Fansided

1 breakout candidate to watch for all 32 NFL teams

By Mike Phillips

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JUNE 08: Jalen Hurts #1 of the Philadelphia Eagles runs with the ball during OTAs at the NovaCare Complex on June 8, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JUNE 08: Jalen Hurts #1 of the Philadelphia Eagles runs with the ball during OTAs at the NovaCare Complex on June 8, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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GLENDALE, ARIZONA – NOVEMBER 14: Inside linebacker Isaiah Simmons #9 of the Arizona Cardinals during the NFL game at State Farm Stadium on November 14, 2021, in Glendale, Arizona. The Panthers defeated the Cardinals 34-10. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – NOVEMBER 14: Inside linebacker Isaiah Simmons #9 of the Arizona Cardinals during the NFL game at State Farm Stadium on November 14, 2021, in Glendale, Arizona. The Panthers defeated the Cardinals 34-10. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Every year players emerge to become huge contributors for NFL teams. Let’s take a look at a potential breakout candidate for all 32 NFL teams.

The idea of the breakout player is a popular discussion time in the weeks leading up to training camp. Whether it involves someone being in the best shape of their life or doing extra work in the offseason to improve, NFL teams and media are quick to hype players who have the potential to become key contributors in the upcoming season.

For the purposes of this exercise, we’re going to list a potential breakout candidate for all 32 NFL teams as we get ready for the opening of training camps in the coming weeks. Established stars and 2022 draft picks are not eligible as that would defeat the purpose of trying to find true breakout candidates.

Arizona Cardinals

Breakout Candidate: LB Isaiah Simmons

A trendy sleeper pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Simmons struggled as a rookie since Arizona didn’t really know how to utilize their new defensive weapon. 2021 was an improvement for Simmons, who nearly doubled his tackle total (going from 54 to 105) and forced four fumbles, but he wasn’t the true game wrecker Cardinals fans expected with the eighth overall pick in the draft.

That should change this year as Simmons enters his third year in the league and is more familiar with Vance Joseph’s defensive system. The loss of Chandler Jones should also lead to more pass-rushing responsibility for Simmons, who could utilize his talent to become a monster in Arizona’s linebacking corps.

Atlanta Falcons

Breakout Candidate: WR Olamide Zaccheus

The receiver room got overhauled in Atlanta by necessity after Calvin Ridley was suspended for a year for gambling while Russell Gage departed for Tampa Bay in free agency. The addition of Drake London in the draft should help but Atlanta could get a nice boost in production from Zaccheus, who is entering his fourth year in the league.

Zaccheus posted career highs across the board in 2021, recording 31 catches for 406 yards and three touchdowns, and is in competition with import Bryan Edwards for the No. 2 receiver job in Atlanta. Expect head coach Arthur Smith to use Zaccheus as an intermediary weapon that can be a go-to-guy on third downs for Marcus Mariota, which could be important if the Falcons hope to avoid being one of the NFL’s worst teams this season.

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