
Assessing breakout potential of 3 Packers players named to '2025 All-Breakout Team'
If all three players truly break out this season, the Packers might be the best team in football in 2025. Any kind of breakout performance from Morgan would turn a good offensive line into an elite one, while a big season from Van Ness and Cooper would almost certainly help Jeff Hafley create one of the NFL's most disruptive defenses.
All three young players have breakout merit.
Brooks sees Morgan, who will compete for a starting job at left tackle and right guard, as having the "quick feet and active hands" necessary for being a top pass blocker regardless of his position.
"If the franchise quarterback (Jordan Love) enjoys a banner season, there's a good chance the second-year blocker will have played a major role in his success, presumably as either Love's blindside protector or as a trench warrior at the point of attack," Brooks wrote.
In the defensive front, the Packers are banking on a big season from Van Ness, the team's 2023 first-round pick. His first two years have been disappointing in terms of production and impact, but experienced gained over his first two seasons could help set up a big third year for a player with the size, power and athleticism to be consistently disruptive.
From Brooks: "Whether he is attacking from the edges as a full-time starter or creating chaos as a designated playmaker in a sub-package, Van Ness possesses the size, tools and experience to turn his flashes into disruptive production this fall."
It wouldn't be untrue to say Cooper's rookie season was a "breakout" season. He produced 13 tackles for losses and 3.5 sacks despite playing fewer than 500 total snaps. But breaking out has different definitions, and it's possible Cooper could break out as a Pro Bowl-caliber player in a full-time role for Hafley in 2025.
"Cooper is a rare find as a downhill 'backer with the speed, quickness and agility to match tight ends and running backs in space, while possessing the power, pop and wiggle to wreak havoc on blitzes," Brooks wrote. "The second-year pro could be in line for more accolades as a designated playmaker in Jeff Hafley's "see ball, get ball" defense.
Let's break down the breakout potential for all three players.
Jordan Morgan
A college left tackle, Morgan looked primed to start at right guard to start his rookie season when a shoulder injury hit during training camp. The same recurring injury ended up limiting him to just six games and one start. With the injury in the rear-view mirror and with a year of experience in a professional program, Morgan should be physically and mentally ready to be a starter somewhere along the offensive line. The Packers are going to give him a shot to start at left tackle, a premium position, but right guard is up for grabs as well. A breakout season for Morgan would probably be winning a starting job at one of the spots and producing a solid season that elevates the performance at left tackle or right guard over the 2024 season. While beating out Rasheed Walker at left tackle still feels unlikely, it's a good bet Morgan is going to start a lot of games for the Packers in 2025.
Breakout potential: Good
Lukas Van Ness
Disappointingly, Van Ness produced fewer pressures and fewer stops compared to his rookie season while playing roughly the same amount of snaps in 2024. He must take a big step in Year 3, especially considering how much the Packers will be relying on him to make impact plays on the edge. But Van Ness certainly isn't the first highly drafted edge rusher to take time to develop early in his career. In fact, Mark Oldacres of Packers Wire showed here that many first-round picks at edge rusher need development early and eventually break out in Year 3. And Van Ness did actually improve in some metrics as a pass-rusher in Year 2, even while dealing with a broken thumb that required a cast for the first few months of the season. A breakout season for Van Ness would require playing more snaps, making more impact plays and improving in a notable way as a both a pass-rusher and run stopper. It's a lot to ask, but he's physically capable, and having DeMarcus Covington as his new position coach could accelerate the development.
Breakout potential: Decent
Edgerrin Cooper
There hasn't been this much hype over a second-year Packers defender since probably Clay Matthews. But Cooper earned the hype after a dazzling rookie season in which he was one of the most disruptive defensive players in football over the last month of the year. He is an elite athlete with true playmaking instincts and ability, and he's both playing in a system that helps maximizes his disruption potential and expected to play a lot more snaps as a bigger, stronger second-year player. Mix obvious talent with a schematic fit and an increase in opportunities, and a big season is usually the end result. What does a breakout season look like for a player coming off such an encouraging rookie season? Expectations are important, but putting together a Pro Bowl-caliber year is probably the only way Cooper could truly "break out" in 2025. While nothing guarantees a big jump, Cooper looks like he could be the best young off-ball linebacker in football.
Breakout potential: Good

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
NFL Top 100: Jaguars WR Brian Thomas is No. 61, plays Cardinals in Week 12
Jacksonville's Brian Thomas Jr. had the rookie season that people wanted Marvin Harrison Jr. to have. This week, the NFL had its fourth week of revealing players in the "NFL Top 100." This week was about revealed Nos. 61-70. Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride came in at No. 65. On Friday, two Cardinals opponents for 2025 rounded out the week. Coming at No. 61 was Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Brian Thomas, who was a rookie last season. In his rookie campaign, he had the season Cardinals fans hoped that Marvin Harrison Jr. would have had. He had 87 catches for 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns. He made the Pro Bowl and was fourth in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting. He was the fourth rookie since the NFL-AFL merger to have at least 1,200 yards and 10 touchdowns. Fellow 2024 rookie receiver Malik Nabers of the New York Giants, Thomas' college teammate at LSU, called him "a freak of nature." Teammate Travon Walker, a defensive end, said Thomas is "a good route runner" with "exceptional speed." The Cardinals will have to find a way to slow Thomas in 2025. The Jaguars come to State Farm Stadium in Week 12. He isn't the only Jaguars player in the top 100, as defensive end Josh Hines-Allen made the list just behind Thomas at No. 63. 'NFL Top 100' opponents for Cardinals in 2025 Of the 30 players in the top 100 revealed as of the end of last week, the Cardinals face the following: Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.


New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
Chargers training camp report, Day 8: It's time to get Zion Johnson padded snaps at center
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — The Los Angeles Chargers are now eight practices into training camp, and Zion Johnson has yet to take a snap at center in padded team drills. The Chargers have held two padded practices thus far — one Tuesday and one Thursday. For both of those practices, Johnson was at left guard, where he started last season. Bradley Bozeman was at center, where he started last season. Advertisement It is early, and the Chargers started camp a week before the rest of the league because they are playing in the Hall of Fame Game to open the preseason. They have time to evaluate Johnson at center. He has played center with the starting offensive line in three unpadded practices in camp so far. In those practices, Bozeman has been at left guard. On the flip side, though, what exactly are the Chargers waiting for? Johnson has never played center in the NFL. He never played center in college. His lone experience at the position came at the Senior Bowl before he was drafted in 2022. As Johnson tries to make the transition from guard to center, the most important facet of the process is banking experience. 'Not having played center before, every rep is valuable,' Johnson said Friday. 'I try to take as much important care as I can with every rep that I get so I can get all those learning experiences that guys that maybe have gotten a lot more reps than me have gotten. So I'd say the challenge is trying to get the reps in and fit it in where I can — getting snaps before practice, getting snaps after practice, getting snaps in my room, wherever I can.' There is also the option of giving Johnson center snaps in practice — with the pads on, when his capability at the position can be properly evaluated. On the evaluation front, the Chargers have offered mixed messaging. Offensive coordinator Greg Roman was asked for his thoughts on the Johnson-Bozeman rotation after Day 3 of camp. 'I think we'll have a lot more information seven days from now as far as how that's progressing, once we get pads on.' That was July 19. Saturday will mark exactly seven days since that exchange. On Friday, coach Jim Harbaugh said this of Johnson: 'I do want to get Zion playing center in pads, get that under our belt.' Advertisement Later in the same news conference, Harbaugh said, 'I've already seen that he can play the position. He'll be able to play, whether it's guard or center, at a very high, high level.' Harbaugh added that 'the things that are really most important (are) the snaps and the time on task on that, and it's as good with or without pads.' The Chargers had been rotating Johnson and Bozeman through the first seven days of camp. On Days 1, 3, 5 and 7, Bozeman was at center and Johnson was at left guard. On Days, 2, 4 and 6, Johnson was at center and Bozeman was at left guard. Before practice, Harbaugh said he had no plans to change the rotation. When practice started, the Chargers changed the rotation. Friday was an even day, Day 8. Bozeman was at center for the second straight practice. Johnson was at left guard for the second straight practice. That was the first time the two players had stayed at the same positions in back-to-back practices. So what does that mean? Perhaps the Chargers are planning on finally getting Johnson reps at center in padded team drills Saturday. The Chargers are also in pads Monday, so that is another opportunity. What is clear is the Chargers need to remove the training wheels and see if this Johnson experiment at center has any chance of succeeding. If it does not, then they can station Johnson at guard, Bozeman at center and start developing cohesion with a starting interior three. They have a new right guard in Mekhi Becton. Johnson said it is 'very important' for him to get padded snaps at center. 'That's something the staff and our room have been talking about a lot, Boze playing guard and me playing center,' Johnson added. 'We got to get the live reps together to build that chemistry, so that's definitely something that we have been talking about and thinking about implementing.' Advertisement Bozeman, meanwhile, has not played a snap at guard since 2020, when he started at left guard for the Baltimore Ravens. Roman was the Ravens' offensive coordinator that season. 'It's like riding a bike,' Bozeman said. 'You might wobble a few times, but you eventually get it.' Bozeman, too, will benefit from padded snaps at guard. You have to actually get on the bike to ride it. 'At some point,' Bozeman said, 'we just got to go in and figure it out.' Bozeman re-signed with the Chargers this offseason on a two-year deal. On Friday, Bozeman said he knew he would be 'competing to start' when he agreed to come back. 'I love the honesty and the upfrontness of this front office and everyone else in this organization,' Bozeman said. Johnson put in quite a bit of work this offseason to prepare himself for a move to center. He said he had discussions with former Chargers center Corey Linsley. He said he was in constant communication with Chargers assistant offensive line coach Nick Hardwick, who started 136 games at center for the organization from 2004 to '14. 'I have a lot of voices, a lot of people in the organization and in our room that I can really rely on to learn from,' Johnson said. But the true test — Johnson's performance with pads on — has not happened yet. And it is time. There is only one way to find out if this experiment is going to work. 'It's a competition to get our best combination,' Harbaugh said. • Chargers who did not practice Friday: tackle Rashawn Slater, receiver Jalen Reagor, cornerback Benjamin St-Juste, cornerback Deane Leonard, running back Raheim Sanders, receiver Luke Grimm, tight end McCallan Castles, edge rusher Bud Dupree, receiver Brenden Rice, edge rusher Kylan Guidry and edge rusher Garmon Randolph. Harbaugh said Dupree was given a rest day. Advertisement • Cornerback Tarheeb Still was on the field for stretch and individual drills but did not participate in team drills. • Cornerback Cam Hart had the play of the day on defense. He was in one-on-one coverage on receiver Quentin Johnston, who was running an out route to the left sideline. This was one of two periods in which the starting offense faced the starting defense. Quarterback Justin Herbert threw to Johnston. Hart undercut the route, picked off the throw and returned it for a touchdown. • Johnston had a 60-yard touchdown in 11-on-11 against the starting defense. The secondary badly busted a coverage, and Johnston ran wide open into the deep part of the field. Herbert hit him easily for the score. Johnston also had a key reception during the starting offense's two-minute drill late in practice. That series came against the reserve defense. The coverage was initially tight across the field. Herbert bought some time, and Johnston did well to break away from cornerback Trikweze Bridges in the scramble drill. The connection went for 20 yards and moved the offense into field goal range. • Rookie receiver Dalevon Campbell had the catch of the day on offense. He showed off some impressive leaping ability, skying over safety Kendall Williams to snatch a jump ball for an explosive gain. The throw was from quarterback Taylor Heinicke. Campbell has responded well after a dropped touchdown early in camp. • Three rookie defensive backs had pass breakups in Friday's practice. Nikko Reed, who had a pick-six in Thursday's practice, broke hard on a KeAndre Lambert-Smith dig route. Heinicke threw to Lambert-Smith. Reed timed his reach perfectly and knocked the ball away without drawing a flag. Jordan Oladokun broke up a pass from quarterback Trey Lance intended for receiver Dez Fitzpatrick on a comeback route. In the final 11-on-11 period, Heinicke threw to Fitzpatrick on an out route near the right sideline. Safety RJ Mickens punched the ball loose after the initial catch. It was an incomplete pass. Fitzpatrick did have an explosive reception in the two-minute drill, connecting with Lance down the right sideline on a go route. This was Lance's best throw of camp so far. • Running back Najee Harris was on the field Friday for the second straight day watching practice in street clothes. Harris remains on the non-football injury list after injuring his eye in a fireworks accident. On both Thursday and Friday, Harris had large sunglasses covering his eyes. (Top photo of Zion Johnson: Kirby Lee / Imagn Images)

Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon gives an update on training camp
Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon speaks during a news conference at training camp at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on July 25, 2025.