2022 NFL Draft Picks Who Could Get Their Big Breakout Next Season

The NFL moves a million miles an hour. While last year’s crop of rookies performed admirably, you can already find odds on Ontario sports betting apps about who will be picked in 2024. If you don’t perform well instantly, it seems like the league tends to forget about you. That is why there is so much pressure for rookies to dominate straight away. But that’s not always how it works. Some players need a year to get their heads on straight and come out the next year and show out.

There are some players in the 2022 rookie class that had forgettable or unspectacular rookie seasons but are poised to take that key next step this year. Let’s look at those 2022 draft picks who could break out in 2023.

Kenny Pickett

Kenny Pickett had big shoes to fill stepping in as the Steelers’ new franchise quarterback. The plucky, athletic QB had an up-and-down rookie season, passing for seven touchdowns and throwing nine interceptions but leading the Steelers to a 7-5 record. He turned it up at the end of the year, as well. Now, with an improved offensive line, an extra offseason to learn the offense, and a talented supporting cast including Diontae Johnson, George Pickens, and Pat Freiermuth, Pickett has a real chance to take off. Early reports out of camp have been strong.

Nakobe Dean

Nakobe Dean fell to the third round of the NFL Draft, despite being one of the key leaders for one of the greatest college defenses of all time at Georgia. He essentially red-shirted last year, playing primarily on special teams. But this year, opportunity abounds in Philadelphia. The team is starting from scratch at linebacker after Kyzir White and T.J. Edwards left in free agency, and Dean is in line for a starting role. Expect him to showcase the high-end talent that made him one of the best linebackers in college ball and someone many analysts had pegged as a first-round pick.

Treylon Burks

Treylon Burks had a dominant junior season at Arkansas and was selected in the first round by the Tennessee Titans, a pick that they had acquired by trading star wide receiver A.J. Brown. That is tough for Burks because he will consistently be compared to one of the NFL’s great wideouts. His rookie season for the Titans showed flashes, but he dealt with injury and only played in ten games. This year, he is the Titans’ unquestioned WR1. While quarterback play is a question, expect Burks to show out if he can stay healthy.

Daxton Hill

Daxton Hill was a first-round pick out of Michigan, a safety with blazing speed and a nose for the ball. He barely played last season after landing on the Bengals, as they had their starting safeties entrenched with Jesse Bates and Vonn Bell. However, this offseason changed that, as both players are gone, and a starting spot will be given to Hill. Now, the contending Bengals will count on Hill to hold down the back end and show off the speed and playmaking that made him a first-rounder. He’s getting his opportunity, which is more than he had last season.

John Metchie

John Metchie is different from the rest of this list, as his performance last year had nothing to do with him. He was diagnosed with leukemia and missed his entire rookie season for the Texans. But reports are that he is on track to return for training camp and will showcase the talent he displayed at Alabama. With C.J. Stroud now running the show for the Texans, Metchie could have a reliable QB. And with a lack of top-end talent in the receiver room, Metchie could snag the WR1 spot.