NFL sophomore breakout candidates: Will Levis and other 2023 draft picks ready to impress
The number of rookies who don’t bother waiting for their real breakthrough season seems to increase every year. The latest example might be Houston Texans QB C.J. Stroud. Or maybe the Texans beat out Will Anderson Jr. Or Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta and running back Jahmyr Gibbs. Maybe Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson. Oh, and probably Los Angeles Rams WR Puka Nacua.
You get the idea.
The 2023 rookie class has certainly made its mark — and we haven’t heard everything from the entire group yet. With that in mind, let’s take a look at a few second-year players who could have a breakout season in 2024 (health permitting).
Quarterback
Will Levis, Tennessee Titans (Round 2, No. 33)
To be fair, a few guys have a bit of a disagreement here. Aidan O’Connell is in a battle with Gardner Minshew II for the job in Las Vegas. If he wins it, don’t be surprised if he defies expectations (again) — O’Connell was one of the most underrated prospects in the 2023 class. I’m also not ready to give up on Bryce Young, and I’m looking forward to seeing Anthony Richardson for more than a month.
The standout, though, is Levis. He was a tough prospect coming out of Kentucky due to a toe injury he suffered in 2022, but his downfield accuracy (and confidence) has been much better in 2021. We saw that last season with Tennessee.
During Levis’ nine-game run as the starter, 21.5 percent of his completions went for 20-plus yards — a tad better than Stroud’s mark (20.5 all season). Consistent accuracy at every level of the field is the next step for Levis, and it’s achievable with more healthy reps.
Run back
Tyjae Spears, Tennessee Titans (Round 3, No. 81)
Gibbs, Robinson and De’Von Achane all had great rookie seasons. If it weren’t for a serious ACL injury, Baltimore’s Keaton Mitchell (currently on the PUP list) would have joined them.
Spears was also on the fringe, with 453 yards on 100 attempts. He was tied with Gibbs for second among rookies (behind Robinson) with 52 catches for 385 yards and a score. Replacing Derrick Henry with one man is not going to happen. But even if Spears gets help from Tony Pollard, don’t be surprised if he’s the new star in Nashville by the end of the season.
Also keep an eye on Chicago’s Roschon Johnson and Seattle’s Zach Charbonnet.
GALLING DEEPER
NFL Draft Summer Scouting 2025: Can Luther Burden III or Travis Hunter Develop into WR1?
Wide receiver
Tank Dell, Houston Texans (Round 3, No. 69)
Jayden Reed, Green Bay Packers (Round 2, No. 50)
Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts (Round 3, No. 79)
A broken fibula limited Dell to 11 games last season — and even then, it might be cheating to include him here. The former Houston Cougars dynamo racked up 2.22 yards per route run last season, third among rookies behind only Nacua and Rashee Rice. Despite his small frame (5-foot-8, 165 pounds), Dell is a force on the ground and better in the air than people give him credit for (six contested catches last year).
Reed (64 catches, 793 yards, eight TDs) was one of the less-sung contributors to Jordan Love’s breakout season, and Downs, another diminutive speedster, was likely Richardson’s favorite target in Indianapolis before the QB was injured. (Downs could miss the start of the regular season with a severe ankle sprain.) Also, don’t be surprised if Seattle’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba (who missed the game) a lot of time in college) shows who he is this season out west and reminds people who he is.
These players, Nacua, Rice, Zay Flowers and Jordan Addison, are an excellent WR class in their own right.
Tight end
Luke Musgrave, Green Bay Packers (Round 2, No. 42)
Tucker Kraft, Green Bay Packers (Round 3, No. 78)
The 2023 tight end class has been hailed as potentially historic, and it’s hard to hate the production. LaPorta set a record for rookie TE receptions, and Bills rookie Dalton Kincaid would have been the top first-year tight end in any season except 2023.
Oddly enough, the two biggest contenders for the breakthrough in 2024 play for the same team.
Musgrave is the favorite after 34 catches for 352 yards and a touchdown in an injury-shortened 11-game season. Kraft, his classmate and teammate, is not far behind. He played the entire season and finished with three fewer catches, three more yards and one more touchdown than Musgrave.
Both are tremendous athletes, especially Musgrave, who ran a 4.4 speed in college at the 6-foot-1, 225-pound mark.
GALLING DEEPER
Shedeur Sanders Film Study: Can Colorado’s Offseason Changes Help Their Talented QB?
Offensive line
Sidy Sow, New England Patriots (Round 4, No. 117)
Darnell Wright, Chicago Bears (Round 1, No. 10)
Joe Tippmann, New York Jets (Round 2, No. 43)
Matthew Bergeron, Atlanta Falcons (Round 2, No. 38)
Peter Skoronski, Tennessee Titans (Round 1, No. 11)
Sow, a hyper-versatile and athletic big man, was one of my favorite picks on Day 3 of the 2023 draft. The 6-4, 325-pounder was a left guard/tackle at Eastern Michigan, then moved to right guard as a rookie. It wasn’t always pretty, but Sow had some big flashes in 13 starts.
Tippmann (who struggled with the snap early in camp) and Wright both flashed potential in the run game last season and should continue to improve, while Bergeron got his first full year of starts at right guard. One of the most athletic linemen in the 2023 class, Bergeron was exclusively a right/left tackle in college and could make a big leap as part of a very solid Atlanta front.
Skoronski, a standout college tackle, saw his move to guard hampered by an early-season injury. If he stays healthy, the Titans’ offensive line — which also added Alabama OT J.C. Latham in this year’s draft — could surprise some.
Line of defense
Tuli Tuipulotu, Los Angeles Chargers (Round 2, No. 54)
Keeanu Benton, Pittsburgh Steelers (Round 2, No. 49)
Calijah Kancey, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Round 1, No. 19)
Karl Brooks, Green Bay Packers (Round 6, No. 179)
Like Dell, it’s probably a little unfair to include Tuipulotu here — he had a very good rookie season (as did several rookie linemen, including Anderson, Jalen Carter, Byron Young and Kobie Turner). However, the quick and smart 6-3, 260-pounder now gets to team up with Jesse Minter in an offshoot of the Ravens’ system. Expect the Chargers to throw more at him and unlock more than we’ve seen thus far. He could be a star in that defense.
Benton has been trimmed and appears to be in line for more work after a very efficient rookie year. His combination of punch and foot speed could be a serious, all-around upgrade for the Steelers.
If Kancey can stay healthy for a full season and improve his run discipline alongside Vita Vea, Tampa Bay’s interior could be the NFL’s best.
Brooks, another Day 3 pick in 2023, made the most of a multi-spot rotation for Green Bay (four sacks, 25 pressures on just 256 reps — don’t forget Lukas Van Ness) and, like Benton, has the athletic versatility to be a terror to slower linemen. Arizona edge B.J. Ojulari was also on that list before injuring his knee early in training camp, a tough blow to a promising youngster.
GALLING DEEPER
Freaks List 2024: CFB’s 101 Most Elite Athletes, With First Ever Repeat Ranked No. 1
Line defender
Jack Campbell, Detroit Lions (Round 1, No. 18)
SirVocea Dennis, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Round 5, No. 153)
Otis Reese IV, Tennessee Titans (UDFA)
Campbell’s rookie season was complicated when Detroit asked him to step out of the stack and play an edge role for a short period of time. However, his play in the second half and in the playoffs has been very good. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see him get the green light as a defensive play caller, even with veteran LB Alex Anzalone on the roster.
Dennis didn’t play much last season, but the 2023 fifth-round pick is now in line for more work with Devin White in Philadelphia. Dennis was a tall, explosive all-around pest at Pitt (12 TFL, seven sacks as a senior) and has the type of effort/instinct combination that Todd Bowles craves.
The best rookie linebacker in 2023 was Vikings undrafted free agent Ivan Pace Jr. But another UDFA, Reese showed real potential and serious game speed for a handful of games late last season. He could be an answer for the Titans this season.
Defensive back
Christian Gonzalez, New England Patriots (Round 1, No. 17)
Brian Branch, Detroit Lions (Round 2, No. 45)
Jordan Battle, Cincinnati Bengals (Round 3, No. 95)
Tyrique Stevenson, Chicago Bears (Round 2, No. 56)
Gonzalez had a stellar first month of last season before his year was cut short by a shoulder injury. The best mover among corners in the ’23 class, Gonzalez (4.38-second 40-yard dash, 41-inch vertical, 32-inch arms) could be a bright spot for Jerod Mayo.
Branch is another player who might have made this list, but he missed multiple games to injury last season. More importantly, Detroit is looking to expand his role in 2024 — the Lions believe he’s a future Pro Bowler. Cincinnati could say the same about Battle, another former Alabama safety who looks like a potential regular.
Other candidates include Joey Porter Jr. and Christian Izien. Stevenson, however, had some excellent stints in Chicago last year and should only improve against Jaylon Johnson.
(Top photos of Will Levis, left, and Keeanu Benton: Matthew Maxey, Mark Alberti/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
