There’s always going to be someone who comes out of training camp as a breakout player, a player whose status is much larger at the end of August than what it was at the end of July.
The Browns need more than a few of those this training camp. They need players who can potentially become household names, at least among their own fans and, even more important, become key starters or rotational pieces.
Who are some of those breakout candidates? Who could be a player to emerge?
The seven-person rookie draft class is going to be set aside for the purposes of this exercise. Otherwise, this list would almost exclusively be players like that.
Instead, let’s make some bold predictions on players who are back from a year ago who could fall into that category.
Kaden Davis, wide receiver
Before the 2024 season finale at the Baltimore Ravens, Davis had never appeared in a regular-season NFL game. He had been on the Browns practice squad since Dec. 10 before making his debut, when he had a 40-yard kickoff return among three returns for an average of 35.3 yards. Davis has already started to earn some praise from both Browns coach Kevin Stefanski and wide receivers coach Chad O’Shea for his work in the offseason. Considering the state of the Browns wide receiving corps entering training camp, as well as the four-man quarterback competition, he may have a chance to really showcase himself.
Mike Hall Jr., defensive tackle
This is a massive, massive season for Hall, a 2024 second-round pick out of Streetsboro High School and Ohio State. His rookie season was hampered by issues of his own doing — a five-game suspension after a domestic violence arrest — and of injuries, including a Week 18 knee injury that required surgery. Once Hall is able to get on the field and perform fully, it’s going to be time for him to back up some of the expectations placed on him when he was taken in the second round. Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz has talked about the second-year jump this offseason, and he’s talked about Hall needing to make the most of that jump. The Browns are thin in terms of production at defensive tackle outside of Shelby Harris and Maliek Collins, which makes it even more important he takes that leap forward.
Ronnie Hickman, safety
You’re probably asking what a player with nine starts in 24 games played over the last two seasons is doing here. Well, it’s because Hickman is going to have a chance to take a big step forward in the Browns secondary plans now that Juan Thornhill and Rodney McLeod are gone. Sure, they brought in veterans Damontae Kazee and Rayshawn Jenkins, but it feels like Hickman’s in position to have a season in which he could lock down a starting job instead of sharing the role. That’s going to depend a lot on him making plays from that deep safety spot beyond the one interception — which went for a touchdown in the 2023 playoff-clinching win over the New York Jets — he has in his career to date. That’s where the breakthrough really could show up for the former Ohio State standout.
Isaiah McGuire, defensive end
Low-hanging fruit here, but there’s no question the 2023 fourth-round pick out of the University of Missouri is a player the Browns think very highly of entering training camp. McGuire’s rookie season was spent mostly on the inactive list, as he appeared in just four games. However, he played in 16 games with three starts in 2024. Not only did he play, but he made plays as well, with 2.5 sacks and 29 total pressures while forcing three fumbles. Another year in the league only elevates the expectations for McGuire entering his third season.
Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Browns training camp preview | 4 non-rookies who could be 2025 breakout players
Reporting by Chris Easterling, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
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