The Shocking Standouts of Every NFL Team From the 2025 Season
This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.
Every year, each NFL team has one of them… You know—that guy who came out of nowhere… and delivered against all odds.
Maybe it was a redemption arc… or in some cases, it was a breakout nobody saw coming.
It could’ve been a case of right place, right time—or perhaps they needed the right system or coach.
Regardless of the cause, when you look back at the 2025 season, every single franchise has someone who exceeded expectations.
This isn’t about the obvious superstars. It’s about the surprises. Thirty-two teams, thirty-two players who shocked us all.
Let’s get into it.
Who was the most surprising player for each NFL team in 2025?
Arizona Cardinals: Michael Wilson, WR
What a turnaround for Michael Wilson out in the desert this season… From afterthought to 1,000-yard receiver in one season.
The former third-round pick had less than 200 receiving yards through the first eight games—it looked like he was on his way to another solid, but unimpressive season, like his first two in the NFL.
Then something clicked, and he went absolutely ballistic over the final nine weeks, racking up nearly 900 yards and becoming the Cardinals’ go-to target regardless of who was under center.
He finished with 78 catches, 1,006 yards, and 7 touchdowns, making him a shoo-in for the Cardinals’ Offensive Player of the Year.
Atlanta Falcons: Jalon Walker, EDGE
Jalon Walker was in and out of the lineup for the team during the first half of this NFL season with a groin injury.
But when he finally got back to full strength, he was sure to make up for lost time.
He was an absolute wrecking ball despite only getting limited action in his rookie season.
Despite a slow start to the year, Atlanta’s 15th overall pick tallied 5.5 sacks and 5 tackles for a loss—and the Falcons’ defense looked completely different with him on the field.
Their fans should be excited about what is to come with Walker.
Baltimore Ravens: Travis Jones, DT
at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
After spending two years as a rotational piece, the Ravens’ secret superstar finally got his due.
Defensive tackle, Travis Jones, posted a 79.2 PFF grade—second on the entire defense behind only Kyle Hamilton. He led all Ravens defenders in pressures with 47 and racked up 5 sacks.
Baltimore rewarded him with a $40.5 million extension before the season even ended. When your team pays you mid-season, they’re telling you something.
Buffalo Bills: Dalton Kincaid, TE
This one was quieter, but no less impressive.
Dalton Kincaid didn’t put up gaudy numbers, but he was an integral part of the Bills’ offense, both in terms of making some big-time catches, adding over 4 yards per catch to his previous high-water mark, and in the run game as a blocker.
And he did it all with a torn PCL ailing him all year with this NFL team!
Year three was a major step forward.
Carolina Panthers: Bryce Young, QB
Man, what a turnaround.
Bryce Young was 6 and 22 in his first two seasons. The number one overall pick looked like the biggest bust in recent memory. And then 2025 happened.
Young threw for 3,011 yards and 23 touchdowns while leading the Panthers to their first division title and playoff appearance in about a decade.
He went from being chased out of town to Carolina picking up his fifth-year option—seemingly in the blink of an eye.
Needless to say, the narrative has completely flipped.
Chicago Bears: Caleb Williams, QB
The leap everyone was waiting for? It happened.
Caleb Williams threw for 3,942 yards—a franchise single-season record, breaking Erik Kramer’s mark from 1995. He added 27 touchdowns against just 7 interceptions and led the Bears to their first division title since 2018 and their first playoff win since 2010.
Year two for the number one pick exceeded every expectation. Chicago finally has their guy.
Cincinnati Bengals: DJ Turner II, CB
On a defense that struggled mightily in 2025, DJ Turner II was the lone bright spot, playing hard and at a high level all year.
When everything else fell apart around him, Turner held his ground. Sometimes it’s about being the one guy who shows up when nobody else does.
Cleveland Browns: Carson Schwesinger, LB
There were high hopes for the former UCLA linebacker when the Browns took him in the second round of the 2025 Draft, but Schwesinger blew all expectations out of the water.
He racked up 156 tackles, played great in coverage, and tacked on two sacks—putting himself firmly in all defensive rookie of the year conversations.
Dallas Cowboys: Javonte Williams, RB
The prove-it deal that actually proved something.
Javonte Williams signed a one-year contract and was expected to compete for carries. Instead, he took over entirely. 1201 rushing yards. A career-best 4.8 yards per carry—and 13 total touchdowns.
Dallas needed someone to step up and be the guy in the backfield. Williams answered emphatically.
Denver Broncos: RJ Harvey, RB
The Broncos grabbed RJ Harvey with the 60th overall pick, and though there was some interest among die-hard fans, very few people expected him to immediately become the weapon he did.
The UCF product led all NFL rookies with 12 total touchdowns—7 on the ground and 5 through the air. He added 540 rushing yards and 46 receptions, proving he could hurt defenses in multiple ways.
Denver’s All-Rookie selection was one of the steals of the entire draft class.
Detroit Lions: Jack Campbell, LB
From solid role player to one of the best linebackers in football—all in one year.
This season, Jack Campbell racked up 176 tackles—second in the entire NFL—while leading the league in run stops.
The third-year pro from Iowa won the Butkus Award, earned First-Team All-Pro honors, and made his first Pro Bowl in the NFL. Yes, he had the first-round pedigree, but no one saw this leap coming!
Green Bay Packers: Javon Bullard, S
This one flew under the radar, but not in Green Bay’s building.
Javon Bullard emerged as the Packers’ slot specialist in year two—a silent but violent enforcer who made big plays all year.
Even after Micah Parsons went down and more was asked of that defense across the board.
Houston Texans: Ed Ingram, G
After an underwhelming start to his career in Minnesota, Ed Ingram really seemed to find himself in Houston, as part of the Texans’ effort to rebuild their offensive line.
The former second-round pick underwent a complete transformation—and by the end of the year, it looked like the Texans turned a reclamation project into a bona fide star ready for a big deal of his own.
Indianapolis Colts: Daniel Jones, QB
This might be the best story of the entire season… At least—it was for a little while—until he tried to play on a broken leg and suffered that devastating Achilles injury…
Even so, Jones deserves his shine for the way he played before he got hurt. Indy started 7 and 2, and Jones was legitimately in the MVP conversation.
For three months, Daniel Jones was the most surprising player in football. Full stop.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence, QB
The talent was always there. The consistency wasn’t. Until now.
Trevor Lawrence threw for over 4,000 yards and a career-high 29 touchdowns. He added 359 rushing yards and 9 rushing touchdowns.
The Jaguars went 13 and 4—their best record since 1999—and Lawrence finished as a finalist for both MVP and Comeback Player of the Year.
Just once, it really started to feel like it was never going to happen for Lawrence in Duvall. The generational prospect finally played like one.
Kansas City Chiefs: Tyquan Thornton, WR
Tyquan Thornton had a tumultuous start to his NFL career with the Patriots team—but in 2025, it looked like the former second-round pick was starting to find new life with the Chiefs.
He got off to a super hot start, snagging 13 catches for 272 yards and three touchdowns through the first five weeks, before he fell out of the rotation with other big names returning from injury.
Even with the decrease in snaps, Thornton still managed to put up the best numbers of his career—and finally establish himself as a legitimate option at the NFL level.
Las Vegas Raiders: Eric Stokes, CB
The Raiders went 3 and 14. Not much to celebrate. But Eric Stokes was a genuine bright spot.
The former first-round pick signed a $3.5 million prove-it deal after disappointing in Green Bay to the point that the Packers declined his fifth-year option.
He responded with a career year—and reportedly, Las Vegas is already prioritizing re-signing him.
Los Angeles Chargers: Tuli Tuipulotu, EDGE
With Joey Bosa gone, someone had to step up. Tuli Tuipulotu did exactly that.
The young edge rusher racked up 13 sacks, 70 pressures, and 20 tackles for loss while developing into a complete two-way defender.
LA’s post-Bosa era is in very good hands.
Los Angeles Rams: Davante Adams, WR
Everyone thought he was cooked after the Jets disaster. Everyone was wrong.
Davante Adams demanded a trade out of New York and landed in Los Angeles in free agency. He responded with 60 catches, 789 yards, and 14 touchdowns—the most by any wide receiver in the NFL.
Now 33, Adams didn’t miss a beat in spite of all that drama… he led the league in receiving touchdowns. Nicely done by the vet.
Miami Dolphins: Greg Dulcich, TE
Greg Dulcich started the season on the practice squad for this NFL team—and by the end of the year, he found his way into the lineup and was a legit contributor with 26 catches for 335 yards—one of only four Dolphins with over 300 receiving yards, joining Waddle, Achane, and Washington.
From practice squad afterthought to legitimate receiving option in one season—have to give the guy his props.
Minnesota Vikings: Eric Wilson, LB
Everyone had moved on from Eric Wilson. Then Brian Flores got his hands on him.
The journeyman linebacker delivered a shocking career resurgence—115 tackles and 6.5 sacks in 2025. Nobody predicted this.
Wilson went from a forgotten depth piece to one of the most productive linebackers in football.
New England Patriots: Drake Maye, QB
The Patriots improved by 10 wins, and Drake Maye was a big part of the reason why.
The second-year quarterback threw for 4,394 yards and 31 touchdowns against just 8 interceptions. He completed 72 percent of his passes.
The icing on the cake—New England captured the AFC East title, and Maye earned Second-Team All-Pro honors in the NFL.
From promising prospect to franchise cornerstone in one offseason—and just like that—the Patriots are back on dynasty watch.
New Orleans Saints: Chris Olave, WR
After an injury-limited 2024 that saw him play just eight games, there were real questions about the state of Chris Olave’s career.
He answered them emphatically. 100 receptions. 1,163 yards. 9 touchdowns. He started all 16 games and finished seventh in the NFL in catches and eighth in receiving yards.
Career-best production—even with a quarterback carousel in NOLA. Full-season availability. The bounce-back was complete.
New York Giants: Cor’Dale Flott, CB
The Giants hadn’t gotten much from Cor’Dale Flott in his first three years. Then came 2025.
Flott posted a 79.6 PFF coverage grade—fifth among all cornerbacks—while leading the entire NFL with 11 pass breakups.
From unproven fourth-year corner to league-leading playmaker—a trajectory that surprised many around the league.
New York Jets: Jowon Briggs, DT
When the Jets acquired Jowon Briggs from Cleveland in August, he was an afterthought.
But that didn’t stop him from becoming one of the better pass-rushing defensive tackles in football.
Yes, New York had plenty of problems in 2025, but Briggs wasn’t one of them… Far from it!
Philadelphia Eagles: Devonta Smith, WR
Devonta Smith was supposed to be the number two receiver behind A.J. Brown. He had other plans.
Smith surpassed 1,000 receiving yards and became the Eagles’ all-time leader in postseason receiving yards with 595 in just nine playoff games. Philadelphia rewarded him with a contract extension through 2028.
At 26 years old, he’s no longer the other guy. He’s a franchise cornerstone for this NFL team.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Troy Fautanu, OT
Offensive linemen don’t get enough love. Let’s fix that.
Troy Fautanu was a first-time starter in 2025 and played like a seasoned veteran. His 71.0 PFF pass-blocking grade ranked among the top half of all tackles in football. Pittsburgh has its right tackle of the future locked in.
It’s not a flashy position, but it matters—especially when you are tasked with protecting an aging vet, like Aaron Rodgers.
San Francisco 49ers: Christian McCaffrey, RB
The injury in 2024 had everyone worried. Would CMC ever be the same?
Whelp—he answered that one pretty effortlessly.
Christian McCaffrey started all 17 games, rushing for 1,202 yards and 10 touchdowns while catching 102 passes for 924 yards and 7 more scores.
From injury uncertainty to the best dual-threat back in football again, even when people were starting to count him out.
Seattle Seahawks: Sam Darnold, QB
Sam Darnold became the first quarterback in NFL history to win 12 or more games with two consecutive teams.
He didn’t miss a beat after being cast aside following his breakout in Minnesota…
Darnold signed a three-year, $100.5 million deal with Seattle and went 14 and 3 and has been slinging the ball all over the field. The guy everyone gave up on keeps proving people wrong.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jacob Parrish, CB
Rookie corners aren’t supposed to play 716 defensive snaps. Jacob Parrish did—more than any other first-year corner in the NFL.
He made 76 tackles, grabbed 2 interceptions, defended 7 passes, and even added 2 sacks. His slot coverage was elite from day one.
Tampa Bay found its guy in the secondary. And he’s just getting started.
Tennessee Titans: Cam Ward, QB
After the way he started the season, people were really starting to doubt Cam Ward… But the first overall pick did a masterful job navigating the calamity that was the Titans offense—and put up some decent numbers and tape during his rookie season.
It wasn’t always pretty, but he turned quite a few heads along the way—and there is reason for the Titans to believe that they actually have their franchise quarterback.
Washington Commanders: Jacory Croskey-Merritt, RB
The Commanders selected Jacory Croskey-Merritt with their final pick in the draft. Nobody expected much.
Then Brian Robinson Jr. got traded. Austin Ekeler went down in Week 2. And suddenly, the last pick in the draft was the starting running back.
He delivered. 805 rushing yards and 8 touchdowns—the most rushing scores among all rookies. Looking back, there is no doubt that Croskey-Merritt was one of the best late-round finds of the entire class.
