Backup NFL Playmakers Most Likely to Blossom in 2024
Everyone is looking for the next Puka Nacua, i.e. the skill position performer who comes out of nowhere to take the league by storm.
Let's pump the breaks a bit, since no one should expect another young player to explode onto the scene and break records after being an unheralded mid-round draft selection. Instead, an acknowledgement should exist that surprise star emerges every season, to varying results.
The more difficult aspect is identifying exactly who that player(s) will be. A flux capacitor would be handy to make these distinctions. Alas, the one-and-only Doc Brown doesn't exist in our slice of the multiverse.
However, a little prognostication based on trends, situations and current or previous depth chart status can help target a handful of skill-position performers capable of breakout seasons, with three identified by B/R at running back, wide receiver and tight end.
These individuals may not be quite ready, but you're gonna love it if and when they are.
RB Jonathon Brooks, Carolina Panthers
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Jonathon Brooks is an exciting rookie the Carolina Panthers drafted in this year's second round, though a caveat comes with his current standing. The running back is still recovering from a torn ACL he suffered in November. Brooks currently finds himself on the Panthers' active/non-football injury list.
Head coach Dave Canales projects a potential return to the lineup somewhere around Week 3 or 4 of the regular season.
Currently, Chuba Hubbard stands as the Week 1 starter at. But Brooks was the incoming class' most talented ball-carrier. So much so, the Panthers still saw fit to make him the first running back drafted despite the injury.
"Brooks' quickness is the first thing that pops off the screen," Derrik Klassen wrote for Bleacher Report. "Behind the line of scrimmage, he has the lateral explosion to switch rushing lanes with ease at the last second. That same explosive ability shows up at the second level. Brooks has the juice to make defenders miss in space, and he is always hunting for chances to prove it."
A season ago, Carolina fell to the bottom half of the league in rushing after finishing in the Top 10 a year prior. Hubbard and Miles Sanders are capable. But a healthy Brooks has a chance to take the reins about midway through the season and provide a different gear.
RB Justice Hill, Baltimore Ravens
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The Baltimore Ravens went and assembled arguably the most terrifying backfield of all time by signing running back Derrick Henry to join quarterback Lamar Jackson.
At 30 years old, Henry has reached the drop-off-a-cliff portion of a running back's career. Though he's not exactly built like a typical ball-carrier. In fact, he finished second in rushing yardage last season despite playing behind the league's worst offensive line.
Still, the Baltimore Ravens are looking toward backfield-mate Justice Hill to provide significant punch this fall.
"The evolution of Justice, as a player, is this guy has become a starting back in the National Football League," head coach John Harbaugh told reporters when asked about Hill. "... He's a high-caliber running back. So to have him along with Derrick, it's really great. He's going to give us a little different style. I see him as a starter, and he's going to play a lot."
Hill set a career-high last season with 387 rushing yards. He played well down the stretch, particularly in the postseason matchup against the Houston Texans.
Henry is the Ravens' starter, of course. But Hill can be a tremendous handcuff that wildly outproduces his previous career contributions, especially if Baltimore wants to limit Henry's workload.
RB Tyjae Spears, Tennessee Titans
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Life without Derrick Henry has already begun for the Tennessee Titans. The franchise can never replace the future Hall of Fame back. Instead, the Titans went in an entirely different direction.
General manager Ran Carthon signed Tony Pollard to a three-year, $21.8 million free-agent contract this offseason. The contract says Pollard is now RB1 in Tennessee, though don't overlook what Tyjae Spears can do as part of this rotation.
"They're both gonna play quite a bit of football for us," head coach Brian Callahan told reporters, "and I don't view either one of them as a starter or a backup. They're both starting players to me."
It's a nice sentiment. Financial investments are what they are. At least initially, Pollard will be the lead back. Spears may be the better pure runner, though. The second-year back's stop-start ability, short-area quickness and lateral agility allow him to create opportunities when nothing seems available.
Pollard's strength comes with his flexibility. He's equally adept as a slashing runner as he is lining up at wide receiver. He wasn't as explosive last season coming off ankle surgery. He should now be closer to the back who averaged over five years per carry during the 2021 and '22 campaigns.
Still, Spears should be used extensively, even sharing the backfield with Pollard. The two can be interchangeable pieces based Brian Callahan's offensive packages.
WR Adonai Mitchell, Indianapolis Colts
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The Indianapolis Colts were ecstatic when Adonai Mitchell slid to them in this year's second round.
General manager Chris Ballard made sure to squash any supposed concerns during his press conference after making the selection.
Prior to April's event, Mitchell was viewed as a first-round talent. He was this year's candidate who became part of the annual anonymous smear campaign that ensues when scouts aren't held accountable for what they leak to reporters.
No one questions the receiver's natural ability, though. The Colts should benefit greatly, after missing out on the opportunity to trade up in the first round and possibly grab Malik Nabers or Rome Odunze.
Initially, Mitchell entered a competition with Alec Pierce to play opposite Michael Pittman Jr. as the Colts' outside receivers. Slot receiver Josh Downs then suffered a high-ankle sprain to create further opportunities for Mitchell. Though Downs could still be ready for the regular season.
Whether playing outside or the slot, as a starter or not, the Colts coaching staff wants to see what the rookie can do. His teammates are already impressed.
"His releases are the best I've seen," said Pittman, who has over 3,000 receiving yards during the last three seasons. "I've actually been studying him because they're that good."
Among rookie wide receivers not drafted in this year's first round, Mitchell has the talent, ability, situation and most chance to be this year's breakout star.
WR Andrei Iosivas, Cincinnati Bengals
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Last year, Andrei Iosivas was a developmental sixth-round draft pick by the Cincinnati Bengals. Fast forward to 2024 and Iosivas could be a big part of the Bengals' feared passing attack.
After multiple years of Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd working together as the Bengals' big three, the trio broke up this offseason, as Boyd left in free agency to follow his former offensive coordinator, Brian Callahan, to the Tennessee Titans.
Chase and Higgins are still intact, though the latter may not be with the squad in 2025 after signing the franchise tag. So, the next wave of Bengals receivers are quite important this year and the next.
Specifically, Iosivas and Charlie Jones have a chance to grow into much bigger roles sooner rather than later.
Iosivas has primarily been seen as a vertical threat. However, the Bengals like his positional versatility.
"The great thing about Andrei is he can go into any position on our team at wideout and show production," general manager Duke Tobin told reporters last month.
The second-year target has been working his way into the spot vacated by Boyd.
"He's going to be a big asset to our offense—especially in the slot," Bengals nickel corner Mike Hilton said. "He's a bigger guy and can obviously run. He's going to be a big target for us."
WR Dontayvion Wicks, Green Bay Packers
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The Green Bay Packers skill positions are loaded. Any one of the young targets on the roster could emerge as WR1. Dontayvion Wicks is the name to watch as a possibility to rise above the rest.
Obviously, Green Bay has quite a bit invested in Christian Watson, after trading up to select him in the second round of the 2022 NFL draft. As a rookie last season, Jayden Reed led the squad with 793 receiving yards. Romeo Doubs has flashed throughout his first two seasons.
Wicks came on strong during the final eight weeks of the '23 regular season, with 441 of his 581 yards as a rookie.
"He's always asking questions, always asking if he's in the right spot," said quarterback Jordan Love of Wicks. "I think he's a really good route-runner, really shifty guy, catches the ball really well and he's making plays after the catch. He's getting a lot of YAC right now. He's just a tough guy. He's doing a lot of really good things."
Love's response sounds exactly like what Aaron Rodgers used to say when he liked a young wide receiver. Wicks is a little different in how he can be a playmaker.
"He's got a ways to go before he gets to (Davante Adams') level," head coach Matt LaFleur said, "but I do think as far as the skillset and all that, that you look for in a guy, I think the sky's the limit for him, quite frankly."
TE Ben Sinnott, Washington Commanders
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Zach Ertz is about as proven of a tight end as anyone not named Travis Kelce or Mark Andrews can be. Furthermore, he already has previous experience playing for new Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury. Coaches tend to lean on veteran options. He's the starting tight end for the Commanders.
Ben Sinnott can still be a weapon within the scheme.
"The amount of things I can do is unlimited," the rookie tight end said after being drafted, per the Commanders official site. "With my alignments, with what [Kansas] K State trusted me with. I think Coach Kingsbury's going to have a lot of fun with what he can do and with where he can put me. So, I'm excited. I'm beyond pumped to be in a system like this."
Clearly, Sinnott has listened to Russell Wilson with a thought process of being unlimited. But he'll do so for a different franchise. A franchise that now has the reigning Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels behind center. A quarterback's best friend is his tight end. Sinnott and Daniels can grow together after arriving in the same draft class.
As capable as Ertz is, he also turns 35 later this year and has not played a full regular season slate since 2018. Sinnott can be used in a variety of ways, while also being groomed to become Washington's outright TE1.
TE Darnell Washington, Pittsburgh Steelers
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The Pittsburgh Steelers are trending toward a rough-and-tumble offense, with offensive coordinator Arthur Smith calling plays, an athletic quarterback behind center, two talented running backs, plenty of investments along the offensive line and two tight ends capable of being effective weapons, as well as blockers.
The last point should be a big part of what the Steelers look like this fall, as 12 personnel can be a staple with both Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington on the field.
Even if it isn't, Washington is expected to be deployed far more in the passing game this season compared to his initial campaign.
"As a rookie, TE Darnell Washington was used primarily as a blocker and had just 10 total targets," ESPN's Brooke Pryor reported during the first week of August, "but it looks like that's going to change in Arthur Smith's offense. Smith...has gone to Washington early and often in Steelers camp."
Throughout training camp, Washington opened eyes beyond his massive stature. He's now being viewed as someone who can be weaponized.
"Big Darnell," quarterback Russell Wilson told reporters. "He's, I dunno, 6'8", about 305, running fast, big body. You give him a chance all the time down [field] and he makes great plays. He's been showing up all camp, really, all OTAs."
Technically, Washington is listed at 267 pounds, but the point is taken. His size and in-line ability make him rare in today's NFL.
TE Greg Dulcich, Denver Broncos
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No tight end on the Denver Broncos roster managed more than 22 catches or 204 yards last season.
Adam Trautman is a known quantity for head coach Sean Payton. After all, the New Orleans Saints originally selected Trautman in the third round of the 2020 draft when Payton still led that franchise.
But it's time to invest in another tight end. Denver chose Greg Dulcich in the third round of the '22 class. He's dealt with hamstring issues throughout his first two seasons. However, he appears healthy now, which means he can add a completely different dynamic to the Broncos offense.
"You just feel his speed out there," offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi told reporters last week. "When he's on the move, it's hard for people to cover him… Once he catches it, if he's got some space, you can just feel him just eating up yardage as he turns and runs with the ball. So, just a very explosive player that we're excited about his health, and hopefully that continues."
With Jerry Jeudy, Denver's second-leading receiver last season, no longer with the squad, his 87 targets will go elsewhere. Those shouldn't necessarily be picked up by the free-agent addition of Josh Reynolds. Instead, Dulcich has a much greater chance to create an impact after the catch.
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