Meet Our 1st Annual All-Breakout Team
These players showed out in a major way across the NFL this season.
As the final chapter of the 2024 NFL regular season comes to a close, several players across the league penned their own breakout stories—transforming from unproven rookies or unheralded young players into bona fide sudden superstars.
These are the players who made a name for themselves while making a major impact on their team’s championship aspirations either for this postseason or in the years to come.
Between The Hashmarks Podcast co-host, friend, colleague, and my mentor,
of the must-read, along with De-facto Between The Hashmarks editor, friend, and my past radio partner, also make their selections.Who is your breakout star from the 2024 season? Let us know in the comments section below.
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MATT LOMBARDO
Bo Nix, QB, Denver Broncos
I’m not sure anyone saw that coming when the Broncos chose Nix with the No. 12 overall pick in last April’s NFL Draft. After opening the season with a CliffsNotes version of Sean Payton’s offense, predicated around quick passes in the flat designed to build up his confidence, the Broncos ultimately took the training wheels off over the second half of the season and turned Nix loose, particularly in the vertical passing game. By season’s end, Nix finished 12th in the league in passing—and tops among rookies, with 3,775 yards, 29 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions while posting a 93.3 passer rating. “The ball was getting out fast,” a defensive coach who played the Broncos told me, of Nix, earlier this season. The combination of playmakers around him, Nix’s ability to push the ball downfield, and a quarterback-whisperer head coach is a strong foundation for Denver to keep building around.
Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Detroit Lions
When it comes to foundations, Gibbs went from being a critical role player sharing carries in the Lions’ backfield alongside David Montgomery as a rookie, to a foundational centerpiece of the offense in his second season. As punishing and explosive as a runner as he is dangerous in the open field as a pass-catcher out of the backfield, Gibbs entered the pantheon of players at the position in 2024 by logging 1,929 yards from scrimmage and 20 total touchdowns. Gibbs’ 1,412 rushing yards were a career-high and his 16 rushing scores tied Derrick Henry and James Cook for the league-high. Pro Football Focus points out that Gibbs was third in the league in explosive runs, of 10 yards or more, and only seven backs forced more missed tackles than his 58. Yet, Gibbs’ most prolific days may still be to come, as he was still sharing the backfield with Montgomery until the final month of the season.
Tucker Kraft, TE, Green Bay Packers
Kraft seamlessly blends the old-school mentality of the tight-end position with big-play potential, particularly after the catch. In an offense built around young and explosive playmakers, Kraft proved this season that he’s an ascending talent and already perhaps one of the most reliable at the position across the league. Catching 68 passes for 708 yards, Kraft ranked third among tight ends with three receiving touchdowns. Moreso than just production, it became evident in 2024 that Kraft isn’t just a security blanket for Jordan Love, but one of the wunderkind quarterback’s favorite targets. And, why wouldn’t he be, given that Packers quarterbacks had a whopping 134.6 passer rating when targeting Kraft, who averaged a position-best across the NFL 9.3 yards after the catch per reception, according to Pro Football Focus.
Nik Bonitto, LB, Denver Broncos
When the All-Pro Teams are announced, don’t be surprised if Broncos linebacker Nik Bonitto makes the cut. The field general of Vance Joseph’s swarming defense, Bonitto has outstanding instincts that fuel is explosive and disruptive playmaking ability both in terms of rushing the passer and when asked to drop into coverage. Bonitto’s third season has been his most dominant to date, producing 52 quarterback pressures, to go with his 13.5 sacks, 48 total tackles, one interception, and a fumble returned for a touchdown after picking off a throw-back attempt on an Indianapolis Colts trick play earlier this season. The Bronco’s defense was a catalyst for Denver’s run to the postseason, and Bonitto was among its driving forces.
Christian Gonzalez, CB, New England Patriots
The crown jewel of the heralded 2023 cornerback draft class, Gonzalez made major strides in his second NFL season. Despite not having the benefit of much of a pass-rush whatsoever to disrupt the timing of opposing quarterbacks, Pro Football Focus still lists Gonzalez as the league’s 17th-ranked cover-corner, with a 78.2 grade. Gonzalez also held opposing quarterbacks to a meager 70.5 passer rating while breaking up seven passes and holding opposing receivers to just 10.8 yards per reception when the ball was thrown his direction. New England needs a roster overhaul, but the Patriots are fortunate to already have a premium player at a premium position with a bright future ahead.
MIKE TANIER
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Bryce Young, QB, Carolina Panthers
I have seen young QBs turn it around in a year. I don't remember ever seeing a young QB turn it 180 degrees around during a three-week benching before. While I still not totally sold on Young's upside, he is no longer an all-time draft bust and cautionary tale about the dangers of groupthink anymore. Get him some playmakers, get him a defense, and let's see how hard (or easy) it is to go from worst to first in the NFC South.
Chase Brown, RB, Cincinnati Bengals
I loved him (and his brother) out of Illinois. I thought Chase had a chance to be Rookie of the Year last year, but Joe Mixon had had a strong year as a featured back, so Brown rarely played. He really came through when Zach Moss got hurt this year. Brown is tough, versatile and steady. Only a leg injury in Week 17 kept him from 1,000 yards. He's the jab the Bengals need to supplement their Higgins-Chase haymakers.
Christian Gonzalez, CB, New England Patriots
The Patriots had two bright spots this year: Maye and Gonzalez. Opponents only completed 50.6% of their passes and averaged just 5.9 yards per catch when throwing to Gonzalez. Those are great numbers for a second-year CB who was often locked onto the opponent's WR1 on a team that gave him no other help.
Cody Mauch, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Mauch was a Senior Bowl and drafnik darling in 2023: a kid from NDSU who looked like he was playing Erik the Red on a Netflix show. Like most small-program linemen, he needed an adjustment period. But he really came on strong in 2024. You can really see his impact on the Bucs running game, because they have one now.
Will McDonald IV, EDGE, New York Jets
No one paid much attention to the Jets’ defense this year, but McDonald finished third in the NFL in pressures (70) behind Trey Hendrickson (85!!!) and Jared Verse (71). I think Defensive Rookie of the Year and Breakout Player are two different things, which is why Verse isn't here. McDonald is a pure speed rusher who picked up the slack when Bryce Huff left and Haason Reddick never showed up until it was too late.
Damar Hamlin, S, Buffalo Bills
I am as guilty as anyone of "othering" Hamlin into an After School Special. And last year, he was more of a feel-good story on the Bills sideline than a relevant player. But Hamlin had a damn good year for a Bills defense that always seemed to be two players short in 2024. The best comeback story of all for Hamlin isn't some award: it would be a 10-year career, a few lucrative contracts, a Pro Bowl (and/or ring) or two, and folks half-forgetting what happened to him when he retires as a respected old veteran.
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JOE STASZAK
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Jayden Daniels, QB, Washington Commanders
While I don’t subscribe to manufactured hyperbole and I am not one to overreact to a small sample size, I’ve been all-in on Washington Commanders’ rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. He had me at Week 3 vs the Bengals. On a Monday night in Cincinnati, staring down former fellow LSU alum and Heisman winner Joe Burrow, the 2023 Heisman winner threw a perfect game, outclassing Burrow that night completing 21 of 23 attempts for 254 yards and two touchdowns good for a QB rating of 141.1, while logging 39 yards and a score with his legs in a 38-33 win over the Bengals. Daniels finished his amazing rookie campaign with 25 touchdowns vs 9 interceptions for 3568 yards while tallying another 891 yards on the ground and 6 more touchdowns. If you think his signature moment was the Hail Daniels he threw to beat the Bears on the final play of the game in week seven, guess again. In week 16 he trumped that performance, overcoming his team’s five giveaways to throw five touchdowns against the Eagles, three in the 4th quarter alone, the final dagger a strike to Jamison Crowder in the back of the end zone with :06 left to beat Philly 36-33. He finished his inaugural campaign with a QB rating of 101.1 and an eye-popping completion percentage just a scootch under 70.
Malik Nabers, WR, New York Giants
For all of the mistakes the New York Giants have made over the last few seasons, they certainly knocked the 6th pick in last April’s draft out of the park when they took wide receiver Malik Nabers from LSU. Anyone who watched him play in college knew he was special, cut from the same cloth as Ja’mar Chase and Justin Jefferson, two fellow former Tiger alums. Despite playing on a three-win team, a team that cut their quarterback after just 10 games, Nabers managed to still haul in 109 balls, fifth most in the league and logged over 1200 with seven TD grabs in a sensational rookie campaign.
Will Anderson Jr., DE, Houston Texans
The Texans’ quick rebuild over the last two seasons couldn’t have happened if they had botched the 2023 draft when they owned two of the top three picks. With the first pick they selected quarterback C.J. Stroud who turned in an impressive rookie season and they certainly nailed the 3rd pick as well drafting defensive end Will Anderson Jr.out of Alabama. Anderson Jr. had a strong rookie year as he recorded eight sacks, good enough for 39th in the league but this season he excelled by leaps and bounds getting to the quarterback 11 times, cracking the top 10 of NFL Edge rushers in just his 2nd year in the league after playing just 14 games this season for Demeco Ryan’s attacking defense. His sheer speed also enabled him to tally 27 solo tackles and he forced a fumble just for good measure.
Kerby Joseph, S, Detroit Lions
One of the few “surviving” members of that Lions’ defense that has been decimated by injuries this year, safety Kerby Joseph really put opposing NFL quarterbacks on notice as he snagged a league-leading nine interceptions this past season. I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if you see quarterbacks start to tape the number 31 to their wrists to remind themselves to find out where Joseph is before letting one fly. The third-round selection in the 2022 draft out of Illinois, picked four balls in each of his first two seasons in Detroit, but this year the Orlando Native really jettisoned his name to the top of the NFL’s most dangerous playmaker’s list, intercepting nine of the Lions 16 total picks this past season that has Detroit ranked fifth in the league as a team in that category.
O’Cyrus Torrence, OL, Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills might be sending quarterback Josh Allen to Canton someday. If that happens Allen should ask the Hall of Fame Committee if they could induct his entire offensive line as well. Because of his sturdy and nasty front five, Allen might very well win the league’s MVP award this year as he spent most of the season upright which allowed him time to toss 28 touchdowns versus just six interceptions this past year. One of the guys Allen hopefully took good care of this past Christmas is his Left Guard O’Cyrus Torrence. In just his second season with the Bills, the 2nd round pick out of Florida in last year’s draft was a key pillar of the league’s top security detail allowing just 14 sacks of their quarterback, eight fewer than the Green Bay Packers offensive line, who finished a distant second with 22 sacks given up.
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