Second and third-year NFL players ready to break out in 2019

#10 Harold Landry

This was an obvious choice for me. While I did bump down Harold Landry after a disappointing senior campaign at Boston College following a 16.5 sack-season, I was very surprised to see him fall to the second round in last year’s draft. With Brian Orakpo and Derrick Morgan slotted in at those outside linebacker spots, the rookie was more of a rotational piece and started just three games on the season. He ended up recording 4.5 sacks on about 40 percent of the defensive snaps, but I’m definitely thinking double-digits here in 2019.

With both Orakpo and Morgan out of the picture, Landry will be a full-time starter and primed to break out as Tennessee’s top edge rusher. The second-year man shows incredible bend when running the arc on his speed rush, plus he can come back with transitioning that to power and working in push-pull maneuvers. What I love about him is the effort he rushes the passer with and that he is constantly looking to strip the ball when around the QB.

I need to see him develop an inside counter this offseason and learn how to deal with NFL tackle length better, but I think he is on his way to becoming a true threat off the edge. In addition to that, he can hold his ground at the point of attack by playing one half of the blocker and I thought he made it look easy when moving in space, as he dropped into coverage at last year’s NFL combine.

That entire Titans defense is loaded with young talented players, who are not talked about enough when you look at guys like Jayon Brown and Kevin Byard under the coaching of Dean Pees and Mike Vrabel. That group will grow up together and be really good pretty soon.