Fansided

Each NFL team’s biggest breakout candidate

By Conor Dorney

Mandatory Credit: Justin Edmonds/Getty Images
Mandatory Credit: Justin Edmonds/Getty Images /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 01: Ken Crawley of New Orleans Saints catches the ball under pressure from Thomas Julius of Miami Dolphins during the NFL International Series match between New Orleans Saints and Miami Dolphins at Wembley Stadium on October 1, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 01: Ken Crawley of New Orleans Saints catches the ball under pressure from Thomas Julius of Miami Dolphins during the NFL International Series match between New Orleans Saints and Miami Dolphins at Wembley Stadium on October 1, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images) /

New Orleans Saints – Ken Crawley

Running back and Rookie of the Year winner Alvin Kamara was the league’s bona fide breakout star in 2017, but the Saints’ breakout player this season could very well be on the other side of the ball.

Crawley was a player I liked quite a bit heading into the 2016 Draft, so it was a surprise when the former Colorado Buffalo went undrafted. Luckily for the Saints, Crawley signed on as an undrafted free agent and has gone on to make himself a valuable member of the New Orleans secondary.

Despite having just one interception over his first two seasons in the NFL, Crawley saw his pass defense number more than double (8 to 17) and those ball skills should turn into turnovers in the future. Crawley doesn’t have great length, but does possess good size and ball skills to routinely get himself in a position to make plays.

With Marshon Lattimore already looking like a superstar and a wealth of draft talent over the past few years, Crawley could be ready for a breakout season as teams begin to throw the ball away from Lattimore’s side.

The Saints brought back corner Patrick Robinson as a bit of a hedge, but Crawley will still have plenty of opportunities to prove he can go from the ranks of the undrafted to a regular starter in the NFL.

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