Name your surprise break out player of the year

[Captain Lemming]

I've been a huge supporter of Jesse James so I wouldn't be surprised but I definitely think he will surprise a lot of skeptics.

My surprise this year will be Golson on defense and Sammie Coates on offense. I'm not big on Coates but I think he may be up to the challenge this year.

Wait.....Brown and Bryant as starters, you have Juju with "almost as many" catches as Rogers. That makes Coates the NUMBER FIVE receiver. You also love JJ. Bell is the best receiving RB in the league.
"I" like Coates but how does Coates have a chance to surprise anybody in your world?

[flippy]

What could even be considered a surprise?

Perhaps someone like Ayers? I'm still rooting for the kid and while he's a super long shot, I think he's got an incredible work ethic and could develop into a really nice NFL WR.

Maybe Vince Williams. Can he play a lot better than everyone expects? I think he can and we don't miss a beat in the post Timmons era.

How about Mike Mitchell. Guy's a talented S. He's played with a changing cast around him. Maybe now he gets to focus on his game and starts making more big plays for us, especially if we get a real consistent pass rush going.

What if a guy like Shazier ends up being the DMVP? Does he count if he can do that?

There's so much expectations for so many players, nothing's going to surprise me at this point. It's probably going to take an injury somewhere for some young guy to get a chance to step up. Bell goes down all the time. Can Conner replace him at some point without missing a beat?

[feltdizz]

Wait.....Brown and Bryant as starters, you have Juju with "almost as many" catches as Rogers. That makes Coates the NUMBER FIVE receiver. You also love JJ. Bell is the best receiving RB in the league.
"I" like Coates but how does Coates have a chance to surprise anybody in your world?

First, by catching the damn ball.

Second, by having an insanely high YPC.

He will get opportunities to stretch the field and I think he will make the most of them this year.

I see him with 25 to 30 catches for 600 yards with 5 or 6 TD's.

[SteelCrazy]

What could even be considered a surprise?

Perhaps someone like Ayers? I'm still rooting for the kid and while he's a super long shot, I think he's got an incredible work ethic and could develop into a really nice NFL WR.

Maybe Vince Williams. Can he play a lot better than everyone expects? I think he can and we don't miss a beat in the post Timmons era.

How about Mike Mitchell. Guy's a talented S. He's played with a changing cast around him. Maybe now he gets to focus on his game and starts making more big plays for us, especially if we get a real consistent pass rush going.

What if a guy like Shazier ends up being the DMVP? Does he count if he can do that?

There's so much expectations for so many players, nothing's going to surprise me at this point. It's probably going to take an injury somewhere for some young guy to get a chance to step up. Bell goes down all the time. Can Conner replace him at some point without missing a beat?

Surprise, he did better then I expected. Just you, not anyone else's opinion. 2 outta 3 would surprise me on your 1st 3. Williams wouldn't, but Mitchell and Ayers would. I don't feel Mitchell is as great as most here do, do yea that'd surprise me. Ayers, I don't expect to him to do much because of players in front of him... Surprise

[RuthlessBurgher]

I don't see any Jake Guentzel-like shockers on this team (Pens back-to-back Cups, bay-bee!!!!). So I'll just go with a surprise player to make the team this year and develop into a contributor in time. OT Brian Mihalik. He's a Alejandro Villenueva clone without the Army Ranger experience. Both guys are 6'9" giants, and both are conversion projects, coming to us as defensive linemen from the Philadelphia Eagles. Mike Munchak worked his magic with Big Al, so it will be fun to watch him work with Mihalik now, who should be following Villenueva around like a puppy and doing every single thing he does. We brought Mihalik to camp last year, but ended up waiving him after he suffered a knee injury, and now he is back for another shot this season. Since Ryan Harris retired, I think there could be a spot for this Mihalik kid to make the final 53 for us in somewhat of a surprise.

[feltdizz]

If he does that, it will be at the expense of Juju. People project him the receiving role of a tight end. There are only so many passes to go around. I will be even more upset with the pick

Oh lord..

another JJ to hate on.

Ovie will be so proud

[Slapstick]

I don't project JuJu as a receiving TE...I project him as a big bodied, badass blocking Slot WR with potential on the outside...

[RuthlessBurgher]

Okay, folks...I'm back from my week long trek to Alaska (amazing trip, by the way...drank water from a glacier, kissed a moose and everything)...

With camp now only 10 days away, I gotta revive this prediction thread and take my shot here.

I'm hearing some very positive things about tiny DB Mike Hilton.

I'm predicting that this 5'9" 184 lbs. former UDFA (who spent camp last year with Jacksonville last August, then was on New England's practice squad for only 1 week last September, before ultimately landing on our P.S. in mid-December) not only makes the final 53, but I also see him beating out wily vet Will Gay, free agent signing Coty Sensabaugh, rookie 3rd round pick Cam Sutton, and former Ole Miss teammate Senquez Golson for the starting slot corner position between Artie Burns and Ross Cockrell.

I see him being the defensive equivalent of what undersized UDFA Eli Rogers gave us in the slot last year on offense.

How's that for a prediction?

[Oviedo]

Pretty crazy prediction. I predict Brian Allen not only makes the 53 but also contributes on the field by the end of the season

[Northern_Blitz]

First, I hope that Bell plays every snap that counts and stays healthy all year.

But if not, I'll take James Connor. We have a very strong O-Line and what looks like it will be a great passing game. I think that an average back could come in and put up pretty good stats.

Note: For the same reasons, I think that Bell is going to dominate the league this year if he says healthy/eligible, .