As the term indicates, some players have had a steady drumbeat this preseason. Maybe it started right after the NFL Draft. Maybe it started in late July. But, for some players, we've heard nothing but good news and good reports (and even bad news and reports from their competition for playing time). And now, it's obvious they are ready to excel.
We asked our staff to name one player whose drumbeats are loud and clear. A player they thought would fit into a role and has given multiple indications of that happening.
Here are their answers.
Ben Cummins
Christian Kirk, Jacksonville
The drumbeat for the Jaguars offense as a whole has been positive and exciting all offseason. Trevor Lawrence looks primed to take a huge step forward in year two under the tutelage of new head coach, Doug Pederson. And that should correlate with Christian Kirk easily beating his ADP. Kirk signed a huge deal with the Jaguars this offseason, Lawrence recently called him "quarterback friendly," and Kirk saw eight targets on just 22 routes in Preseason Week 2. Kirk offers inside/outside versatility and will be a go-to target for Lawrence all season long. I'm all in.
Jason Wood
Brian Robinson Jr, Washington
Robinson was initially pegged as a potential "injury away" option behind Antonio Gibson, who would see the snaps Jaret Patterson got in 2021. But an impressive skill set, quick acclimation of the playbook, and toughness immediately caught the coaches' attention, most importantly head coach Rivera. With Antonio Gibson fumbling in practice and preseason game action, Robinson is now poised to be on equal footing with Gibson, at worst, and could be the new starter.
Sam Wagman
Gabriel Davis, Buffalo
Ever since choosing not to resign Emmanuel Sanders and passing through the NFL Draft without taking a perimeter receiver, the Bills have telegraphed that they intend to give Gabriel Davis a massive X receiver role, and so far, the plans are a go. Davis caught another great touchdown in last week’s preseason game had had 2 catches for 47 yards and the score. Davis has had praises heaped on him all offseason long by the coaching staff and truly appears ready to make the leap to WR2 status this season in one of the best passing offenses in the NFL.
Sigmund Bloom
Isaiah Likely, Baltimore
Many bemoaned the lack of wide receivers in the Ravens' draft and free agent class, but they were likely overlooking a rookie that the Ravens didn't even intend to take at the 139th pick. Only the rival Steelers sniping them on Calvin Austin one pick earlier opened the door for Likely, who they felt compelled to take even though they had just taken another tight end earlier in the round (Iowa State's Charlie Kolar). Likely, the best playmaker in the Coastal Carolina passing game, has blown away any reasonable expectations with a spring that drew rave reviews from multiple Baltimore players, followed up by a summer crescendo of an 8-100-1 line vs the Cardinals in preseason Week 2 on only 15 snaps. 21 of his 29 routes run in the preseason have been out of the slot, so he's primarily a big slot, not a tight end. Likely is in line to be third in targets in this offense and the best run-after-catch threat. He's worth a late-round pick if you punted tight end or play in a tight-end-premium league. He should be on your waiver wire watch list in any event.
Jeff Haseley
Skyy Moore, Kansas City
Skyy Moore has shown a high degree of success in college against both man and zone coverage and was drafted by the Chiefs to fill a particular role left vacated by Tyreek Hill's trade to Miami. The drum beat is getting louder for the electric rookie with a similar skill set that made Hill a beast in the Chiefs offense. Moore has the tools to make some noise in the loaded AFC West. The only uncertainty is how long it will take for him to be fully immersed in the offense.
Christian Williams
K.J. Osborn, Minnesota
Since the arrival of new head coach Kevin O'Connell, the outlook for K.J. Osborn has been cautiously optimistic. O'Connell's reliance on three-receiver sets in his previous stops, combined with his pass-first mentality, brings a different philosophy that can take advantage of Osborn, Adam Thielen, and Justin Jefferson. Osborn excelled when given the opportunity in 2021, and the drum beat from training camp reinforces the idea that Osborn could be heavily involved in 2022.
Matt Montgomery
George Pickens, Pittsburgh
The Drum Beat for George Pickens has to be the loudest in the preseason. It’s easy to crown a preseason MVP based on flashy catches with no pads and shorts, but Pickens looks to be 100% That Dude! Back in May, Footballguys had Dynasty wide receiver roundtable about which rookies we want to draft this year for dynasty leagues. George Pickens was my first choice. At the time, Pickens was a 2nd/3rd round ADP with injury and playing time concerns, and my argument was for his value. While these concerns aren’t 100% gone, we can clearly see he’s going to be a part of the Steelers’ pass game. He is no longer a “value” pick; he’s a must-have. Whether watching his preseason performance thus far or listening to teammates and coaches talk about him, one thing is certain he is a player we need to take notice of. He is the current favorite, along with teammate Kenny Pickett for Offensive Rookie of the Year. I said it in May, and I’ll say it again, team managers will look back and be happy they took a chance on George Pickens.