NFL Analysis

1/15/25

6 min read

5 Potential Second-Year Breakout Candidates for 2025 NFL Season

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Adonai Mitchell (10) gains yards after catch during the first half against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium.
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Adonai Mitchell (10) gains yards after catch during the first half against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images.

In a loaded 2024 NFL Draft class, not every rookie looked like a future superstar in their first season as a pro.

The good news is that NFL careers are rarely defined by just one season, and players can blossom into future stars, even after disappointing (or sometimes nonexistent) rookie seasons. Davante Adams looked like a potential bust in his first couple of seasons with the Green Bay Packers due to drop issues but blossomed into one of the most dominant wideouts of the last decade.

Even if things didn't go the way these rookies wanted in 2024, all five of these players are in a great position for breakout years in 2025.

2025 Second-Year Breakout Candidates

J.J. McCarthy, QB, Minnesota Vikings Minnesota Vikings logo

It's unclear what the future holds for J.J. McCarthy in Minnesota, but the Vikings rookie quarterback could be in line for a big year in 2025.

McCarthy was taken with the 10th overall pick after a national title run at Michigan. He shined in the preseason before a season-ending meniscus injury that has now required two separate surgeries.

While the injury is a concern, a fully healthy McCarthy should be an electric option as an NFL starter in 2025. He's had the opportunity to learn behind a seasoned veteran in Sam Darnold and a brilliant offensive mind in head coach Kevin O'Connell.

The perfect fit for McCarthy is in Minnesota, but there's a chance the Vikings stick with Sam Darnold after such a strong year. The playoff dud, however, could force the Vikings' hand, leading them to roll with their first-round pick instead to use the cap space they'd need to spend on keeping Darnold elsewhere.

Whether with the Vikings or another team, McCarthy's ability to sit for a year and learn without being thrown into the fire means that he'll be able to play with a lot more confidence in 2025.


Graham Barton, C, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tampa Bay Buccaneers logo

Although undersized for a tackle, Graham Barton looked like one of the most tenacious offensive line prospects in the 2024 class coming out of Duke. Unfortunately, Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans haven't seen that same version of Barton in his first NFL season.

That's not entirely Barton's fault. The Buccaneers decided to move him from left tackle to center as a rookie, forcing him to adjust his play style and technique while learning pass protections and other pre-snap aspects of the game required for a center.

It's not like Barton was terrible this year, either. According to Pro Football Focus, he was credited with just one sack allowed in protection, along with 24 pressures. He played well in the team's wild-card loss as well, allowing just a single pressure on 26 pass-blocking snaps.

A position change like this would take time for any young NFL player, but with another offseason to keep improving, Barton should be able to take a huge step forward and establish himself as the team's long-term center next year.


Adonai Mitchell, WR, Indianapolis Colts Indianapolis Colts logo

Wide receivers can struggle to acclimate to the differences in play speed and arm talent at the NFL level, and that's something that really hurt Adonai Mitchell's productivity as a rookie.

The former Texas wideout flashed impressive separation ability throughout the year but struggled to finish plays by consistently hauling in passes. His connection with Anthony Richardson felt a tick off, with some reps being inches from turning into explosive plays.

Mitchell finished the year with a mediocre 1.51 yards per route run, but that number would have looked much better if it wasn't for his drop rate of 14.8 percent. That wasn't something that Mitchell struggled with in college. In fact, he had just a single drop on 103 targets during his final two seasons at Texas.

It may have been a frustrating year for Colts fans, but Mitchell is just a small adjustment away from being a much more productive weapon in Shane Steichen's offense.


Amarius Mims, OT, Cincinnati Bengals Cincinnati Bengals logo

The Cincinnati Bengals took a swing on Amarius Mims with the 18th pick in the draft, banking on his upside after a strong season at Georgia. While it took some time, Mims started to show flashes of that long-term potential by the end of this season.

Mims' overall numbers, especially in pass protection, look a bit concerning. He gave up four sacks and 33 pressures in only 560 pass-blocking snaps. However, the 6-foot-7, 340-pound tackle started to hit his stride at the tail end of the year, allowing just one sack and two pressures during his final four games.

A pec injury in the preseason prevented Mims from having a full training camp to learn the ropes of Cincinnati's offense and caused him to miss the first two games of the season. That lack of on-field work likely hurt his confidence and understanding of what was needed in the offense.

The good news is that Mims will now have a full offseason to keep developing, and his size, with his athletic profile, could make him a monster on the offensive line for Joe Burrow and company next season.


Terrion ARnold, CB, Detroit Lions Detroit Lions logo

Injuries across the Detroit Lions' secondary forced Terrion Arnold into the fire a bit this year, especially once Carlton Davis went down. That being said, the rookie cornerback has continued to develop as a coverage option, even if he hasn't come away with an interception.

This year has been an exception in general, but historically, rookie cornerbacks will take their lumps before developing into stars. Arnold has taken his fair share of lumps, allowing four touchdowns in coverage and a 99.2 passer rating when targeted.

However, Arnold has stepped up in recent weeks without Davis in the lineup. His best game as a pro might have come in Week 18 against the Vikings, allowing zero catches on four targets against some of the best receivers in the league, such as Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison.

All of the experience against top-flight receivers should help Arnold have some confidence in what he's capable of heading into a playoff matchup against the Washington Commanders. These playoff reps will be crucial to his development and should set him up for success in Year 2.


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