Every Roster’s Best Kept Secret Heading into the NFL 2022 Season

Arizona Cardinals: WR Marquise “Hollywood” Brown

Brown was a sneaky pick up for the Cardinals. Brown was a 1,000 yard receiver last year in a run heavy offense and injury plagued quarterback room. Now he gets to step up to WR1 with Deandra Hopkins outfor the first 6 games and returns with his college QB. 

 

Atlanta Falcons: WR Olamide Zaccheaus

Zaccheaus will be hidden among Kyle Pitts and Drake London. Zaccheaus slides into the slot and is looking to fill huge role with the loss of Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley and Russel Gage. New QB Marcus Mariota isn’t a gunsligner but if he can find the targets, he can find the yards. Of his 31 receptions, 26 went for a first down. 

 

Baltimore Ravens: RB J.K Dobbins

Dobbins is returning from an early ACL tear in 2021 that kept him out for the entire season. In a revolving door of RB’s for the Ravens, Dobbins looks to cement himself as the guy in Baltimore. Most people forgot about how good he was his first year and with Lamar Jackson taking up most of the gameplanning, I’ve got Dobbins having a stellar year. 

 

Buffalo Bills: DT Ed Oliver

The surprising addition of Von Miller rises the defense to another level, giving the former #9 pick a way to sneak by. In 3 years he’s amassed 12 sacks with being the main guy to handle double blocks. I’m looking for him to be a breakout player in Buffalo. 

Carolina Panthers: RB Chuba Hubbard

 

The back made a great impression last year filling in for an injured Christian McCaffery. With 10 starts he finished with 5 rushing touchdowns landing him second among rookies. With Sam Darnold at QB, I’m forced to believe Carolina will rely on the ground game or short passes to get yardage. Hubbard can easily do some damage and carve out a role for himself. 

 

Chicago Bears:  TE Cole Kmet

With Allen Robinson out the door and second year QB at the helm, Kmet can make an immediate impact and serve as a role model for younger guys on the team. He’s a great athlete and can make a serious jump in year 3. 

 

Cincinnati Bengals: EDGE Joseph Ossai 

The Bengals were a surprise AFC champion and their defense made quite the impact. Unfortunately, Ossai suffered a torn meniscus and missed the entire 2021 season. In 2022 Sam Hubbard and Trey Henderickson got all the work, so look for teams to prepare for them only, leaving Ossai to make big plays. 

 

Cleveland Brown: WR Donovon Peoples-Jones

With the departure of Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry, WR1 is wide open for his taking. His snap count has increase from 34% (2020) to 77% (2021). Peoples-Jones will start opposite of Amari Cooper, who will be responsible for most double teams this year. 

 

Dallas Cowboys: LB Jabril Cox 

Dallas had a rough offseason losing Keanu Neal, Randy Gregory and missing out on Bobby Wagner. Jerrdy Jones felt comfortable in banking in on the recovery of  Cox after he tore his ACL in October of last year. He’s a great open field tackler and looks to excel in a defense that needs help. 

Denver Broncos: EDGE Dre’Mont Jones

With Von Miller out, Denver’s defense is wide open for the taking. 15.5 sacks for the former Ohio State Buckeye in the past 3 seasons. He’s set up for a breakout year for a team with Super Bowl aspirations. 

 

Detroit Lions: CB Jeff Okudah

In his first year, the 3rd overall pick amassed 47 tackles and snagged an interception. He suffered a torn achilles in week 1 of the  2021 season but is on track to make a full recovery  this year. He’ll be a great addition to a defense that could use the help. 

 

Green Bay Packers: WR Allen Lazard

The departure of Davante Adams took up all the media headlines thus offseason. In a weak receiver room, the Packers are looking for someone to take charge. New addition Sammy Watkins has a hard time staying healthy and Lazard can use his experiece with Matt LeFleur and Aaron Rodgers to his advantage. 

 

Houston Texans: TE Brevin Jordan

The Texans have been short of excitement this past offseason but Jordan offers something for Texan fans to be excited about. The big-body target could be a big help to the second year QB Davis Mills. In his first start he had 3 catches for 41 yards and a touchdown. 

 

Indianapolis Colts: WR  Alec Pierce

Pierce is a 2nd round pick out of Cincinnati who looks to jump into a day 1 starting role with the Colts. With the offensive line in order and a new QB to lead the squad, I wouldn’t be  surprised if Pierce carves a role out for himself in a wide receiver room that needs help. 

Jacksonville Jaguars: WR Zay Jones

After Christian Kirk broke the bank, Zay Jones slid into the Jaguars offense with a 3 yr/$24 million deal. The 27 year old has split time between the Buffalo Bills and Raiders but looks to make a home in Jacksonville. He logged a career-high 120 receiving years against the Colts in Week 17 last year. 

 

Kansas City Chiefs: LB Willie Gay Jr

The 24-year-old logged 48 tackes and 2 interceptions in his second year. Willie Gay Jr made a lot of noise in the playoffs last year, cementing himself as a standout with 11 tackles in 3 games and forcing a fumble. If he gets the opportunity, he can make big time plays.

 

Las Vegas Raiders: CB Trayvon Mullen

The 24-year-old is a solid open field solo tackler machine. 115 out  of 134 have been solo stops. He’s a physical guy which has caused some injuries in the past, but if he stays healthy he has the tools to succeed in Patrick Graham’s system. 

 

Los Angeles Rams: LB Ernest Jones

In his first career start in week 8, the rookie logged 9 tackles, an interception, a pass break up and a half-sack. Not bad for a debut, huh? He returned to the starting line up in the Super Bowl after an injury kept him sidelined for a couple weeks. He was a massive contributor and will look to learn from the All-Pro LB Bobby Wagner in year 2. 

 

Los Angeles Chargers: WR Jalen Guyton

The undrafted free agent from North Texas is primed for a break out year. He sits behind Keenan Allen and Mike Williams but the speedster provides big play ability. He had 5 plays go for 20+ yards with only 31 receptions. 

 

Miami Dolphins: WR Cedric Wilson

The former Dallas Cowboy excelled in an injury prone and drama filled reciver room in Dallas which let him carve out a special role with 45 receptions for 602 yeards and 6 touchdowns. He also has over 100 yards passing in his career. He’ll sit behind Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill, but he’s a role player and trick play machine. 

 

Minnesota Vikings: CB Cameron Dantzler

The second year CB Cameron Danztler was one of the only bright spots in a bad year for the Vikings. The inconsistencies and failures led to a reboot of the coaching staff but it only made room for Dantzler to shine. From weeks 11-17, he allowed the third-lowest passer rating when targeted. He’ll be a great compliment to Patrick Peterson. 

 

New England Patriots: OL Mike Onwenu

In 2021, Onwenu gave up 2 sacks through 647 snaps and only committed 3 penalties per  PFF. He’s got the skill set to be a premier pass protector among young guards in the league. He’s  versatile with the ability to play multiple positions on the line.  

 

New Orleans Saints: LB Pete Werner

Pete Werner is set up for a huge role in a strong defensive unit. In his first year, Werner posted a second-best run grade of 91 according to PFF. He’ll start alongside veteran LB Demario Davis which will allow him room to grow. Look for him to breakout in a big way. 

 

New York Giants: TE Jordan Akins

The newcomer on the Giants looks to be a big help to ther spirotic offense. Jordan Akins spent the last 4 years in Houston where he averaged 11.1 yards per catch. The Giants lost Evan Ingram in free agency so the position is wide open. 

 

New York Jets: S Ashtyn Davis

The Jets had a great off season and scored on some good picks in the draft. Ashtyn Davis started 10 games and recorded 62 tackles, 3 forced fumbles, and 2 interceptions. The Jets made great additions to the secondary which gives Davis room to grow and stand out in the defense. 

 

Philadelphia Eagles: WR Quez Watkins

  Quez Watkins is set to enter his 3rd year and finds himself in the slot position as A.J Brown and DeVonta Smith take over the perimeter. In 2021, Watkins led the Eagles in yards per reception with 15. 

 

Pittsburgh Steelers: CB Ahkello Witherspoon

The only playmaking corner on the roster belonged to Ahkello Witherspoon. He only played in 9 games but snagged 3 interceptions throughout his time. He just signed a 2-year deal to return to Pittsburgh and compete for a starting job. He’s got the opportunity to break out amongst a strong defense. 

 

San Francisco 49ers: WR Jauan Jennings

In his rookie season, Jauan Jennings split time between the inside and outside. Between weeks 12-18, Jennings picked up the pace with 4 touchdown receptions. He’s a big guy, standing 6’3” and weighing 212. It’ll be easy for whoever is at QB to find him in the red zone this year. 

 

Seattle Seahawks: EDGE, Darrell Taylor

Darrell Taylor hasn’t had the career that Seahawks fans have hoped for after suffering a leg injury in 2020 and missing the entire season. In 2021, the second-year player logged 6.5 sacks putting him second on the squad. He looks to be a needed boost in a weak defense in 2022.

 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: WR Tyler Johnson

Tyler Johnson sat behind a loaded receiving core of Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Rob Gronkowski but this year he’s set to make an immediate impact after Gronkowski retired and Godwin is recovering from a torn ACL. He hasn’t gotten consistent targets but still turned it into 48 receptions for 529 yards and 2 touchdowns. It also helps that he has the greatest quarterback ever slinging him the rock. 

 

Tennessee Titans: WR Nick Westbrook- Ikhine

  At 25 years old, the wideout has room to break out in a receiver room that’s open for taking. With Robert Woods recovering from an ACL tear, the only competition is rookie Treylon Burks. Nick Westbrook-Ikhine finished last year with 12.5 yards per catch and 4 touchdowns. 

 

Washington Commanders: TE John Bates

John Bates could slide himself into a starting role after Logan Thomas had an injury-riddled year. Bates looks to capitalize on the opportunity and excel from his rookie season where he hauled in 20 passes for 249 years and a touchdown.