Rising NFL Stars to Keep an Eye on in 2016

With the NFL world turning its collective head away from the draft and toward upcoming offseason activities, most of the excitement surrounds the shiny new additions teams have accumulated through free agency and the draft.

However, there's also excitement around high-upside young players who may have been hidden behind starters or simply not ready to shine yet.

In the following slides, we're going to take a look at 11 players on the upswing who could become stars in 2016. Our choices will be based on factors like past production, surrounding talent, coaching fit and opportunity.

Since we're looking at rising stars, we'll be leaving rookies off our list. Players who have already been named to a Pro Bowl also won't qualify.

Blake Bortles, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars

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Blake Bortles could be headed to his first Pro Bowl in 2016.

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles earned plenty of attention in 2015. He passed for an impressive 4,428 yards to go with 35 touchdowns. He also made fantasy stars out of receivers Allen Hurns and Allen Robinson.

However, Bortles had a penchant for turnovers, amassing 23 giveaways on the year. He also struggled to find consistency and pocket awareness. Of course, having to often play with a shootout mentality because of a shaky defense didn't help. Playing for a five-win team hampered his chances of emerging as a real star as well. 

Given the team around him, however, Bortles' 2015 campaign was actually quite impressive—Pro Football Focus rated him 14th overall among quarterbacks for the season. With a better supporting cast, Bortles should finally shine in 2016.

Make no mistake, Bortles will have a better supporting cast this season. He will have a 100 percent healthy Julius Thomas to go with Hurns and Robinson on offense. He'll also have free-agent signee running back Chris Ivory helping maintain the game from the backfield. The addition of veteran offensive tackle Kelvin Beachum should help reduce Bortles' pressure in the pocket as well.

The defense that forced Bortles into so many gunslinging battles has been totally revamped as well. The Jaguars added safety Tashaun Gipson and defensive end Malik Jackson in free agency along with cornerback Prince Amukamara. In the draft, the team got defensive back Jalen Ramsey and linebacker Myles Jack.

Bortles shoulnd't feel the need to win every game on his own this season, and as a result, he will likely be able to cut down on his mistakes. Expect him to commit fewer turnovers, complete more than 60 percent of his passes and earn serious Pro Bowl consideration.

Ian Williams, DT, San Francisco 49ers

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San Francisco defensive tackle Ian Williams was arguably one of the league's most underrated defenders in 2015.

Over the past five seasons, San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Ian Williams has gone from being an undrafted free agent to a seldom-used depth player to a defensive cornerstone.

After appearing in just six games over this first three years in the league, Williams has started 25 over the past two seasons. He started all 16 games at nose tackle for the 49ers in 2015 and finished the year with a whopping 65 tackles to go with a sack and a forced fumble.

Pro Football Focus rated Williams ninth overall among defensive tackles for the 2015 season.

Because he plays the nose tackle position, Williams isn't ever likely to generate a ton of media attention, as he will not rack up sacks or score touchdowns. However, he has the potential to become one of the most dominant interior defenders in the entire league if he can stay healthy.

Williams does have an injury history and only one season as a full-time starter under his belt. He also underwent ankle surgery after last season. This is why the 49ers only gave him a one-year deal this offseason after initially signing him to a five-year extension.

San Francisco will be watching closely to see how Williams responds this season. We should be watching to see if he can establish himself as a truly dominant defensive force.

Willie Snead, WR, New Orleans Saints

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Willie Snead will be worth watching as he contrinues to grow in the New Orleans offense.

Willie Snead has definitely taken an unusual path to rising stardom. The Ball State product entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Cleveland Browns back in 2014 and spent his first year on various practice squads.

The New Orleans Saints decided to call up Snead in 2015, and the end results were remarkable. The 5'11", 195-pound pass-catcher racked up 69 receptions, 984 yards and three scores. Having a quarterback like Drew Brees under center obviously helped in Snead's development, but the quickness, savvy route-running and fluidity he flashed on the field in 2015 are skills of his own.

This is why it will be worth watching Snead in 2016. As he continues to grow in the Saints offense, he is likely to only improve his skills and his production.

With Marques Colston no longer a member of the Saints, Snead should enter the season and one of Brees' most trusted targets. Pro Football Focus rated him 38th overall among wide receivers for the 2015 season, and only behind Brandin Cooks among Saints receivers.

Don't be surprised if Snead emerges as a regular playmaker, fantasy star and potential Pro Bowl candidate by season's end.

Isaiah Crowell and Duke Johnson, RB, Cleveland Browns

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Duke Johnson caught 61 passes for the Browns in 2015.

The Cleveland Browns are known as a team devoid of playmakers. However, there might be a couple of emerging ones in the Browns backfield this season in Isaiah Crowell and Duke Johnson.

Crowell has been inconsistent in his two-year career, but he has shown signs of being a dominant downhill runner. He has produced 1,313 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground in his two seasons with Cleveland.

Johnson is more of a change-of-pace back, and he excelled in that role as a rookie in 2015. He also caught 61 passes for 534 yards.

The reason these two runners could be on the rise in 2016 is because of the presence of new head coach Hue Jackson. As offensive coordinator of the Cincinnati Bengals the last two years, Jackson helped Giovani Bernard and Jeremy Hill become one of the better backfield tandems in the entire league.

Bernard and Hill combined for 2,075 yards from scrimmage last year alone, and Jackson seems to feel he can get the same kind of production out of Crowell and Johnson.

“Those two guys are as good as I’ve seen in a while,” Jackson said, per Patrick Maks of ClevelandBrowns.com'. “Their talent is extreme.”

A lot will hinge on the performance of Cleveland's rebuilt offensive line this season. However, both Crowell and Johnson have the potential to emerge as stars in Jackson's system.

Trent Murphy, LB, Washington Redskins

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Trent Murphy is one of the brightest young defenders on Washington's roster.

As a linebacker, Trent Murphy had a strong season for the Washington Redskins in 2015. The 2014 second-round pick started 15 games and produced 32 tackles, 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble.

Pro Football Focus rated him 17th overall among 3-4 linebackers for the 2015 season.

This year, though, Washington is planning on moving Murphy to the defensive line, where he should have an opportunity to shine as one of the team's biggest run-stoppers. According to Stephen Czarda of Redskins.com, Murphy has bulked up from 258 pounds to 276 pounds this offseason. However, he still possesses the athleticism to see some time at linebacker.

“I think he can play inside, outside, stand up, put his hand down and gain some more weight,” Washington head coach Jay Gruden said of Murphy. “I think we’ll have to play with him a little bit.”

Moving Murphy around in the defense should allow him to make an impact in a variety of different ways. He was already one of the team's top linebackers a year ago. He could become one of its top overall defenders this season.

Expect Murphy to make a name for himself as a versatile chess piece in Washington's defense this season.

Sammie Coates, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

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With Martavis Bryant suspended, Sammie Coates will get his chance to shine in 2016.

The Pittsburgh Steelers made former Auburn receiver Sammie Coates a third-round draft pick in 2015. However, the rookie didn't get on the field often and finished the regular season with just one reception for 11 yards.

But, Coates was called upon in Pittsburgh's divisional-round matchup with the Denver Broncos after Antonio Brown was injured. There, he flashed the big-play ability that made him famous at Auburn, hauling in two passes for 61 total yards.

Now that standout receiver Martavis Bryant has been suspended for the entire 2016 season, Coates should become a regular contributor in the Steelers' high-flying offense.

Bryant often operated as Pittsburgh's No. 3 receiver last season, and he finished with 765 yards and six touchdowns on 50 receptions. Coates could be in store for similar production, provided he can ready himself to take over Bryant's role from Day 1.

“You finished strong, you have to start strong this time,” Coates recently told ESPN.com's Jeremy Fowler about his rookie season. “I can’t come in slow. I have to come in fast and ready to go.”

Coates might not belong on this list because he isn't a rising star quite yet. However, he certainly has the tools to become one under the guidance of players like Brown and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

Mitchell Schwartz, OT, Kansas City Chiefs

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Mitchell Schwartz should find some limelight with the run-heavy Kansas City Chiefs.

Offensive tackle Mitchell Schwartz definitely isn't an unknown player. However, the high level of play he produced with the Cleveland Browns in his first four NFL seasons went largely unnoticed because of the low quality of the Browns' on-field product.

It wasn't until Schwartz became a highly coveted free agent this offseason that the football world at large began to take notice.

Now that Schwartz is a member of the Kansas City Chiefs, everyone is likely to continue noticing Schwartz. We're talking about a guy who hasn't missed an NFL snap to date and who is rated sitxth among right tackles by Pro Football Focus for this past season.

For the run-heavy Chiefs, Schwartz's presence will be notable.

Kansas City ranked sixth in the NFL in rushing last season with an average of 127.8 yards per game. Yet, the team is rated just 15th in run blocking by Pro Football Focus for the season. Schwartz should help make an immediate upgrade to the run-blocking unit, and it should be a joy watching him clear running lanes on the right side of the Chiefs line.

Janoris Jenkins, CB, New York Giants

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Will Janoris Jenkins shine or shrivel under the New York spotlight?

As a four-year starter with the St. Louis Rams, cornerback Janoris Jenkins has had plenty of moments in the spotlight. However, that is about to be amped up now that he is a member of the New York Giants.

Jenkins is going to be facing plenty of pressure in his new town. There will be the pressure of playing in a big market like New York. There will be the pressure of having a five-year, $62.5 million contract to live up to.

Coming off a strong season, Jenkins appears headed in the right direction and toward true stardom. He racked up 64 tackles while defending 15 passes and nabbing three interceptions last season. Pro Football Focus rates him 24th overall among cornerbacks for the year.

If Jenkins can continue producing at such a high level for the Giants, he could finally get the recognition he deserves. He has been named as a Pro Bowl alternate before but has never actually achieved Pro Bowl honors. That could change in 2016.

Kony Ealy, DE, Carolina Panthers

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Expect Kony Ealy to make big strides in Carolina's defense this season.

The Carolina Panthers made defensive end Kony Ealy a second-round draft pick back in 2014, but he didn't earn a starting role until this past season. Though he was rarely dominant, Ealy did show flashes in 2015, especially late the playoffs.

Ealy produced a respectable 32 tackles and five sacks in the regular season, then added seven more tackles en route to Super Bowl 50. In the big game, he was a defensive monster, racking up three sacks, an interception and a forced fumble.

"It was very gratifying to see what Kony did," Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman said after the Super Bowl, per David Newton of ESPN.com. "We felt strongly about him in that second round and felt he had first-round value. What he did excites all of us and bodes well for the future."

Ealy isn't going to play every 2016 game like it's the Super Bowl, of course, but he appears primed to emerge as a star in the Panthers' dominant defense. Fellow defensive end Jared Allen rode off into retirement this offseason, which should open the door for Ealy to see even more playing time.

According to Pro Football Focus, Ealy played just 657 regular-season snaps in 2015. More playing time should equal more opportunities for big plays from Ealy. 

Karlos Williams, RB, Buffalo Bills

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Karlos Williams could be one of the top big-play threats in the NFL this season.

As a rookie, Buffalo Bills running back Karlos Williams spent most of 2015 playing second fiddle to LeSean McCoy. However, the former Florida State standout shined when he got the opportunity, rushing for 517 yards and an incredibly impressive 5.6 yards-per-carry average.

However, we likely received a mere taste of what Williams is capable of in the Buffalo offense. He made just three starts and appeared in 11 games because of injuries. If he can come into the 2016 season fully healthy, don't be surprised if he wrestles the starting job away from McCoy.

If Williams does earn the starting job—or at least a significant role—opposing defenses around the league should be on notice.

Williams is both a powerful bruiser and a big-play threat. He also runs behind an offensive line that was rated ninth in the NFL in run blocking by Pro Football Focus for the 2015 season. The Bills did an excellent job of keeping that line intact by re-signing guard Richie Incognito and offensive tackle Cordy Glenn in free agency.

McCoy is still a talented running back who will earn plenty of playing time, so we might not see Williams emerge as a true feature back this year. However, he is a perfect fit for Buffalo's grind-and-gash rushing attack, and Williams should step squarely into the spotlight as a result.

Double-digit touchdowns and a Pro Bowl invite are real possibilities in 2016.

Marcus Mariota, QB, Tennessee Titans

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Marcus Mariota is another player who could see his first Pro Bowl in 2016.

Quarterback Marcus Mariota had a promising rookie campaign for the Tennessee Titans in 2015. He completed 62.2 percent of his passes, tossed 19 touchdowns to 10 interceptions and posted a passer rating of 91.5. Unfortunately, injuries limited him to just 12 games, and Mariota wasn't able to earn a Pro Bowl appearance like his Tampa Bay Buccaneers counterpart, Jameis Winston.

A subpar running game—ranked 25th in the NFL with an average of just 92.8 yards per game—and a shaky offensive line led to many of Mariota's struggles last season, including his 38 sacks. Pro Football Focus rated the Titans just 25th in pass blocking for the 2015 season.

This season, Mariota should have a much easier time staying healthy and managing the Titans offense. Tennessee helped address its offensive line by adding center Ben Jones in free agency and drafting Michigan State offensive tackle Jack Conklin in the first round of the draft.

That suspect running game? The Titans have revamped it as well. The team traded for former NFL rushing leader DeMarco Murray and drafted reigning Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry in the second round.

The combination of Murray and Henry should give the Titans the type of physical, game-dominating ground attack that will take pressure off Mariota's shoulders. This will allow him to shine and emerge as one of the league's brightest young playmakers.