NFL Year 2 breakouts include Kyren Williams and Kyle Hamilton, who are two of ten young players who have emerged in 2023.
Bucky Brooks, a former NFL player and scout, knows the ins and outs of the league and provides keen insight in his notebook. In today’s installment, he highlights ten players who are making a strong SECOND impression…
As the regular season in 2023 comes to a close, a group of young players is putting the finishing touches on breakout Year 2 campaigns. Following up-and-down NFL debuts in 2022, these “super sophomores” have blossomed into standouts.
One factor that could be at work: A player entering his second professional season may focus intensely on skill development in the offseason, after spending the previous offseason preparing for the NFL draft. Instead of devoting workouts to preparation for the NFL Scouting Combine/pro day – events that revolve around the 40-yard dash, vertical/broad jumps, agility testing, interviews, and so on – a player can use his time working on specific fa
By devoting more time and reps to developing individual skills and overall scheme mastery, players can refine the footwork and fundamentals required to excel at the highest level. Whether they train with team assistants tasked with developing young players or with outside trainers, players are often more prepared to hit the ground running in Year 2.
Without further ado, here are ten second-year studs (listed alphabetically) who truly broke through in 2023.
Okay, it’s fair to say that Bland had a breakout rookie season as a slot defender, with five interceptions and seven passes defensed. But in a historic Year 2, he has taken his game to a whole new level, catapulting him into the conversation of the elite players at his position. Bland leads the NFL with eight interceptions, including a league-high five pick-sixes. Furthermore, the Pro Bowl-caliber cover man has 14 passes defensed, demonstrating exceptional ball skills and awareness for a 24-year-old. The Cowboys have found a true stud on the island in this 2022 second-round pick, with the second-year pro having fully settled into his role as an outside corner following Trevon Diggs’ season-ending injury in September.
Cook’s elevated role as the featured playmaker has been instrumental in the Bills’ offensive resurgence. They’ve added much-needed balance to an offensive attack that has previously operated as a one-man show with QB Josh Allen by using the 5-foot-11, 190-pounder as a runner/receiver. Cook finished third on the team in carries (89) and sixth in targets (32), with 687 scrimmage yards. Cook has 208 carries this season, and only three Bills players have been targeted more; as a result, he has become Buffalo’s first 1,000-yard rusher since 2017, and his 1,471 scrimmage yards rank fourth in the NFL. Cook has demonstrated to the Bills that he is more than capable of driving the team.
Ferguson has emerged as Dak Prescott’s preferred drop-off option in the face of umbrella coverage. Ferguson, the Cowboys’ second-leading receiver with 61 receptions, has 35 first downs and eight big plays (receptions of 20 yards or more) in 15 games. The former fourth-round pick is a dangerous red-zone weapon with superior size and length to win 50/50 balls against linebackers and safeties at 6-5, 244 pounds with outstanding ball skills and spatial awareness. As the Cowboys continue to use Ferguson as a primary option, the 24-year-old is establishing himself as a top-10 player at the position.
The Buccaneers’ unexpected ascension to the top of the NFC South has been aided by an underappreciated offensive line that has quietly dominated in the trenches. As an athletic brawler with a nasty temper, Goedeke has been a big part of the O-line’s success. The former second-round pick has thrived in Tampa Bay’s new offense, which combines wide zones with complementary movement-based passes and bootlegs. In an offense that emphasizes his strengths as a mobile blocker, Goedeke’s athleticism, short-area quickness, and explosive power shine. Given his rapid improvement in Year 2, the Buccaneers’ right tackle deserves recognition for his efforts on the edge.
In Mike Macdonald’s scheme, the super-sized safety has thrived in a hybrid role, most recently earning AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors for his two-pick, five-tackle performance in Baltimore’s win over San Francisco. As a slot defender, the 6-4, 220-pounder blocks open-side runs while also displaying the instincts, awareness, and pursuit quickness to bring down ball-carriers on the back side. Hamilton’s box defender versatility allows him to shine as a pass rusher on blitzes, with the big-bodied playmaker coming off the edge or through the B-gap (between the offensive guard and offensive tackle). Hamilton also fills in as a lurk defender between the hashes in the short post on occasion. The Ravens star has been designated as a disruptor for a defense that ranks fifth in the league.
The ultra-aggressive edge rusher has emerged as a true disruptor on Seattle’s defensive front. On obvious passing downs, Mafe’s speed, quickness, and burst make him extremely difficult to block. In 14 games, the 2022 second-round pick has nine sacks and 15 quarterback hits, displaying a sprinter’s get-off while relentlessly chasing down quarterbacks from the front side. With Mafe finding his stride as a pass rusher, the Seahawks have a future star on their hands at left defensive end.
The Chiefs’ defensive backfield’s success is the result of a young group of defenders quickly adjusting to the pro game. Despite making significant contributions as a rookie Super Bowl champion, McDuffie has evolved into a valuable, versatile defender with a knack for playmaking. McDuffie is a disruptive blitz specialist with 74 tackles, three sacks, nine quarterback hits, and five forced fumbles in 2023. He also provides air-tight coverage (SEE: seven pass breakups). McDuffie’s production as a subpackage standout makes him a valuable commodity in the lineup in a league where coaches are looking for defenders who can thrive as positionless playmakers.
This year, Stingley has stepped up his game, becoming a takeaway specialist and premier corner for Houston, utilizing his excellent instincts, awareness, and anticipation to swipe passes in his area. Stingley is a ball magnet with five interceptions and 12 passes defensed. His turnover obsession is visible on film. Stingley’s ball skills and knack for takeaways will continue to shine in key moments as the Texans rebuild their defense around a talented group of young playmakers.
Thibodeaux may have needed a full season to find his stride as a pro pass rusher, but the Giants’ star defender has emerged as a formidable force on the edge. With his first-step quickness and burst, the former Oregon Duck overwhelms opponents, and he’s added a few more tools to his toolbox in Year 2. Thibodeaux has the ability to turn the corner on speed rushes with a dip-and-rip maneuver, as well as complementary inside and outside swipe moves that allow him to win against overaggressive edge blockers. Thibodeaux is beginning to live up to the expectations that come with being a top-five pick in 2023, with 11.5 sacks, 12 tackles for loss, and 15 quarterback hits.
Sean McVay has reconstructed the Rams’ ground game around Williams’ abilities as an inside/outside runner with exceptional balance, body control, and burst. Last week, in his 11th game of 2023, the 5-9, 195-pounder surpassed 1,000 yards for the season. It was also his sixth game with 100-plus yards rushing this season, and the Rams improved to 5-1 in such games. As Los Angeles makes a playoff push, the second-year pro has become the straw that stirs the drink for this offense.
