Every year the NFL world sees breakouts. Breakouts come in all forms, from rookies to former high-draft picks to late-round picks. Just last season we saw breakouts from players like Sam Darnold and Brock Bowers on the offensive end and breakouts from players like Kerby Jospeh and Zack Baun. Here are seven players who could be looking at breakout seasons in 2025.
Seven NFL Players Who Could Breakout In 2025
7. TE Isaiah Likely, Baltimore Ravens
He likely will be entering the final season of his rookie contract, which could lead to him having his best season yet. Likely has played second fiddle to tight end Mark Andrews since being drafted in 2022, but with a declining Andrews and talk this offseason around the Ravens, potentially trading Andrews will give Likely more opportunities to show his skill set in 2025.
In 2024, he had 477 receiving yards and six touchdowns and will be a major factor for a Ravens team with Super Bowl aspirations.
6. DT Byron Murphy, Seattle Seahawks
Murphy was a 2024 first-round selection for the Seahawks last season out of Texas. Murphy was billed as the best defensive tackle of the NFL draft last season, and though he showed flashes for Seattle as a rookie, he did not completely put together.
However, in year two of head coach Mike Macdonald’s system, Murphy will be expected to take a big leap and be a dominating force for a Seahawks defense that was one of the league’s best in the second half of the season.
5. LT Jaylon Moore, Kansas City Chiefs
Moore signed a two-year, $30 million contract with the Chiefs to be Patrick Mahomes‘ blindside protector. Moore, formerly of the San Francisco 49ers, backed up Trent Williams last season and played well when stepping in for Williams’s absence due to injuries. If Moore gets a full season as a starter, he could be a breakout player for the Chiefs.
4. WR Drake London, Atlanta Falcons
London was the first receiver taken in the 2022 NFL Draft. In his first three seasons for the Falcons, he has been a model of consistency, getting better every season. He went from 866 receiving yards as a rookie to 905 in his second yard and over 1200 in his third. A strong fourth year will firmly put London in the best wide receivers in the NFL talks.
3. DT Braden Fiske, LA Rams
Last season, Jared Verse was the talk of the Rams defense, and rightfully so, as he was the winner of the 2924 Defensive Rookie of the Year award. However, Fiske, who was taken in the second round behind Verse, led the Rams defense in sacks last season. With more attention from offenses likely being paid to Verse in 2025 and the additions the Rams have made along the defensive line, Fiske could break out in a major way.
Fiske led all rookies in sacks last year with 8.5.
2. WR Rome Odunze, Chicago Bears
Odunze was the ninth overall pick and the third wide receiver taken in the 2024 NFL draft. The second-year receiver finished his rookie season with 54 catches, 734 receiving yards, and three touchdowns, which was underwhelming considering his rookie counterparts Malik Nabers, Brock Bowers, Ladd McConkey and Xavier Worthy had better seasons in comparison.
However, Odunze will now get to play in an offense architected by head coach Ben Johnson, who has consistently produced top offenses as the Detroit Lion’s offensive coordinator. Look for Odunze to break out in Johnson’s explosive offensive system.
1. QB Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers
The 2023 first-overall pick could finally show what he is capable of for a full season in 2025. Young experienced a rough rookie season that ended in his coach getting fired after one season. In his second season, Young was benched due to inconsistent play for backup Andy Dalton. It was a low moment for Young, but he got a chance again to finish this season as a starter and show steady improvement.
Young finished the final ten games of the season, throwing for 2,104 yards, 15 touchdowns, and six interceptions, showing glimpses of why he was chosen first overall. Young will look to build on that in 2025, and the Panthers are doing what they can to add support after having drafted standout wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan eight overall.
Main Image: David Banks-Imagn Images
