5 Philadelphia Eagles Players Poised for a Breakout Campaign in 2015

The Philadelphia Eagles added six new players at the draft and 16 more rookies who went undrafted, all gunning for roster spots and trying to make a big impact. Yet in many cases, it will be veterans who are going to break out in 2015, some perhaps even earning trips to the Pro Bowl.

With so much attention being paid to the new additions, we tend to forget there are players who were already around and may be ready to take on bigger roles in the year ahead. Whether it’s because they finally get the opportunity they were lacking or simply young talents that are continuing to develop, these players appear poised to take their games to the next level.

If these five players can take that proverbial next step and up their game, the Eagles are going to be a lot better off both on the field and in the win column than many so-called experts are currently predicting. Which players do you think will or need to have breakout campaigns in 2015?

Brandon Graham

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For five long years, Brandon Graham has waited for his shot to be a regular starter in the NFL. Now that it’s finally here, don’t be surprised if the 2010 first-round pick winds up at the Pro Bowl.

Graham actually has been one of the most productive pass-rushers in the NFL for three seasons running, according to Pro Football Focus. The problem is Graham suffered a torn ACL that required microfracture surgery toward the end of his rookie season, and since returning to normal in 2012, he’s been buried on Philadelphia’s depth chart by Pro Bowlers such as Jason Babin, Trent Cole and Connor Barwin.

Babin is long gone, and Cole was released this offseason, paving the way for Graham to sign a brand new contract and step in to a full-time role at outside linebacker for the Eagles. Now he just needs to show he can handle the increased workload.

In terms of sacks, hits and hurries per snaps played, nobody in the NFL has done more with less playing time than Graham. PFF ranked Graham first among 4-3 defensive ends in “pass-rush productivity” for 2012, seventh among 3-4 outside linebackers in ‘13—his first season playing the position—and first among all defenders in ’14.

Last season, Graham tied his career high with 5.5 sacks while lining up for just 43.1 percent of Philadelphia’s defensive snaps, according to Football Outsiders. With his playing time set to nearly double, Graham’s sack total could climb into double digits in 2015.

Josh Huff

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Josh Huff’s rookie season may have been marred by miscues of enormous consequence, but the wide receiver also flashed explosive potential at times. There was the 106-yard kick return for a touchdown, an Eagles franchise record. There was also this 44-yard catch-and-run, where Huff broke two tackles, raced past three defenders and stiff-armed another to get some extra mileage out of the play.

Of course, it was one of only eight receptions for Huff on the season, so it’s understandable why some are skeptical. Add in the fact that Philadelphia boasts something of a crowded receiving corps, and it’s difficult to envision exactly how Huff fits in.

Yet Huff might’ve been a bigger part of the plan in 2014, only he wound up missing time during training camp and the first few weeks of the regular season with a shoulder injury. Those formative summer practices put the third-round pick behind the learning curve, and he never recovered to become a regular contributor for the Eagles.

2015 could be different. Jordan Matthews and first-round pick Nelson Agholor are already expected to be fixtures in the lineup, but Huff could beat out underwhelming veterans Riley Cooper and Miles Austin as the primary third wideout. That’s still a sizable role in head coach Chip Kelly’s offense.

If Huff is a regular on the field, he could be headed for a big year for Philadelphia. The talent is there, it’s merely a matter of staying healthy and eliminating mistakes.

Lane Johnson

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There’s no question Lane Johnson has already established he’s an excellent right tackle in the NFL. The question heading into Johnson’s third season is could the Pro Bowl be in his future?

It’s not an outrageous suggestion at all. Johnson certainly has the pedigree as the fourth overall pick in the 2013 draft. And last season, Pro Football Focus awarded Johnson the 13th-highest cumulative grade among all offensive tackles, which was all the more impressive because he missed four games.

The difference in the ground attack was almost night and day when Johnson returned to the lineup from a four-game suspension for banned substances. All-Pro running back LeSean McCoy averaged 2.8 yards per carry in the month of September behind a makeshift line with several absences. Johnson was the first to return, instantly providing a spark, as McCoy went on to average 4.7 yards behind the still-incomplete line in October.

Johnson also made strides as a pass protector in ’14. According to PFF, Johnson was 19th out of 54 qualifying tackles in pass-blocking efficiency, which measures sacks, hits and hurries allowed on the quarterback. There’s room for improvement to be sure, but not bad at all for somebody who was playing defensive end as recently as 2010.

The most important area where Johnson can improve is consistency, which should continue to come with experience. When it does, Johnson has the potential to go from a good offensive tackle to a great one.

Matt Tobin

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First things first, Matt Tobin must win a job to have a breakout year. As of now, journeyman Allen Barbre is projected to take over for Todd Herremans at right guard, although that’s no sure thing. And while Evan Mathis is still hanging around, don’t rule out a trade at some point, even though Kelly says the Eagles haven’t had an offer for the All-Pro left guard in two years, per Geoff Mosher for CSNPhilly.com.

That being said, if Tobin can overtake Barbre—not at all unthinkable—or winds up with a starting spot by default, he has an excellent chance to surprise people. Last preseason, Tobin dominated at the point of attack, granted against other backups, but to the point where the 24-year-old received the highest cumulative grade of any offensive lineman in the entire league from Pro Football Focus.

Tobin was not nearly so successful when he was installed at guard for seven starts in 2014. However, he did suffer an ankle injury toward the end of the summer, which may have hindered him into the regular season.

This was only Tobin’s second season with the Eagles, and his first real NFL experience. The undrafted free agent out of Iowa spent the previous season on the practice squad before earning a spot on the 53-man roster in ’14.

In other words, don’t count out Tobin just yet. He’s been slowly working his way up the ladder, and now that Herremans has been released and the line is in flux, there’s a realistic chance he could crack the starting lineup this season. Should that happen, Tobin might even wind up turning a few heads.

Sam Bradford

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Can you call the first overall pick of the 2010 draft and former Offensive Rookie of the Year a breakout candidate? In Sam Bradford’s case, you most certainly can.

Bradford’s pro career to this point has been underwhelming to say the least. The veteran signal-caller’s numbers both in the win column and on the stat sheet are dismal, and what’s worse, he’s only played seven games over the past two seasons after suffering back-to-back torn ACLs.

Of course, it’s not as if Bradford ever had much help as a member of the St. Louis Rams. Bradford never had a tight end or wide receiver go over so much as 700 yards in a season he was under center. Bradford never saw a single offensive lineman in front of him voted to a Pro Bowl. Bradford worked under numerous offensive coaches in his five seasons with the organization.

In Philadelphia, Bradford instantly has better weapons than he ever had in St. Louis, a better offensive line and, perhaps most important of all, better coaching. Just about every offensive player to have a season in Kelly’s offense has enjoyed a career year, and Bradford is likely to be no different.

Look at Mark Sanchez, who came to the Eagles from a very similar situation with the New York Jets. Granted, Sanchez didn’t suddenly become an All-Pro quarterback, but in nine games in 2014, the six-year veteran wound up shattering his personal bests for completion percentage, yards per attempt and passer rating.

Anybody who doesn’t think Bradford is capable of the same improvement, provided he’s healthy, simply isn’t paying attention. If he can shake off the knee injuries and pick up the offense in time to start opening day—and stay in the lineup—Bradford might on his way to his very first Pro Bowl this season.

Who knows how far the Eagles can go in '15 if that turns out to be the case.