2022 NFL Breakout Candidates: NFC 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 NFC North.

One team has won the NFC North division crown three years in a row, and eight times in the last 11 seasons entering 2022. Two teams have each hired new head coaches and general managers to take their team in a new direction. However, one of those squads look to be ahead of the other, in terms of expectations. Finally, one lovable loser could soon breakthrough the glass ceiling and get back to the postseason, because of their scrappy bunch.

We will be running through all eight divisions, giving our best picks at 2022 breakout candidates. We have already done so for the AFC East, NFC East and AFC North. Let’s now dive into the NFC North breakout candidates. Kicking things off, is a defensive end for the Chicago Bears.

Chicago Bears- DE Trevis Gipson

The Chicago Bears are not expected to be a very consistent winner in 2022. Thus, finding breakout candidates can be tough. Who can truly stand out that is not necessarily a household name? Plus, will the Bears be able to be in enough close games for their younger prospects to truly develop? All of those questions remain up in the air.

As a result, we are going with defensive end Trevis Gipson. The Tulsa product is expected to assume a starting defensive end role. With Khalil Mack gone and Robert Quinn on the other side (for now), Chicago could benefit from Gipson seeing clear one-on-one opportunities that are opposite of possible double teams.

This defensive end brings excellent length, power and flexibility to the position. As a pass rusher, his density can sometimes overwhelm opposing blockers. Quietly, Gipson notched seven sacks last season. He may not be a sure-fire bet to reach double-digit sack totals in 2022. Though, Gipson is primed to take the next step in the NFC North. If the Bears can surprisingly start out more competitively, he could gain more chances to pin his ears back late in games.

Detroit Lions- CB Amani Oruwariye

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Amani Oruwariye has become a starter for the Lions over the last two seasons. This is yet another NFC North player who has quietly churned out impressive defensive results. 2020 saw the Penn State product create seven pass breakups and one interception. On top of that, Oruwariye allowed just 59.3 percent of passes to be completed against him. However, the cornerback struggled to limit longer completions and had trouble being a reliable tackler that season (18.5 missed tackle percentage).

Last season, Oruwariye was again highly productive. He registered a whopping 11 pass breakups and six interceptions. He again allowed around 60 percent of passes to be completed against him (61 percent). While the longer completions still snuck through, Oruwariye began to show more confidence and calmness in crucial situations.

Entering his fourth season, Oruwariye could fully grab more people’s attention. He has certainly been battle-tested in Detroit. With a highly stingy team overall under head coach Dan Campbell, Oruwariye’s flashiness against the pass is a nice touch. If his production improves once again, the Lions may have to dish him out a reasonable extension to keep him in the NFC North.

Green Bay Packers- CB Eric Stokes

Arguably, no rookie cornerback was as strong, wire-to-wire, as Eric Stokes was with the Green Bay Packers. He started in all but three games last season. The former Georgia Bulldog averaged a pass breakup per start, finishing with 14 total. In fact, Stokes had only five games in which he did not record at least one pass breakup. He was consistently able to provide sticky man coverage. This was not just something that showed up in short yardage situations, either. Stokes routinely came through in the intermediate passing game and in the red zone.

With a healthier Jaire Alexander, the Packers 2022 secondary could be one of the most challenging to face this season. Alexander is likely a top five cornerback himself, if not top three. Rasul Douglas finally found a groove and a niche role in Green Bay. If he can continue his hot stretch, Douglas could be a stabilizer for the Packers at slot cornerback. Finally, if Stokes can be just as productive as he was last year, if not more, Green Bay could once again dominate in the NFC. There are questions about their offense. But, Stokes and the secondary could allow the offense to stay in games often, from a scoring perspective.

Minnesota Vikings- TE Irv Smith Jr.

This may be more of a make-or-break season for Irv Smith Jr. than anything. The former second-round pick in 2019 missed all of last season with the Vikings, due to a torn meniscus. Across his first two seasons, Smith Jr. registered a combined 66 receptions, 676 receiving yards and seven touchdown catches in 29 games. There have been some middling results when major opportunities have been there for the tight end.

Nonetheless, Smith Jr. is primed to return with possibly a more conducive role within the Minnesota offense. New head coach Kevin O’Connell comes from the Sean McVay coaching tree. As a result, the ability to attack space more often and attack vertically more often could be in the cards for Smith Jr., compared to how he was used previously. In the past, the Alabama product was primarily utilized on underneath routes.

Much of the focus will go to Justin Jefferson or Adam Thielen, and rightfully so. Even Dalvin Cook can be a serviceable producer as a pass catching running back. But with a new scheme and fresh coaching staff, the timing could not have been better for Smith Jr. to return to the fold. If he can prove that he can be trusted extensively and produce more efficiently, Smith Jr. may earn a second contract with the Vikings, after breaking out this season.

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.