2022 NFL Breakout Candidates: AFC East

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Each and every year, opportunities for a breakout arise on NFL teams. This may be due to a few different factors. The depth chart may be a bit thinner in spots, compared to the year before. Elsewhere, the raw talent or technical refinement cannot be denied in a short span. With that in mind, let’s take a quick look around the AFC East.

This division is filled with a top Super Bowl contender, two other playoff threats and a team looking to escape the division cellar. There were plenty of options for which to consider as 2022 breakout candidates. However, some of these AFC East teams present more obvious answers than others.

Over the next couple of weeks, we will be running through all eight divisions, giving our best picks at 2022 breakout candidates. Stay tapped into Full Press Coverage to keep track of our list. For now, let’s start things off with our first breakout candidate from the AFC East, a wide receiver from the Buffalo Bills.

Buffalo Bills- WR Gabriel Davis

With both Emmanuel Sanders and Cole Beasley now out of the picture, this may seem like a bit of an easy choice. Though, Gabriel Davis has quickly built a strong rapport with quarterback Josh Allen. His production was roughly the same in both of his first two seasons. Overall, the UCF product notched at least seven targets in four of his last six games last season, including playoffs.

That bodes well for Buffalo, when you consider his ability to be a vertical threat and make defenders miss after the catch. We saw that come to fruition in last year’s AFC Divisional Round playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Davis hauled in eight passes for 201 yards (25.13 yards per reception) and four receiving touchdowns. On top of being a fluid route runner, he is simply difficult for defenders to bring down, because of his dense frame.

The Bills heavy use of 11 personnel should give Davis increased opportunities. Meanwhile, the WR2 role is there for the taking and he is a worthy candidate to eclipse the 1,000-yard receiving plateau. If that occurs, the Bills will once again be one of the more challenging offenses to keep up with week in and week out.

Miami Dolphins- DE/OLB Jaelan Phillips

Miami has continued to build a rather fierce and physical front seven on defense. Time will tell if the change from Brian Flores’s scheme will bring about any struggles. Yet, the players that are in place make for an extremely dominant and potentially consistent producing pass rush all season long.

The one player who could grab more attention this season is Jaelan Phillips. Entering his second season, the long pass rusher is looking to continue things from where he left off. He finished last season with 8.5 sacks. Seven of those came in a five-game span in the second half of last season. Overall, Phillips can win reps with explosiveness, a fluid pass rush repertoire and by breaking down rush angles. If he starts the season on the right foot from a production perspective, Phillips could likely become a double-digit sack guy in 2022.

New England Patriots- DT Christian Barmore

There are certainly questions surrounding the middle of the Patriots defense. Specifically in the front seven, linebacker Dont’a Hightower is no longer part of the team. Without him, New England will look for a new source of production down the center of the unit. That goes for both a leadership and production perspective.

Christian Barmore is a defender who is similar to the aforementioned Phillips. While he will not turn heads with his sack numbers, Barmore finished his rookie season strong late last year. His ability to cover ample amounts of ground quickly makes him a threat when defending against both the run and the pass. As a result, the opportunity to gain a more secure role is there. Can Barmore lock down a consistent starting spot? If so, he could not only boost his own production, but also help keep the Patriots in the thick of the playoff race.

New York Jets- WR Elijah Moore

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Elijah Moore appeared in just 11 games in his rookie campaign last season. It was definitely filled with some ups and downs along the way. Nevertheless, it did not take long to see why the Jets drafted him to pair with quarterback Zach Wilson.

Moore proved that he could be a pest on vertical routes. In addition, his run after catch ability is something that is arguably unmatched by the rest of the New York receiving corps. Beyond those qualities, Moore is an explosive play machine.

He amassed 538 receiving yards last year. With more luck on the injury front and a more routine set of touches, there is no reason that Moore cannot potentially lead the Jets in receiving during his second season. He could also be a pillar that helps New York eventually climb out of this rebuild.

Be on the lookout for more 2022 NFL offseason articles and analysis in the coming days. For more great sports and NFL content, stay tuned to Full Press Coverage.

– Braden Holecek is the Kansas City Chiefs managing editor for Full Press Coverage. He covers the NFL. Like and follow on Follow @ebearcat9//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js Follow @FPC_Chiefs//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js and Facebook.