Most rookies enter the NFL with unparalleled and, to some degree, unfair expectations, and then fail to live up to that hype. But one season — especially a rookie season — does not generally make or break a player.
Some rookies do begin to scratch the surface of their potential, but rarely do they blow the doors off the league and take the game by storm.
With that in mind, here’s a look at 11 sophomore’s who are poised to break out in 2019.
Sam Hubbard, DE, Cincinnati Bengals
Although Hubbard, who was selected in the third round of last year’s draft, didn’t start a single game in 2018, he managed to rack up six sacks as a situational pass rusher, proving to the Bengals there may be something special there. As a sophomore, Hubbard is likely to see a substantial increase in defensive snaps, and so long as he plays the run well, will be in a position to potentially double his sack total and establish himself as one of the AFC’s most effective pass rushers.
10. Courtland Sutton, WR, Denver Broncos
After Demaryius Thomas was traded to the Houston Texans, Sutton stepped into a much larger role for Denver and showed some flashes of genuine potential. 308 of Sutton’s 704 yards on the season came from Week 9 on, and no other Broncos wide receiver played more snaps over that span. And while drops did plague the rookie — he had nine on the season — his deep threat presence can not go ignored. So long as Sutton can work on his hands a bit, he should become the next big-time wide receiver churned out in Denver.
9. J.C. Jackson, CB, New England Patriots
An undrafted free agent in 2018, Jackson didn’t see the field over the Patriots’ first two games and didn’t slide into the starting role until Week 13. From that point forward however, Jackson seemed to prove that Bill Belichick found another diamond in the rough. After taking over as the team’s starter, he allowed a passer rating of just 71.7 and was among the league’s best in forced incompletion percentage. As a sophomore in 2019, Jackson is expected to remain New England’s starter and just the newest name in a long line of uncovered gems.
8. Dante Pettis, WR, San Francisco 49ers
Pettis, a second-round pick a year ago, showed flashes of some very real potential in 2018, including a Week 9 game against the Seattle Seahawks in which he finished with 159 yards and two touchdowns. However, Pettis wasn’t given a significant opportunity, hauling in a total of just 27 receptions as a rookie. However, his production off those 27 catches is what’s worth noting. Five of those went for touchdowns, while he averaged over 17 yards per reception. With the return of quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, Pettis will benefit tremendously.
7. Marcus Davenport, DE, New Orleans Saints
The monstrous Davenport entered the NFL shouldering quite a bit of hype, but the Saints refused to throw him into the fire. The first-round pick played fewer than 60 percent of the team’s snaps in 2018, missing several games due to injury and finishing the season as a reserve with just 4.5 sacks. In 2019, Davenport is expected to return to complete health and take on a much more significant defensive role. And so long as he doesn’t hit any bumps in the road, it’s plausible Davenport can reach double-digit sacks in his second season.
6. D.J. Moore, WR, Carolina Panthers
It took Moore over nine weeks before making a significant impact during his rookie season, but once he peaked that mountain, the entire NFL world bore witness to some potentially game-changing skills. And while there were still some ups and downs over the final weeks of 2018, Moore gained the confidence of both his coaches and quarterback Cam Newton, which bodes well for his role in 2019. With a bit more consistency, Moore easily becomes a 1,000-yard, 10-touchdown receiver.
5. Harold Landry, EDGE, Tennessee Titans
Brian Orakpo has retired and Derrick Morgan remains a free agent, which means Harold Landy’s role will increase significantly in 2019. And although he played only a limited number of snaps as a rookie, he dominated in a handful of games, which displayed just how much potential the young edge rusher actually has. With a year now under his belt and a full offseason ahead, Landry should make a substantial leap in his development and could very well end up among the league leaders in sacks in just his second season.
4. Christian Kirk, WR, Arizona Cardinals
Kliff Kingsbury is an explosive and creative offensive coach, which means players will benefit across the board. Add in the arrival of Kyler Murray, and things begin to fall into place for wide receiver Christian Kirk, who flashed at times in the league’s least-productive offense a season ago. With his excellent route running and quick feet, Kirk should feast in Kingsbury’s offense.
3. Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bills
Allen entered his rookie season shouldering a load of high expectations, but it wasn’t his ridiculous arm strength that shown through. Rather, Allen made his mark as a rookie with his legs, which will be a key aspect of his game going forward. However, Buffalo wants to utilize Allen’s remarkable arm strength, so they spent the offseason re-working their offensive line and adding downfield threats like John Brown to benefit their young quarterback. Expect Allen to make a significant Year 2 leap.
2. Derrius Guice, RB, Washington Redskins
Guice had his rookie season end before it began due to a torn ACL, but he is expected to return in time for training camp, which will serve as a tremendous boost for the Redskins. And although the team re-signed Adrian Peterson, Guice is clearly their running back of the future and a player they are relying upon. In 2019, so long as Guice doesn’t suffer a setback, he’ll likely begin the season splitting carries with AP before taking over as the team’s No. 1 down the stretch.
1. Josh Rosen, QB, Miami Dolphins
Rosen was up and down as a rookie in Arizona, but a new regime there meant it was time for him to move on. He’ll now head to Miami with the benefit of a fresh start, but will have to work through yet another offensive coordinator and offensive system. Rosen will also have to beat out veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick, who is struggling with some offseason weight gain, but should he manage that, he appears to be in an ideal situation for success. The Dolphins suit Rosen’s style of play and you have to know there’s a massive chip on his shoulder at this point.
