2022 NFL Breakout Candidates: NFC West

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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 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 at the NFC West.

You obviously have last year’s Super Bowl champion defending their title at the peak of the NFL mountain top. After potential trade requests and contract disputes, certain star offensive players within the division got extended handsomely. Two teams are likely navigating new waters at the quarterback position. Whereas in the desert, they will have to whether a tough schedule to start the year without their best wide receiver. That team still faces questions about their potential second half finish as well.

This is the last of our eight 2022 NFL breakout candidate articles to complete. You can read the previous ones by clicking on each division: AFC East, NFC East, AFC North, NFC North, AFC South, NFC South, AFC West

Let’s now dive into the NFC West breakout candidates. Kicking things off, is a wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals.

Arizona Cardinals- WR Rondale Moore

As hinted at above, the Cardinals will be without their best wide receiver to start the 2022 season. DeAndre Hopkins will serve a six-game suspension, due to a violation of the NFL’s Performance Enhancing Substance policy. Given that he already missed some time last year with an injury, Arizona is somewhat used to having him out of the lineup recently. That still results in an uphill climb for this offense, while others get new opportunities.

One name that could breakout because of that? Look no further than second-year wide receiver Rondale Moore. He flashed enough last season to produce 54 receptions, 435 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown in 14 games. The explosive plays were hit or miss. However, Moore could see a more diverse role in 2022, especially while Hopkins is out.

Moore can be used as a gadget player. He can take it the distance on end-arounds or jet sweeps. His quick twitch cutting ability allows him to expand the throwing window for his quarterback. Meanwhile, Moore is highly efficient when it comes to working his way through traffic in dirty areas. That is major for him, because of his smaller frame. With more consistent targets in all areas of the field, the Purdue product could quickly become the possible receiving leader for the Cardinals in the NFC West.

Los Angeles Rams- CB David Long Jr.

The defending champions boast the best cornerback in the NFL in Jalen Ramsey. On the flip side, Troy Hill returns to the team after a brief stint with the Cleveland Browns. He should slot in as the nickel cornerback. One name that will likely get a more extensive look this season is slated to start on the outside, opposite of Ramsey. That would be David Long Jr. and he is the subject of our breakout candidates for the Rams in the NFC West.

Darious Williams left in free agency, signing with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Over the last three seasons, Williams provided the Rams defense with 27 pass breakups and six interceptions. That is steady production that Long Jr. will look to replace. David did add four pass breakups and an interception last season. In terms of his abilities, the concentration in recognizing route concepts and maintaining adequate body positioning is astounding, compared to other younger cornerbacks. He simply adds stability in man coverage, along with speed, which makes up for his lack of elite length. Watch out for him in the NFC West.

San Francisco 49ers- WR Jauan Jennings

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Most casual NFL fans may not recognize the name of wide receiver Jauan Jennings. After completing his college career at Tennessee, San Francisco selected him in the seventh round in 2020. He did not see any NFL action until the following season in 2021. Jennings was not garnering the headlines that Deebo Samuel or Brandon Aiyuk did last year. Nonetheless, he showed that he could be trusted to make catches in vital situations.

Jennings built some late season chemistry with Jimmy Garoppolo has a secondary pass catcher. In total, he finished with 24 receptions for 282 receiving yards with five receiving touchdowns. Jennings’ 11.8 yards per reception came in a variety of ways. He proved that he could make tight catches in traffic, both over the middle of the field and near the sideline. Jennings showed improvement in the quick passing game, especially with his release at the line of scrimmage. Finally, the wide receiver displayed determination and toughness when working on vertical routes. He may not lead the 49ers in receiving. Yet, Jennings is a name who could produce more heavily in 2022, while receiving more snaps and targets.

Seattle Seahawks- LB Jordyn Brooks

On a rebuilding Seattle squad, the defense will look to stiffen up and play with pride, hoping to keep their offense in striking distance. As a result, the Seahawks will need one of their young leaders to stand up. What better option than linebacker Jordyn Brooks in the middle of the defense? The Texas Tech product enters his third season with Seattle. If anything, his durability and technically savvy style are pillars that the Seahawks could potentially build around as they enter the next phase of their team life cycle.

Brooks was a tackling machine last season. Say what you will about how much tackling stats matter. But overall, Brooks was able to provide stops in all areas of the field and was a sparkplug for the Seattle front seven last year. He had 184 total tackles (109 solo tackles), 10 tackles for loss, five pass breakups and three quarterback hits. His ability to wear multiple hats in the defense is already a major bonus. Throw in his unique blend of size and quickness, and his hitting power can catch opponents off guard. Can he continue to build off of his strong campaign?

Be on the lookout for more 2022 NFL offseason articles and analysis 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.