NFL breakout candidates at every position in 2026

We are roughly one month away from the first NFL training camps opening ahead of the Hall of Fame Game between the Arizona Cardinals and Carolina Panthers. For those of us who are counting, that game is a mere 44 days away at the time of writing.

While we continue to wait with growing anticipation, though, we sit in the midst of the NFL dead period, which also doubles as projection and prediction season where me and my fellow NFL media colleagues slide our glasses up our noses and “Well, actually...” you all until you begin to generate a slight hatred for all of us. That is, of course, we say nice things about players from your favorite team, to which we become heroes of EnterTeamNameHere.

The All-Breakout Team is an exercise I began back in 2023. It took a brief hiatus last year, but it returns for what will hopefully be a yearly outing around this time of the offseason. Notable All-Breakout Team alumni include DeVon Achane and Puka Nacua in 2023, as well as Bucky Irving in 2024. Who will prove me right this season? Here is the 2026 All-Breakout Team:

Both box score stats and advanced analytics paint Ward in an ugly light from his rookie campaign in 2025. However, when you look at the absolute vomit soufflé he was served, it’s easy to see why his numbers were subpar. His head coach to begin the year was Brian Callahan, a man who proved to have as much head coaching prowess as a broken ceiling fan, and a room of receivers that read like the cast of a Tubi movie.

Chimere Dike and Van Jefferson, anyone?

Ward did show general improvement, though, and his completion percentage over expected from Weeks 14-18 was higher than the likes of Matthew Stafford, Caleb Williams, Jalen Hurts, and Jared Goff. The arm talent is certainly there. And with the additions of Carnell Tate and Wan’Dale Robinson - actual NFL receivers to throw to - as well as Brian Daboll at offensive coordinator, Ward should take a big leap in Year Two.

Mitchell’s speed is everything that a Mike McDaniel back needs to be successful - see 2023 All-Breakout Team alum DeVon Achane. Not sharing a backfield with Derrick Henry will certainly lead to an increase in touches for Mitchell, which capped out at just 59 rushing attempts in 2025. And while he carried the ball just 59 times, Mitchell led the league in rushes in which the runner’s top speed reached over 20 miles per hour with seven, per Next Gen Stats.

Not only will Mitchell be an obvious factor in the run game, but also as a receiving threat for Justin Herbert. Not only will Mitchell break out in 2026, but he will be the Chargers’ top skill position player in terms of total yards and touchdowns.

TeSlaa was one of the highlights of the preseason in 2025, catching three touchdowns and looking like the future star I believe him to be in 2026. Despite his exhibition heroics, TeSlaa only caught 16 passes in the regular season, but six of them went for touchdowns, including his first - a bizarre one-handed snag in Week 1 against the Green Bay Packers. TeSlaa is the unquestioned No. 3 wide receiver on the Lions’ roster entering the season, and don’t be shocked if he ends up outperforming Jameson Williams as the No. 2 pass-catcher behind Amon-Ra St. Brown.

Ward breaking out goes hand in hand with Helm taking a jump in his own right. He no longer has to share targets with Chig Okonkwo, who is now with the Washington Commanders, and the aforementioned receiver additions should open things up underneath for the second-year tight end out of Texas. Buy some Gunnar Helm stock.

The Browns completely rebuilt their offensive line this offseason, with all five positions set to have new starters. Fano is who they are trusting to be the next franchise left tackle, and he’ll end 2026 on the All-Rookie team.

Redmond is perhaps the biggest success story since the recent resurgence of spring football. After going undrafted in the 2023 NFL Draft, Redmond had a terrific 2024 season with the Arlington Renegades, which led to a deal with the Minnesota Vikings. In 2024, he appeared in just 24 percent of defensive snaps for Minnesota, but that number jumped to 76 percent in 2025 and came with six sacks from the Oklahoma product. Now that he has a more solidified role, he can continue to build on what was a very good 2025 season, and perhaps push for a Pro Bowl nod.

It may be controversial to say that a player who just earned a $100 million extension hasn’t already broken out, but Herbig has yet to reach his true ceiling, in large part because the Steelers just haven’t put him on the field enough. Hopefully with new head coach Mike McCarthy and defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, that changes. Despite fewer snaps, Herbig had more sacks than T.J. Watt and put up a higher pressure rate than Maxx Crosby. With more snaps, his numbers will almost certainly see a large increase.

Rodriguez was one of my favorite players in this past year’s draft cycle. He was perhaps the best coverage linebacker in the country in 2025, but is equally as dominant against the run. On a Dolphins defense that is in Phase One of a complete rebuild, Rodriguez will be counted on to be an immediate contributor. A spot on the All-Rookie team feels like it’s written in pen, and a lengthy career with multiple All-Pro selections could await the Texas Tech product while bootleg merch featuring the Dolphins logo sporting a mustache do crazy numbers across Miami-Dade County.

All the attention will be on rookie Mansoor Delane and the returning L’Jarius Sneed, but Nohl Williams quietly had a fantastic year in 2025. He had a target EPA of -9.6 - higher than the likes of Joey Porter Jr, Devon Witherspoon, and Patrick Surtain. The former Golden Bear also only allowed a completion percentage of 51.4 percent when targeted. Should Sneed struggle, or Delane take some time to come along, don’t be surprised at all if Steve Spagnuolo puts more faith in Williams as an early-season starter who ends up keeping a top two job on the depth chart.

R.J. Mickens was absolutely awesome in 2025. As a sixth-round rookie out of Clemson, Mickens picked off two passes and allowed a catch rate over expected of -42.3 percent, which led all defensive backs with at least 200 coverage snaps played. Per Next Gen Stats, he allowed a passer rating of zero as the nearest defender - no other defensive back in the NFL did that. He’ll be vying for snaps alongside Elijah Molden and veteran Tony Jefferson, but there is no reason to keep Mickens off the field - he’s already a proven game-changer.