10 NFL Breakout Candidates to Watch in 2025

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10 NFL Breakout Candidates to Watch in 2025

NFL breakout candidates — Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

Matt Johnson · Sportsnaut

Sat, Aug 2, 2025 ·

6 min read

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A new season for the National Football League is right around the corner and one of the best things is seeing the next wave of players who make a name for themselves. After seeing the likes of Brian Thomas Jr. , Jayden Daniels and Bucky Irving shine last year, it's time to start thinking about NFL breakout candidates in 2025.

Let's dive into our list of NFL breakout candidates this season.

Caleb Williams , QB, Chicago Bears

Caleb Williams certainly had a chance at a breakout year last season, but the reality is that the infrastructure the Chicago Bears put around him made it practically impossible. So, the team went out this offseason and hired play-calling wizard Ben Johnson, then overhauled its interior offensive line. We're not suggesting that Williams will play at an MVP-caliber level, as Daniels did in his rookie year. Instead, he'll become the first quarterback in Bears' history to throw for 4,000 passing yards and 30 touchdowns.

Related: NFL QB rankings 2025

Edgerrin Cooper , LB, Green Bay Packers

If you're looking for a young player who could reach All-Pro status in 2025, it's Green Bay Packers linebacker Edgerrin Cooper. Taken with the 45th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, he earned All-Rookie Team honors last season. He was limited to 14 games due to injury, but the Packers' breakout defender still generated 35 stops, 11 pressures, and 3.5 sacks in that span. He finished with the second-highest PFF grade (84.0) among rookies, and he's one of the most athletic linebackers in the NFL. Green Bay has a star in the middle of its defense, and he might just be scratching the surface of his potential.

Kaleb Johnson , RB, Pittsburgh Steelers

Some of the NFL breakout candidates in 2025 will be rookies and running back Kaleb Johnson is one of the top offensive players to watch. He landed in an ideal situation, as the system run by Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith almost seems tailor-made for the rookie. He's already been a standout this offseason and he's emphasized his desire to improve in pass blocking this summer, too. Johnson thrives in a zone run scheme and the Steelers' offensive line now has a second year running Smith's system. While Jaylen Warren will still contribute, Johnson could be much better than Najee Harris was for Pittsburgh.

Laiatu Latu , EDGE, Indianapolis Colts

Laiatu Latu was certainly overshadowed in his rookie season by Los Angeles Rams edge rusher Jared Verse . With that said, the Indianapolis Colts ' 2024 first-round pick still showed plenty of remarkable flashes. He finished with the third-highest pass-rush win rate ( 14 percent ) among rookie edge rushers and netted the fourth-most pressures (38). He's now gained the experience of learning how to beat quality offensive tackles and Indianapolis made his life a lot easier moving forward by significantly upgrading its secondary. A double-digit sack season is very much on the table for Latu.

Keon Coleman , WR, Buffalo Bills

Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane drew some criticism following the offseason for not doing more to improve the receiving corps. He responded to it the right way, but another reason a big addition wasn't made is because of Keon Coleman. A late-season injury in his rookie year cost him some valuable time to build greater rapport with Josh Allen . Despite that, Coleman still averaged 50.7 receiving yards per game in his final seven contests. Coming off a season where he had one of the highest yards per reception (19.2) in the NFL, Coleman is headed for a 1,000-yard campaign as a sophomore.

Nolan Smith, EDGE, Philadelphia Eagles

Always bet on the Philadelphia Eagles to have one of the NFL breakout candidates each season. Cooper DeJean is a popular pick, but edge rusher Nolan Smith seems to be flying under the radar. A first-round pick in 2023, Smith recorded all 6.5 of his sacks in his final 12 regular-season games last year, playing 440 defensive snaps during that span. He also recorded 50 pressures in his second season. Fully recovered from a torn tricep that he played through during the Super Bowl, and now in Vic Fangio's system, a 10-plus sack season from Smith is feasible.

Read More: Best NFL pass rushers 2025

Brenton Strange , tight end, Jacksonville Jaguars

So much of the focus on the Jacksonville Jaguars offense this season will center on Brian Thomas Jr. and Travis Hunter. It's certainly fair and defenses will rightfully spend several days game planning for both receivers. That's great news for tight end Brenton Strange. He ranked 13th in yards per route run (1.93) among tight ends last season and netted 155 receiving yards in his final four games. Liam Coen likes to use tight ends and with the great matchups Strange will draw, Trevor Lawrence is going to pepper him with targets in open space.

Nate Wiggins , CB, Baltimore Ravens

There is a significant acclimation period for cornerbacks in their rookie season, and Nate Wiggins experienced that early on. The 6-foot-1 cornerback always had the size and speed to be great, but his technique and discipline needed work. From Week 10 through the playoffs, Wiggins allowed the fifth-lowest reception rate (53.3 percent) and the fourth-lowest average quarterback rating allowed (70.6). Now that he has the mentorship of both Jaire Alexander and veteran coach Chuck Pagano, Wiggins could become a Pro Bowl-caliber corner this season.

Marvin Harrison Jr. , WR, Arizona Cardinals

Billed as a generational talent at wide receiver entering the 2024 NFL Draft, Marvin Harrison Jr. was a relative disappointment last season. Yet, the Arizona Cardinals wideout still recorded 885 receiving yards and 8 touchdowns on 62 targets. Reports out of the Cardinals' training camp this summer are already promising, in part because he is in much better shape. We're expecting the MHJ that everyone anticipated last season—perhaps a little too early—to show up in 2025.

Tyrice Knight , LB, Seattle Seahawks

Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald gets more out of his linebackers than just about any coach in the NFL. Tyrice Knight, a fourth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, understandably flew under the radar for many football fans last season. That should change this fall. In his final eight games, he racked up 26 solo tackles, 4 QB hits, 2 pass deflections, 2 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and a forced fumble. Knight's range, in this system with all the surrounding talent, could lead to an outstanding season.

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