Meet Our 2nd Annual All-Breakout Team
The NFL Playoffs are in full swing, and as teams enter the final sprint for the Lombardi Trophy, several players penned their own breakout stories during the 2025 campaign, destined to become household names, if they aren’t already.
These are the players who announced their presence among the league’s stars, 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, Mike Tanier of the must-read, Mike Tanier’s Too Deep Zone along with De-facto Between The Hashmarks editor, friend, and my past radio partner, Joseph Staszak also make their selections.
Who is your breakout star from the 2025 season? Let us know in the comments section below.
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Matt Lombardo
Caleb Williams, QB, Chicago Bears
The strides Caleb Williams made, from entering last offseason having the Bears wondering if they made the wrong choice selecting the former Heisman Trophy winner out of USC No. 1 overall over Jayden Daniels, to the quarterback he has become in his first season under Ben Johnson, are nothing short of remarkable.
Williams has steadily improved from the pocket as the 2025 season wore on, leveraged his mobility into making not just big runs that move the chains in big spots but creating opportunities for off-schedule throws in the passing game that turned into explosive plays, and he has consistently delivered in the clutch for the Bears, when they needed him most.
Chicago’s comeback win over the Green Bay Packers, from 21-3 down, represents the largest postseason comeback in Bears franchise history, and it was the seventh come-from-behind victory that Williams guided in his second NFL season. Williams’ athleticism is always going to be an asset, but his steady improvement in the confines of Johnson’s system, with a young and supporting cast around him, should have the Bears optimistic that the future of the franchise is brighter than it has ever been.
TreVeyon Henderson, RB, New England Patriots
The New England Patriots did a masterful job assembling young, ascending, and explosive weapons around Drake Maye, which propelled Maye into the MVP conversation and the franchise to the precipice of a full-fledged revival. One of the most explosive pieces of all, is rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson.
After being chosen by the Patriots No. 38 overall, in the second round of last spring’s NFL Draft, Henderson burst onto the scene, producing 1,132 yards from scrimmage with 10 total touchdowns.
Henderson became a big-play factory for the Patriots, a driving force behind a pivotal win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that sent one franchise towards a couple of home playoff games while beginning to torpedo another’s season. Despite splitting carries with veteran Rhamondre Stevenson, Henderson finished his rookie season with 18 explosive runs, of 10 yards or more, averaged 3.45 yards after contact per attempt, and forced 30 missed tackles, according to Pro Football Focus, while his 5.1 yards per carry average ranked fourth among backs league-wide. The backfield duo of Henderson-Stevenson seems similar to the Jahmyr Gibbs/David Montgomery timeshare in Detroit. But, the former Ohio Standout may be on the fast track to an expanded role in 2026.
Parker Washington, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars just might open the 2026 season with the deepest, and most talented receiving corps in the sport, but it’s Parker Washington who may be their most gifted player at the position, overall.
Washington was stellar in his third season, catching 58 passes for 847 yards and five touchdowns, blowing away his previous career-highs in every category, while steadily building the trust of Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
According to Pro Football Focus, only 21 receivers had a deeper depth of target than Washington’s 13.1, and Lawrence posted a stellar 101.8 passer rating when targeting him this season.
Washington may have made the most monumental leap of any receiver across the league, from depth piece to top of the depth chart target. Given his improved rapport and more consistent production in 2025, the sky’s the limit for the former Penn State standout in 2026.
Tyler Warren, TE, Indianapolis Colts
In an offense that includes prolific wide receivers Michael Pittman Jr. and Alec Pierce, Warren didn’t just become a favorite target of Daniel Jones, Riley Leonard, and Philip Rivers, but found a way to finish fifth among tight ends in receiving yards, as a rookie.
Warren hauled in 112 passes for 817 yards and four touchdowns, despite wildly inconsistent quarterback play and opposing defensive coordinators knowing full well that he was the focal point of the Colts’ aerial attack. Pro Football Focus points out that only three tight ends in football averaged more yards after the catch per reception than Warren’s 6.4.
A versatile threat, capable of making plays lined up as an in-line tight end, from the slot, or even deployed out of the backfield, Warren is the type of player that opposing defensive coordinators and linebackers must account for on every snap.
James Pearce, EDGE, Atlanta Falcons
Pearce is a five-tool edge rusher, who was a bit of a late-bloomer as a rookie but his strong finish to the season is like a flashing marquee of what he’s capable of as he develops and refines his skill-set.
Finishing the season with 10.5 sacks, it’s noteworthy that Pearce didn’t record his first full sack until Week 8 against the Indianapolis Colts.
As the Falcons continue to build out a defense that has playmakers at all three levels, capable of being the driving force behind Atlanta’s success in the years ahead, Pearce looks like a centerpiece.
Nahshon Wright, CB, Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears’ defense became turnover vultures in 2025, and Nahshon Wright might be the defensive back who has benefited the most from defensive backs coach Al Harris’ arrival last spring.
Wright is a ballhawk, who held opposing quarterbacks to a 94.7 passer rating while pulling down five interceptions and breaking up six passes. Pro Football Focus points out that only 10 cornerbacks across the league allowed fewer than the 53 receptions Wright did in 2025.
In 2025, Wright was a key cog in a defensive machine that led the league with 22 takeaways. But, there’s a chance that when the story is written on 2026, Wright’s name will be among those garnering All-Pro consideration or at least among the cornerbacks that opposing offensive coordinators scheme away from throwing at.
Mike Tanier - Mike Tanier's Too Deep Zone
Tyler Shough, Saints
To be clear: I am not Running Amok for Shough. But he played well within Kellen Moore’s structure late in the season, sprinkling in a few scrambles and improvisational throws. He’s getting an uncontested starting opportunity for the Saints. Chris Olave should be back; Mickey Loomis only has one job this offseason, and it’s the thing he does best (overpaying an in-house player). And the NFC South is still Conference USA. Shough could end up stumbling into the playoffs with decent statistics through sheer game management. And he’s less likely to run skull-first into danger than his top competition among up-and-coming quarterbacks.
Jayden Higgins, Texans
Higgins became one of C.J. Stroud’s (and Davis Mills’) favorite third/fourth down (19 targets, 9 first downs) and red zone (8 targets, 4 touchdowns) options once he worked his way into the receiver rotation. He’s a sturdy possession target with the potential to grow into a more dangerous big-play threat if the Texans can find one-to-three more offensive linemen.
Jahdae Walker, Bears
He was the hero of the regular-season Packers comeback. He was nearly the hero of the Week 18 Lions comeback, which did not quite happen. Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson seem to trust him. But there was no room on the playoff roster for Walker once Rome Odunze got healthy. I am not sure where Walker fits for the Bears in 2025: Odunze and Luther Burden ain’t going anywhere, D.J. Moore has a chunky contract, and there are only so many footballs to go around. But Walker is gonna push for playing time in 2026.
Donovan Ezeiruaku, Cowboys
A really gifted edge rusher who delivered 19 quarterback hits. He really emerged from the crowd of old mercenaries and failed prospects the Cowboys assembled on the edge. Ezeiruaku whiffed a bunch of times as a run defender, but who on the Cowboys defense didn’t? At least Ezeiruaku could grow out of it.
Dallas Turner, Vikings
Not sure if Turner belongs here; he led the Vikings in sacks, after all. But he was cruising towards becoming the J.J. McCarthy of the Vikings defense until Week 11 or so. Then, suddenly, he became Brian Flores’ favorite toy and began blowing up blocking schemes. Turner has OMG traits. He’ll be a 15 sack guy if both he and Flores (or Flores’ replacement) have figured out how to use them.
Travis Hunter, Jaguars
Hi, it’s me: the guy who is not giving up on Travis Hunter. Sure, the two-way experiment went sideways, Hunter looked like a weird gadget player before getting hurt, and it’s easy to trash everyone involved. But Hunter had his moments on both sides of the ball. He appeared to be getting better at both wide receiver and cornerback. And he’ll return to a Jaguars team that’s in a better position to tinker than it was in August.
Let’s face it: lots of Jaguars looked lost and confused in September and October. Even Liam Coen may have been trying to do too much at first. The game is likely to slow down for Hunter now that he’s not studying for both the LSATs and GMATs and can settle into some roles on a playoff team.
Joe Staszak
Drake Maye, QB, New England Patriots
In his second NFL season, Drake Maye emerged as one of the league’s most efficient quarterbacks. He was named a Second-Team All-Pro by the Associated Press after completing over 72% of his passes for 4,394 yards, 31 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions, marking a major leap from his rookie year.
Maye also earned Pro Bowl honors, set franchise marks for completion efficiency, and has put himself in the MVP conversation with the Rams’Matthew Stafford. His statistical surge and accolades highlighted his rapid development under the auspices of New England head coach Mike Vrabel.
Xavier Watts, S, Atlanta Falcons (2025)
Rookie safety Xavier Watts quickly became one of the Falcons’ most impactful defenders. After being selected in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft, Watts finished the season with a team-high five interceptions, a total that led all rookies and tied him with franchise legends for the second-most interceptions by a Falcons rookie.
His multi-pick performance versus the Rams highlighted his knack for ball production, and he earned recognition among NFL rookies for his turnover creation and coverage play.
Carson Schwesinger, LB, Cleveland Browns (2025)
Rookie linebacker Carson Schwesinger emerged as a defensive anchor for the Cleveland Browns in 2025.
The team’s nominee for the Pepsi Zero Sugar NFL Rookie of the Year, Schwesinger started all 16 games and led the Browns with 146 tackles, adding 11 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, nine QB hits, two interceptions, and three passes defensed.
He earned NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month (November) honors, commanded defensive signals as the green-dot wearer, and even drew All-Pro votes — noteworthy for a first-year linebacker.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Seattle Seahawks
Jaxon Smith-Njigba delivered one of the most prolific receiving seasons in Seahawks and NFL history in 2025, earning First-Team All-Pro honors. He led the NFL with 1,793 receiving yards and recorded 119 receptions and 10 touchdowns, all franchise single-season highs making a big jump from last year’s production with 663 more receiving yards on 19 more receptions and four more touchdowns than he did last season.
Smith-Njigba became one of the few players in league history to eclipse 1,700 yards and set multiple Seahawks receiving records, doing so in an offense that attempted among the fewest passes in the league. His versatility and production also made him a finalist for player-of-the-year awards.
Michael Wilson, WR, Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals second year wide-out became the Cardinals’ most reliable down-to-down receiver, particularly as injuries and inconsistency thinned the rest of the receiving corps. His emergence was tied to improved route precision and trust from the quarterback, Jacoby Brissett as Wilson was routinely the first read on third downs and in tight-window situations.
Wilson took advantage of teammate Marvin Harrison Jr’s unfortunate injury absence of five games, and stepped in and stepped up as one of the offense’s foundational players, highlighting his consistency week to week rather than splash alone. His production almost doubled from last season and by season’s end, Wilson was commonly referenced by Cardinals writers as a core piece moving forward, reflecting how his role, not just his production, fundamentally changed in 2025.
Jack Campbell, LB, Detroit Lions
Jack Campbell’s 2025 breakout was validated at the national media level, not just locally.
Campbell earned Associated Press First-Team All-Pro honors, cementing his status among the league’s elite linebackers. Lions coverage consistently framed Campbell as the defensive fulcrum, the player responsible for alignment, communication, and cleanup across Detroit. Campbell’s growth showed up in situational trust: he remained on the field for all personnel groupings, handled green-dot responsibilities, and was increasingly used as a pressure trigger rather than a purely reactive tackler.
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