For the most part, we know who the stars of the 2024 NFL season will be. Patrick Mahomes will lead the Kansas City Chiefs in an effort to three-peat as Super Bowl champions. Lamar Jackson will work toward his third MVP award. T.J. Watt and Myles Garrett will hope their singular efforts can overcome the underwhelming offenses on the other side of their respective depth charts.

But each team's final destination could be charted by unexpected navigators. All 32 teams have players, from rookies to veterans, they'll rely on to emerge as gears in a machine designed to produce a Super Bowl outcome.

Let's talk about those overlooked pieces who could emerge as stars if they reach their potential -- and could be the difference between prepping for the 2025 NFL Draft come January vs. a playoff run.

Arizona Cardinals: CB Max Melton

The Cardinals have taken a common sense approach to rebuilding, but there's still a need for high level talent on the defensive side of the ball. With a questionable front seven, the pressure will be on Arizona's secondary to be the eraser that keeps opponents from adding up big numbers.

Budda Baker is, as usual, a great place to start and Sean Murphy-Bunting will bring a veteran presence (and the ability to be very good and very bad, sometimes in the same drive). But Melton (and fellow rookie Elijah Jones) could be the wave of the future in Glendale. A lockdown start to 2024 could help the Cardinals get out of the gate and chart a course back toward the playoffs.

Atlanta Falcons: LB Troy Andersen

Andersen struggled as a rookie making the leap from FCS competition, then missed all but two games in 2023 due to injury. Now he'll be tasked with anchoring the middle of the field for a win-now team that recently added Matthew Judon and Justin Simmons around him.

Andersen has the chops to be a dynamic off-ball presence; he was a two-way stud at Montana State and has the size and speed to clog running lanes or stay glued to tight ends downfield. There's a rising tide of talent around him; now's his chance breach the surface and rise to stardom.

Baltimore Ravens: EDGE Odafe Oweh

Baltimore has undergone serious turnover on the defensive side of the ball. This offseason saw the departures of Patrick Queen, Geno Stone, Jadeveon Clowney AND coordinator Mike Macdonald.

That leaves a vacuum for Oweh, a former first round pick, to fill. He's only made 13 starts in three seasons, but is primed to step into a larger role this fall. His pass rushing should be fine -- he had 15 pressures, 12 quarterback hits and five sacks last season despite playing 50 percent of the team's defensive snaps in 13 games. The question is whether he'll be able to hold his own when it isn't an obvious passing down; Oweh has posted a double-digit missed tackle rate every year as a pro.

Buffalo Bills: WR Khalil Shakir

Shakir isn't much of a sleeper; he's Buffalo's leading returning wideout. While that resulted in fewer than 700 yards last season, he was one of the league's most efficient receivers.

He caught nearly 87 percent of his targets (zero drops in 45 chances), his 1.74 yards per route run (YPRR) ranked 34th among all wideouts and his 13.6 yards per target was best in the NFL. Now he has to prove he can do it without Stefon Diggs drawing defenders away from him.

Carolina Panthers: OT Ikem Ekwonu

Ekwonu was regarded as one of the safer picks of the 2022 NFL Draft. Instead of being an immediate presence on the Panthers' line, he struggled as a rookie before modest improvements in 2023.

Carolina badly needs him to be the franchise left tackle to push Bryce Young to greatness. He's got the ability to get there; now Carolina has to wait and see if he can fulfill his Pro Bowl promise or be merely another guy on what's been an underwhelming line.

Chicago Bears: CB Tyrique Stevenson

Stevenson's improvement was a key factor in the Bears' dramatic defensive improvement to finish 2023. Over his last five games he knocked down nine passes while intercepting three more.

The second year cornerback will see plenty of targets this fall as opponents avoid the lockdown coverage of Jaylon Johnson. If Stevenson can make them pay, it will reduce the work rookie Caleb Williams has to do on the other side of the ball.

Cincinnati Bengals: RB Zack Moss

We kinda know what we're getting from Moss at this point in his career; steady, solid running on a part time basis. But the Bengals will give him the opportunity to be RB1 in Joe Mixon's absence, and he could thrive.

With Chase Brown underwhelming in limited preseason work (five carries, 10 yards), the young veteran could be the engine Joe Burrow relies on to grind out first downs on the ground, set up passing plays downfield and, importantly, crash into the end zone in goal-to-go situations.

Cleveland Browns: QB Jameis Winston

Deshaun Watson, whom the Browns traded for and gave $230 million fully guaranteed despite more than 20 accusations of sexual misconduct and what the NFL itself later described as "predatory behavior," has only played 12 games in two seasons with Cleveland and has already been held out of preseason action thanks to arm soreness. He hasn't been very good on the field either, as he's been outplayed by Jacoby Brissett and Joe by-god Flacco the last two years.

Winston could be the next link in that chain if he can keep the Browns rolling come Watson's eventual absence. He played his finest football in 2021 as Drew Brees' backup in New Orleans; it could happen again this fall.

Dallas Cowboys: C Cooper Beebe

Let's add fellow rookie offensive lineman Tyler Guyton here as well, as each has big shoes to fill along the Cowboys' offensive line. While the Dak Prescott to CeeDee Lamb connection remains one of the league's most dangerous, the team's lack of receiving depth will put pressure on Dallas's run game to step up.

With Ezekiel Elliott and Rico Dowdle as top backs, there's going to need to be lots of space for them to operate. Beebe, who like Guyton has earned rave reviews this preseason, is a straight-up bouncer who can play multiple positions and toss defensive linemen out of the club from just about anywhere.

Denver Broncos: CB Riley Moss

This spot was originally Tim Patrick's, but Sean Payton decided Bo Nix doesn't need a veteran possession receiver with a history of season-ending injuries. Rather than place too many expectations on oft-injured tight end Greg Dulcich, let's turn to the other side of the ball.

Moss is likely to start alongside sensation Patrick Surtain II and, accordingly, see a high volume of targets from quarterbacks who want nothing to do with the Broncos' All-Pro corner. Moss was a 2023 third round pick who only played 23 defensive snaps as a rookie and didn't look great in the process. But if he can step up, it would be a boon for a secondary that's also replacing Pro Bowler Justin Simmons at safety.

Detroit Lions: LB Jack Campbell

Campbell was one of head coach Dan Campbell's maligned 2023 first round picks, and while he wasn't the revelation Jahmyr Gibbs was, he still managed to start 12 games as a rookie. Struggles ensued -- he gave up a gruesome 128.2 passer rating in coverage -- but the raw talent remains.

The former Iowa star is a big, strong tackling machine with top level straight line speed to track tight ends up the seam. He plays the exact brand of football his coach expects (intelligently reckless) and finds his way to the ball for big stops. If he can pair those instincts with the position's steep learning curve, he could be headed for a breakout in 2024.

Green Bay Packers: S Javon Bullard

Bullard looks like he'll be thrown into the fire in 2024, starting at safety alongside Xavier McKinney five months after being selected in the second round. If he can thrive as an over-the-top help defender, it will be a huge boon to the aggressive defense new coordinator Jeff Hafley aims to bring to Wisconsin.

With the Packers' cornerbacks tabbed for more press coverage and blitzes likely cranked up to "high," Bullard will have to prove he can operate in both man and zone schemes. That's something he did well at Georgia, where he posted a 36.6 passer rating when targeted in 2023.

Houston Texans: C Juice Scruggs

Houston rallied to an AFC South title last season behind the arm of CJ Stroud, but got comparatively little from its run game. The Texans' 3.7 yards per carry ranked 29th in the league.

That may not improve now that the big addition to this year's tailback corps is a 28-year-old Joe Mixon with nearly 2,000 NFL touches to his name. But it could if Scruggs becomes the space-clearer the team hopes he can be. The 2023 second round pick underwhelmed as a rookie, earning a low 51.5 grade from Pro Football Focus.

Indianapolis Colts: CB JuJu Brents

Brents was a borderline first round talent who slid to the Colts in Round 2 in 2023. Though he struggled in stretches as a rookie, he did enough to help convince general manager Chris Ballard to effectively stand pat in free agency this spring even despite a secondary that barely cracked the top 20 when it came to yards per pass attempt allowed.

There's reason to believe. Brents is a long (6-foot-3) rangy cornerback with solid change of direction skills and the ability to be an eraser alongside Kenny Moore in a rising cache of cornerbacks.

Jacksonville Jaguars: S Antonio Johnson

There's a lot of risk involved with the Jacksonville secondary, from a recovering Tyson Campbell, aging Ronald Darby and very Darnell Savage-y Darnell Savage. But Johnson, a player who entered the 2022 college season with first round hype but underwhelmed en route to a fifth round selection, could pair with Andre Cisco to be the glue that keeps that group together.

The former Texas A&M star only played 171 snaps as a rookie but acquitted himself well in that small sample size (two interceptions in 15 targets). That's led him to a larger role in 2024; if he can shine, it would take a lot of pressure off a defense that needs players to step up at every level.

Kansas City Chiefs: CB Joshua Williams

At the moment, Williams is ahead of Jaylen Watson and Nazeeh Johnson on the depth chart, but really this spot could go to any of them. Kansas City was forced to part with L'Jarius Sneed this offseason, leaving a hole at cornerback. Without a major acquisition this offseason, his slot will be filled by one of those recent Day 3 draft picks.

Williams started two games last season and saw his snap share drop from 2022. Even so, he allowed only 44 percent of passes thrown his way to be caught. If he can be similarly effective in a full time role the Chiefs' defense will be scary once again.

Las Vegas Raiders: EDGE Malcolm Koonce

This is a bit of a cheat, as Koonce was on his way to being a household name after Antonio Pierce took the reins as head coach. He had eight sacks in the Raiders' final nine games after recording two in the 2.5 seasons that preceded it.

This created a healthy cantilever to Maxx Crosby's relentless pass rush and enabled Las Vegas to punch above its weight class and finish 2023 with one of the league's better defenses. With Gardner Minshew at quarterback, they'll need a similar effort to compete for a playoff spot in 2024.

Los Angeles Chargers: WR Josh Palmer

Ladd McConkey's been getting all the fantasy buzz -- he's getting drafted, on average, 57 spots higher than Palmer in ESPN leagues. But that's selling Palmer short. While he missed time due to injury, his final eight games of 2023 put him well on pace for a 1,000 yard season.

Even better, his 1.65 YPRR ranked 40th in the league last fall, ahead of higher profile targets like Tee Higgins, Courtland Sutton, Calvin Ridley and Terry McLaurin. Between that and an established rapport with Justin Herbert, he could be in line for a Pro Bowl campaign.

Los Angeles Rams: DT Kobie Turner

This is also a bit of a cheat, since Turner had nine sacks in 2023 and finished in third place when it came to defensive rookie of the year voting. While it's reasonable to expect a letdown after Aaron Donald's retirement, ESPN's stats suggest Turner was actually double-teamed on 72 percent of his pass rushes last year, suggesting he'll be fine even as opposing coordinators begin to game plan around him. His 34 pass rush wins last season were 12th most among interior linemen -- albeit 23 fewer than first place Donald.

Miami Dolphins: EDGE Jaelan Phillips

Phillips has been on the precipice of a breakout for the past two seasons. It didn't happen in 2022 when he turned a higher snap share into fewer sacks (from 8.5 as a rookie to seven). It didn't happen in 2023 as he recovered from a torn Achilles and played only eight games.

He still had 6.5 sacks in that stretch, and while his pressure and quarterback hit numbers suggest there was a bit of luck to that, he remains the kind of player with an extra gear to be a true difference maker. The question is if he can finally hit these heights -- and stay healthy for 17 games.

Minnesota Vikings: S Josh Metellus

Metellus has two duties in Brian Flores' defense. The first is to provide a reliable backup behind a 35-year-old Harrison Smith. The other is to sneak up to the line of scrimmage and wreak havoc from the safety position.

His 91 blitzes were the most in Minneapolis last fall and second-most in the NFL, resulting in 24 pressures -- second most among Vikings. Minnesota has since revamped its pass rush, which may lead to fewer blitzes and more quality chances to attack the quarterback after turning that pressure into only 2.5 sacks last year.

New England Patriots: WR Kendrick Bourne

Bourne's run after catch ability can be a panacea for a shaky young quarterback -- it helped turn Mac Jones into a playoff starter as a rookie, after all. But he's spent the last two seasons injured and in Bill Belichick's doghouse, taking him off the field despite New England's dire need for receiving help.

Now he's the elder statesman of an unproven young group (and coming off a torn ACL that will cost him at least the first six games of 2024). If he can be the kind of short throw, long run threat he was in 2021 (7.0 yards after catch per reception!), he'll make life significantly easier for Drake Maye (assuming he gets thrown to the wolves behind that offensive line as a rookie).

New Orleans Saints: OT Trevor Penning

Drafting Taliese Fuaga in the first round should solve one of New Orleans' tackle problems. Getting Penning to play up to his station as a former top 20 draft pick would take care of the other with Ryan Ramczyk injured.

The former Northern Iowa standout has yet to play more than 36 percent of the Saints' offensive snaps in a single season. Early reports have been bleak, but if he can provide even average pass blocking at right tackle it would go a long way in keeping Derek Carr healthy after the veteran quarterback played hurt throughout his 2023 debut with the franchise.

New York Giants: RB Tyrone Tracy

Have you seen the Giants' running back rotation? It's… not great. Have you seen their quarterbacks? Because, same.

Tracy is an explosive rookie runner with fresh legs and the ability to catch a ton of passes out of the backfield. If he can push Devin Singletary for snaps, he can be a positive force out of the backfield.

New York Jets: EDGE Will McDonald IV

Haason Reddick's contract holdout continues, and even if he comes to terms with the Jets there's going to be a gap at edge rusher. That's what New York had insulated itself against by drafting McDonald in the middle of the first round in 2023.

The former Iowa State star underwhelmed as a rookie, seeing the field for less than 20 percent of the team's defensive snaps en route to only seven pressures and three sacks. He'll have the opportunity to contribute more in 2024 -- and the Jets may need it if their 41-year-old quarterback coming off a torn Achilles plays like one.

Philadelphia Eagles: LB Zack Baun

Philly's off-ball linebacking corps underwent a significant makeover this spring, but still has plenty of questions left to answer. Baun was a part-time starter in New Orleans. Fellow free agent addition Devin White was great in the past but was phased out of the Buccaneers' lineup come playoff time.

Nakobe Dean has failed to live up to expectations, Oren Burks failed to make it past cut down day and Jeremiah Trotter Jr. is a fifth round rookie. If Baun can emerge as a consistent run-stopper and occasional pass deterrent it would bring some stability to a position that badly needs it -- though the same goes for everyone in this group.

Pittsburgh Steelers: DT Keeanu Benton

Someone will need to step up in the Pittsburgh passing game -- there's little reliable receiving help behind George Pickens. But Benton could be a rocket booster for the defense that managed to win games despite a horrid offense the last two seasons (and beyond).

The 2023 second round pick has a variety of ways to win at the point of contact, from brute strength to swim moves to an explosive, gap-shooting first step. Benton, along with Cam Heyward and Larry Ogunjobi, is part of a force tasked with keeping opposing quarterbacks from stepping up in the pocket, allowing TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith to continue thriving as edge rushers.

San Francisco 49ers: G Dominick Puni

The one weakness of San Francisco's offense was the right side of the offensive line. That led to Puni's selection in the third round of this year's draft, and the Kansas product has already worked his way into the starting lineup.

At his best, Puni is a wide-bodied pass blocker who can keep a pocket intact or get out in space to wreck linebackers at the second level. If he can adjust to the game quickly, it would be a boon for Brock Purdy and help open yet another chapter in Kyle Shanahan's playbook.

Seattle Seahawks: CB Riq Woolen

Woolen appeared destined for greatness after a stellar rookie season, but he backslid in 2023 -- Pete Carroll's final year on the sideline. Now he gets a new head coach with a track record of pushing his defensive players to meet their potential in former Ravens coordinator Mike Macdonald.

Woolen was still solid last fall, allowing a passer rating of 78.5 when targeted. Macdonald, however, can push him back to his 2022 heights, especially in a secondary with other high performing players like Devon Witherspoon and Julian Love.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: C Graham Barton

32nd and 32nd. That's where the Buccaneers' offense has ranked in yards per rush each of the last two seasons.

The biggest reason for that has been a weak interior line -- the same group that ushered Tom Brady into retirement with the shortest average target distance and time to throw of the final decade of his career. Barton played tackle at Duke, but he'll kick inside in Tampa where he can be the kind of space-clearing brute that makes every facet of the team's offense better.

Tennessee Titans: CB Roger McCreary

New arrival L'Jarius Sneed is the headliner, but McCreary's presence in the slot could be the key to making Tennessee's secondary a no-fly zone. He improved steadily in his second season as a pro, knocking his yards allowed per target down from 7.9 to 6.9 and his passer rating against from 105.9 to 85.3.

Linear growth would put him on a Pro Bowl path or better. With questions lingering at safety, it behooves the Titans to glean the absolute most they can from their cornerbacks.

Washington Commanders: WR Dyami Brown

There isn't a lot to like about Brown's three seasons in the league so far; he only has 29 career receptions in 47 games. But Jahan Dotson is a Philadelphia Eagle and Luke McCaffrey doesn't yet look like a difference maker on Sundays, which means there's a massive gap to fill in the Commanders' receiving corps.

Jayden Daniels has to throw the ball to someone. If Brown can rise up and be the deep threat Washington so badly would like him to be (his average NFL target has come 18.2 yards downfield) or even if he can be a useful mid-range target it would be immensely valuable for a rebuilding team.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: 1 under-the-radar player for every NFL team's 2024 playoff hopes, from Roger McCreary to Cooper Beebe