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Every fan base wants their team to make a splash in the offseason, but sometimes the biggest upgrades come from simply waiting and developing the talent already on the roster.
The reigning champion Seahawks found production from all over last season, but their trust in Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Kenneth Walker III, Devon Witherspoon and others to keep growing into stars allowed them to go from missing the playoffs to hoisting the Lombardi Trophy.
Each season sees a new wave of Pro Bowlers and All-Pros burst onto the scene. Here are the players who are poised to break out in 2026, from former first-round picks to under-the-radar names.
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NFL All-Breakout team for 2026
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QB Cam Ward, Titans
The options are limited at quarterback in part because Jaxson Dart had a solid rookie season and Tyler Shough arguably already broke out in December. A breakout season from one of those two would have to be a launch into stardom, which feels a bit premature.
Cam Ward might not play like a star this season, but he gave every indication down the stretch last season that he is starting to figure out the NFL. The former No. 1 pick was a mess, along with the rest of the Titans' offense, early on, throwing just seven touchdowns in his first 12 starts. But he turned it on with four consecutive multi-touchdown efforts over his last four full games.
The Titans clearly have something to work with in Ward. Whether it all comes together this season with a shaky supporting cast is a mystery, but every indication from last season is that Ward has the talent to keep getting better.
RB Jonathon Brooks, Panthers
There are a number of potential breakout running backs this season, including Ashton Jeanty and Quinshon Judkins, but the most intriguing candidate could be someone with only nine NFL carries.
Panthers RB Jonathon Brooks tore his ACL for the second time after finally getting back on the field in 2024, forcing him to sit out the entire 2025 season. Now healthy, Brooks has reportedly impressed in camp and has a window to gain favor in Dave Canales' offense with Chuba Hubbard battling a hamstring injury.
Even if Hubbard is 100 percent by Week 1, there is an opening for a role with Rico Dowdle out of the mix. Talent has never been a question for Brooks, and this could be the year he's been waiting for.
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WR Dontayvion Wicks, Eagles
Dontayvion Wicks really surprised as a fifth-round rookie with the Packers in 2023, but he saw his role shrink a bit in the two years that followed. After a trade to the Eagles, the opportunity to re-emerge has come to his doorstep.
Makai Lemon was drafted to be the de facto A.J. Brown replacement in Philadelphia, but Wicks is already familiar with offensive coordinator Sean Mannion from their time together in Green Bay, and the former Packer has reportedly been one of the standouts of Eagles camp. If it's Wicks in that No. 2 role next to DeVonta Smith, he could be in line for a breakthrough campaign.
TE Isaiah Likely, Giants
The Ravens could never let go of Mark Andrews during Isaiah Likely's time in Baltimore, leaving the promising tight end in a timeshare at the position. Now reunited with John Harbaugh in New York, Likely is set to receive the bulk of the targets among Giants tight ends and should be in line for a featured role with questions surrounding the team's wide receiver room.
Likely has played in plenty of big games, but it might be surprising to know he has yet to reach 500 yards in a season. That should change in 2025, especially given his familiarity with Harbaugh.
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OL Kelvin Banks Jr., Saints
The Saints look like they found their franchise left tackle in Kelvin Banks Jr., their 2025 first-round pick. Banks steadily improved as his rookie season went on and was a sneaky part of New Orleans' surge in December.
With another year in Kellen Moore's system and all of the talent and size needed to be a top-10 tackle in the NFL, Banks could be in line for his first Pro Bowl selection this season.
OL JC Latham, Titans
The Titans hoped 2025 would be former first-round pick JC Latham's breakout season, but a hip injury suffered early in the year contributed to what was just a middling season for him. Now locked in at right tackle, Latham is healthy and should be in line to start reaching his potential in Brian Daboll's system.
DT T'Vondre Sweat, Jets
T'Vondre Sweat will never be much of a pass-rusher as a pure nose tackle, but he started to come into his own as a run defender in his second season before landing with the Jets in the deal that sent Jermaine Johnson II to Tennessee.
The Jets could use run defenders, and Sweat's massive size should help plug up some holes for Aaron Glenn's defense as the former second-round pick looks to establish himself as one of the game's most reliable players against the run.
EDGE Abdul Carter, Giants
There's no question Abdul Carter has the talent to be a star. He didn't put it all together in his rookie season, when he recorded only four sacks, but Carter's 23 quarterback hits are a strong indication that the sack production is coming.
Carter will have to answer questions about his maturity and adjust to a new scheme under DC Dennard Wilson, it wouldn't surprise anyone to see him produce a double-digit sack season next to Brian Burns on the Giants' defense.
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LB DeMarvion Overshown, Cowboys
Just like Devin Lloyd last season, DeMarvion Overshown appears to be heading for his contract year at the right time. Injury cost him his entire rookie season and most of 2025, with a severe knee injury suffered in 2024 limiting him to six games late last season, but the former Texas linebacker played well considering the circumstances and could be in line for the best year of his career now that he had a full, healthy offseason to prepare for 2026.
CB Nohl Williams, Chiefs
One reason the Chiefs were comfortable letting Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson go is their faith in Steve Spagnuolo to coach up young defensive backs. Mansoor Delane is the story at cornerback, but Nohl Williams could be the best player at the position for Kansas City in 2025.
A third-round pick in 2025, Williams exceeded expectations in his rookie season with a 74.5 Pro Football Focus (PFF) grade and allowed just a 52.5 completion rate when targeted. Williams is set to step into a larger role for the Chiefs in year two, and they have every reason to believe he can handle it.
ATH Travis Hunter, Jaguars
We'll leave Hunter position-less here, though he's reportedly set to spend the bulk of his time at cornerback this season, with some occasional run at wide receiver. That's probably the way to go after a forgettable rookie season.
The former Heisman winner had his best game as a wide receiver right before he went down with a season-ending injury, but his potential is highest at cornerback, where he graded out better in 2025. If Hunter spends most of his time focusing on cornerback, he has a clear path to being the most productive player in the Jaguars' secondary.
S Malaki Starks, Ravens
Malaki Starks had a fine rookie season for the Ravens, starting all 17 games and notching two interceptions. In Jesse Minter's system, his talent could really shine through in 2026.
The former Georgia safety and first-round pick is already a strong run defender and will look to improve in coverage to become more of a versatile player alongside the do-it-all Kyle Hamilton.
K Charlie Smyth, Saints
The real breakout kicker will probably be someone who isn't even expected to land on a 53-man roster this season, but Irish kicker Charlie Smyth is an intriguing name to know.
The Saints kicker appeared in six games late last season and went 4-of-6 from at least 50 yards out, finishing 12-of-16 overall. The leg strength is there for Smyth, and a full offseason with the Saints could put him in position to harness it for a nice first full season in the NFL.
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