The 2026-27 NFL season is a few months away, and just like every season, there will inevitably be breakout stars that separate themselves from the pack this coming year.
Last year, Drake Maye, George Pickens, Aaron Brewer, Jack Campbell, and Quinyon Mitchell were among the players who exploded into All-Pro territory for the first time. The year before that, the likes of Nik Bonitto, Andrew Van Ginkel, Zach Allen, and Frankie Luvu fit the mold.
Each season, there are bound to be players who take the next step in their development and make the leap to stardom. Entering the 2026 campaign, let’s identify one player at every position who is a potential breakout candidate.
QB: Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints
Tyler Shough performed well as a rookie, faring second among rookie quarterbacks with a 73.7 PFSN QB Impact Score and ranking No. 23 in the NFL. Though he trailed New York Giants QB Jaxson Dart in that metric, I trust the New Orleans Saints’ offensive infrastructure a little more currently.
They signed guard David Edwards and running back Travis Etienne Jr., and they also drafted Jordyn Tyson to complement Chris Olave. With a sneaky good supporting cast, Shough should continue to ascend in 2026.
RB: Bhayshul Tuten, Jacksonville Jaguars
The aforementioned Etienne left the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the projected starting running back in his stead is second-year back Bhayshul Tuten.
Tuten only averaged 3.7 yards per carry as a rookie, but he ran for 5 touchdowns on just 83 carries. He ran a 4.32 at the NFL Combine last year and has impressive contact balance; that combination could fare him well in a bigger role with the Jaguars next year.
WR: Luther Burden III, Chicago Bears
An advanced analytical darling in 2025, Luther Burden III was an extremely efficient receiver for the Chicago Bears, notably leading all rookie wide receivers with an 83.8 PFSN WR Impact Score.
He was on a 1,000-yard pace in the final eight games of the year, overcoming a slow start to the season to solidify himself as an impact receiver. He has the chance to break out as the Bears’ WR1 in 2026.
TE: Isaiah Likely, New York Giants
Diligent NFL fans already know Isaiah Likely is a good tight end, particularly having tallied 11 receiving touchdowns as a backup between 2023 and 2024 with the Baltimore Ravens. That said, he now gets to hold down a starting job with the New York Giants after backing up Mark Andrews in Baltimore.
Likely has dropped just two of his 90 targets the last two years and has a career targeted passer rating of 124.3; he’ll provide a huge boost to the Giants’ offense.
OT: Kelvin Banks Jr., New Orleans Saints
Kelvin Banks Jr. ranked No. 12 among all NFL offensive tackles, No. 1 among rookie offensive linemen, and No. 6 among all left tackles with his 83.2 PFSN OL Impact Score in 2025.
Rookie offensive tackles typically struggle right out of the gate, but Banks showed more stability than most in his position. With another year in an NFL program, I wouldn’t be surprised if he becomes a Pro Bowler in 2026.
iOL: Alijah Vera-Tucker, New England Patriots
Having missed 41 of 68 regular season games since 2022, availability has been a major issue for Alijah Vera-Tucker.
He’s admittedly been pretty good when he’s been able to stay on the field, grading as an above-average starter in 2021 and 2024, the two seasons he’s been eligible for PFSN OL Impact Scoring to this point.
The talent is there as he leaves New York to join the New England Patriots; he just has to stay healthy to prove it.
DT: Alfred Collins, San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers’ defensive line struggled mightily in 2025, and Alfred Collins’ underwhelming rookie year played a role in that. Ranking only No. 112 among 124 qualified defensive tackles in PFSN DT Impact Scoring, Collins had only 1 sack and 1 tackle for a loss in 16 games.
However, the No. 43 overall pick has another year in the 49ers’ system, and Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams will be healthy off the edge. With better surroundings, I anticipate Collins takes a big step forward in 2026.
EDGE: Austin Booker, Chicago Bears
Who was the Bears’ highest-grading edge rusher in 2025? It wasn’t Montez Sweat, the player whom they dealt a second-round pick for and signed to a massive extension a few years ago. It wasn’t Dayo Odeyingbo, one of their big free agent signings from last offseason. Rather, it was Austin Booker, who tallied 4.5 sacks in just 10 games.
His quickness, length, and motor make him a valuable pass rusher; with a full healthy season, he could flirt with double-digit sack numbers in Year 3.
LB: Demetrius Knight Jr., Cincinnati Bengals
Demetrius Knight Jr. was often in the right place at the right time in 2025; he just couldn’t consistently execute. His 15.0% missed tackle percentage wasn’t up to par as a rookie, yet he still finished with 106 tackles and three sacks for the Cincinnati Bengals.
With a full offseason in the system and a better defensive line in front of him, he could be freed up to make more big plays, which makes him a breakout candidate if his tackling form improves.
CB: Renardo Green, San Francisco 49ers
Already one of the better tackling cornerbacks in the NFL, Renardo Green has the potential to be a breakout performer in 2025. He’s broken up 23 passes over the last two years for the 49ers and saw his allowed passer rating get better from 92.1 in 2024 to 81.0 in 2025.
He only has 1 career interception thus far, but Green has been progressing each year and could cement himself in star territory if he keeps his current trajectory.
S: Malaki Starks, Baltimore Ravens
As a rookie for the Ravens in 2025, Malaki Starks graded as a solid starter, ranking No. 27 among 105 safeties with a 78.8 PFSN Safety Impact Score. There were some bumps along the way, but he demonstrated flashes of the high-level instincts and ball skills he showed off at Georgia.
The Ravens struggled with defensive line health last year, so if their big guys up front stay healthy, better pressure against the pass could open up more opportunities for Starks to make big plays.
