The Gridiron Review discusses their NFL Breakout candidates this year in the AFC. Rookies are not considered as only players who are in their second year or later were discussed.

AFC North

• Cleveland Browns: Harrison Bryant

A popular pick that you may see for Cleveland is Donovan Peoples-Jones. While he is certainly talented, we feel as though Watson missing at least six weeks, and the competition for targets in the WR room (Cooper, Bell, Schwartz, Grant, etc) will result in another season like last year. One player who could drastically improve from last year is Harrison Bryant. With Brissett starting the first six weeks at least, expect a lot more two tight end sets and play action with Njoku and Bryant. We know Njoku got paid, but do not be surprised if Bryant ends up with 50 catches or more.

• Baltimore Ravens: Rashod Bateman

This is an instance where we are going with the popular pick. It could be any of three wide receivers in our mind to breakout for Baltimore in Bateman, Duverney, and Proche. But, we are going to go with the most talented. All of Hollywood’s targets could theoretically go to Bateman, but do not be surprised if he does more with them. He is a more traditional number one. He has a much bigger catch radius for Lamar and still has the speed to stretch the field vertically. He could have a monster season and this is not even accounting for the fact that Greg Roman may decide to let Lamar throw more (as he should).

• Cincinnati Bengals: Hayden Hurst

There are not many options here, as it has to be between Hurst or Chris Evan in our eyes. We feel as thought the trio of wide receivers are all officially broken out. Therefore it is a two man race. While Evans could be valuable to the team, he may not really breakout unless Mixon misses time. Therefore Hurst may have a decent season. He has never really proven to be worth the first round selection, but seeing how featured Uzomah was especially in the playoffs, Hurst could have his best season yet.

• Pittsburgh Steelers: Chase Claypool

This pick is considering that Claypool, despite having two decent seasons, has not truly broken out. Regardless of what QB wins the starting job, they will be able to throw vertically better than anything Big Ben gave in the last few years. Which means his potential is sky high. The other option could be Freiermuth, but we think Claypool’s ceiling is much higher. He has the physical gifts to become one of the best in the football if he can mature and have someone hit him in stride. If this happens, watch out.

AFC East 

• Miami Dolphins: Tua Tagovailoa

This is the most obvious choice for the Dolphins. The only other option may be Gesicki or Cedrick Wilson, but Tua with his new weapons almost has to breakout. Even if it is just statistical where Hill and Waddle do most of the work, it still would easily be a career year for Tua

• New York Jets: Zach Wilson

For the record, we picked him before he became internet famous and now is riding on insane amounts of momentum in the public eye. The Jets have done everything possible to surround him with talent and set him up for success. Elijah Moore is also one we think will breakout, but it will be due to Wilson improving and building on his finish last season

• Buffalo Bills: Isaiah Mckenzie

Again, someone we had picked before all the buzz he has received. It is thought that Jamison Crowder will win the slot job, but why? Mckenzie is familiar with the system and had shines of potential at the end of last year. Sure Buffalo says they want him to stay in the gadget role, but what about Josh Allen’s preference. The news about Allen targeting him repeatedly only furthers our pick of his breakout season.

• New England Patriots: Rhamondre Stevenson

Would you say Davante Parker has already broken out despite the injuries? We do, so that is why we are going with Stevenson. He showed shades of Leveon last year with extreme patience combined with a bruising running style. He also offers a lot of pass catching upside. Damien Harris is still there, but they will run a committee and we expect Stevenson to be the best back in their room.

AFC South

• Indianapolis Colts: Nyheim Hines

Reports suggest Hines is going to transition to a slot wr hybrid role. This would mean a massive breakout potential as the Colts really do not have a lot of pass catchers. He will get the occasional carry but this is more speculating his catches being over a number like 60.

• Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence 

Everything points to Lawrence taking a step forward. Its hard not to based on his rookie season, but the Jags overspent on average weapons that still improve from last year, and made the biggest change of all by getting a head coach that is offensive minded. Early reports are good, but the Jags have a chance to shock the division should Lawrence live up to his draft hype.

• Tennessee Titans: Dez Fitzpatrick

It has to be one of the receivers. The issue is 3 of the picks (Burks, Phillips, and Okonkwo TE) are rookies and this is a non rookie list. Therefore it defaults to Dez. While his name has not been thrown around in camp much, he still has chance to carve out meaningful snaps based on his experience over the rookies. For the record, this is probably the weakest choice on the list.

• Houston Texans: Nico Collins

Again we feel as though it has to be a receiver. Especially now with Metchie out, Collins will receive even more targets. He has the size and speed to be a mismatch in the vertical passing game for Davis Mills. It would not shock us if he is already the go to red zone target and could approach double digit touchdowns this year.

AFC West

• Los Angeles Chargers: Joshua Palmer

Palmer should have a massive leg up on everyone else for the third receiver job. In a division where throwing is a must, and Herbert is his QB, Palmer could quietly put uo 750 yards. If Keenan or Mike Williams gets hurt, look for a bigger breakout. Another under the radar option could be either Parham or Mckitty.

• Las Vegas Raiders: Foster Moreau

With Renfrow already breaking out last year, the only two options we considered were Demarcus Robinson and Moreau. With new HC Josh Mcdaniels using more two tight end sets theoretically, Foster gets the edge. It is also worth noting that Waller has struggled with injuries.

• Denver Broncos: KJ Hamler

This was our pick before Tim Patrick’s injury and it is even stronger now. Many people are saying Albert O, but again why? Wilson has never been one to feature or prefer tight ends (Jimmy Graham never topped 100 targets while there). The team also drafted Dulcic in the third and while they usually take a couple years, it should show you how they feel about their tight end room. Hamler is a vertical field stretcher that could develop the Lockett type role in the eyes of Wilson who loves throwing the deep ball since Jeudy is more of a route runner and Sutton is a big bodied receiver.

• Kansas City Chiefs: MVS

Juju has already had a good couple seasons, and we do not feel as though CEH will get the usage necessary to have a true breakout season. We also expect Skyy Moore to take over the room eventually, but that leaves MVS who got paid a lot to come to KC. In doing so, we see him getting more of the target share than he ever did in Green Bay, leading to his breakout season.