The opportunity for a new group of young players to make a name for themselves is always one of the most exciting aspects of a new football season.
For some, that means building upon a quiet start to become an impact player at the NFL level. For others, it might be a matter of turning early flashes into more consistent production and setting out on a path to stardom.
Starting with the AFC, here's each team's top breakout candidate for the 2026 season. The only rule: no rookies allowed.
Landing Green in the second round of last year's draft didn't exactly solve Baltimore's longstanding pass-rush woes. The former Marshall standout struggled to acclimate to the professional game, posting 3.5 sacks and a sub-9% pressure rate. Those numbers won't cut it if he isn't also stout against the run. But another offseason of development could do wonders for an explosive player who had a deep bag of rush moves by the end of his college career. Green's emergence as a strong No. 2 opposite star free-agent addition Trey Hendrickson would go a long way toward setting up the Ravens' defense for immediate success under Jesse Minter.
Some would argue that Kincaid is already an established impact player. My case for the Bills tight end as a Year 4 breakout is about what's possible if he can stay healthy. Consider this: Kincaid's 2.83 yards per route run last season put him third behind Puka Nacua and Jaxon Smith-Njigba among all pass-catchers with at least 45 targets, according to TruMedia. The only problem? Injuries limited Kincaid to parts of 12 games. He's optimistic that those setbacks are a thing of the past. If he's right, and DJ Moore's arrival as a potential No. 1 receiver commands attention from opposing defenses, Kincaid could be in for a monster year.
Lost in the chaos of a dreadful season for Cincinnati's defense was the promising development of a former first-round pick. Murphy took on a more significant role with Trey Hendrickson banged up, starting 10 of his 17 appearances, and the results marked a step in the right direction. Most notably, Murphy posted a career-best 11.3% pressure rate while racking up 5.5 sacks and 52 tackles, a top-nine figure among all NFL edge defenders. The Bengals did some fine work to upgrade the defensive line around him, trading for Dexter Lawrence and signing both Boye Mafe and Jonathan Allen. Murphy should be poised to take full advantage of his contract year.
Judkins showed some flashes of brilliance before his rookie season was cut short by injury, but I don't think we can call an 827-yard season with a 3.6 yards-per-carry average a true breakout. He's set to earn that distinction in Year 2 now that the Browns have remodeled their offensive line and brought in a proven play-caller in Todd Monken as head coach. Judkins' physical and explosive running style should be the centerpiece of everything Cleveland does on offense this fall.
Harvey's rookie season didn't quite meet expectations. The second-round pick managed just 3.7 yards per carry behind one of the NFL's premier offensive lines, validating concerns about whether he profiles as a lead runner at the pro level. But a Sean Payton offense will always have a committee backfield. Harvey, who racked up 47 catches for 356 yards and five scores in 2025, is still the ideal fit for that Reggie Bush role. And for anyone concerned about volume, consider that Bo Nix leads all NFL quarterbacks with 279 pass attempts behind the line of scrimmage since 2024. Harvey should have the ball in his hands more than enough to be a real contributor.
A series of moves to bolster the offensive line was the story of the offseason in Houston. Indeed, adding Braden Smith, Wyatt Teller, and Keylan Rutledge to the fold should do a lot to address this long-standing problem spot. But Ersery building upon his rookie season would be a big deal too. The second-rounder has the size, strength, and athleticism to provide plenty of upside in pass protection and to get on the move in the run game.
Downs has been a solid receiver for the better part of his first three years in the NFL. He'll always make his most significant impact from the slot. But now that the Michael Pittman Jr. trade has bumped him up the depth chart alongside Alec Pierce, he should be able to find his way onto the field in most personnel groupings. That could be all he needs to set new career highs in every statistical category, finally earning the widespread respect he deserves as a reliable playmaker before heading for free agency next spring.
Don't let a frustrating debut season sour you on Hunter. I was among the many who got caught up in the hype, wondering if this two-way unicorn might have a chance to win both Rookie of the Year awards. At the time of his season-ending knee injury, Hunter wasn't in the conversation for either honor. Looking back, however, it was incredibly unreasonable to place those expectations on a rookie trying to master two positions at the professional level. Hunter still has the talent to be a star at both cornerback and receiver. If the Jaguars can put together a plan that reduces the burden of preparation - perhaps full-time defensive duties with a packaged role on offense - the player we saw make history at Colorado could come back into view.
Stop me if you've heard this one before: The Chiefs are heading into a season with major question marks at receiver. Rashee Rice staying on the field and Xavier Worthy bouncing back from a disappointing sophomore season are, of course, the most obvious paths to addressing those concerns. But don't sleep on Royals. I was a fan of his separation skills and run-after-catch ability coming out of Utah State last year. If Rice is the primary underneath option, and Worthy can use his speed to take the top off defenses, Royals might just be the one to step up and give Patrick Mahomes a playmaker at the intermediate level of the field.
You wouldn't know it based on the surface-level numbers, but I'd argue that Jeanty actually met expectations as a rookie. There's only so much a running back can do when he's stuck behind an offensive line that's consistently overwhelmed by opponents. Jeanty forced 61 missed tackles - tied for sixth among all backs, according to PFF - and that was the only reason he flirted with 1,000 yards in a Raiders run game that averaged 0.5 yards before contact, the NFL's worst mark since 2012. Klint Kubiak's outside-zone scheme and the addition of four-time Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum should give Jeanty the help he needs to start ripping off the explosive runs we saw at Boise State.
Hampton was decent enough in his abbreviated rookie campaign, posting 545 yards and four touchdowns across nine games on either side of a midseason injury absence. The former North Carolina standout could likely manage a Year 2 breakout by simply staying healthy. But with Jim Harbaugh turning the offense over to Mike McDaniel, one of the NFL's most creative play designers, his trajectory is even more promising. Hampton is the clear workhorse back for this new-look run game, making him a sneaky fun bet to lead the league in rushing.
Grant was one of the most interesting prospects in the 2025 draft. Sure, selecting a nose tackle with the No. 13 overall pick might seem a little aggressive. It's easier to understand, however, when you're drafting a player with a truly rare combination of size and movement skills. Grant eats up space in the run game the way you'd expect, but he also has surprising lateral quickness, making him better at slipping blocks and getting after the quarterback than most players of this archetype. A new Dolphins leadership regime focused on rebuilding from the inside out will likely be thrilled with the performance of one of the few foundational pieces left after this year's teardown.
Mitchell might be the most interesting name on this entire list, and considering how his career has started, he's probably a bit of a long shot. The former second-rounder needs to become more consistent at the catch point and avoid costly mistakes, like dropping the ball before the goal line on a would-be touchdown. But his speed and route-running skills still offer the upside of an impact receiver. I'm betting that another year of development and the opportunity to play with an aggressive downfield passer like Geno Smith will enable Mitchell to emerge as a legitimate No. 2 option opposite Garrett Wilson.
This feels like a risky pick given the Patriots' offseason additions to the receiver room. A.J. Brown is the clear No. 1, and Romeo Doubs figures to operate as a consistent No. 2 on the other side. And with DeMario Douglas, Mack Hollins, and Kayshon Boutte still in the mix, Williams faces stiff competition for meaningful reps as the No. 3 barring a trade. But I'm sticking with my evaluation heading into last year's draft: I think it's a matter of time before the former third-round selection forces his way onto the field and establishes himself as an explosive playmaker for Drake Maye. Williams is an excellent route-runner who has the speed to take the top off the defense and make plays after the catch.
The Steelers have fought tooth and nail to resist the obvious need for a reset, but I'm pretty concerned that everything will finally fall apart for them this year. One reason for optimism is the fact that they've quietly built one of the NFL's most impressive young offensive lines. The tackles will get the majority of the attention in that group, and understandably so: Dropping in Max Iheanachor opposite Troy Fautanu could solidify that position for years to come. But I also think this is the season we'll start talking about Frazier as a Pro Bowl-caliber player. His unique combination of athleticism and power makes him one of the better interior run blockers in the game, and he finished the 2025 campaign having allowed just one sack and 11 pressures in protection. He was second behind Creed Humphrey among qualified centers in PFF's pass-block efficiency metric.
Box-score scouts will obviously be low on Ward; none of his numbers even hint at a successful rookie campaign. But anyone who watched the Titans play last year saw a supremely talented young passer mired in a disastrous situation. A more competent coaching staff, along with the arrivals of Carnell Tate and Wan'Dale Robinson at receiver, should give Ward every opportunity to take a monumental leap as a sophomore. It may not be long before we're talking about last year's No. 1 pick as one of the NFL's brightest young stars.
