For the most part, we know who the stars of the 2024 NFL season will be. Patrick Mahomes will lead the Kansas City Chiefs in an effort to three-peat as Super Bowl champions. Lamar Jackson will work toward his third MVP award. T.J. Watt and Myles Garrett will hope their singular efforts can overcome the underwhelming offenses on the other side of their respective depth charts.
But each team’s final destination could be charted by unexpected navigators. All 32 teams have players, from rookies to veterans, they’ll rely on to emerge as gears in a machine designed to produce a Super Bowl outcome.
Let’s talk about those overlooked pieces who could emerge as stars if they reach their potential — and could be the difference between prepping for the 2025 NFL Draft come January vs. a playoff run.
Aug 17, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Juwann Winfree (9) catches a passs in front of Arizona Cardinals cornerback Max Melton (16) during the second quarter at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports
The Cardinals have taken a common sense approach to rebuilding, but there’s still a need for high level talent on the defensive side of the ball. With a questionable front seven, the pressure will be on Arizona’s secondary to be the eraser that keeps opponents from adding up big numbers.
Budda Baker is, as usual, a great place to start and Sean Murphy-Bunting will bring a veteran presence (and the ability to be very good and very bad, sometimes in the same drive). But Melton (and fellow rookie Elijah Jones) could be the wave of the future in Glendale. A lockdown start to 2024 could help the Cardinals get out of the gate and chart a course back toward the playoffs.
Detroit Lions running back Craig Reynolds (13) runs against Atlanta Falcons linebacker Troy Andersen (44) during the second half at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023.
Andersen struggled as a rookie making the leap from FCS competition, then missed all but two games in 2023 due to injury. Now he’ll be tasked with anchoring the middle of the field for a win-now team that recently added Matthew Judon and Justin Simmons around him.
Andersen has the chops to be a dynamic off-ball presence; he was a two-way stud at Montana State and has the size and speed to clog running lanes or stay glued to tight ends downfield. There’s a rising tide of talent around him; now’s his chance breach the surface and rise to stardom.
Nov 5, 2023; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens linebacker Odafe Oweh (99) leaps as Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) throws during the second half at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Baltimore has undergone serious turnover on the defensive side of the ball. This offseason saw the departures of Patrick Queen, Geno Stone, Jadeveon Clowney AND coordinator Mike Macdonald.
That leaves a vacuum for Oweh, a former first round pick, to fill. He’s only made 13 starts in three seasons, but is primed to step into a larger role this fall. His pass rushing should be fine — he had 15 pressures, 12 quarterback hits and five sacks last season despite playing 50 percent of the team’s defensive snaps in 13 games. The question is whether he’ll be able to hold his own when it isn’t an obvious passing down; Oweh has posted a double-digit missed tackle rate every year as a pro.
ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK – AUGUST 10: Khalil Shakir #10 of the Buffalo Bills avoids the tackle attempt of Josh Blackwell #39 of the Chicago Bears during the first half of a preseason game at Highmark Stadium on August 10, 2024 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Rich Barnes/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 776171300 ORIG FILE ID: 2165712524
Shakir isn’t much of a sleeper; he’s Buffalo’s leading returning wideout. While that resulted in fewer than 700 yards last season, he was one of the league’s most efficient receivers.
He caught nearly 87 percent of his targets (zero drops in 45 chances), his 1.74 yards per route run (YPRR) ranked 34th among all wideouts and his 13.6 yards per target was best in the NFL. Now he has to prove he can do it without Stefon Diggs drawing defenders away from him.
Jan 7, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers offensive tackle Ikem Ekwonu (79) blocks as Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Calijah Kancey (94) rushes in the first quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Ekwonu was regarded as one of the safer picks of the 2022 NFL Draft. Instead of being an immediate presence on the Panthers’ line, he struggled as a rookie before modest improvements in 2023.
Carolina badly needs him to be the franchise left tackle to push Bryce Young to greatness. He’s got the ability to get there; now Carolina has to wait and see if he can fulfill his Pro Bowl promise or be merely another guy on what’s been an underwhelming line.
Sep 17, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) catches a touchdown over Chicago Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson (29) during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports
Stevenson’s improvement was a key factor in the Bears’ dramatic defensive improvement to finish 2023. Over his last five games he knocked down nine passes while intercepting three more.
The second year cornerback will see plenty of targets this fall as opponents avoid the lockdown coverage of Jaylon Johnson. If Stevenson can make them pay, it will reduce the work rookie Caleb Williams has to do on the other side of the ball.
Jul 26, 2024; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals running back Zack Moss (31) completes a catch during training camp practice at Kettering Health Practice Fields. Mandatory Credit: Kareem Elgazzar-USA TODAY Sports
We kinda know what we’re getting from Moss at this point in his career; steady, solid running on a part time basis. But the Bengals will give him the opportunity to be RB1 in Joe Mixon’s absence, and he could thrive.
With Chase Brown underwhelming in limited preseason work (five carries, 10 yards), the young veteran could be the engine Joe Burrow relies on to grind out first downs on the ground, set up passing plays downfield and, importantly, crash into the end zone in goal-to-go situations.
Aug 24, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Jameis Winston (5) looks to pass against the Seattle Seahawks during the first quarter at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Deshaun Watson, whom the Browns traded for and gave $230 million fully guaranteed despite more than 20 accusations of sexual misconduct and what the NFL itself later described as “predatory behavior,” has only played 12 games in two seasons with Cleveland and has already been held out of preseason action thanks to arm soreness. He hasn’t been very good on the field either, as he’s been outplayed by Jacoby Brissett and Joe by-god Flacco the last two years.
Winston could be the next link in that chain if he can keep the Browns rolling come Watson’s eventual absence. He played his finest football in 2021 as Drew Brees’ backup in New Orleans; it could happen again this fall.
Jul 26, 2024; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys guards Zack Martin (70) and Cooper Beebe (56) block during training camp at the River Ridge Playing Fields in Oxnard, Californian. Mandatory Credit: Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports
Let’s add fellow rookie offensive lineman Tyler Guyton here as well, as each has big shoes to fill along the Cowboys’ offensive line. While the Dak Prescott to CeeDee Lamb connection remains one of the league’s most dangerous, the team’s lack of receiving depth will put pressure on Dallas’s run game to step up.
With Ezekiel Elliott and Rico Dowdle as top backs, there’s going to need to be lots of space for them to operate. Beebe, who like Guyton has earned rave reviews this preseason, is a straight-up bouncer who can play multiple positions and toss defensive linemen out of the club from just about anywhere.
Nov 26, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Broncos cornerback Riley Moss (37) before the game against the Cleveland Browns at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
This spot was originally Tim Patrick’s, but Sean Payton decided Bo Nix doesn’t need a veteran possession receiver with a history of season-ending injuries. Rather than place too many expectations on oft-injured tight end Greg Dulcich, let’s turn to the other side of the ball.
Moss is likely to start alongside sensation Patrick Surtain II and, accordingly, see a high volume of targets from quarterbacks who want nothing to do with the Broncos’ All-Pro corner. Moss was a 2023 third round pick who only played 23 defensive snaps as a rookie and didn’t look great in the process. But if he can step up, it would be a boon for a secondary that’s also replacing Pro Bowler Justin Simmons at safety.
Jan 7, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell (46) tackles Minnesota Vikings tight end Josh Oliver (84) during first quarter at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: David Reginek-USA TODAY Sports
Campbell was one of head coach Dan Campbell’s maligned 2023 first round picks, and while he wasn’t the revelation Jahmyr Gibbs was, he still managed to start 12 games as a rookie. Struggles ensued — he gave up a gruesome 128.2 passer rating in coverage — but the raw talent remains.
The former Iowa star is a big, strong tackling machine with top level straight line speed to track tight ends up the seam. He plays the exact brand of football his coach expects (intelligently reckless) and finds his way to the ball for big stops. If he can pair those instincts with the position’s steep learning curve, he could be headed for a breakout in 2024.
Aug 10, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) misses a pass as Green Bay Packers safety Javon Bullard (20) defends during the first quarter at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Bullard looks like he’ll be thrown into the fire in 2024, starting at safety alongside Xavier McKinney five months after being selected in the second round. If he can thrive as an over-the-top help defender, it will be a huge boon to the aggressive defense new coordinator Jeff Hafley aims to bring to Wisconsin.
With the Packers’ cornerbacks tabbed for more press coverage and blitzes likely cranked up to “high,” Bullard will have to prove he can operate in both man and zone schemes. That’s something he did well at Georgia, where he posted a 36.6 passer rating when targeted in 2023.
Jul 27, 2024; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans center Juice Scruggs (70) walks on the field at Houston Methodist Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Houston rallied to an AFC South title last season behind the arm of CJ Stroud, but got comparatively little from its run game. The Texans’ 3.7 yards per carry ranked 29th in the league.
That may not improve now that the big addition to this year’s tailback corps is a 28-year-old Joe Mixon with nearly 2,000 NFL touches to his name. But it could if Scruggs becomes the space-clearer the team hopes he can be. The 2023 second round pick underwhelmed as a rookie, earning a low 51.5 grade from Pro Football Focus.
Dec 31, 2023; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indianapolis Colts cornerback JuJu Brents (29) breaks up a pass to Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers (16) in the first quarter at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Brents was a borderline first round talent who slid to the Colts in Round 2 in 2023. Though he struggled in stretches as a rookie, he did enough to help convince general manager Chris Ballard to effectively stand pat in free agency this spring even despite a secondary that barely cracked the top 20 when it came to yards per pass attempt allowed.
There’s reason to believe. Brents is a long (6-foot-3) rangy cornerback with solid change of direction skills and the ability to be an eraser alongside Kenny Moore in a rising cache of cornerbacks.
Jacksonville Jaguars safety Antonio Johnson (26) yells before a preseason NFL football game Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jacksonville Jaguars defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20-7. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
There’s a lot of risk involved with the Jacksonville secondary, from a recovering Tyson Campbell, aging Ronald Darby and very Darnell Savage-y Darnell Savage. But Johnson, a player who entered the 2022 college season with first round hype but underwhelmed en route to a fifth round selection, could pair with Andre Cisco to be the glue that keeps that group together.
The former Texas A&M star only played 171 snaps as a rookie but acquitted himself well in that small sample size (two interceptions in 15 targets). That’s led him to a larger role in 2024; if he can shine, it would take a lot of pressure off a defense that needs players to step up at every level.
Jul 22, 2024; St. Joseph, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Justyn Ross (8) drops a pass against cornerback Joshua Williams (2) during training camp at Missouri Western State University. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
At the moment, Williams is ahead of Jaylen Watson and Nazeeh Johnson on the depth chart, but really this spot could go to any of them. Kansas City was forced to part with L’Jarius Sneed this offseason, leaving a hole at cornerback. Without a major acquisition this offseason, his slot will be filled by one of those recent Day 3 draft picks.
Williams started two games last season and saw his snap share drop from 2022. Even so, he allowed only 44 percent of passes thrown his way to be caught. If he can be similarly effective in a full time role the Chiefs’ defense will be scary once again.
Dec 25, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) recovers his fumble as he is hit by Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Adam Butler (69) and defensive end Malcolm Koonce (51) during the first half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
This is a bit of a cheat, as Koonce was on his way to being a household name after Antonio Pierce took the reins as head coach. He had eight sacks in the Raiders’ final nine games after recording two in the 2.5 seasons that preceded it.
This created a healthy cantilever to Maxx Crosby’s relentless pass rush and enabled Las Vegas to punch above its weight class and finish 2023 with one of the league’s better defenses. With Gardner Minshew at quarterback, they’ll need a similar effort to compete for a playoff spot in 2024.
Jan 9, 2022; Paradise, Nevada, USA;Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Josh Palmer (5) attempts catch a pass as Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Casey Hayward (29) defends during the fourth quarter at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Ladd McConkey’s been getting all the fantasy buzz — he’s getting drafted, on average, 57 spots higher than Palmer in ESPN leagues. But that’s selling Palmer short. While he missed time due to injury, his final eight games of 2023 put him well on pace for a 1,000 yard season.
Even better, his 1.65 YPRR ranked 40th in the league last fall, ahead of higher profile targets like Tee Higgins, Courtland Sutton, Calvin Ridley and Terry McLaurin. Between that and an established rapport with Justin Herbert, he could be in line for a Pro Bowl campaign.
Dec 31, 2023; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Kobie Turner (91) and defensive tackle Larrell Murchison (52) and linebacker Byron Young (0) celebrates after a sack on New York Giants quarterback Tyrod Taylor (2) during the first half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
This is also a bit of a cheat, since Turner had nine sacks in 2023 and finished in third place when it came to defensive rookie of the year voting. While it’s reasonable to expect a letdown after Aaron Donald’s retirement, ESPN’s stats suggest Turner was actually double-teamed on 72 percent of his pass rushes last year, suggesting he’ll be fine even as opposing coordinators begin to game plan around him. His 34 pass rush wins last season were 12th most among interior linemen — albeit 23 fewer than first place Donald.
New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones (10) gets up slow after being sacked by Miami Dolphins linebacker Jaelan Phillips (15) during the second half of an NFL game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Oct. 29, 2023.
Phillips has been on the precipice of a breakout for the past two seasons. It didn’t happen in 2022 when he turned a higher snap share into fewer sacks (from 8.5 as a rookie to seven). It didn’t happen in 2023 as he recovered from a torn Achilles and played only eight games.
He still had 6.5 sacks in that stretch, and while his pressure and quarterback hit numbers suggest there was a bit of luck to that, he remains the kind of player with an extra gear to be a true difference maker. The question is if he can finally hit these heights — and stay healthy for 17 games.
Jan 7, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Minnesota Vikings safety Josh Metellus (44) pressures Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during first quarter at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: David Reginek-USA TODAY Sports
Metellus has two duties in Brian Flores’ defense. The first is to provide a reliable backup behind a 35-year-old Harrison Smith. The other is to sneak up to the line of scrimmage and wreak havoc from the safety position.
His 91 blitzes were the most in Minneapolis last fall and second-most in the NFL, resulting in 24 pressures — second most among Vikings. Minnesota has since revamped its pass rush, which may lead to fewer blitzes and more quality chances to attack the quarterback after turning that pressure into only 2.5 sacks last year.
Oct 22, 2023; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver Kendrick Bourne (84) runs with the ball during the first half against the Buffalo Bills at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Bourne’s run after catch ability can be a panacea for a shaky young quarterback — it helped turn Mac Jones into a playoff starter as a rookie, after all. But he’s spent the last two seasons injured and in Bill Belichick’s doghouse, taking him off the field despite New England’s dire need for receiving help.
Now he’s the elder statesman of an unproven young group (and coming off a torn ACL that will cost him at least the first six games of 2024). If he can be the kind of short throw, long run threat he was in 2021 (7.0 yards after catch per reception!), he’ll make life significantly easier for Drake Maye (assuming he gets thrown to the wolves behind that offensive line as a rookie).
Sep 18, 2023; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; New Orleans Saints running back Tony Jones Jr. (34) follows a block by offensive tackle Trevor Penning (70) against the Carolina Panthers during the second half at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
Drafting Taliese Fuaga in the first round should solve one of New Orleans’ tackle problems. Getting Penning to play up to his station as a former top 20 draft pick would take care of the other with Ryan Ramczyk injured.
The former Northern Iowa standout has yet to play more than 36 percent of the Saints’ offensive snaps in a single season. Early reports have been bleak, but if he can provide even average pass blocking at right tackle it would go a long way in keeping Derek Carr he