With the 2021 NFL season quickly approaching, fans are getting excited about seeing their teams back on the field. There are the household stars people know are going to perform, but every season, there are players that come out of nowhere elevating themselves.
This season will be no different. There will be plenty of younger players that have big seasons after getting acclimated to the NFL and make a name for themselves. Every team will have at least one expected breakout player, but some will burst onto the scene in grand fashion.
Who will be the biggest surprises of 2021? Here are five players to keep an eye on as potential breakout stars.
5. Alex Highsmith, Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Alex Highsmith out of Charlotte in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft. The team was hopeful that he could become next in a long lineage of pass rushers that have donned the black and gold.
He received his chance earlier than anticipated, as Pittsburgh suffered a rash of injuries on the defensive side of the ball. After Bud Dupree went down, Highsmith stepped into a starting role and showed a lot of promise.
He had two sacks, 48 tackles and 12 quarterback pressures while playing only 43 percent of the defensive snaps. With Dupree moving on in free agency, Highsmith is poised for a breakout 2021 as the next premier pass rusher for the Pittsburgh defense opposite of T.J. Watt.
4. Henry Ruggs III, Las Vegas Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders surprised some people when they selected Henry Ruggs III 12th overall in 2020, making him the first wide receiver off the board. He struggled to make much of an impact as a rookie, catching only 26 passes for 452 yards and two touchdowns.
However, the opportunity for a breakout is there. Derek Carr pushed the ball downfield more in 2020 than he has since 2017, attempting a ton of 20-plus yard passes. Ruggs was 39th in those targets, with Nelson Agholor receiving 14 more.
With Agholor leaving for the New England Patriots, there will be plenty of downfield opportunities for the Alabama burner. If he can become more efficient catching the deep ball, he is in for a big jump during his sophomore season with the Raiders.
3. Isaiah Simmons, Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals selected Isaiah Simmons out of Clemson with the 8th pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. The do-it-all superstar had some impressive statistics in college, playing a multitude of roles with the Tigers.
With the Cardinals, he was relegated more to a linebacker role and played a limited role, receiving only 34 percent of the defensive snaps. But, he flashed with those chances, totaling 54 tackles, two passes defended, an interception and a forced fumble. He was also excellent in pass coverage, surrendering only 142 yards on 25 targets.
The Cardinals selected another linebacker in the first round of 2021, but that wasn’t an indictment on Simmons, it was a changing of the guard for Arizona defensively. Simmons and Zaven Collins will be two anchors for the defense going forward, with Simmons breaking out in a big way his sophomore season.
2. Jerry Jeudy, Denver Broncos
Jerry Jeudy was the second wide receiver off the board in the 2020 NFL Draft, being taken No. 15 overall. However, inconsistency plagued him during his rookie season.
Jeudy had some struggles, dropping 10 passes. But, Broncos quarterbacks also failed to get him the ball so that he could make plays, as he led the league with 28 targets that were quarterback-fault errors.
Having those numbers regress to the mean would put Jeudy in position for a breakout in 2021. Despite the struggles, he still managed 856 yards and three touchdowns on 52 receptions. The targets were there with 113, more just has to be made of them this upcoming season.
1. J.K. Dobbins, Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens selected J.K. Dobbins out of Ohio State in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He joined a crowded backfield that also had Mark Ingram, Gus Edwards and Justice Hill. Not to mention, Baltimore also deploys the best rushing quarterback in the league in Lamar Jackson, who has run for 2,906 yards on 482 attempts in 37 starts.
This season, with Ingram no longer in the picture, the backfield is Dobbins to take over. He had a strong rookie season with 805 yards and nine touchdowns on only 134 attempts. Dobbins also showed some passing game chops, catching 18 passes for 120 yards.
The system that the Ravens run on offense is a running back’s dream and Dobbins will experience it once again. He will lead the team in rushing this season and breakout as one of the best young running backs in the NFL.
