Unveiling the Hidden NFL Talents Set to Explode in 2025—Are You Ready for the Unexpected Stars?
Just when you thought the NFL’s excitement couldn’t get any juicier, here comes the looming question: which players are quietly revving up in the wings, ready to explode onto the scene in 2025? You see, breakout stars aren’t conjured out of thin air — they’re meticulously unearthed through a blend of savvy observation and cold, hard data. Remember, the big names always shine, but it’s those unsung heroes stepping out of the shadows that truly shape powerhouse teams. The 2024 season whispered some tempting clues in stats around production, efficiency, and, crucially, opportunity. And, oh boy, does this set the table for some serious revelations. We’re talking about players showing sparks like Deebo Samuel and Tony Pollard once did — caught in that perfect storm of skill and circumstance. So, buckle up — let’s dive into six guys who might just rewrite the script in 2025. Rookies, you’re off the hook this time; this spotlight’s on established players primed to shake things up.
The NFL season is almost upon us. Here are some players whose 2024 data suggests could be primed for a breakout.
Contrary to popular belief, breakout players don’t come out of nowhere.
Stars will always be stars, but identifying and fostering players who transform from role players into staples of a team is just as important for building a roster into a powerhouse in the NFL.
Some markers can help identify potential stars-in-the-making based on three key elements: production, efficiency and situation.
Even if a player saw limited action in the previous season, teams need tangible numbers to find these players. Breakout stars like receiver Deebo Samuel, running back Tony Pollard and defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike had good metrics based on their production before becoming household names the following year.
Situation is another good indicator because it means these players have a clear path to opportunity. A third-string player isnât going to stay buried on the depth chart for long if he continues to outperform his role. For that, weâll also make sure to single out players who are ripe for a boost in production, either due to the depth chart, coaching changes, or both.
With all this being said, we’ve found six breakout players to watch for in 2025. Rookies were excluded since the focus is on established NFL players.
WR Calvin Austin III, Pittsburgh Steelers
For the receiver position, we looked at players 26 years old or younger who were targeted between 50 to 75 times in 2024 with at least 250 routes. Using average metrics from other breakout players like Deebo Samuel and Michael Pittman in 2021 and Nico Collins in 2023 (before their big seasons), we found receivers who were efficient and finished the 2024 season with at least 35 burns, a 72% open rate and a 0.86 catch rating.
The biggest name to pop out was Austin, who was perhaps the biggest beneficiary of the George Pickens trade. Austin is now the primary deep threat for Aaron Rodgers. The rest of the team’s pass catchers mostly thrive in the middle of the defense, whereas Austin has the speed to make big plays downfield.
Austin had a solid year with 36 receptions for 548 yards and four touchdowns in 2024. He also ranked 16th with 11.99 burn yards per target among 75 receivers with at least 200 routes and 60 targets. The combination of a new and bigger role with his skill set is a good indication of a possible breakout.
RB Jordan Mason, Minnesota Vikings
Running back is a bit harder to project because there arenât a lot of new starters who would qualify who arenât also rookies. However, Mason jumped out because of what he did in 2024 and his new role for the Vikings.
Mason, 26, displayed flashes of brilliance last season when he filled in for Christian McCaffrey in San Francisco. He rushed 153 times for 789 yards and three touchdowns with 11 receptions for 91 yards.
What stood out for Mason was his efficiency. His 5.15 yards per carry ranked sixth among all running backs and his 3.67 yards per carry on run disruptions ranked eighth among running backs with at least 100 carries in 2024.
His numbers outpaced breakout players from the past (like Austin Ekeler in 2020 or Tony Pollard and Rhamondre Stevenson in 2021) as well as the average metrics for the top 25 running backs with at least 200 carries in 2024.
Masonâs 2024 numbers arenât just flashes in the pan, either. He had similar numbers in 2023 on just 40 carries for the 49ers with 5.16 yards per carry, 3.18 yards before contact and 2.10 yards after contact. He even improved against run disruptions from 1.92 yards per carry to 3.67 in 2024.
Now with Minnesota, Mason has a great opportunity to take over the lead back role ahead of 30-year-old Aaron Jones. The Vikings werenât efficient on the ground in 2024 (26th in run success rate at 34.5%), but they rushed it 457 times â the same number as the 49ers.
TE Brenton Strange, Jacksonville Jaguars
Strange heads into 2025 with a lot going for him. Heâs in a new offensive system with Liam Coen as head coach and moved into the teamâs No. 1 tight end role after Jacksonville released Evan Engram.
That clears the way for an opportunity boost, but his production metrics also align well with a few other tight breakouts like Trey McBride and Jake Ferguson in 2022 and Juwan Johnson in 2021.
Those three averaged a 56.4% burn rate, an 82.3% open rate and a 0.919 catch rating. They also averaged 9.19 burn yards per target and 1.70 burn yards per route.
Strangeâs metrics were better than those averages: 62.2% burn rate, 84.9% open rate and a 0.941 catch rating with 9.69 burn yards per target and 2.13 burn yards per route.
His raw production also proves these metrics werenât a fluke. Strange saw a lot of extra action in 2024 when Engram missed time with various injuries and put together a solid season with 40 receptions for 411 yards and two touchdowns.
Tight ends have performed well in Coenâs offenses, too. Cade Otton had a career-best 59 receptions for 600 yards and four touchdowns in 2024 for the Buccaneers, while Tyler Higbee caught 72 receptions for 620 yards and three scores for the Los Angeles Rams in 2022 when Coen was offensive coordinator.
DE Moro Ojomo, Philadelphia Eagles
Ojomo should inherit the role left behind by Milton Williams, who is coming off a 5.0-sack season in 2024 that included a 20.8% pressure rate, an 18.9% run disruption rate and a 5.2% adjusted sack rate.
That alone gives Ojomo a good runway for a breakout, but his advanced metrics in a more limited role also put him on the shortlist for an ascent in 2025.
Ojomoâs numbers are comparable with some recent major breakouts from the defensive line position in Nnamdi Madubuike (2022), Zach Allen (2023) and Osa Odighizuwa (2023). For good measure, weâll also include 2024 defensive tackles with at least 250 snaps to see if Ojomo has a starter-quality profile as well.
Ojomoâs numbers eclipse three of the five and are close to the other two.
Philly’s defense has been a great incubator for stellar defensive line play, and Williams was the most recent beneficiary after he signed a lucrative deal with the New England Patriots this offseason.
The 23-year-old Ojomo could be next in line.
DE Arnold Ebiketie, Atlanta Falcons
Ebiketie has never tallied more than 6.0 sacks in each of his three seasons with the Falcons. That could change in 2025 given his advanced metrics.
He was very good in 2024 with numbers that either beat or came close to other recent breakout players over the past five seasons, like Keion White, Josh Sweat, Nik Bonitto, Bryce Huff, Andrew Van Ginkel and Trey Hendrickson.
Those players averaged a 19.2% pressure rate, a 4.4% adjusted sack rate and a 7.7% run disruption rate, while Ebiketie had a 23.3% pressure rate, a 4.0% adjusted sack rate and an 11.1% run disruption rate last season.
The biggest thing standing in the way of Ebiketie’s breakthrough is the Falcons’ abundance of edge rushers. The team drafted two in the first round â Jalon Walker and James Pearce â and signed Leonard Floyd this offseason.
Ebiketie will need to stand out among that group to have a true breakout season, but heâs been solid enough in recent years to warrant that possibility in Raheem Morrisâ defense.
DB Israel Mukuamu, Dallas Cowboys
This is the biggest projection of the group given Mukuamuâs uncertain role in Matt Eberflusâ defense in Dallas. He began his career as a cornerback, then transitioned to safety, but Mukuamu could now earn the nickel cornerback role.
The Cowboys have had a lot of injuries and roster turnover in the secondary in recent years. They just lost Jourdan Lewis in free agency while Trevon Diggs, Josh Butler and Caelen Carson are injured. Third-rounder Shavon Revel is coming off an ACL injury in college.
However, his metrics are encouraging.
Mukuamu allowed a 30.8% burn rate in 2024, which ranked third among 145 defensive backs with at least 100 pass coverage snaps this past season. His 61.5% open rate ranked 33rd among that same group. The concern with Mukuamu is his 11.64 burn yards allowed per target, but on a per-snap basis, he allowed just 1.49 burn yards.
He is a big-bodied defensive back at 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds. If heâs given a consistent role, Mukuamu has the opportunity to build off a solid 2024 when he had two interceptions, defended two passes and tallied 19 combined tackles in his limited snaps on the field.
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The post Stars of Tomorrow: Which NFL Players Appear Poised for a Breakout 2025 Season? appeared first on Opta Analyst.
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