NFL: 5 players who are ready to shine in 2015

Every year, the National Football League (NFL) sees breakout performers in every position. Some of these players are new guys bursting onto the scene, while others are veterans reinventing themselves in a new city or system.Here are five guys I think are primed to start shining in 2015:

#5 Jadaveon Clowney, Defensive End, Houston Texans

Jadaveon Clowney

The #1 overall pick in 2014 entered the league as the most exciting defensive prospect since Lawrence Taylor. Two knee injuries, four NFL starts and one micro-fracture surgery later, and Clowney appears to be well removed from the glory everybody expected him to be covered in by now. At 22, he has plenty of time to develop into a truly gifted player, but if he doesn't at least begin to look like a starting quality player in 2015, the draft bust label is going to start getting whispered. And that's a slippery slope to slide down.

#4 Geno Smith, Quarterback, New York Jets

Geno Smith

The Jets look ready to roll. Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie back together at corner, Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker at receiver, Muhammed Wilkerson, Damon Harrison, Sheldon Richardson and Leonard Williams on the D line, Stevan Ridley and Chris Ivory at running back, they could make the playoffs this season. But their chances hinge entirely on the most important position on the field.

Geno Smith has to get over his inconsistencies and his mental errors if he is to lead this team to success. Last season showed the good (in wins against Oakland and Miami) and the bad (getting benched vs the Bills at home in week 8 in the first quarter). Whichever version of Geno Smith comes to play in 2015 will determine whether the Jets are still playing in January and probably if Geno Smith still has a team.

#3 Malcolm Butler, Cornerback, New England Patriots

Malcolm Butler

With the disappearance in Boston of top cornerbacks Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner, Malcolm Butler might well be the Patriot's #1 cornerback come September. The spotlight is already on the first year player because of a sensational Super Bowl, and while he will not be able or expected to completely replace the departing duo, he will have to make a big jump from a bit-part rotation player in 2014 to fully fledged starter in 2015.

A lot of smart people believe New England have some real pass coverage concerns, and it is going to be up to Butler and friends to prove them wrong. He has a chance to turn being famous for one play into being famous for his talent, and this season is the time to do that.

#2 CJ Anderson, RB, Denver Broncos

CJ Anderson

A 40-year-old quarterback can't be relied upon to throw 600 times in a season, as Peyton Manning did in 2014. Manning's arm needs to be protected, more so every year, and the best way to do that is for CJ Anderson to step up and become the top 10 running back everyone in Denver is hoping he can be.

Last season, Anderson's production was solid with 849 yards on 179 carries. This season, Anderson will be expected to maintain that level of production whilst adding maybe another 60-90 touches. If that wasn't hard enough, he's going to have to do it behind an overhauled offensive line; new starters, new scheme and new coaches will bring plenty of changes in Denver.

There's a lot of uncertainty up front for Denver and it's a big ask for Anderson to become a star. But with an ever-shrinking Super Bowl window for the Manning-led Bronco's, it's a necessary one.

#1 Josh Hill, Tight End, New Orleans Saints

Josh Hill

In the shock trade of the summer, the powers that be in New Orleans sent the Saint's best offensive player, Jimmy Graham, off to Seattle. You can’t replace Graham, a perennial Pro-Bowler, with just one guy. It will take a combination of players to give Drew Brees the productivity that Graham gave him on a weekly basis. The job will go to 34-year-old veteran Ben Watson and Josh Hill, a third year player who showed slight promise last season as a red zone target, grabbing 5 TDs off 16 receptions.

Watson is atop the depth chart at the moment, but the much younger Hill will be expected to make the step up in 2015. After a few years of relative failure, the Saints are moving towards a much more balanced system with more opportunities for New Orleans' running backs. That philosophy will see multiple tight ends on the field a lot more in stronger, run-heavy formations both as blockers and pass catchers.

With more opportunity comes more responsibility, and Hill is going to have to prove that he can be a reliable option for Drew Brees in a season when the quarterback will be looking for a new favourite target.