Every season brings fresh optimism for every fan of every team. We want to see how the new roster looks following preseason training and subsequent cuts. We all hope to see cohesion throughout the entire team. Watching how draft prospects develop is a key part of this. The “build through the draft” approach certainly varies from team to team. On average, 57% of rosters are accounted for by players drafted by the team in question. Whilst we keep a keen eye on rookie performers, there are also those players who had quiet rookie years. Some of those players appear primed for a much more impressive sophomore outing. I take a look at each division and highlight one to watch in each.
NFC North – Amari Rodgers (WR, Green Bay Packers)
With Davante Adams’ departure, Green Bay lost their most potent offensive weapon this offseason. It is pretty apparent that no other player can replicate his production. The Packers are likely to spread the ball around much more in 2022, and one player who could benefit is Amari Rodgers. The Packers drafted the former Clemson Tiger in the third round of the 2021 Draft. He was widely seen as offering a different flavour to their existing wide receiver corps. The capability to play slot receiver with running back convert abilities was an intriguing prospect in Matt LaFleur’s offense, which incorporates pre-snap movement to stress opposing defenses.
Rodgers’ first season did not go to plan. He admitted to playing overweight at 218lbs, lacking the shiftiness or quickness you want at the position. He totalled just 103 snaps in 17 games. An offseason working out with former Olympic Long Jump Gold medalist Dwight Phillips had him reporting to camp at a comparatively svelte 202lbs.
In the Chiefs preseason game, he took four catches for 39 yards. Whilst this doesn’t jump off the page, in that he took handoffs from shotgun and on a jet sweep play. This is the sort of creativity and versatility that could see the former Clemson Tiger become a key piece of the offense this season. Even with Aaron Jones potentially filling the “do it all back” role, there is no reason the two could not be on the field at the same time. They could even alternate roles on the same play concepts. Time will tell as to whether he has gained trust of his quarterback.
AFC North – Joseph Ossai (EDGE, Cincinnati Bengals)
The forgotten man of the Bengals 2021 draft was Joseph Ossai. Formerly of the Texas Longhorns, the Nigerian-born all action edge sacked Tom Brady in his first preseason game as a rookie. Unfortunately he picked up a season-ending injury shortly after. Further news that he had a secondary surgery to ensure he was ready for camp was concern coming into this second camp. The recent news is positive however as he logged meaningful snaps in the first two preseason games.
Looking back to the Super Bowl, Cincinnati’s defense sacked Matt Stafford twice. It always seemed to rely on Trey Hendrickson to create that pressure. Ossai will be given time this year in what is effectively his rookie season. It’s clear Cincinnati see him as a player that will win the starting edge role opposite Hendrickson during the season, especially on third and long situations. Their lack of investment in free agency at the edge position suggests that the front office remain confident in the quartet of Hendrickson, Sam Hubbard, Cam Sample (another 2021 Draft selection from Tulane) and Ossai.
When Ossai opted to enter the draft and forgo his senior season with the Longhorns, there were whispers of a late first round selection. The main knock on him as a prospect was that he more of an athlete than a football player. If he was to succeed in the NFL, he would need to refine his game significantly. Put on any film from 2020 ‘burnt orange’ however and you’ll see an energetic player whose foot is always on the gas. He is utterly relentless in pursuit and rarely came off the field, often logging up to 70 snaps a game.
The versatility Ossai brings to the defense in their pass rush packages will allow he and Hendrickson to interchange roles, especially when the latter was used as a QB spy dropping in coverage. Ossai moves exceptionally well in space and opposing tackles better play to the full 60 minutes as this is a player who will keep coming for all of them.
NFC South – Jaycee Horn (CB, Carolina Panthers)
Jaycee Horn is another player on this list whose injury brought his debut season to a premature end. Horn was drafted eighth overall out of South Carolina and was an immediate starter on a young defense with the potential to be exciting. The Panthers season did not go to plan, but Horn’s start could not have been better. An interception in the opener and one reception allowed inside his first three starts was hugely impressive. This run came to an abrupt end when he required surgery on his foot.
A look inside those first three games gave us a window into how the cornerback would fit into their plans. In the first game he played predominantly on the outside covering Corey Davis. In the second game against the Saints he played in the slot opposite receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey. Whilst Humphrey may not send shivers down your spine as a receiver, Carolina clearly have confidence in his ability to outmuscle receivers and disrupt them at the line of scrimmage. He’s long-limbed and aggressive, with great hands at the catchpoint, and his 4.4 40-yard dash proves he has the long speed to cover.
Horn has NFL bloodlines with father Joe Horn having played for Atlanta and New Orleans. But it’s Horn Jr’s return against those rivals in the NFC South that could prove a valuable asset in a division stacked with big physical receivers.
AFC South – Dayo Odeyingbo (EDGE, Indianapolis Colts)
Indianapolis made a statement in the 2021 Draft. They selected edge rusher Kwity Paye with their opening pick, before coming straight back in the second round and selecting Vanderbilt’s Dayo Odeyingbo. Eyebrows were raised, not only because they selected two defensive ends with back-to-back picks. Odeyingbo tore his achilles ahead of the draft, meaning he would not be available until the second half of his rookie season at the earliest.
The Colts clearly wanted to be more physical at the point of attack and win the trench battle. Odeyingbo measured a shade under 6’6″ and weighed in at 276lbs at the Combine. Don’t forget that he was unable to train as a result of his injury and his playing weight was likely even heavier. As if these measurables didn’t have the Colts line coaches salivating already, his 35 ¼ arms are physical gifts that bode well in winning that important leverage battle.
Coming out of high school Odeyingbo received offers from big name college programs like Michigan, Oklahoma and Texas. He decided instead to become a Commodore to play alongside his older brother Dare Odeyingbo. You can’t help but wonder about how different his development and overall draft evaluation could have been if he’d chosen to play for a big-name program.
He returned in Week 8 for Indianapolis and was inconsistent, especially against the run. His 12 total pressures show promise though, and a full offseason will certainly aid his development. His all-muscle, all-action style needs refinement, but the thought of him lining up in a third down package alongside DeForest Buckner, Yannick Ngakoue and the aforementioned Kwity Paye could allow the Colts defense more options in coverage rushing these four behemoths. Quarterbacks beware!
NFC East – Kadarius Toney (WR, New York Giants)
“Supercar acceleration”, “electric in space” and “has rare ability with the ball in his hands”. These are all superlatives used to describe the skills of Giants 2021 first round selection Kadarius Toney. The Dallas game aside, where were these talents last season? Against the Cowboys he caught 10 of 12 targets for 189 yards and showcased everything. Outside of that there was little to get excited about.
Listed on Florida’s depth chart as an “athlete” until his final season, he arrived in Gainesville to compete for the quarterback job. When losing out to more traditional prospects, the coaching staff realised Toney’s talent. They devised ways to get him on the field in package plays and wildcat formations. His lack of production in his rookie season perhaps speaks to the Giants’ lack of a plan for him. Anyone who watched his journey in college football couldn’t do anything but marvel at his potential at the NFL level. Toney has never been a traditional receiver. He has however shown he can win downfield and has extremely good hands, with a drop rate of 2.4% in his college career.
The lack of polish in his game shows in the more traditional aspects of the position. Running the full route tree to the desired depth and where and when to make open field cuts are very much a work in progress. In truth, they may never be Toney’s calling. In the meantime, creating opportunities for him to succeed and putting him in positions to shine should be the priority. I’m looking forward to seeing Toney’s potential maximised in a new scheme. Play design should be about putting the ball in your best playmaker’s hands in any way possible and letting them do what they do best. Brian Daboll will no doubt develop downfield concepts that vacate space in underneath areas where Toney can feast.
AFC East – Christian Barmore (IDL, New England Patriots)
Barmore was key to Alabama’s run to the 2021 College Football Championship. In the final six games he amassed seven tackles for loss, six sacks and 2 forced fumbles. His power and quickness saw him constantly penetrate opposing offensive lines and wreak havoc on quarterbacks. Barmore was heralded as the top defensive tackle in what was an otherwise underwhelming group. The surprise to most was waiting to the top of the second round to hear his name called. New England traded with the Cincinnati Bengals to make him the 38th overall player chosen.
Barmore was only a one-year starter with the Crimson Tide but despite the impressive season there was still room for refinement in his craft. In his first season in the pros, he saw the field as a rotational piece, playing 55% of the Patriots’ defensive snaps. It was an encouraging season as he accounted for 48 pressures, the second most from a rookie interior defensive lineman since 2006.
One of the knocks on Barmore in the evaluation process was the extra weight he was carrying that could be shifted to increase his lateral agility. This is increasingly important given the prevalence of outside zone and stretch concepts in the NFL. It is also vital for New England that he is a three-down player who can aid in stuffing the run, something they were average at last season.
His offseason training program in Texas mainly revolved around conditioning, cardio and footwork. The reports from Patriots training camp were positive, especially when padded contact practice started. Bill Belichick faces a challenging season with a roster seemingly in transition. One of the strengths of his entire coaching tenure has always been the stingy defensive unit and Barmore could be a key part of that this season. Don’t be surprised if he breaks out this season and is among the top 5 at his position.
NFC West – Deommodore Lenoir (CB, San Francisco 49ers)
When the 49ers called out former Oregon Duck Lenoir’s name on day three, they probably had a special teams role in mind. They perhaps thought that with some development he could challenge for a starting role a few years into his career. As with all things in the NFL, they did not go to plan. Injuries ravaged through the cornerback unit and with starters Jason Verrett and Emmanuel Mosely sidelined, they turned to Lenoir. He outplayed his fellow 2021 draftee Ambry Thomas in preseason, resulting in him earning a starting role. In his first game against Detroit, he allowed one catch for three yards on three targets. Whilst at times inconsistent, he proceeded to take meaningful snaps in seven games over the season.
The pre-draft process hurt Lenoir’s stock. He originally opted out of the 2020 season, before reversing his decision after missing football and being around the Ducks’ facility. His measurements and testing drills didn’t jump off the page either. He logged a 34.5″ vertical and ranked below the 30th percentile in the agility drills. That said, there was reason for optimism. In a pre-draft interview he showed some compelling tenacity and willingness to work as part of a collective unit to achieve success.
John Lynch bolstered the position in free agency this offseason, bringing in Charvarious Ward and re-signing Moseley. They also selected Penn State cornerback Tariq Castro-Fields in the draft. They clearly felt confident in their roster though, as he was subsequently released.
Entering the 2022 season Lenoir revealed personal challenges that had made his transition to the NFL even more difficult. This season he is back and focused. This could pay real dividends for the 49ers. The development of late-round players is key to any team’s success, as depth will be needed throughout a long season. This makes players like Lenoir’s journey all the more interesting to those who follow the NFL Draft.
AFC West – Baron Browning (EDGE, Denver Broncos)
Baron Browning was a former high school running back and linebacker. Recruited as a five-star linebacker out of high school, he chose Ohio State over offers from the likes of Oregon, Georgia & Michigan. At Ohio State he split time between middle and Sam linebacker, improving steadily in each season. His stock rose as the draft process gained momentum. He nailed the Combine workouts, hitting 90th percentile thresholds in many of the athletic drills. The Broncos selected Browning in the third round and probably saw him in a rotational role for the season. An early season injury to Josey Jewell forced Browning into a starting role. He showed glimmers of potential in his nine starts. His last four games were a notable improvement, particularly in coverage, as things started to slow down for him.
This season marks a change of position. The new coaching staff liked what they saw last season and have decided to move him out to the edge in their 3-4 defense. His natural athletic talent and ability to dip and bend will ease the transition. Whilst he fulfilled multiple roles with the Buckeyes, he looked much better attacking than reading and reacting. He is a smooth energetic mover in the open field and his pursuit skills are a strength to his game.
Dropping into coverage will still be a requirement, despite this not being a strength to his game. That said, his experience in this area compared to his peers could provide a path to a permanent starting role. He could plausibly become a difference maker for them next season. This is all the more important now that the AFC West is the powerhouse quarterback division. If Browning can make the transition quickly, Denver’s gamble could prove inspired. He will join a talented trio of Bradley Chubb, Randy Gregory and Nik Bonitto in helping to make life uncomfortable for opposing lineman in an ultra-competitive division and conference.