by Almost a quarter of the way through the NFL season, there have been numerous surprising players around the league. Some of these players, like Quentin Johnston, are having long-overdue breakouts, while others have seemingly come out of nowhere.
Devin Lloyd, Linebacker
The Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker is an early candidate for Defensive Player of the Year. Lloyd has caused mayhem in the pass game, already having three interceptions and three pass breakups. He has also done a great job at filling gaps in the run game and has zero missed tackles this season.
His athleticism and awareness have made him one of the best linebackers in the NFL against the pass. He showed flashes of this type of play last season, but he has truly put it all together and solidified himself as a franchise defender.
Quentin Johnston, Wide Receiver
As stated earlier, the Johnston breakout has been long overdue. Before this season, he was viewed as one of the biggest receiver busts in the league and an archetype the Los Angeles Chargers desperately needed to succeed. This season, he is third in receiving yards and touchdowns.
His speed and size have always set him apart physically from his peers, and this season, he has finally weaponized them to his full potential. Johnston has been a superb downfield threat and a fantastic after-the-catch player this season. His improvement has made him Justin Herbert‘s favorite target this season and an invaluable piece to the Chargers’ offense.
Kayvon Thibodeaux, Edge Rusher
Before this season, the former fifth-overall pick had not lived up to the high expectations the New York Giants had for him; thus, they drafted another pass rusher, Abdul Carter, third overall. This pick seemingly put Thibodeaux on the trade block and out of the Giants’ future plans. However, this season, he has turned it all around.
Thibodeaux is 13th in the NFL in pressures this season (17), to go along with 2.5 sacks. Throughout his career, he struggled vigorously with using power in his pass rush moves, instead relying solely on speed and bend. This season, he has been much more well-rounded and has been a key part of one of the best pass-rush groups in the NFL.
