NFL Youngsters Ready to Blossom in League's Second Half

A second-half surge is always possible for young NFL players.

Sometimes a rookie doesn't make an impact at all. Other times, a slow start transforms into a surge as a player adjusts to the speed of the game and his team's scheme.

Take Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield as an example. As a rookie in 2018, he had a ho-hum start to his career until about November, when a coaching change and other factors pushed him into overdrive and pushed the team to wins.

This year, the following players appear to be on the upswing for big second halves.

Khari Willis, S, Indianapolis Colts

Kyusung Gong/Associated Press

Khari Willis has done nothing but prove the Indianapolis Colts right, and it could only get better from here.

Willis, a fourth-round pick by the Colts after a trade-up, has already performed well with Malik Hooker and Clayton Geathers injured. The tally? He has a steady 67.0 grade at Pro Football Focus and is another young player getting heaps of praise from coaches.

"Yeah, Khari has done a great job with his playmaking ability. He knows where he fits into the defense," defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus said, according to Kevin Hickey of Colts Wire. "He's really intelligent and he's functioning well. Guys that do that—Khari or whoever that may be—are going to increase their playing time and continue to play."

Given that the support around Willis should only improve as guys like Hooker get back, not to mention his own developmental track pointing upward, it's safe to tag him as a youngster poised to have a big second half.

Josh Allen, DE, Jacksonville Jaguars

Gary Landers/Associated Press

Yes, Jacksonville Jaguars top-seven pick Josh Allen has seven sacks through eight games. Yet somehow it feels like he hasn't even broken out yet.

With eight games left, Jaguars fans have to be daydreaming about the season-end possibilities and potential individual honors Allen could win. He still gets to play a Tennessee team he had a multisack game against. He also gets to feast on struggling Atlanta, Tampa Bay and Los Angeles Chargers offenses during the second half.

With Allen, it isn't just sacks. He has 11 hurries, seven quarterback knockdowns and 29 pressures.

Diontae Johnson, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

Don Wright/Associated Press

Diontae Johnson is just getting started. The Pittsburgh Steelers have a knack for unearthing talent at wideout, and Johnson, a third-round pick, is next in line.

Through seven games, he's totaled 25 catches for 296 yards and three scores, impressive considering the injury to Ben Roethlisberger. Johnson isn't going to bump JuJu Smith-Schuster in priority, but it's telling he's scored in three of four games when on the field with Mason Rudolph.

Look for more big games in the second half of the season, especially with soft defenses like Cleveland and Cincinnati still on the schedule.

Ryan Finley, QB, Cincinnati Bengals

Frank Victores/Associated Press

The Cincinnati Bengals shocked most during the team's bye week and announced Andy Dalton will take a seat for fourth-round rookie Ryan Finley. Finley was one of the only quarterbacks to visit the Bengals during the predraft process and feels like a handpicked understudy of head coach Zac Taylor after the team traded up to get him.

Finley also enters the fray right when the Bengals figure to get star wideout A.J. Green back from injury. And the offense already has some weapons in tight end Tyler Eifert, running back Joe Mixon and wideouts Tyler Boyd and Auden Tate, along with Green.

The team has also thrown the ball 338 times against just 150 rushes. Although the defense is terrible and the team is winless, Finley should put up some big numbers in his audition to steer the Bengals away from drafting a passer in 2020.

Hunter Renfrow, WR, Oakland Raiders

Rick Scuteri/Associated Press

In a Week 8 loss to Houston, fifth-round rookie Hunter Renfrow made the most of his chances, catching all four targets for 88 yards and a score—a 65-yarder where the Clemson product split defenders deep and broke a tackle.

Call it a glimpse of what Renfrow might be able to flash on a semi-consistent basis as his rapport with Derek Carr grows. He already has the attention of his head coach.

"I love the guy," Jon Gruden said, according to The Athletic's Steve Berman. "He's running good routes. He's a very good blocker. It's very important to him. He plays mistake-free football, and he's not playing an easy position. I'm very proud of him."