​Breakout players arrive every season, shaped by a tapestry of factors that can open doors for unheralded talents or thrust veterans into fresh roles. Sometimes injuries create opportunities for others to step up, while at other times a player simply seizes control of a position and runs with it. The varying circumstances surrounding each breakout keep roster construction an endlessly fascinating puzzle. Do you hold onto someone on the roster hoping for a breakout, or do you ride with a known commodity?
For the New Orleans Saints, scouting for a 2025 breakout is a particularly engaging exercise. Even though he has logged many years in the league, it’s hard to argue that EDGE rusher Chase Young didn’t deliver one of his finest seasons as a professional in recent memory. This prompts a broader question: are breakthroughs reserved for young players or for those who are relatively unproven?
ESPN published a team-by-team list of breakout candidates, with Benjamin Solak highlighting a different player for each club. For the Saints, he chose cornerback Quincy Riley. Riley has surged into relevance for New Orleans after a mid-round haul yielded two dependable starting defensive backs, Riley and safety Jonas Sanker. Riley settled in as the third cornerback on the field behind Kool-Aid McKinstry and Alontae Taylor, where he primarily lined up outside, even as Taylor shifted inside due to his size (5-foot-11, 195 pounds). What stands out about Riley is his proven instincts for the football and his impressive pound-for-pound strength.
There’s a case to be made for Riley to branch into slot duties, especially with Taylor’s free-agent departure opening a potential niche. Still, his outside corner role remains more than adequate within Brandon Staley’s zone-heavy scheme. On the other hand, Sanker appears to be the more natural fit for a breakout in 2025, given that he is positioned as the first in line to assume Taylor’s slot responsibilities. In a coin-flip moment, I’d lean toward Riley, though the logic is nuanced: Sanker’s versatility and proximity to the slot give him a strong breakout trajectory, while Riley’s outside corner role could become a defining feature if he capitalizes on extensive camp and preseason work.
That said, the calculation Solak offered—selecting Riley over Sanker because Riley faces a slightly longer path to a true breakout—adds an interesting dynamic to the debate. Sanker showed substantial flashes late in 2025, and his ceiling suggests a high probability of a breakout. Yet in Staley’s scheme, the “star” role has been a central feature, and Sanker’s fit there makes him a compelling candidate. Riley’s success hinges on a robust camp, solid preseason demonstrations, and the ability to command the outside corner spot in a defense that relies on press and zone concepts alike.
Ultimately, the breakout conversation for the Saints in 2025 centers on how these players evolve within Staley’s scheme and how the coaching staff maximizes their strengths. Riley’s outside corner stamina and ball-tracking acumen could carry him to a sustainable breakout if he demonstrates consistent man-to-man competitiveness and a willingness to adapt to the nuances of slot duties. Sanker, with his capacity to roam the field and his potential to take over the slot, embodies a more straightforward path to breakout recognition if he maintains discipline in run fits and coverage responsibilities. The Saints’ 2025 breakout narrative will hinge on who seizes the opportunities created by offseason changes, injuries, and the natural evolution of players as they push toward their peak performance.