Gridiron Gamble: Unlikely Heroes and Surefire Stars of 2024

NFL Breakout Candidates to Watch in 2024

Nate Tice and Charles McDonald team up to bring you their top picks for breakout players to keep an eye on in the 2024 NFL season. They kick off by discussing their takeaways from Week 2 of preseason action, including the impressive performances of rookies like Michael Penix Jr., Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, and Drake Maye.

Nate and Charles then shift their focus to their breakout candidates, starting with the more obvious names like Drake London, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Tre McBride, and Derek Stingley Jr. They also highlight some lesser-known players who could make a big impact, including Keanu Benton, Alim McNeil, Roy Lopez, Joey Porter Jr, Tyrique Stephenson, Charles Cross, and Bernhard Raimann.

To wrap up the show, Nate gives a sneak peek into his preseason 2025 Big Board for the 2025 NFL Draft, which will be released later this week. Charles chimes in with his thoughts on some of the more interesting picks.

(3:30) Preseason Week 2 takeaways: top rookie performers

(26:30) Obvious breakout candidates

(42:30) Obscure hipster breakout candidates

(59:30) Nate’s preseason 2025 big board sneak peek

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 29: Jaxon Smith-Njigba #11 of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates a touchdown during the fourth quarter of the game against the Cleveland Browns at Lumen Field on October 29, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jane Gershovich/Getty Images) — SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – OCTOBER 29: Jaxon Smith-Njigba #11 of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates a touchdown during the fourth quarter of the game against the Cleveland Browns at Lumen Field on October 29, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jane Gershovich/Getty Images)

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