5 NFL players who will have breakout seasons in 2023 ft. Micah Parsons

NFL players like Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons have five months to prepare for the upcoming 2023 season. While front office personnel are gearing up for the draft, athletes are returning to the gym to put their bodies in shape. Football’s highly physical nature calls for players to be in the best condition possible.

If everything goes well, some NFL players might even exceed their numbers from last year. Maintaining that trend could also earn them individual distinctions like Conference Player of the Week. As the season progresses, they could be a strong candidate for the awards given during the annual NFL Honors. Pro Bowl and All-Pro selections are also within reach.

While some players have been consistently good, others might see their statistics increase tenfold in 2023. It may look surprising to fans and media members, but it’s a testament to the countless hours and sacrifices they’ve devoted to becoming the best at what they do.

Look out because these NFL players are about to grab the spotlight.

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Rashaad Penny – Running Back, Philadelphia Eagles

Penny displayed flashes of brilliance during his five seasons with the Seattle Seahawks. Unfortunately, injuries have hampered his performance, and he has never completed an entire season. Likewise, Kenneth Walker III’s emergence made him expendable. With Miles Sanders heading to the Carolina Panthers, the Philadelphia Eagles addressed the void by signing Penny.

Sanders finished with career highs of 1,269 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns last season. Considering Philadelphia's preference for the run game, Penny could have comparable numbers, if not better.

He could likely have his first 1,000-yard NFL season with Jason Kelce, Jordan Mailata, Lane Johnson, and Landon Dickerson blocking for him.

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Jordan Davis – Defensive Tackle, Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles reached Super Bowl LVII because they were good on both sides of the ball. Aside from having the best rushing attack in the NFL, they also led with 70 sacks last season.

Part of the credit goes to a menacing defensive line featuring Fletcher Cox, Josh Sweat, Brandon Graham, and Javon Hargrave. But with Hargrave joining the San Francisco 49ers, Davis will be the next man up for Philadelphia.

The Eagles took caution with him after returning from an ankle injury. Now that he is a project starter, he can clog the lanes or overpower offensive linemen with his massive frame.

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Kadarius Toney – Wide Receiver, Kansas City Chiefs

Toney’s 14 receptions for 171 yards with the Kansas City Chiefs don’t look impressive. But he had those numbers after joining the team via a midseason trade, plus JuJu Smith-Schuster was still with the team. What’s remarkable, though, is that he finally scored NFL touchdowns. Aside from having two during the regular season, he also caught one in Super Bowl LVII.

With Smith-Schuster now with the New England Patriots, the Chiefs will ask for more from Toney.

Patrick Mahomes will find him often, helping him realize the potential that made him a first-rounder in 2021. He will also face much one-on-one coverage as opponents put multiple defenders around Travis Kelce.

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Jameson Williams – Wide Receiver, Detroit Lions

The 2022 NFL season was a break-in year for Williams as he was recovering from a torn ACL. That’s why he debuted in Week 13 and didn’t do much for the rest of the year. But the former Alabama standout showed his capabilities by scoring a 41-yard touchdown in Week 14. It was his first NFL touchdown, and it won’t be the last.

With Williams healthy, the Lions have a legitimate deep threat in the passing game. Amon-Ra St. Brown had a fantastic season but averaged only 11 yards per catch. Williams will be a tremendous addition to an offense that ranked eighth in passing and fifth in scoring.

With St. Brown being a reliable target on short and intermediate routes, Williams might break free more often and reach the 1,000-yard mark.

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Micah Parsons – Linebacker, Dallas Cowboys

Parsons is an exceptional talent, and the Cowboys are being creative on how to use him. Aside from lining up as a linebacker, he was also transferred to the defensive line during DeMarcus Lawrence’s injury.

He rewarded his team with double-digit sacks in his first two seasons, respectively. Those numbers earned him the 2021 Defensive Rookie of the Year honors and Pro Bowl and All-Pro selections.

But as great as he is, this Penn State product is primed for more significant achievements in his third season. He plays in a unit tied for the third-most sacks last season. Therefore, it’s not just Parsons that other teams must account for when they face Dallas.

Now that he understands the game better, he will use his speed and agility to challenge or break the single-season NFL sack record.