[Quesadilla Joe]

The Athletic's 2022 "breakout players" list...

TE: Albert Okwuegbunam, Denver Broncos

Spoiler!

This is a non-Kyle Pitts selection because Pitts already broke 1,000 yards receiving as a rookie tight end. It’s hard to overemphasize the force of nature that Pitts is, but let’s focus on someone else.

At around 260 pounds, Okwuegbunam is a tight end with the size to play attached to the formation as a blocker in the run game, and he flashes the play strength and technique to be a plus player at the point of attack.

Okwuegbunam was targeted only 40 times last season, but he was a small-sample-size-statistical darling — his 7.4 YAC/reception led all tight ends — and the production matches the eye test.

Okwuegbunam flashed athleticism, playmaking and the all-important ability to win versus man coverage. His 3.08 yards per route run versus man coverage was first among tight ends with at least 40 targets in 2021, according to TruMedia.

The Broncos’ trade of tight end Noah Fant will naturally lead to an increased role for Okwuegbunam, a 2020 fourth-round pick. Though Denver has other weapons in Courtland Sutton, Tim Patrick and Jerry Jeudy, Okwuegbunam’s size will give Russell Wilson a safety blanket underneath. Okwuegbunam should be a dynamic auxiliary option who might get highlighted more and more as the 2022 season goes along.

CB: Patrick Surtain II, Denver Broncos

Spoiler!

This one honestly feels like cheating.

Surtain, a 2021 first-round pick, was playing like a top-tier cornerback before last year’s holiday season even started. It’s notable when any rookie is a positive contributor, but the number of rookie cornerbacks who have been legitimate good players over the past decade can be counted on one hand.

At 6-2 with 4.4 speed, Surtain plays with outstanding technique and awareness that reflects his pedigree. He is more than willing as a tackler, and he played like a Pro Bowler in pass coverage to end the year, when former Broncos head coach Vic Fangio increasingly started to leave Surtain on an island in man coverage against talented receivers.

Surtain allowed only 5.7 yards per target last season, according to Pro Football Reference. Out of 286 qualifying players, only 34 were better by that metric, which had Surtain in line with cornerbacks who received significant paydays this offseason, such as Denzel Ward (5.6), D.J. Reed (5.8) and Carlton Davis (6.0).

Surtain will make it hard for the Broncos’ opponents to throw to whomever he ends up locking down on a weekly basis in 2022. Though he’s just 22 years old, he has the ability not only to be a Pro Bowler in his second season, but possibly an All-Pro candidate.

https://theathletic.com/3374587/2022...akout-players/