2022 NFL Breakout Candidates: AFC North

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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 North.

One of these teams represented the AFC in the latest Super Bowl. Quarterback question marks, like contract situations, possible suspensions and when a rookie first-round pick may start surrounds the other three teams. Every team is feeling some sense of pressure. Two of them are looking to remain as postseason contenders. The other two are looking to prove potential doubters wrong.

Over the next couple of weeks, we will be running through all eight divisions, giving our best picks at 2022 breakout candidates. We began things earlier this week with both the AFC East and NFC East breakout candidates. To read those, click here and here. Let’s now shift things up north, with the AFC North breakout candidates. Starting things off, is a wide receiver who is entering his second season with the Baltimore Ravens.

Baltimore Ravens- WR Rashod Bateman

Following the fascinating trade of Marquise Brown, Rashod Bateman is now the clear WR1 on the Ravens depth chart. It is a wide receiver room that looks fairly bare on paper. Meanwhile, this may not seem like as big of an issue for Baltimore, due to their heavy rushing attack and funneling things through the tight ends. It could still be something that keeps the Ravens from punching their ticket and coming through in the most vital of contests, however.

For Bateman, his rookie season got slightly delayed last year. A gruesome groin injury suffered in training camp kept him out until mid-October. The 2021 season was still productive for Bateman, given the early time off. He would go on to finish his 2021 campaign with 46 receptions, 515 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown. All things told, there was still some noticeable inconsistencies. Bateman had trouble gaining steady separation or yards after the catch. Yet, his ability to make catches in traffic and his fluid route running occasionally got him in a mini groove with Lamar Jackson.

Earning that WR1 spot and staking his claim still has to occur. Though, Bateman is the perfect style of wide receiver to take the reins in this unorthodox Ravens offense. His smooth route running, and crisp cuts or release help him to quickly eat up the defensive back’s leverage. Bateman is also rather impressive when it comes to his ability to attack passes and fight through contact. With his efficiency in the intermediate passing game, this wide receiver could easily surpass the 1,000-yard receiving plateau and give Baltimore a boost as a passing attack in 2022.

Cincinnati Bengals- LB Logan Wilson

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Logan Wilson enters his third season with the Cincinnati Bengals. A former third-round pick out of Wyoming, this linebacker was just beginning to scratch the surface late last year. His ability to diagnose and identify plays from the opposing offense gives him a leg up at the Bengals linebacker spot. Furthermore, Wilson brings a tremendous blend of athleticism and physicality. He will simply light up anyone that comes in his path, while still being able to provide the necessary range for today’s pass happy NFL.

Wilson became a 13-game starter for the Bengals last year. As evidenced, his production massively grew in 2021, following a mixed rookie season in 2020. More importantly for Cincinnati, Wilson was able to make his presence felt in every facet of the game. He can crash downhill to stuff the run. He can cover and jump routes in the lower seam. He can surprise as a rare interior blitzer. Finally, Wilson can also defend plays laterally, showcasing a splendid course of strength when moving sideline to sideline. That power basically overwhelms opponents.

The Bengals have quickly become an extremely deep team. With plenty of options on the roster to choose from, Wilson is the one who could be a constant pest on defense. He is technically sound in every area. On the other hand, Wilson has a chance to solidify himself as the top dog at MIKE linebacker. With even more fine-tuning, this Bengal defender could suddenly be one of the more reliable young linebackers in the NFL that nobody is talking about.

Cleveland Browns- CB Greedy Williams

Greedy Williams has faced some peaks and valleys throughout the course of his football career. Originally slated to be a possible first-round pick in 2019. His stock dropped and he was selected in the middle of the second round. 2019 saw Williams struggle to find consistent footing as a rookie. Gaining a consistent role in the starting lineup was something that took time. Moreover, Williams struggled to find comfort and balance, from a production standpoint.

He would then miss the entire 2020 season, due to injury. Although 2021 saw Williams secure a greater role, the results were still varied. Cleveland had to enjoy how his technique in pass coverage improved. Whereas with Williams’ ability to make proper stops, the Browns were unable to routinely get off of the field, because of Williams and others.

Now entering his fourth season, Williams could be primed to find his full groove in Cleveland. Denzel Ward will always command top dollar in the Browns secondary, so to speak. However, Williams has a greater opportunity with Troy Hill now gone. With continued health and more playing time, Williams may be the one who electrifies within the Cleveland defense during a crucial season for the team.

Pittsburgh Steelers- TE Pat Freiermuth

Pat Freiermuth may not have had the same hype that Kyle Pitts did last season. Nonetheless, both tight ends played key roles for their respective squads as incoming rookies last season. The reception numbers were roughly equal between the two. For example, Pitts (68) edged out Freiermuth (60) just enough in that category. Freiermuth had more receiving touchdowns, notching seven to Pitts’ one. The Falcon (1,026) more than doubled the Steeler (497) in receiving yardage, though.

The contrasting offensive styles certainly aided those numbers in significant ways. Freiermuth will go from having a quarterback who was on his last legs, to a quarterback duo who breeds youth and inexperience. It remains to be seen how many games Mitchell Trubisky or Kenny Pickett will start apiece, if neither clearly secures the spot.

For Freiermuth, he is stingy at making catches in traffic. He can be dependable for the Steelers, as a result. That is monumental for that offense, given possible questions at wide receiver outside of Diontae Johnson. On the flip side, Freiermuth can surprise with his suddenness and twitch for his size when releasing at the line of scrimmage and running his routes. In 2022, it may not be guaranteed that Freiermuth surpasses 1,000 receiving yards. He can still be a further focal point in the new-look Pittsburgh passing attack, along with still being one of the team’s most reliable pass catchers.

Be on the lookout for more 2022 NFL offseason articles and analysis in the coming days here at 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.