As fans endure the mid summer heat that bridges the gap between OTAs and training camp, it offers this writer a chance to look forward to the names that will catch fire in 2015. Last season brought a myriad of breakout stars like Le’Veon Bell, Odell Beckham, and Everson Griffin, and 2015 should offer a surge of new brand names to root for. This list is meant to highlight littler known quantities that will have big-time opportunities in 2015. The only other rule for this list: no rookies, veterans only. Here are the names that should find themselves migrating from the tip of fans' tongues, to the top of their lungs.

15. Allen Robinson, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars

While the Jaguars endured yet another season in the deep chasm of rebuilding, there is plenty room for optimism in the river city. Aside from their still wet-behind-the-ears quarterback (who may need just one more year to find himself on this list), Allen Robinson could be the biggest reason for positivity in Jacksonville. Before succumbing to a season-ending foot injury, Robinson showed promise in building a rapport with Blake Bortles. In Robinson’s shortened season, he saw double-digit targets in four or 10 games, and caught for 60 or more yards in six of those games—that’s one game more than Mike Evans' output all of last season. It doesn’t hurt that the team brought in a legitimate pass catcher to occupy the middle of the field in Julius Thomas, leaving the Robinson to freely operate outside he numbers. If OTA reports are any indication, Robinson hasn’t let his injury or the offseason affect his second year outlook.
2015 season projections: 73 catches, 1,012 yards, 6 touchdowns

14. John Brown, WR. Arizona Cardinals

Perhaps one of the most pleasant surprises of the Arizona Cardinals in 2014 (certainly more pleasant than the quarterback graveyard that was Carson Palmer and Drew Stanton) was the rookie performance of John Brown. Brown asserted himself into a virtual starting slot receiver role over near-namesake, Jaron Brown, and looked the part of someone drafted much higher than 3rd round of the 2014 draft. The shift Brown quickly showed his play-making ability despite receiving passes from three different quarterbacks of declining quality in 2014. Brown, who shares similar athletic qualities with former Bruce Arians pupil, T.Y. Hilton, should experience a similar surge in production. Still, much of Brown’s results will rest on the health of Carson Palmer and the role Brown will play alongside an emerging Michael Floyd, and the resourceful Larry Fitzgerald. 
2015 season projections: 76 catches, 964 yards, 5 touchdowns

13. Davante Adams, WR, Green Bay Packers

Like the nickel corner, the third wide receiver has become a virtual starter for most teams in the NFL. Few teams utilize three wide receivers as effectively as the Packers have in recent years, and Davante Adams may be the best third option the team has ever had. Adams made a big-time, 117 yard, impression against Dallas during the divisional round of last season’s playoffs and many expect him to follow up the performance with a full season’s worth of spectacular plays. Like many players entering their second season, Adams has already garnered substantial praise from teammates and coaches. Time will tell if Adams will live up to his enormous potential, but it will be hard to imagine a player with his talent not living up to the hype.
2015 season projections: 67 catches, 887 yards, 11 touchdowns

12. Charles Johnson, WR, Minnesota Vikings

In the absence of the decade’s best running back, Adrian Peterson, fans were able to get a look at the cast behind the star in Minnesota. Among the players that shone the brightest was young journeyman receiver Charles Johnson. Johnson fulfilled his duties at receiver all over the field in 2014, but this season he’s expected to grow into a more defined participant in the offense. With the return of Peterson and the addition of Mike Wallace, there will only be so many balls to go around, but it will be hard to imagine Johnson not earning the accolades that Vikings offensive coordinator, Norv Turner, has given him.
2015 season projections: 77 catches, 1,104 yards, 4 touchdowns

11. Jason Verrett, DB, San Diego Chargers

In an era where corners are getting bigger and taller to keep pace with the athletes on offense, Verrett holds it down for the little guys. Standing at 5’9” and under 200 lbs., Verrett needs to look no further than across the field to see teammate Brandon Flowers (also 5’9” and under 200 lbs.) to find an example that his brand of football is more than legitimate in today’s NFL. While his season was cut short to just six games in 2014, what Verrett showed in such a small sample size was exemplary. If he’s kept upright in 2015, Verrett should make the type of season long impact the Chargers expected from him after drafting him in the first round last year.
2015 season projections: 41 tackles, 6 interceptions

10. Carlos Hyde, RB, San Francisco 49ers

When Frank Gore was as good as gone this past offseason, all eyes in San Francisco turned to Carlos Hyde to lead the backfield. He certainly made in impression in small doses last season, but 2015 will more concretely define Hyde’s role in new offensive coordinator, Geep Chryst’s, offense. Hyde’s biggest obstacle in his 2015 campaign will be the presence of Reggie Bush, who only participated in 11 games last season and has only played a full 16 game season twice in his nine-year career. Even if Bush manages to stay healthy for the majority of the season, the team likely look to Hyde as both the workhorse and, ideally, the back-of-the-future.
2015 season projections: 1,107 total yards, 20 catches, 8 touchdowns

9. Jordan Matthews, WR, Philadelphia Eagles

Perhaps no team has made more waves this offseason than Chip Kelly’s Philadelphia Eagles. While the team has a perceived high turnover rate, the roster is already beginning to take shape the emergence of young in-house talent. Matthews, whom the Eagles acquired in the 2nd round of 2014 NFL Draft, made a definite impact by catching over 800 yards and 8 touchdowns in 2014. With the absence of Jeremy Maclin, the team will look to Matthews to take on the primary receiving role. Matthews, who did most of his damage in the slot, will likely see more action in his natural habitat on the perimeter. Whoever ends up taking snaps for the Eagles in 2015, they'll be looking to Matthews as the most talented veteran go-to option.
2015 season projections: 79 catches, 1,213 yards, 7 touchdowns

8. Joseph Randle, RB, Dallas Cowboys

Even if Joseph Randle doesn’t replicate DeMarco Murray’s 115.3 yards a game (best in class by almost 20 yards) and amass 449 touches on the year, if Randle can achieve 70% of those numbers, he would put up numbers good enough to be the 6th best back in those categories in 2014. That may be a lot to chew on, but Randle did show the capability to play at a high level based on the miniscule sample size he provided in 2014. Of course, the real star of the show in Dallas is the offensive line and playacting philosophy, which will leaned heavily on a feature back to much success in 2014. The presence of oft-injured Darren McFadden may give some pause to Randle’s stardom, but if the team is willing to look past Joseph's two arrests between October and February, then he’s shown the team he’s more than just a supporting act.
2015 season projections: 1,197 total yards, 8 touchdowns

7. Jadaveon Clowney, DL, Houston Texans

When the reality of Jadaveon Clowney and J.J. Watt rushing passers hit after the 2014 NFL draft, many were ready to witness a defensive onslaught the dynamic duo could provide. Unfortunately for the Texans and their fans, that spectacle had to be delayed due to Clowney’s early season injury. Assuming Clowney enters the season healthy and in shape, the Texans will be able to hit the reset button on last season’s glitch. Clowney is still part of a favorable situation in Houston, where J.J. Watt is just coming off of an MVP worthy season. Apart from the presence of Watt (which really can’t be understated), Clowney will also play alongside veteran five-time Pro-Bowler, Vince Wilfork. While he may not storm out of the gate in 2015, Clowney should be able to finish strong after getting acclimated to the pro game.
2015 season projections: 39 tackles, 9 sacks

6. Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City Chiefs

Traditionally, tight end is a position where it’s tough for young players to break into the elite. Still, there are three on this list and one in the top six, which may suggest a seismic shift in the positional landscape. Travis Kelce, who shared snaps behind veteran Anthony Fasano, still managed to to end 6th at his position in yards despite barely being within the top 15 in total targets. For a team that "accomplished" zero scores through the receiver position in 2014 (although Jeremy Maclin should help change that), there are plenty of targets to go around for Kelce. As Kelce emerges as the clear leader at tight end for the Chiefs in 2015, it will be hard to imagine a scenario where every bulk statistic of Kelce’s production doesn’t increase. 
2015 season projections: 72 catches, 889 yards, 11 touchdowns

5. Latavius Murray, RB, Oakland Raiders

Call it the touchdown run heard around the bay, but when Latavius Murray broke out for a 90-yard score on a Thursday night, the east bay hit a deafening tone. In 2015, Murray will be a big part of the Raiders’ plans. Newly hired offensive coordinator, Bill Musgrave, has made a living by molding feature backs into offensive center pieces—something he undoubtedly sees in Murray. Still, the team has multitude of runners that could chip away at Murray’s opportunities. Roy Helu was brought in to perform in obvious passing situations, while Trent Richardson and Marcel Reese are direct early-down threats to Murray’s workload. That said, no other runner on the roster offers the sheer athletic upside that Murray possesses, and that may ultimately conclude in a Darwinian advantage for the former UCF Knight. 
2015 season projections: 1,251 total yards, 6 touchdowns

4. Kyle Fuller, DB, Chicago Bears

Like the aforementioned tight end position, corner is another position that has an exclusive club of elite individuals, with little turnover. If there’s one player entering 2015 that has a great chance to make a name for himself, it is Kyle Fuller. After beginning the 2014 season at a torrid pace with three interceptions in as many games, Fuller underwent an education at the hands of Calvin Johnson to the tune of 146 yards and 2 touchdowns. Fuller will enter his second season as a starter in Chicago, and with both the experience he acquired in his rookie year and the new team emphasis on defense, he should fulfill the promise of the player he resembled early last season.
2015 season projections: 37 tackles, 7 interceptions

3. Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Minnesota Vikings

Quarterback is often an interesting and polarizing position, especially when a player is in the stages of growth. Bridgewater was the darling of many draftniks in the pre-draft process, only to fall to the last pick of the first round in 2014. Validation came almost immediately for Bridgewater and his fans, and he made an even stronger impression in the closing weeks of last season—completing over 70% of his passes during the last five weeks. This year, he’ll have the support of an improved running game and receiving targets led by Adrian Peterson, Mike Wallace, and #12 on this list, Charles Johnson. Cerebral players like Bridgewater often benefit from both experience and offseason training, making Teddy's sophomore jump an exciting proposition for Vikings fans.
2015 season projections: 3,869 yards, 26 touchdowns, 8 interceptions

2. Khalil Mack, DL/LB, Oakland Raiders

It’s hard to place Khalil Mack on this list considering he ranked in the top half of PFF’s top 101 players of 2014. When it comes to edge rushers, though, sack totals are the cost of entry when players move from unknown entities, to household names. Mack made an name for himself during his rookie season in run support, where he was arguably as good as any other player from the edge, but he must turn his 54 quarterback disruptions into tangible sack numbers if he wants to ascend into the upper-echelon of pass rushers. It has been quite a long time since the Raiders and their fans have had anything to be excited about, but if this list is anything to consider, there’s at least a sliver of optimism about the 2015 season and beyond.
2015 season projections: 54 tackles, 12 sacks

1. Brandin Cooks, WR, New Orleans Saints

In an era where passing fills seats, cashes checks, and gets promotions, it’s no surprise to see a receiver at the top of a breakout star list. 2014 was a banner year for the position, where multiple players flirted with the 1,000 yard mark and already are staples within their offenses. For the purposes of this list, Odell Beckham, Mike Evans, and Sammy Watkins are already virtual stars for their teams, but Cooks became the forgotten man after his season was cut short because of a complicated thumb/wrist injury. If early OTA reports are anything to go by, Cooks can at least be viewed as completely healthy for the 2015 season and anxious to build upon his rookie season output. But what will be different in 2015? Cooks will rejoin a roster that has 125 of Jimmy Graham's targets literally up for grabs, and this writer is willing to bet a Crawfish dinner that Cooks inherits most of them.
2015 season projections: 111 catches, 1,398 yards, 13 touchdowns