Entirely-Too-Early Breakout Candidate #1

The NFL season doesn’t start for another 3 or so months but when ball is life, it’s never too early to delve in. Here’s the rule about my breakout candidates:


 

I'm able recognize a breakout candidate when I see one, even if I’m unable to pronounce their name.


His combine measurables are freakish: 6'5", 258 lbs. and sub-4.5 speed. That’s a very big lad moving at high speed. He also has a brand new QB (that just so happens to be married to Ciara), and the former TE1 just hopped on a jet and left Denver. After the Broncos used a first round draft pick on Noah Fant in 2019, he was front and center in the starting role in Denver as one might expect. Fant is a bit of an athletic specimen himself, around the same size and speed as Albert O. Fant started in 41 games throughout three productive seasons in Denver and put up solid numbers despite a revolving door of QB's throughout. 

After the 2021 season, Noah Fant was dealt away as part of the Russell Wilson deal that brought him to Denver. This was a blockbuster trade; the Broncos finally made it clear that they mean business and went all in on a franchise quarterback. They also presumably felt comfortable enough with Albert O to move Fant, a former first round pick, opening up lead duties.  Basically what I'm trying to say is it's officially Albert's time to shine. 

As is the case with just about any unproven talent in the NFL, Albert O’s biggest challenge lies with staying on the field. His rookie season was cut short when he tore his ACL, and he missed part of last year with a bum hamstring. Albert O currently carries an ECR of TE13, and it was as high as 19 this offseason. I’m here to tell you that this number is borderline disrespectful, he’s a top-10 talent in a great spot. Fant’s departure vacates almost 100 targets and I expect Albert O to build rapport with Wilson on his way to a breakout season. 

The Broncos used a third round pick on UCLA tight end Greg Dulcich, so keep that in mind on your league’s draft day. With that said, Albert O has a clear path to TE1 in an exciting, youthful offense led by a proven star Russell Wilson. Carrying an ADP between #149-159, Albert O is a sneaky good TE1 gamble worth taking later if the usual suspects are off the board and you’ve cashed in your draft stock elsewhere.



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