this season that guard Quenton Nelson, who was McGlinchey’s college teammate, had for the Colts last year.
TE O.J. Howard, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
After suffering foot and ankle injuries in Week 11, Howard ended 2018 on injured reserve. But in fewer games during his second season, he earned more targets (48), receptions (34) and yards (565) than in his rookie season while averaging the same amount of yards per reception (16.6). With strong quarterback developer Bruce Arians arriving in Tampa Bay, Jameis Winston may finally reach his full potential. Should that occur, Howard will have to be a major reason why.
WR Michael Gallup, Dallas Cowboys
Gallup turned in a mixed bag during his rookie season. He earned a starting role by the middle of October, and in the final 11 games he averaged 15.7 yards per catch. However, he hauled in under 50 percent of his targets for only 507 receiving yards. In a full season playing opposite Amari Cooper this fall, though, Gallup will have every opportunity to develop into a dependable receiver for the Cowboys.
RB Kerryon Johnson, Detroit Lions
The 2018 second-round pick finished last season on injured reserve, but he played well in 10 games before his knee injury. While Johnson averaged under 4.0 yards per carry in four games, during the other six he posted an average of more than 5.0 yards per rushing attempt. Johnson ran for more than 100 yards twice, and as a starter he posted 641 yards from scrimmage in seven games. If fully healthy this fall, Johnson will be ready to become a true workhorse back.
QB Sam Darnold, New York Jets
He had plenty of growing pains during his rookie season, but Darnold also showed flashes of his potential. He had one of his best games in Week 1 on “Monday Night Football,” and then against the Indianapolis Colts on Oct. 14, Darnold went 24-of-30 with 280 passing yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Darnold played well down the stretch too, completing 64 percent of his passes for an average of 7.45 yards per attempt with six touchdowns and only one pick in December
