Every single season there are players that make massive jumps in the offseason to become star players and key contributors to their team. Here are some of the most likely breakout players for the NFC South.
Atlanta Falcons:
The main two players that look to have taken a major jump were already considered star players on Atlanta, but this season they project to put it all together. Those players being Kyle Pitts and Bijan Robinson. Many people have been disappointed in the Falcons highlight players but this year with Kirk Cousins and impressive training camps they look to put that disappointment to rest. Another player looking to breakout is edge rusher Arnold Ebiketie. He had 6 sacks last season and is looking to build off of that year aiming for double digits this season.
Carolina Panthers:
The two players looking to breakout for Carolina are both sophomores. Bryce Young is the obvious one, who’s looked surgical in training camp. This is largely due to the Panthers going all in to improve Young’s surrounding cast. They added receivers Diontae Johnson via trade and drafted Xavier Legette with the 32nd pick of the draft, drafted running back Jonathan Brooks with the 46th pick and tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders with the 101st pick, as well as handing out major contracts to guards Robert Hunt and Danien Lewis in free agency. With 6 new primary contributors, the Panthers work should prove dividends for the 1st overall quarterback. The other player who’s projecting to have a breakout season is wide receiver Jonathan Mingo, the 33rd pick of last year’s draft. The chemistry between Mingo and Young has looked fantastic and the sophomore receiver may look to surge into becoming Carolina’s WR1.
New Orleans Saints:
The receiver room behind Chris Olave isn’t quite ideal with Rashid Shaheed as the WR2. I expect A.T. Perry to climb the depth chart in his second season and challenge Shaheed as the starter behind Olave. A.T. has looked very promising in training camp thus far and has a quite imposing figure as a 6’5 wide receiver capable of going up and getting the ball no matter who’s covering him. Perry could be a dominant deep threat with strong hands for needed 1st downs, and would especially be a spectacular option in the red zone for an offense needing a player to stand out. Another player I’m looking to have a potential breakout season is defensive end Carl Granderson. Carl as a rotational players last season had 8.5 sacks and looked extremely fundamental in his game with a great tool belt of pass rush moves. As a full time starter Granderson should be able to take advantage of the opportunity and have a very productive season for New Orleans.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers:
The clear player who’s caught my attention for the Buccaneers so far is rookie Jalen McMillan. I like avoiding rookies when it comes to “breakouts” but there certainly have to be exceptions, and McMillan is one of them. Jalen has made plays all across the field for the Bucs so far and they believe they have found another star receiver to make a very strong trio with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. McMillan I believed was the second best receiver from Washington last year above Ja’Lynn Polk, and he certainly is seeming like that with how he’s performed for Tampa so far.