7 players who can make the leap in Year 2
7 players who can make the leap in Year 2
These potential stars are poised to break out after an up-and-down rookie season.
Is the sophomore slump a myth in the NFL? The answer isn’t simple, but research shows a regression can happen to players who perform above expectations in their debut season. In that same vein, rookies who didn’t quite live up to the hype are more likely to make that proverbial second-year leap.
That’s not a hard-and-fast rule. Take a look at some of last year’s breakout players, and yes, you’ll see names who were drafted in Rounds 1-2, but there are others who were late-round picks or UDFAs. For the most part, however, the guys who put it all together in their sophomore years are ones who were drafted early.
With that in mind, I decided to highlight seven players entering their second season who could become overnight sensations once September rolls around. Quick note: I decided to limit my picks to one per position (but not every position). Let’s start with the offense before moving on to the defense.
Offense
Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars, QB
2021 NFL Draft: Pick No. 1
Rookie stats (17 games): 3,641 passing yards, 12 TDs, 17 INTs, 59.6% completion rate, 71.9 passer rating
OK, so we’re starting off with an easy one. While I could’ve chosen Zach Wilson, Trey Lance, or Justin Fields, I think Trevor Lawrence is primed to prove why he was the top pick in the draft. Lawrence had a challenging rookie season, some of which was beyond his control. Fortunately for him, the Jaguars slammed the door shut on the mercifully brief Urban Meyer era and gave Lawrence a coach who actually understands the NFL.
Doug Pederson doesn’t just understand the NFL, though. He understands quarterbacks. He played the position professionally for over a decade before transitioning to his current career, which included a stint as the Eagles’ QB coach a few years before he became their (Super Bowl-winning) head coach. Their relationship already appears to be off to a good start.
Lawrence’s development was also hampered by the lack of help around him. He was sacked 32 times and struggled under pressure, throwing for an NFL-low 4.9 yards per pass against the blitz. His targets were either hurt or, to put it bluntly, not very good. The Jags took steps this offseason to improve in those areas, like signing guard Brandon Scherff and receiver Christian Kirk (even if they overpaid). That’s still not a supporting cast that will wow you, but it’s better than Lawrence had last season. That, along with a healthier running back corps, should give Lawrence more room to build off his best performance as a rookie, in the final week against the Colts:
Travis Etienne, Jaguars, RB
2021 NFL Draft: Pick No. 25
Rookie stats: n/a
Lawrence’s teammate, in both college and the NFL, never got a chance to help out his quarterback last season. Travis Etienne suffered a foot injury during the preseason that shut down his rookie year before it even began. At least that spared Etienne having to play for Meyer:
The speedy and versatile Etienne gives Lawrence a weapon that he didn’t have a year ago. How the Jaguars use him is still to be determined, but Etienne proved at Clemson — where he rushed for 4,952 yards and 70 touchdowns and recorded 1,155 receiving yards with eight TD receptions — that he can be productive anywhere on the field.
As long as he staves off the injury bug, Etienne can be the home-run threat, as a runner or receiver, that Jacksonville lacked in 2021 (and, if we’re being honest, most other seasons too).
Rashod Bateman, Ravens, WR
2021 NFL Draft: Pick No. 27
Rookie stats (12 games): 46 catches, 515 receiving yards, 1 TD, 11.2 yards/reception
Rashod Bateman’s rookie season didn’t start off as planned. A preseason groin injury delayed his NFL debut several weeks and hindered his ability to make an immediate impact. Bateman still flashed at times, even with Lamar Jackson in and out of the lineup in the second half of the season:
Now, with Hollywood Brown traded to the Cardinals, Bateman has been thrust into the role of WR1, and he believes he can handle the responsibility. So far this offseason, Jackson and Bateman have displayed good chemistry after playing just seven games together last season. The Ravens, with a healthier Jackson and J.K. Dobbins, are still a run-first offense, but Bateman’s speed and route-running will help keep opposing defenses honest.
Brevin Jordan, Texans, TE
2021 NFL Draft: Pick No. 147 (Fifth round)
Rookie stats (9 games): 20 catches, 178 receiving yards, 3 TDs, 8.9 yards/reception
Unlike the other players on this list, Brevin Jordan didn’t hear his name called until Day 3 of the 2021 draft, which wasn’t exactly loaded at the tight end position (at least not after Kyle Pitts and Pat Freiermuth).
Still, Jordan showed promise, especially in the red zone, after he finally got into the lineup at midseason:
In fact, only one other Texans player had more touchdown catches than Jordan — receiver Brandin Cooks, who hauled in six.
Both Davis Mills and Jordan’s fellow tight end Pharaoh Brown think the second-year player is continuing to get better. Jordan has a real chance to emerge as a big-play threat — something the Texans desperately need — in Pep Hamilton’s TE-friendly offense.
Defense
Jaycee Horn, Panthers, CB
2021 NFL Draft: Pick No. 8
Rookie stats (3 games): 5 tackles, 1 INT, 1 PD, 1 TD surrendered, 39.6 passer rating allowed
Similar to Etienne and Bateman, an injury disrupted Horn’s rookie season. He looked like he was already well on his way to being the Panthers’ new lockdown corner until a foot injury cost him most of 2021. There’s no reason to believe he won’t return to form in 2022, based on his age (22), pedigree (his dad is Joe Horn), and talent (and not *just* in pass coverage):
Horn apparently used his time on the sidelines well, though. While he was nursing his injury, Horn watched a bunch of tape and got to pick the brain of former Panthers cornerback Stephon Gilmore. It shouldn’t be too much longer until he can put the lessons he learned to good use.
Zaven Collins, Cardinals, LB
2021 NFL Draft: Pick No. 16
Rookie stats (17 games): 25 tackles, 3 PD, 1 passing TD allowed, 1 TFL, 2.5 stuffs
Although Zaven Collins appeared in every game for the Cardinals last season, he didn’t always get much playing time. He started the year getting more snaps on defense, but by midseason and on, his snaps came mostly on special teams.
While Collins didn’t fill up the stat sheet as a rookie, neither did fellow inside linebacker (and 2020 first-round pick) Isaiah Simmons. Then in his second season, Simmons became a key member of Arizona’s D, earning more snaps than all but two defenders. With the coaching staff intact and a starting spot open, Collins is in line to follow in Simmons’ footsteps.
Like Simmons, Collins is quick and versatile, though he’s expected to take over Jordan Hicks’ old role — for real this time. Luckily, the youngster learned a lot from Hicks and is still learning from the now-Viking. The Cardinals need Collins to step up and become a steady force in the middle of the defense. They released Hicks earlier this offseason, so they must be optimistic that Collins can make that jump.
Odafe Oweh, Ravens, Edge
2021 NFL Draft: Pick No. 31
Rookie stats (15 games): 33 tackles, 3 FF, 1 FR, 5 sacks, 5 TFL, 8 stuffs
Odafe Oweh’s stats look pretty good for a guy who started just two games. There were times, particularly early in the season, when he was making game-changing plays:
But Oweh lacked consistency from one game to the next, which isn’t entirely a surprise considering he didn’t start playing football until he was in 11th grade. He even admits he’s more “potential” than production so far, though he (and other members of the Ravens) are expecting him to break out as he gets more comfortable in the NFL — and healthier too.
Factor in a new defensive coordinator for Baltimore, and Oweh could soon be a quarterback menace every Sunday rather than just in flashes.