As the Cincinnati Bengals get some well-deserved rest before heading back to training camp on July 28, it’s time we looked at some potential breakout players in 2017.

Some players, whether due to injuries or being buried on the depth chart, haven’t yet been able to showcase what they can do. However, things have changed this season, with multiple rookies coming back from injury as well as departures of some key veterans. Because of that, there will be new faces in the starting lineup on both defense and offense.

Today, we take a look at cornerback Darqueze Dennard.

Over the past three seasons, he’s been fairly inconsistent. This is due to a couple things. For one, his place on the depth chart. When the Bengals drafted him in 2014, they had four first-round corners starting in front of him (Terrence Newman, Adam Jones, Leon Hall, Dre Kirkpatrick). There just wasn’t room for him to make any significant impact, but many fans knew this going in. His second year was marred by injury, keeping him out of six games. This coupled with his first season severely hindered his development.

Last season, Dennard played 334 snaps, after playing 249 snaps in the previous two seasons combined. In his limited playing time in 2016, he showed some development, taking part in 47 tackles. This was his best season as a pro. Unfortunately, Josh Shaw came out of nowhere and took a hold of the nickel corner spot and never really relinquished it.

After seeing him play the last two seasons, his coverage skills are still a work in progress. His biggest strength coming out of college was his press man-to-man coverage. But since coming into the pros, he hasn’t had many chances to show it off since the team doesn’t utilize man coverage as much these days. It seemed the team ran zone coverage at least half the time in 2016, if not a little more. And when he was in man coverage, he only won about half his battles.

As for Dennard’s zone coverage skills, I feel like he’s starting to understand the scheme a little more, as he seemed to be in the right place most of the time. If he can keep improving his footwork and eyes (in terms of route recognition as well as looking at the quarterback), I think he has a real shot at usurping either Shaw or Jones during training camp. We may even see a battle play out between William Jackson and Dennard for a starting job.

With another season of experience (actual experience this time, unlike his first two seasons), I expect Dennard to improve dramatically and compete for a starting position this training camp. Especially after the team rewarded him by picking up his fifth-year option. I believe it did this with a plan in mind. The Bengals expect him to be a productive starter either this season or the next.

No matter what the team plans on doing, I expect him to have more opportunities in 2017, possibly even doubling his 334 snap counts from 2016. If that happens, watch out, as Dennard may just reward Cincinnati for its immense show of loyalty and patience.