32 players who can make or break their team's season

A few career performances from the right players can push any team to unexpected levels.

Here is one player from every team who could have a huge impact - good or bad - on their group's season:

Bills - Tyrod Taylor

Following a slew of injuries and suspensions to the Bills' defense, Taylor will have to build on his productive 2015 season and find a connection with Sammy Watkins if his team wants a shot at ending their playoff drought.

Dolphins - Mario Williams

Alongside Cameron Wake and Ndamukong Suh, Williams could be the piece that pushes the Dolphins' defense over the top and allows time for Adam Gase’s offense to develop.

Patriots - Chris Long

If Long can find the fountain of youth, a surprise pass-rush presence could go a long way for the Patriots in their chase for another Super Bowl without Chandler Jones and with Rob Ninkovich suspended.

Jets - Ryan Clady

Replacing D’Brickashaw Ferguson is no small task, and doing so after multiple injuries is even tougher, but the Jets are relying on the former first-rounder to do just that.

Ravens - Eric Weddle

After pouring his heart into the Chargers for nine years, the five-time All-Pro safety comes across the country to lead the Ravens' secondary as the team attempts to rebound from an injury-riddled 2015.

Bengals - Tyler Eifert

Eifert was a red-zone machine last season despite dealing with injuries. With a lack of experienced targets in Cincinnati, he'll be depended on heavily in the passing game this year - whenever he can return from injury.

Browns - Robert Griffin III

Depending on who you ask, the expectations for Griffin's first season in Cleveland range from "Comeback Player of the Year candidate" to "16 starts should be considered a success."

Steelers - Alejandro Villenueva

Ben Roethlisberger's blindside-protector this season is known more for his background in the U.S. Army than his play on the field. With the departure of left tackle Kelvin Beachum, Villanueva takes over at the offense's second-most important position.

Texans - Brock Osweiler

There's no excuse for Osweiler to struggle in this offense. Living up to his high price tag could equate to a Super Bowl run, but if he doesn't figure it out quick, the result may be disastrous.

Colts - Ryan Kelly

Kelly has already received the Jeff Saturday comparison, but it will be key for the Alabama rookie to keep Andrew Luck safe for the Colts to have success this season.

Jaguars - Dante Fowler Jr.

After missing his rookie season, Fowler has looked fantastic in Jaguars training camp. Blake Bortles and the offense figured it out last season, so it will be on Fowler and the defense to do their part if the Jaguars are to take the next step.

Titans - DeMarco Murray

A lot has been made of Mike Mularkey's "exotic smashmouth" offense after Murray and Derrick Henry put on a show in exhibition action, but a few big runs in the preseason doesn't guarantee anything come Week 1.

Broncos - C.J. Anderson

The Broncos have given a lot of faith and money to Anderson, with the expectation of the back being the star in Gary Kubiak's offense despite having yet to crack 1,000 yards in a season.

Chiefs - Justin Houston

The Chiefs fared surprisingly well after losing a few stars last season, but it will be tough to enjoy sustained success without their elite pass-rusher - especially when they don't know how long he'll be out.

Raiders - Sean Smith

Smith comes in to help a Raiders secondary that was the true weakness of their 2015 roster, and the 6-foot-3 cornerback has a tall task, as he'll be taking on all of his opponents' best receivers.

Chargers - Melvin Gordon

If Gordon can provide the Chargers with a running game to support Philip Rivers, they've got the pieces to make a run at the AFC West title before it's too late for their veteran quarterback.

Cowboys - Dak Prescott

Prescott's impressive preseason performance could have Cowboys fans forgetting Tony Romo's name in a hurry, but those are high expectations for a fourth-round rookie.

Giants - Jason Pierre-Paul

After a sub-par return from his infamous hand injury last year, Pierre-Paul is shedding his protective club and vowing to return to All-Pro form after signing a one-year "prove it" deal in March.

Eagles - Ryan Mathews

It's pretty tough for a rookie quarterback to have much success without a steady running game, so it will be up to Mathews to lead the Eagles' backfield while Carson Wentz learns the pro game.

Redskins - Josh Norman

Washington is out to prove last year wasn't a fluke, and so is Norman. After being deemed "not worth the money" by his former team, the 2015 All-Pro is trying to live up to being the biggest name on the Redskins roster.

Bears - Jeremy Langford

With the workhorse Matt Forte moving on to the Jets, Langford has some big shoes to fill in Chicago as the Bears' lead back. He looked pretty good in his rookie campaign, but failed to tally a 100-yard game.

Lions - DeAndre Levy

If the Lions want to make up for the loss of Calvin Johnson on offense, they're going to need a big season from their two-time defensive-team MVP as he returns from missing the 2015 campaign.

Packers - Jordy Nelson

Nelson getting back to being one of the NFL's elite route-runners after tearing his ACL and missing all of last season would allow the Packers offense to erase the memories of last season's struggles.

Vikings - Sam Bradford

If Bradford can produce a relatively threatening passing attack, the Vikings' hopes of a Super Bowl can stay in range, but it's a tough ask after being added to the team a week before their regular-season opener.

Falcons - Alex Mack

The Falcons added arguably the league's best centers to help provide some consistency to their up-and-down unit, although it takes more than one man to get that job done.

Panthers - James Bradberry

General manager David Gettleman decided keeping Norman around wasn't worth the money, and will allow second-round rookie Bradberry to take his place (and his jersey number).

Saints - Michael Thomas

Giving Drew Brees a weapon like this could be the piece that allows him to post an unprecedented fifth-career 5,000-yard season, which may be enough to overcome an underwhelming defense.

Buccaneers - Daryl Smith

Smith joins Kwon Alexander and Lavonte David as the obvious weak link in the Buccaneers' linebacking core. He'll be tested by both run and pass offenses, leaving plenty of opportunity to either be a playmaker or an easy target.

Cardinals - Tyrann Mathieu

Mathieu has been one of the NFL's most versatile defenders since arriving in 2013, but he's yet to play a complete season without suffering an injury, and doing so for the first time will be a necessity for the Cardinals to reach their Super Bowl goal.

Rams - Robert Quinn

In their first season spent in Hollywood, the Rams could really use a double-digit sack season from their 26-year-old Pro Bowler after he went M.I.A. last year.

49ers - Colin Kaepernick

Without much talent on the roster, Kaepernick's protest will take center stage for the 49ers this season, whether they like it or not. If he can have a productive season on the field, it may not matter how many games his team actually wins.

Seahawks - Justin Britt

The clear weakness of the Seahawks roster is the offensive line. Britt will be the leader of a group that will likely determine if the team can be a Super Bowl favorite or a disappointing flame out.