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 on 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.
After starting with the AFC on Monday, here's each NFC team's top breakout candidate for the 2026 season. The only rule: no rookies allowed.
Injuries hampered Nolen during his rookie season, limiting him to just six games after joining the Cardinals as the No. 16 pick in the 2025 draft. Despite the small sample, he demonstrated that health might be the only thing preventing him from emerging as an impact player. Nolen flashed the explosiveness and lateral quickness that made him such an intriguing prospect coming out of Ole Miss in his Week 9 debut against the Cowboys, beating All-Pro guard Tyler Smith for his first career sack. He also closed out his season with back-to-back five-pressure performances in December.
Drafted as a bit of a tweener coming out of Georgia, Walker was always going to need time to realize his potential at the next level. However, he showed promising signs in a full-time edge role in Year 1, recording 5.5 sacks and finishing sixth among rookie edge defenders with an 11% pressure rate, according to PFF. Now that the Falcons have gotten him acclimated on the edge, defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich says the team is ready to lean into his unique versatility. Walker getting moved all over the formation, including reps as an off-ball linebacker, could unlock his true value.
Carolina has a bit of a crowded receiver room, with third-round rookie Chris Brazzell II joining a group that already includes Tetairoa McMillan and Xavier Legette. But the three-year, $34-million extension Coker received as an exclusive rights free agent this offseason tells you everything you need to know about how the Panthers envision his trajectory. The former undrafted free agent creates easy separation at every level of the field and makes plays after the catch. Coker is the clear long-term No. 2 alongside McMillan, and he should post the numbers to back that up this year.
While Colston Loveland might seem like the obvious pick for the Bears, I'd argue that he's already one of the league's best tight ends based on how he finished his rookie season. And with the former first-rounder being selected behind only Brock Bowers and Trey McBride in early fantasy drafts, it seems like it's already a consensus. Burden is the real breakout candidate in Chicago's offense. The second-year wideout showed some exhilarating flashes as a rookie, posting an absurd 2.71 yards per route run, good for third among all receivers with at least 60 targets, according to TruMedia. The athleticism and elusiveness that made Burden a top prospect out of Missouri have him in position to be Caleb Williams' most dynamic big-play target.
The Cowboys' selection of Booker with the No. 12 pick in last year's draft was controversial at the time. One year in, it doesn't seem like they'll have any regrets. Booker put together a promising debut season, establishing himself as a force in the run game while giving up just three sacks and 25 pressures in pass protection. Dallas could have a second Pro Bowl guard if Booker takes the next step in his development as a sophomore.
This one is more about opportunity than anything we've seen so far, as Rakestraw just hasn't been on the field much over his first two seasons. A thin Lions secondary will be counting on the former second-rounder to step up (and stay healthy) in 2026, especially after the team cut Terrion Arnold following serious legal issues. Considering the natural cover skills he showed at Missouri, Rakestraw could very well be up to the task.
Golden didn't make much of an impact during his first regular season, recording a mere 361 yards and no scores on 29 catches across 14 games. However, he finished on a high note in Green Bay's lone playoff contest, chipping in four receptions for 84 yards and getting on the board for his first career touchdown. The Packers letting Romeo Doubs walk in free agency and trading Dontayvion Wicks to the Eagles should be taken as a sign that they expect their 2025 first-rounder to step up in Year 2. This offense is at its best when Jordan Love is pushing the ball downfield, and Golden's combination of vertical speed and route-running skills makes him an ideal target to help this unit.
The Rams spent a second-round pick on Ferguson last year, which had me wondering whether the former Oregon tight end might be an instant-impact game-changer at the next level. Things didn't quite play out that way, as he was largely confined to a complementary role in Sean McVay's tight end-heavy personnel packages. He still managed to impress, though, flashing as a downfield target and averaging an absurd 21 yards per catch on his 11 receptions in the regular season. Davante Adams is settling into a red-zone specialist role, so Ferguson might be the Rams' most dynamic pass-catcher not named Puka Nacua. It's only a matter of time before this offense finds more ways to get the ball in his hands.
Turner showed some promising signs of development as a sophomore, recording eight sacks and four forced fumbles while starting 10 of his 17 appearances. With the Jonathan Greenard trade clearing the way for a lead role opposite Andrew Van Ginkel, now is the time for the Alabama product to take his game to another level. The win-now Vikings almost certainly wouldn't have sent their star pass-rusher to the Eagles if they weren't confident that Turner would make good on his first-round draft pedigree.
The future of the Saints got a lot brighter over the second half of the 2025 season. That tends to happen when you have a young quarterback who steps in and makes an immediate impact. While I caution against expecting Shough to ever become an elite starter, his role in leading New Orleans to an undefeated December was a sign that this team may have found its long-term answer under center. The Saints are doing an excellent job of building up the offense with both a solid offensive line and a dynamic group of playmakers, which should have Shough poised for a sophomore campaign that removes all doubt.
Since I still have questions about Jaxson Dart's ceiling at the next level, I'll go with the 2025 first-rounder I think is most on the fast track toward superstardom in New York. Some may view Carter's debut season as a major disappointment based solely on his sack numbers, and his two benchings for team rule violations don't help, but it didn't take long for him to impact games with his rare explosiveness. Carter tallied 66 pressures last year, tying him 13th among all NFL edge rushers and leading rookies by a wide margin. With valuable experience under his belt and potentially more opportunities to defend leads under incoming head coach John Harbaugh, it's only a matter of time before Carter's disruptive traits translate into double-digit sack totals.
Mukuba had promising moments before an injury cut his rookie season short. Notably, his durability was a major concern coming out of Texas last year, as his below-average frame didn't seem like a good match for his play style. But if the 2025 second-rounder can find a way to stay on the field consistently, he could be the final piece for a star-studded Eagles secondary. In addition to the aggressive downhill traits he brings to the run defense, I see Mukuba as an instinctive player who regularly puts himself in a position to make plays on the ball in the pass game. Playing behind arguably the league's most talented cornerback trio, he could capitalize on ample opportunities while patrolling the middle of the field.
The 49ers should be primed for a bounce-back season on defense. Nick Bosa and Fred Warner return after missing most of the 2025 campaign with major injuries, and San Francisco did well to improve the supporting cast by landing Osa Odighizuwa and Dre Greenlaw during a busy offseason. A sophomore jump from a player like Stout could raise the ceiling even higher. The former third-rounder earned a role as the primary slot defender as a rookie, demonstrating his explosive traits by racking up 82 tackles and tying for the league lead among cornerbacks with 10 pressures. We could be looking at the NFL's next do-it-all slot defender if he takes a step forward in coverage in Year 2.
Shaheed's numbers were nothing spectacular after he joined Seattle in a midseason trade from the Saints, recording 15 catches for 188 yards and no touchdowns across his final nine regular-season games. However, the Seahawks bringing him back on a three-year, $51-million contract tells me that they're aware of what he can do for this offense when he's not picking things up on the fly. Shaheed's ability to stretch the field makes him the perfect fit to pair with Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and attacking vertically just so happens to be Sam Darnold's specialty. With more time to settle in, increased targets, and his contribution to the return game and on gadget plays, Shaheed should take off in his first full season in Seattle.
Morrison's rookie season didn't go as planned, as injuries limited the second-rounder to 10 games. The results were also underwhelming when he actually got on the field. Though durability was a primary concern after a hip injury ended his final campaign at Notre Dame early, I'm still incredibly intrigued by the natural cover talent. If healthy, Morrison's fluidity, instincts, and ball skills should see him emerge as an impact starter to help Todd Bowles' defense take a step toward the standard the head coach set before he transitioned from coordinator back in 2022.
Okonkwo was one of my favorite under-the-radar signings of free agency. The production never stood out in Tennessee, but there's just so much upside in having a tight end with the ability to stretch the field and make plays after the catch. The Commanders apparently agree, signing him to a three-year, $27-million contract. Okonkwo's skill set should be an excellent fit alongside John Bates in two tight-end sets, and he'll get plenty of targets in a receiving corps with few proven players.
