Predicting Chiefs' Top NFL Training Camp Breakout Players

This past Friday, all Kansas City Chiefs rookies were required to report to Missouri Western State University for their first NFL training camp. These players then began their preparations for the 2022 season.

Now, it's almost time for Chiefs camp to get much more crowded. Every player on the roster must show up by Tuesday, which is when things will really start to pick up.

Kansas City is heading into the season as a probable top contender in the AFC once again this year. The Chiefs have won six straight AFC West titles, reached the conference championship game each of the past four years and won a Super Bowl title during the 2019 season.

Although the team still has a strong core, there are some key players from recent years no longer on its roster. That group includes wide receiver Tyreek Hill and safety Tyrann Mathieu. So Kansas City will be looking for some players to step up in camp, some of whom could do so in a bit of a surprise fashion.

Here's a look at several players who could be the breakout performers of Chiefs training camp.

Kansas City's offense is going to be without Hill for the first time since 2015. And considering he's been one of the best wide receivers in the league during that stretch, the Chiefs have quite a bit of production to try to replace for 2022.

Yet, Mecole Hardman believes he may actually be in a better position to have success himself.

"If a defense feels like they can come and play man-to-man or stay at 10 yards and think that's cool, I'm going to go right by you," Hardman said during a recent appearance on ESPN's First Take. "I never could show that because I had [Hill] in front of me, which I had no problem with. I learned from him."

Now, it's time for Hardman to take that knowledge, as well as his three years of NFL experience, and try to have a breakout showing in training camp. He has only 1,791 receiving yards over 49 career games, but he'll have an opportunity to have his best season yet if he capitalizes on the opportunity he has this summer.

Even though Kansas City signed JuJu Smith-Schuster and Marquez Valdes-Scantling in free agency and used a second-round draft pick on Skyy Moore, Hardman will be in the mix for a starting role. And there's a decent chance that he'll seize that job in camp.

Frank Clark is the Chiefs' only proven top-tier pass rusher heading into the 2022 season. He's sure to be a force on one side, but Kansas City will need some players to bring pressure from the other side.

It's quite possible that rookie George Karlaftis, who was selected by the Chiefs in the first round of this year's draft, could quickly assume the starting role opposite Clark. But Mike Danna shouldn't be counted out, as the 24-year-old has flashed his potential over his first two NFL seasons.

Danna has played 30 games and made seven starts, but he has only 5.5 sacks. However he's been impressive at times, and he has enough experience now that he could turn that into a breakout showing during training camp.

There will be available playing time on the edges, and even if Danna doesn't land a starting role, he could get on the field a good bit as the primary backup. So that would be a great opportunity for him to have a strong season if he can prove he's worthy prior to that point.

L'Jarius Sneed recorded five interceptions over his first two NFL seasons, and he started 15 games for the Chiefs during the 2021 campaign. So the 25-year-old has already shown he can be a solid contributor in the secondary.

However, Sneed likely hasn't peaked yet. In fact, he may be in a position to take his game to another level in 2022. And he could end up as one of the breakout cornerbacks of the NFL during the upcoming season.

Although Sneed made some positive impacts over the past two years, he has areas where he can improve. In 2021, Pro Football Focus gave him a grade of 64.1, which rates him as backup quality on its scale. He needs to improve his coverage skills to boost that number.

But Sneed is only 25, so he has plenty of time to do that still. Plus, he should get plenty of time on the field in camp, as he's likely going to be in a starting role again this year. Expect him to have an impressive showing that will set him up for the best season of his NFL career thus far.