This excludes rookies, a breakout season is defined as one in which a player’s production is rather low in previous season and then they just explode in a particular season.
I think Bland is definitely one. I would also include Ferguson. Tyler Smith? he played well last season but this year he is being called one of the best guards in the league if not the best.
Marquese Bell? Unexpectedly, but yes, I would say so.
Jalen Tolbert? No. A breakout season for a WR would require at least 800 yards, in my opinion.
Sam Williams? Same boat. He’s got some productivity but nothing really impressive. I’ll change my mind if he can pick up another half dozen sacks by the end of he season.
At first, it looked like Osa would have to be included but he has tapered off.
Who is not having their breakout season? I would have to start with any offensive lineman not named Tyler Smith. Ball and Waletzko went in the opposite direction and are on IR. I would also add Gallimore.
What about Damone Clark? He leads the team in both solo tackles and combined tackles.
In fact, three of the four top tacklers this season were rookies last season, Clark, Bell, and Bland.
So, I think the players having breakout seasons are Tyler Smith, Ferguson, Clark, Bell, and Bland. Both Tolbert and Sam Williams seem to be trending towards a breakout season in 2024. This is almost the entire 2022 draft.
That draft could possibly go down as one of the best in Cowboys history.
