Last year at this time, Drake Maye was just a second-year quarterback coming off an unheralded rookie season for the Patriots, looking to establish himself as an NFL starter. Few people expected Maye to lead his team to the Super Bowl and finish second in the MVP race by one vote.
Maye’s breakout 2025 campaign came on the heels of Jayden Daniels’s big 2024 season. Which begat Puka Nacua’s from-out-of-nowhere 2023 season. And so on.
With the NFL preseason now underway, let’s look at some of the potential breakout players of 2026:
▪ Quarterbacks: Kyler Murray, Vikings; Tyler Shough, Saints; Tua Tagovailoa, Falcons.
I see a lot to like with Murray, who gets a clean slate in Minnesota after seven inconsistent years in Arizona. He’s still a dynamic athlete, only 29 years old, gets to throw to Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson, and has a great playcaller in coach Kevin O’Connell.
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These teams are dealing with training camp injuries, forcing adjustments with NFL regular season just a month awayWith no new contract, Buccaneers front office is giving Baker Mayfield all the motivation he needsSimilar to the 2025 Patriots, which teams could come out of nowhere to contend this NFL season?
Shough (pronounced “Shuck”), the 40th pick last year, took over a 1-7 team midseason and finished 5-4, including four straight wins in December, to earn second place in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting. His coach, Kellen Moore, finished No. 1 in total offense in two of his four years in Dallas, then helped Jalen Hurts win a Super Bowl in Philadelphia and have his best season. Shough and the Saints reportedly looked crisp last week in a joint practice with the Jaguars.
Tagovailoa also gets a fresh start and a starting job in Atlanta with Michael Penix still working back from a torn ACL. Tagovailoa has proven that he can produce when everything around him is perfect, and he’ll have it in Atlanta — great weapons, good coaching, indoor football at home, and mild-weather division games on the road.
▪ Running backs: Quinshon Judkins, Browns; Bhayshul Tuten, Jaguars; Omarion Hampton, Chargers; Jadarian Price, Seahawks; MarShawn Lloyd, Packers.
Judkins’s terrific rookie season ended with a dislocated ankle and fractured fibula last December, but he is all healed now, and playing for a new coach (Todd Monken) who spent the last three years running exotic run plays with the Ravens.
Related: Patriots rookie running back Jam Miller makes strong case for roster spot
Tuten was a fourth-round pick with just 307 rushing yards last year as a rookie, but Travis Etienne is now out of the way, and coach Liam Coen can barely contain his excitement for Tuten and his 4.28 speed, saying, “We’re definitely expecting Tuten to have a big year for us.”
Hampton had just 545 rushing yards last year, as injuries limited him to nine games. But he’s healthy now, and playing for new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, a mad scientist when it comes to the run game.
Rookies are usually tough to forecast, but I feel pretty good in predicting that Price will have a big freshman season after the Seahawks drafted him 32nd out of Notre Dame to replace Kenneth Walker, who signed with the Chiefs.
Lloyd has appeared in just one game in two seasons due to injuries, but he has tantalized the Packers with his talent this camp. And he might have a great opportunity this year with Josh Jacobs currently out with a groin injury, and facing potential NFL discipline due to an alleged domestic violence incident.
Cardinals wideout Michael Wilson (left) doubled his career totals in yards and touchdowns last season, and is expected for even bigger numbers this year.
Cardinals wideout Michael Wilson (left) doubled his career totals in yards and touchdowns last season, and is expected for even bigger numbers this year.David Becker/AP Photo/David Becker
▪ Wide receivers: Michael Wilson, Cardinals; Josh Downs, Colts; Parker Washington, Jaguars; Tre’ Harris, Chargers; Matthew Golden, Packers; Troy Franklin, Broncos; Ja’Kobi Lane, Ravens.
While Marvin Harrison Jr. gets most of the attention in Arizona, Wilson’s production jumped from 565 and 548 yards in his first two seasons to 1,006 yards and seven touchdowns last year. Also, Wilson is the favored target for Jacoby Brissett, back for another year in the desert.
Downs, Maye’s top receiver in college at North Carolina, steps into the Colts’ No. 2 role after Michael Pittman was traded. And he probably is now No. 1 with Alec Pierce not practicing yet due to ankle surgery. Downs ended Tuesday’s joint practice with the Patriots with an impressive touchdown catch in the 2-minute drill.
Washington, a former sixth-round pick, emerged as the Jaguars’ most reliable receiver last year, outplaying guys drafted much higher and with more fanfare (Travis Hunter, Brian Thomas).
Harris was the Chargers’ second-round pick last year and, with Keenan Allen gone, and Quentin Johnston and Ladd McConkey both struggling, Harris is primed for the No. 1 spot in McDaniel’s high-octane offense. And the Packers have one of the deepest receiver depth charts in the league, but 2025 first-rounder Golden has been a big-play machine throughout camp.
Related: Patriots Mailbag: Why is there so much talk about the Patriots trading Kayshon Boutte if he continues to impress?
Franklin might be third on the Broncos’ depth chart behind Jaylen Waddle and Courtland Sutton, but he saw 104 targets last year and developed a great rapport with Bo Nix. And while receivers are probably the toughest position to project as rookies, it’s worth mentioning that Ravens third-round pick Lane has been making eye-opening catches every day in practice.
▪ Tight ends — Michael Mayer, Raiders; Tyler Warren, Colts; Harold Fannin, Browns; Oronde Gadsden, Chargers.
Brock Bowersgets all the attention in Las Vegas, but Mayer, a 2023 second-rounder, is looking great this camp, giving the Raiders a potentially devastating TE combo. Warren had a great rookie year with 76 grabs, 817 yards, and 4 TDs, but he could become a bona fide superstar this year, especially with the Colts a little thin at receiver.
Fannin had 731 yards and six TDs as a rookie, and will likely be the Browns’ top target whether it’s Deshaun Watson or Shedeur Sanders at QB. Gadsden went for 664 yards and three scores as a rookie and should also benefit from the McDaniel Boost.
Colts coach Shane Steichen (right) has a discussion with Patriots counterpart Mike Vrabel during their joint practices last week in Foxborough.
Colts coach Shane Steichen (right) has a discussion with Patriots counterpart Mike Vrabel during their joint practices last week in Foxborough.John Tlumacki/Globe Staff
REDEMPTION TOUR
Colts get mulligan for ’25 collapse
The first half of the Colts’ 2025 season was like a dream. They started 8-2, led the NFL at 32.1 points per game, and quarterback Daniel Jones played like an MVP candidate.
Then the bye hit in Week 11, and it all came crashing down. First came two tough, tight losses to the Chiefs and Texans, and then Jones tore his Achilles in the first quarter of a Week 14 loss to the Jaguars. Philip Rivers was signed as a Hail Mary, but that terrific start turned into an 8-9 season and no playoffs.
“It definitely fuels you, to start that way and then finish that way,” Indianapolis coach Shane Steichen told me Tuesday after the joint practice with the Patriots. “You’re going to go through adversity, highs and lows, but you’ve got to find a way (to win), no matter what the situation is.”
The 29-year-old Jones is back for his second season in Indy, but under different circumstances. Last year he made only $14 million and had to beat out Anthony Richardson for the job. This year, Jones is the unquestioned leader after signing a two-year, $88 million deal.
“He was playing at an incredibly high level before the injury, and our offense was rolling pretty good,” Steichen said. “We want to recreate that this year, and to get him back healthy has been phenomenal for our team. He hasn’t missed any first team reps since camp started. It’s an ongoing process, but I feel really good with where he’s at.”
Colts owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon clearly liked what she saw in the Colts’ 8-2 start, and gave everyone a mulligan. Steichen was retained despite missing the playoffs for the third straight year, and GM Chris Ballard was brought back for a 10th season despite no playoffs since 2020 or playoff wins since the season prior.
But Ballard didn’t get a contract extension, and Steichen (25-26 record) probably needs to make the playoffs this year to feel secure.
“I’m in the last year of my deal. We need to win,” Ballard said at the start of camp. “We’ve got to finish, man. We’ve got to finish at the end of the year better.”
With Kyler Murray named the starter in Minnesota, what does the future hold now for quarterback J.J. McCarthy?
With Kyler Murray named the starter in Minnesota, what does the future hold now for quarterback J.J. McCarthy?Abbie Parr/AP Photo/Abbie Parr
QB TRADE MARKET
Vikings’ McCarthy on the block?
When the Vikings made their quarterback decision Tuesday, they didn’t just anoint Murray as the starter. They likely turned the page on J.J. McCarthy, the No. 10 pick in 2024. The Vikings also have Carson Wentz in camp, and with McCarthy struggling with injury and ineffectiveness in his short career, the Vikings will probably look to trade him.
The Chargers look like an intriguing fit. Jim Harbaugh was McCarthy’s college coach, and the Chargers have one of the worst backup depth charts in the NFL, with Trey Lance and D.J. Uiagalelei behind Justin Herbert.
But the Vikings will probably have to be patient. One, McCarthy has $3.78 million in guaranteed salary for 2027, which is usually more than most teams want to spend on a backup quarterback. Two, the backup QB market is currently flooded with options, and McCarthy hardly stands out.
Related: Quarterback Tommy DeVito embracing Patriots backup role, as well as new nickname
The Colts are looking to trade their own former first-round pick, Richardson, who is in the final year of his rookie deal. The Browns could look to trade second-year quarterback Dillon Gabriel after drafting Taylen Green in the sixth round behind Watson and Sanders.
The Steelers could make veteran Mason Rudolph available if Aaron Rodgers, Will Howard, and Drew Allar make it healthy through training camp. The Titans want to trade Will Levis after signing Mitchell Trubisky to back up Cam Ward. The Cowboys may look to trade the loser of the backup competition between Joe Milton and Sam Howell, who got $2.5 million guaranteed from Dallas this offseason.
The Cardinals probably won’t need Gardner Minshew if rookie Carson Beck continues to impress in training camp. The 49ers have Mac Jones backing up Brock Purdy again, but were actively trying to trade him in the offseason — and surely would do so if the opportunity arises.
And still available in free agency is former Patriot Jimmy Garoppolo, who won’t cost a draft pick in compensation and has the type of NFL experience that could help save a competitive team that loses its quarterback, like the Colts last year.
The trade deadline is Nov. 10, the Tuesday after Week 9, at 4 p.m.
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels was under scrutiny last week for something he did off the field.
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels was under scrutiny last week for something he did off the field. Nick Wass/AP Photo/Nick Wass
ETC.
Wrong call from QB Daniels
Daniels has had close to a flawless start to his NFL career, taking the Commanders to the NFC Championship game in his first season, beating out Caleb Williams for Rookie of the Year, and becoming a superstar off the field.
Which is why it was so surprising to see Daniels commit an unforced error last week, when he hired a lawyer to send a cease-and-desist letter to LSU from using “Daniels’ NIL in any manner or medium.”
A Daniels spokesman told ESPN that the dispute arose because Daniels felt disrespected that the Tigers reissued his No. 5 jersey, while keeping Joe Burrow’s No. 9 out of circulation since he last played in 2019. Daniels won the Heisman Trophy in 2023, Burrow in 2019.
“The Daniels family is deeply disappointed and feels profoundly disrespected by LSU’s decision to give Jayden’s number to another player,” the spokesperson said. “Jayden made it clear that he did not want his number given to another player, and he believed his wishes would be respected. … To see his number given to another player is incredibly disappointing and feels like a failure to honor the significance of what Jayden accomplished at LSU.”
Not only does Daniels come across as hypersensitive and entitled, but there’s a big difference between Daniels and Burrow — Burrow went 15-0 and won a national championship, while Daniels went 10-3 his Heisman year.
“I say this in no form of disrespect to JD as a fellow Tiger. You not on the same level as Joey B,” tweeted former LSU and NFL defensive tackle Breiden Fehoko.
Not to mention, Daniels’s legal claims will likely be laughed out of court. Unless the Tigers are specifically using Daniels in marketing, fundraising, or other promotions, of which the attorney offered no evidence, Daniels can’t prevent LSU from acknowledging Daniels’s accomplishments.
“No court is going to require LSU erase Daniels from its institutional history,” said prominent NIL attorney Darren Heitner. “Recounting his participation in LSU’s history is protected speech about a matter of legitimate public interest, not commercial appropriation, even when the institution profits indirectly from the broader publication or broadcast in which that information appears.”
Daniels last season fired his agent and hired his mother to manage his career. He was the butt of the joke Thursday on social media, and this was one situation where it would have been helpful to have someone on the outside advising Daniels not to pick this fight.
A general interior view of the Buffalo Bills new Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y.
A general interior view of the Buffalo Bills new Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y.Jeffrey T. Barnes/AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes
Costly obstruction
Apparently $2.2 billion doesn’t go as far as it used to. The new Highmark Stadium had a soft opening last week, as the Bills allowed season ticket holders to check out their seats … and it did not go well.
While thousands of fans surely enjoyed the new digs, the prevailing images of the day were of obstructed-view seats, and less-than-impressive video boards.
Related: Your first look at the Patriots’ new football training facility at Gillette Stadium
“You will find some level of obstruction in every stadium in the world,” Jonathan Mallie, global director and managing director of Populous’ Americas practice, told the Buffalo News.
It's hard not to notice that before spending $1B in taxpayer money, the Bills had a perfectly good stadium next door that offered 11,000 more seats, significantly fewer of which faced onto concrete, even if it didn't feature as many ways to sell you food. https://t.co/G1R4iw8YRE
— Field of Schemes (@fieldofschemes) August 11, 2026
But some fans are already claiming the Bills weren’t fully transparent about the obstructions when they plunked down $750 to $1,000 per seat on personal seat licenses. The Bills said only 1 percent of the 60,000 seats are obstructed, but they will review complaints on a case-by-case basis and “we’ll utilize the next six weeks to refine any details.”
Former Patriots backup quarterback Josh Dobbs finally found a new home last week when the Lions signed him, and he played in Thursday's preseason game against the Bengals in Cincinnati.
Former Patriots backup quarterback Josh Dobbs finally found a new home last week when the Lions signed him, and he played in Thursday's preseason game against the Bengals in Cincinnati.
Extra points
Former Patriots quarterback Josh Dobbs found work last week when the Lions signed him as their new backup following Teddy Bridgewater’s retirement. But Dobbs is not happy with how the Patriots handled his release, setting him free on March 23, two weeks after free agency began and most teams had filled their QB needs. “It was my first time not having OTAs and everything, and that was just by the nature of my situation in New England, with the timing. That was very frustrating, the way they handled that,” Dobbs said … “Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Seattle Seahawks” has been surprisingly entertaining through the first two episodes. The scene of coach Mike Macdonald cursing at pass rusher Derick Hall and benching him for getting too close to the quarterback was fantastic, and the segment on QB Sam Darnold’s spin rate is one of the most visually spectacular pieces NFL Films has ever produced … I get why the Bengals signed Joe Flacco as Burrow’s backup — they need a veteran to keep the season going if Burrow gets hurt. But why do they also have 40-year-old Josh Johnson in camp? Any snap he takes means less work for youngster Sean Clifford … Speaking of decisions that don’t make sense, the Cardinals gave No. 4 pick Jeremiyah Love 14 touches Thursday night in a meaningless preseason game. Naturally, the running back suffered an ankle injury, though coach Mike LaFleur said it’s just soreness and Love should be fine. But if the Cardinals had any sense, Love shouldn’t see the field again this preseason … One team light on receivers that looks like a good trade partner for the Patriots’ Kayshon Boutte: The Falcons … Team USA lost its first flag football game in 14 years last week when American Samoa pulled off the upset, 38-32, in group play at the World Flag 26 tournament in Dusseldorf, Germany. Taulia Tagovailoa, younger brother of Tua, threw five touchdowns for American Samoa.