NFL predictions: Unlikely stars for all 32 teams entering 2019

Carolina Panthers: Javien Elliott, DB

Although he is a relative unknown, Javien Elliott has quickly made a name for himself at Panthers camp and has even earned reps with the first-team as the Panthers starting nickel corner.

A former Florida State walk-on, Elliott went undrafted in 2016 but signed a deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers where he played three seasons, started seven games, including five in 2018. He even nabbed his first career interception last season against his now quarterback, Cam Newton.

The Panthers clearly liked what they saw, as they signed him to a one year deal this offseason and he has hit the ground running with his new squad.

Although a little undersized, Elliott fits the mold as a nickel perfectly, as he plays with an aggressiveness and relentlessness that you would expect from somebody who has had to scratch and claw for everything in his career thus far.

Elliott is still fighting for that starting nickel spot but whether he locks it down or not, he is expected to be used quite a bit within that Carolina defense in 2019.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Alex Cappa, OG

When the Buccaneers drafted Alex Cappa in the third round of the 2018 draft, there were expectations for him to win and hold onto a starting role on a line that has needed help for a while. However, Cappa struggled in year one and was inactive for the majority of the season.

To be fair, going from playing on the outside at Humboldt State, to lining up on the interior in the NFL is quite the leap to make.

While he wasn’t able to quite figure things out as a rookie, it is starting to seem like things are clicking for Cappa.

He has apparently been excellent in practices and his quarterback Jameis Winston even went so far to say he’s been “dominant”.

Cappa has been working with the first-team offense at right guard all throughout camp and has started both preseason games thus far.

If things continue to trend upward for Cappa, he could be a big reason for the Buccaneers potential success in Bruce Arians first year.

New Orleans Saints: Kaden Elliss

The Saints drafted former Idaho linebacker, Kaden Elliss, with their final pick of the 2019 NFL draft and with such a late pick, there usually aren’t very high expectations in year one. Well, here we are four months later and Elliss may have already surpassed what was expected of him.

He has been a true standout throughout camp and has even led the defense in snaps in both of their first two preseason games.

Elliss has been all over the field and has shown solid instincts to go along with his ideal size for the middle linebacker position.

It’s obviously still very early and Alex Anzalone will return from injury soon to retake his spot, but Elliss has shown enough to get Saints fans excited about their potential depth at a position that has been a concern.

His immediate impact thus far should have already earned him his position on the 53-man roster and fans shouldn’t be surprised if they see Kaden Elliss getting in some rotational packages in 2019.

Not bad for being ten picks away from going undrafted.

Atlanta Falcons: Brian Hill, RB

The Falcons drafted running back Brian Hill in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL draft but have yet to get a lot out of him thus far in his career.

After waiving Hill before ever getting a carry with the team, the former Wyoming standout was signed by the Bengals, but was waived the following offseason after limited action.

The Falcons brought Hill back before the 2018 season and he was able to make the most of his limited opportunities. He finished the year with 20 carries for 157 yards, including a 60 yarder against Carolina late in the year.

Piggybacking off of that late success, Hill turned in an impressive camp and has made big plays during the preseason as well.

While he has been a welcomed surprise for Atlanta, his strong play could end up being more of an audition for another team, as the Falcons running back depth seems set.

Freeman obviously will get the brunt of the carries but they also drafted backs in the middle rounds of the last two drafts in Ito Smith and Qadree Ollison.

Regardless of what happens, Hill has proven himself as a capable back to any team’s rotation and deserves a shot to get some touches in 2019.