The Biggest Standout of Every NFL Team's Offseason so Far

This is a time of hope around the NFL.

When OTAs roll around, the reports are usually glowing. Youngsters are adapting quickly to the NFL. Veterans appear to be on the verge of breakout seasons. It's rare to see a player go under the bus.

Well, usually anyway. There are exceptions.

However, these rave reviews are sometimes more than just optimistic spins. Sometimes players really do give an indication in early workouts that they're on the verge of a career year.

Now, a player's inclusion here isn't necessarily a guarantee that a huge season is imminent. There's a long way to go between now and September. A lot can change.

But if OTAs and minicamps are any indication, 2017 could be the year for these players—whether it's their first NFL season or their fifth.

Buffalo Bills

Wide Receiver Andre Holmes

Stop me if you've heard this one before: Three injured Bills receivers walk into a bar...

With Sammy Watkins recovering from yet another operation on his balky foot and rookie Zay Jones' acclimation to the NFL slowed by a knee injury, the Buffalo Bills have been desperate for something, anything resembling good news at the wideout slot.

Per Jay Skurski of the Buffalo News, head coach Sean McDermott indicated the Bills have gotten some in the form of Andre Holmes, who joined the team in free agency.

"I'll tell you the guy that's really stood out has been Andre," McDermott said. "He's done a phenomenal job, not only on offense, but also special teams. Very solid performer day to day."

Miami Dolphins

Wide Receiver DeVante Parker

It's been an absolute lovefest surrounding the Miami Dolphins so far this summer. Whether it's tailback Jay Ajayi, quarterback Ryan Tannehill or even new tight end Julius Thomas, one glowing report after another has emanated from South Florida about last year's surprise playoff team in the AFC.

However, one player above the rest has consistently drawn raves from minicamp all the way through OTAs—third-year wide receiver DeVante Parker.

Parker has shone throughout workouts, largely because for once he's been healthy—a development the 24-year-old has attributed to improved nutrition and other off-field habits this offseason.

Offensive coordinator Clyde Christensen is a believer where Parker's concerned. "I really think he'll have a great, big year—a gigantic year for us," Christensen told ESPN's James Walker.

New England Patriots

Cornerback Stephon Gilmore

Per Phil Perry of CSN New England, free-agent acquisition Brandin Cooks (who has a "different gear" in workouts) could have gone in this spot. But I thought it might be nice to talk about a couple of players who aren't wide receivers.

Cooks isn't the only big-name player who has made a good first impression on his new team. Cornerback Stephon Gilmore received the biggest free-agent contract in Patriots history this year, and early indications are he's going to earn every cent.

"Gilmore is smooth," Perry wrote. "He transitioned quickly from his backpedal into a sprint, and when he showed good body control when contesting passes at their highest point."

Granted, it's just padless, non-contact practices. But the thought of Gilmore smothering receivers opposite Malcolm Butler in 2017 is the kind of thing that would almost make head coach Bill Belichick smile.

New York Jets

Safety Jamal Adams

The New York Jets need good news more than any team in the NFL. Something. Anything. A diversion from young quarterback Christian Hackenberg doinking reporters with passes on the practice field.

It's going to be a loooong season, Jets fans.

But at least they've received good news in regard to their first-round selection in the 2017 NFL draft. According to Rich Cimini of ESPN.com, sixth overall pick Jamal Adams has consistently stood out, whether it’s making plays in coverage or diagnosing them at the line of scrimmage.

Adams acknowledged he still has much to learn. "I'm not to the point where I'm seeing a lot of things right, but I'm seeing some things," he said. "I'm always working on that every day, being a student of the game."

So far, so good.

Baltimore Ravens

Running Back Danny Woodhead

Not every player listed in this article is a rookie or young veteran looking to take the next step. Every now and again an old warhorse steps up and shows he hasn't lost his.

After playing in just two games last year before tearing his ACL, Woodhead joined the Ravens in free agency. His lost 2016 marked the second time in three years he missed at least 13 games with an injury.

However, Woodhead hasn't looked any the worse for wear. Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun wrote that Woodhead is practicing without limitations, and he "lost track" of how many passes Woodhead caught during minicamp.

A healthy Woodhead could be a huge factor in the Baltimore offense, especially early in the season when Kenneth Dixon's out.

Cincinnati Bengals

Linebacker Kevin Minter

The Cincinnati Bengals entered the 2017 season looking to get both younger and faster at the linebacker position. The acquisition of free agent Kevin Minter was supposed to be a big step in that direction.

Don't you just love it when a plan comes together?

The 26-year-old, who had a career-high 3.5 sacks to go with 81 combined tackles for the Arizona Cardinals last year, has been picking up the Bengals defense well and impressing his new teammates, according to Jim Owczarski of the Cincinnati Enquirer.

"He's been playing a long time, and he's seen it all," linebacker Nick Vigil said. "Nothing is going to surprise him; he's just got to get down the lingo and kind of get in sync with everybody around him. He plays fast. He plays fast."

Fast is good. Very good.

Cleveland Browns

Defensive End Emmanuel Ogbah

Myles Garrett, who was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 draft, may have garnered most of the headlines on the Browns' new-look defense, but with Garrett out until training camp (at least), batterymate Emmanuel Ogbah has been making waves.

After a 5.5-sack rookie season playing as a 3-4 end, Ogbah is back at his more natural spot of LDE on a four-man front. As head coach Hue Jackson told Andrew Gribble of the team's website, that comfort level has been noticeable.

"He has done a good job," Jackson said. "He is working hard, he is understanding what we are expecting from him at that position, and he has done well thus far."

There's only so much defensive players can do in minicamp (no crushing quarterbacks allowed), but Ogbah's shown great burst and aptitude for knocking passes from the air.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Wide Receiver Justin Hunter

Yes, it's another wide receiver—although not the one you'd expect to be hearing about.

With Antonio Brown, the reinstated Martavis Bryant, Sammie Coates, Eli Rogers and rookie Juju Smith-Schuster, the Steelers depth chart at receiver would appear to be a tough nut to crack. But Justin Hunter is doing his best to make himself hard to cut.

The 34th pick in the 2013 draft, Hunter washed out with the Tennessee Titans. But, per Tim Griffin of SEC Country, Hunter used his 6'4" frame to make a number of "wow" plays on the practice field.

Strong OTAs aside, Hunter still faces an uphill climb to make the roster. But if he's having his lightbulb moment, the Steelers receiving corps could be even more stacked in 2017.

Houston Texans

Quarterback Tom Savage

Like any Houston fan is paying attention to anything but the brewing battle at quarterback between incumbent Tom Savage and 2017 first-round pick Deshaun Watson.

As ESPN.com's Sarah Barshop reported, all three Houston quarterbacks (if Brandon Weeden wins the job, I'll eat my hat) have had their moments in camp. But Savage has at the least held his own, and he remains the team's starter.

"Tom's No. 1," O'Brien said. "He knows, like I said from day one, he's got to earn it every day."

By no stretch of the imagination did a few weeks of non-contact practices settle this matter. This is a storyline that will be hammered daily between now and September. But every day that Savage fares well is another day the Texans don't have to consider rushing Watson into action before he's ready.

Indianapolis Colts

Inside Linebacker Jon Bostic

The Colts took a buzzsaw to the defense in the offseason, but who will start at inside linebacker remains a question hanging over the team.

It's an event murkier question now that a dark-horse candidate has made a surge with a great showing in OTAs.

According to George Bremer of CNHI Sports Indiana, fifth-year pro Jon Bostic has been thriving with his new team—so much so he has earned more than a few reps with the first-team defense.

Here's where I advise tapping the brakes just a tad, though. Athleticism has never been Bostic's problem. The reason he's on his fourth team in five seasons is a lack of control of that athleticism that led to overpursuit. That and injuries.

Still, a gift signing at a position of need could be huge for the Colts this year.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Defensive End Calais Campbell

This just in—Calais Campbell is good. Really good.

The Jaguars gave the veteran defensive end $30 million in guaranteed cabbage, so they expected Campbell to be a defensive force in 2017. Even so, head coach Doug Marrone told Mike Kaye of First Coast News that Campbell has so far exceeded expectations.

"Couldn't ask for anything better. You go around, you do your research, you talk to people, and everyone’s like we love him—he's going to be a great pro; he's going to do all this stuff. You never know," Marrone said. 

Campbell's a proven commodity, but he's making the switch to 4-3 end with his new team. Hearing that he's been nigh unblockable in practice is good news indeed, even if the offensive line struggled last season.

Tennessee Titans

Running Back Derrick Henry

Were Derrick Henry playing for 25 other teams in the NFL, the second-year tailback would not only start but be a workhorse in the backfield.

In Nashville, however, Henry's stuck (for now) behind one of the NFL's best backs in DeMarco Murray. But that second-fiddle status didn't stop him from making every effort in OTAs to build on last year's promising rookie campaign.

As Jim Wyatt wrote for the Titans website, Henry arrived at OTAs in fantastic shape and hit the ground running both literally and figuratively.

Henry isn't going to bump Murray from the top of the depth chart anytime soon. But after averaging 4.5 yards a carry as a rookie, he's angling for a larger workload in Year 2.

Denver Broncos

Quarterback Paxton Lynch

As Andrew Mason reported for the team's website, Paxton Lynch is a more comfortable quarterback entering the second year of his NFL career.

"I was confident in my reads and my throws," Lynch said at OTAs. "That is one thing I feel is a big difference in this year. When I let the ball go, I'm a lot more comfortable with where I'm going with it compared to last year."

Now, this isn't to say that Lynch has been flawless (he hasn't). Or that he's overtaken Trevor Siemian to start (he hasn’t). You could argue he has shown more improvement than Siemian because he has more room to improve.

But Lynch has improved—markedly. And that could make for an interesting preseason in the Mile High City.

Kansas City Chiefs

Running Back Kareem Hunt

The Kansas City Chiefs were aggressive in the 2017 draft in trading up to acquire the players they wanted, whether it was quarterback Patrick Mahomes in Round 1 at No. 10 or tailback Kareem Hunt in Round 3 at No. 86 overall.

No one expects Mahomes to make much of a dent as a rookie, but the same can't be said of Hunt. As a matter of fact, ESPN's Adam Teicher reported that Hunt is already nipping on the heels of Spencer Ware and Charcandrick West in the backfield.

"I'm just excited to see what happens when the pads go on and things get a little more real," tackle Mitchell Schwartz said of the youngster.

Ware had a decent season as the Chiefs lead back in 2016, but he wore down late in the year. If Hunt continues to impress, he may well take over the role by Week 1.

Los Angeles Chargers

Defensive End Chris McCain

After signing Melvin Ingram to a four-year, $66 million extension, the Los Angeles Chargers are looking for big things from their "Leo" pass-rusher. But with Ingram sitting out OTAs, his unheralded understudy has been opening eyes.

At 6'5" and 236 pounds, Chris McCain has just the sort of quickness defensive coordinator Gus Bradley looks for in a Leo weak-side end. McCain told Ricky Henne of the team's website the scheme is tailor-made for his skill set.

"The Leo is a good fit for me with my body type and what I'm good at," he said. "I think it helps me show what I bring to the table for the coaches."

Based on how he performed in workouts, McCain is right. And that's good news for the Bolts in case Ingram gets hurt or needs rest.

Oakland Raiders

Running Back Marshawn Lynch

All eyes have been on one player in Oakland since OTAs got underway, and it wasn't Derek Carr or Amari Cooper.

It was an old face in a new place after a sabbatical of sorts.

Marshawn Lynch hasn't been a full participant for all of OTAs. There's no point subjecting a 31-year-old tailback to additional punishment needlessly.

However, via Andrew Joseph of For The Win, it took just one play for the veteran to be the biggest standout of workouts. He burst through the defense like a 25-year-old to get an already-excited Oakland fanbase whipped into a frenzy.

It was just one play in practice. But if Lynch runs like that this season behind Oakland's stout line?

Those fans are really going to go wild.

Dallas Cowboys

Wide Receiver Ryan Switzer

You're going to see quite a few receivers listed in this article, if only because non-contact OTA practices lend themselves to highlighting their particular skill set.

This isn't to say that fourth-round rookie Ryan Switzer hasn't done his part to be included here. With Cole Beasley sitting out, Switzer had an opportunity to run with the first team. As head coach Jason Garrett told ESPN's Todd Archer, Switzer took advantage of the opportunity.

"He was in there with the ones, and he made some plays,"  Garrett said. "... he's got good poise about him. He's got confidence, and he's got good football sense and savvy, and you see that in him right away."

This isn't to say that Switzer will star as a rookie. Or even start. But he was drafted as injury insurance for Beasley, and so far, that policy looks pretty good.

New York Giants

Tight End Evan Engram

For an NFL team, having a first-round pick shine in OTAs is just about the best-case scenario. Nothing makes a head coach smile quite like seeing that top pick make a good first impression on his new teammates.

New York Giants head coach Ben McAdoo must be grinning from ear to ear because that's what tight end Evan Engram did.

According to ESPN.com's Jordan Raanan, Engram seems to picking up the offense well and putting his athleticism to good use on the practice field. A catch over linebacker Jonathan Casillas despite tight coverage left the veteran linebacker impressed by the No. 23 pick.

"He's such a dynamic player playing the tight end position with his skill set," Casillas said.

Philadelphia Eagles

Wide Receiver Alshon Jeffery

If there's a better scenario than a first-round standout at OTAs, it's the same sort of strong showing from a player the team just handed a stack of money to in free agency.

Cue the smiling faces in the City of Brotherly Love, because according to Turron Davenport of Eagles Wire, Philadelphia quarterback Carson Wentz is already raving about new No.1 receiver Alshon Jeffery.

"His catch radius is unbelievable. Even if he is covered, you just give him a chance," Wentz said. "It's a chemistry thing, something you build. It's something you see on tape and talk about in the film room."

With Jeffery playing on a one-year prove-it contract and Wentz looking to make a Year 2 jump, the quicker the pair gets on the same page, the better.

Washington Redskins

Safety D.J. Swearinger

Safety D.J. Swearinger isn't the biggest free agent the Redskins acquired in 2017. In fact, the 25-year-old isn't even the biggest free agent Washington brought in on defense.

But the fifth-year pro might end up having the biggest impact.

From the moment OTAs got underway, Swearinger has drawn positive reviews. He's been fast to the ball, quick to pick up Washington's defensive scheme and active in coverage.

Swearinger told Matthew Paras of the Washington Times his goals for 2017 are simple. "I'm going to be sort of the quarterback on the defense, for sure."

If OTAs are any indication, he's well on his way.

Chicago Bears

Tight End Adam Shaheen

Bears general manager Ryan Pace has caught more than a little flak for how he managed the 2017 draft, whether it was trading up for quarterback Mitchell Trubisky or using his second-round pick on small-school standout Adam Shaheen.

However, early indications are that latter pick might not have been so ill-advised after all.

The massive 6'6", 278-pound tight end has stood out in practice for more than just his size, with head coach John Fox telling Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune that Shaheen hasn't looked in over his head despite playing at tiny Ashland University.

"The whole level of competition is something you look at and evaluate in our league," Fox said. "But I think with Adam I saw the same things here today. It's still the size and the quickness and the length that he has [that stand out] regardless of what school he played at.”

Detroit Lions

Wide Receiver Kenny Golladay

With Anquan Boldin gone (at least for now), the Detroit Lions badly need a wide receiver to step into the void his absence creates.

In OTAs and minicamp, the newest wide receiver in the Motor City has done just that.

Among the newcomers to Detroit, no player has starred more on the practice field. On a daily basis, the third-round pick earned accolades for his route running and his ability to catch the ball in traffic.

Per Tim Twentyman of the team's website, veteran receiver Golden Tate has been impressed.

“You guys have seen these practices," Tate said. "Every single day you're seeing Golladay make a big play down the sideline or making a contested catch."

Green Bay Packers

Defensive Back Josh Jones

The secondary was the Packers' biggest area of need entering the offseason and an area the team hit with each of its first two draft picks.

The knowledge that at least one of those picks was a star on the practice field no doubt has general manager Ted Thompson feeling positively cheesy.

According to Marty Kauffman of Packers Wire, rookie defensive back Josh Jones was impressive "from the first public OTA to the last minicamp."

The No. 61 overall pick displayed both impressive physicality and excellent coverage skills on the practice field, lending credence to the belief that he is the sort of versatile Swiss army knife in the defensive backfield that's all the rage in today's NFL.

It's almost as if Thompson knows what he's doing or something.

Minnesota Vikings

Wide Receiver Laquon Treadwell

You may be tiring of all the wide receivers here, but believe me—the Minnesota Vikings are over the moon about the practice efforts of second-year pro Laquon Treadwell in recent weeks.

Treadwell, the No. 23 overall pick in 2016, was a non-factor as a rookie. But running as the team's third receiver in workouts, Treadwell has shown good burst and even better hands.

Offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur told Craig Peters of the team's website that staying healthy this offseason has paid big dividends for Treadwell. "To this point," Shurmur said, "we've been really pleased with his progress based on a year ago."

If the 6'2" Treadwell can carry this progress over into the preseason, Sam Bradford could have another badly needed big target—especially in the red zone.

Atlanta Falcons

Cornerback Desmond Trufant

In fairness, Desmond Trufant might not have been the most impressive player on the field for the Atlanta Falcons during OTAs. But there isn’t a player on the 90-man roster head coach Dan Quinn was happier to see in action.

Call it an instance of a limited participant bringing unlimited joy.

Trufant's 2016 season was cut short in November by a shoulder injury, and he was sorely missed during the team's second-half collapse in Super Bowl LI.

But the 26-year-old's rehab has progressed to the point that Trufant was able to do some work in OTAs, and Quinn told Kelsey Conway of the team's website Atlanta's top cornerback could be a full-go for training camp in July.

You need only look at the second half of that Super Bowl to see why it's so vital the Falcons have Trufant back in action ASAP.

Or why the fact he's already back on the practice field stands out as much as it does.

Carolina Panthers

Wide Receiver Kelvin Benjamin

It's possible to stand out for the wrong reasons.

Such was the case with Carolina Panthers wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin, who arrived at OTAs grossly out of shape. In fact, per Jared Dubin of CBS Sports, there were reports that Benjamin weighed 280 pounds when workouts began.

Panthers head coach Ron Rivera disputed that report, and according to Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer, Benjamin was in better shape by the end of OTAs and minicamp.

The 6'5" Benjamin is never going to be a 220-pound receiver. Or probably even a 230-pound receiver. He's also not going to be effective as a 270-pounder. Even with the additions the Panthers made in the passing game this offseason, the team needs Benjamin to be effective on the outside.

That's going to leave the Panthers playing a waiting game—to see how much Benjamin shows up at during training camp.

New Orleans Saints

Wide Receiver Michael Thomas

In Michael Thomas' first season with the New Orleans Saints, the former Ohio State standout set franchise rookie records for catches (92), yardage (1,137) and touchdown grabs (nine).

If OTAs are any sign, Thomas is only getting started.

As John DeShazier of the team's website reported, Thomas showed up for workouts at 220 pounds, with 10 extra pounds of muscle on his 6'3" frame. He then proceeded to embarrass whatever poor cornerback was assigned to guard him.

Thomas didn't mince any words when asked about his plans for 2017. "I want to be one of the best to ever play the game," he said, "so I put a lot of pressure on myself."

Thomas appears to be taking his new role as Drew Brees' No. 1 target through the air seriously. And that could pave the way for a monster season.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Wide Receiver Chris Godwin

In workouts that are in many ways glorified pitch-and-catch sessions, it's not a stunner that the players who catch said passes are going to look good.

But don't sell rookie wide receiver Chris Godwin short either. Because for almost the entire duration of OTAs for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the third-round pick looked really, really good.

Joe Kania of the Buccaneers' website listed Godwin as his No. 1 performer from OTAs. Bonnie Mott of Bucs Wire echoed those sentiments, passing along some heady praise from head coach Dirk Koetter.

"He does compete for the ball," Koetter said. "And it's way, way, way too early to say this, but in that respect, Chris reminds me a little bit of Roddy White, in that respect."

That giggling you hear is Tampa quarterback Jameis Winston.

Arizona Cardinals

Linebacker Haason Reddick

Plenty is expected of linebacker Haason Reddick in 2017. The youngster was the No. 13 overall pick, and Bleacher Report's Matt Miller called him the "Biggest Rising Star in the 2017 NFL Draft Class."

But with starter Deone Bucannon sidelined with an ankle injury, the pressure has ratcheted up that much more for Reddick.

Given how he's fared in OTAs, Reddick is going to be hard to keep off the field. As head coach Bruce Arians told ESPN's Josh Weinfuss, the ridiculously athletic 6'1", 237-pounder has made the most of his extra time with the starters.

"It's Wally Pipp," Arians said. "It's classic Wally Pipp. [Reddick's] getting every single rep, and he looks damn good."

If Reddick's performance continues into camp, Arians and the Redbirds may have a decision to make regarding Bucannon, Reddick and veteran Karlos Dansby—even if all three are healthy.

Los Angeles Rams

Quarterback Jared Goff

It's not unusual for rookie quarterbacks to struggle when forced into the limelight. But Jared Goff did more than just struggle for the Rams in 2016. He stunk—throwing just five touchdown passes against seven interceptions in seven starts.

After mortgaging their future to move up and take Goff first overall a year ago, the Rams desperately need him to take a big step forward in 2017.

New head coach Sean McVay told Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times that Goff is doing his best to take that step.

"We have a lot of confidence in what he’s done," McVay said. "He's getting better every single day, and he's definitely commanded that role."

Goff wasn't perfect in workouts, but Klein reported he was better—substantially so. His passes had better touch, and Goff appeared much more comfortable running the offense.

Now if he can just translate that into a game that counts.

San Francisco 49ers

Linebacker Malcolm Smith

The 49ers gave Smith over $11 million guaranteed in free agency, but after the team drafted Reuben Foster at No. 31 in this year's draft, it was fair to wonder if Smith would be relegated to part-time or even reserve duty before ever playing a game in San Francisco.

That's especially the case if you consider his struggles in Oakland last season.

Smith is doing everything he can to make new Niners defensive coordinator Robert Saleh's decision a hard one. The San Francisco defense couldn't be stopped throughout OTAs, and according to both Chris Biderman of Niners Wire and Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee, Smith was in on as many plays as anyone in the LB corps.

There's still a lot of work to be done (like, say, actually hitting people), but it looks like if Foster wants an every-down role out of the gate, he's going to have to earn it.

Seattle Seahawks

Safety Kam Chancellor

Sad as it is to say, the Legion of Boom won't be around much longer. At least not in the form fans have come to know and love. It nearly wasn't in 2016.

But for one more season at least, it looks like it will be business as usual at the back end of the Seattle defense. Free safety Earl Thomas is still working his way back into shape after last year's broken leg, but strong safety Kam Chancellor was on the field at OTAs after his own offseason surgery.

And according to Gregg Bell of the Tacoma News Tribune, he looked like "The Enforcer" of old, sprinting through drills and flattening a tackling dummy rather than avoiding it like his teammates.

Kam Chancellor, you see, does not avoid things.

It's not in his nature.