A full schedule of preseason games is on tap this week. Let the overreactions begin!
While teams continue to shape rosters, Yardbarker NFL writers identify the major surprises — good or bad — for each team during training camp.
NFC East
DALLAS COWBOYS | Running back Jaydon Blue | The Cowboys will likely use multiple backs this season. Texas rookie Jaydon Blue is third on the opening depth chart, but his ability to run inside and out has raised his profile to “potential prime back.”
NEW YORK GIANTS | QB Jaxson Dart | Russell Wilson has secured No. 1, but first-rounder Jaxson Dart is barely third behind Jameis Winston and over Tommy DeVito. The Giants are hoping Dart is No. 2 so he can take over next season.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES | Edge-rusher Jalyx Hunt | The Eagles needed pass-rushing help, and second-year player Jalyx Hunt has stepped up. Left tackle Jordan Mailata said Hunt is “going to be a star,” and edge-rusher Nolan Smith Jr. called him “the best thing since sliced bread.”
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS | Running back Jacory “Bill” Croskey-Merritt| He was supposed to be a special teamer. However, one electrifying cut on a physical play awakened the seventh-rounder’s chances of possibly starting soon. — Rick Snider
NFC West
ARIZONA CARDINALS | OL Isaiah Adams | Adams has a lot of pressure to perform entering his second season, but he came to camp prepared. Adams has earned praise from head coach Jonathan Gannon and won many feisty, one-on-one reps against an aggressive Cardinals defense.
LOS ANGELES RAMS | QB Matthew Stafford | The Rams are all-in for 2025 as they attempt to maximize what’s left of Matthew Stafford’s career. However, the QB has already missed multiple practices because of an aggravated disc in his back and received an epidural to help with the issue, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Rams fans shouldn’t panic yet, but this situation bears watching.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS | CB Upton Stout | The third-round pick has outperformed the rest of the 49ers’ 2025 draft class. Head coach Kyle Shanahan has not named him the starting nickelback, but the Western Kentucky product is impressing the coaching staff. Stout has also earned snaps with the first-team defense in less than two weeks of practice.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS | WR Tory Horton | The fifth-round pick may be the biggest riser on the roster. Horton is already taking first-team reps and building chemistry with QB Sam Darnold. It’s unclear where Horton will slot on the depth chart, but he is pushing for a pivotal role. — Sterling Bennett
NFC North
CHICAGO BEARS | WR JP Richardson | Bears fans are understandably excited about second-round wide receiver Luther Burden III, but Richardson, an undrafted WR out of TCU and Oklahoma State, is turning heads. The undersized (5-foot-11, 192 pounds) rookie has a long way to go to make the roster, but he’s off to a hot start.
DETROIT LIONS | Edge Aidan Hutchinson | Hutchinson missed most of last season after suffering a fractured tibia and fibula in Week 6, but you wouldn’t know it by his performance in training camp. The star defensive end has been so dominant in practice that head coach Dan Campbell implemented a Hutch rule that allows the offense to finish its rep after Hutchinson beats the offensive line for a “sack.”
GREEN BAY PACKERS | WR Matthew Golden | The Packers drafted Golden in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft to inject speed at wide receiver, but they probably didn’t expect him to shine this brightly. According to QB Jordan Love (via ESPN’s Kevin Clark), “He’s been playing lights out. He’s gonna be a stud.”
MINNESOTA VIKINGS | CB Jeff Okudah | Okudah, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions, has underwhelmed in the NFL. That’s why the Vikings signed him to a cheap, $2.35M deal this offseason. The once-promising talent is exceeding expectations at training camp — enough to challenge Isaiah Rodgers for a starting CB spot next to Byron Murphy Jr. — Jack Dougherty
NFC South
ATLANTA FALCONS | WR David Sills V | Sills last played a regular-season down in 2023 (when he was on the field for 16 snaps in three games) and has 13 career receptions in three seasons. Early in camp, he formed a quick connection with backup QB Kirk Cousins, with Falcons.com’s Terrin Waack highlighting his performance during the second day of camp and starting QB Michael Penix Jr. noting his production with Darnell Mooney (shoulder) absent.
CAROLINA PANTHERS | Defense | Last season, the Panthers had the league’s worst defense, allowing 31.4 points and 404.5 yards per game. But second-year head coach Dave Canales recently praised the unit’s “dominant” practice, a promising development as it looks to pull its way out from rock bottom.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS | Secondary | The past 12 months haven’t been kind to the defensive backfield, with Marshon Lattimore being traded at last season’s trade deadline, Paulson Adebo leaving for the New York Giants in free agency and Tyrann Mathieu retiring at the start of camp. Those losses haven’t been felt this summer, with second-year pro Kool-Aid McKinstry, in particular, standing out as a potential lockdown corner with a string of excellent performances.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS | RB Rachaad White | The Buccaneers found a jewel in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft when they landed running back Bucky Irving, who rushed for 1,122 yards last season, at No. 125 overall. His emergence has made White, a 2022 third-round pick entering the final year of his rookie contract, potentially expendable. But head coach Todd Bowles recently shut down that line of thinking, labeling White as the team’s best blitz pickup back and increased quickness after slimming down during the offseason. — Eric Smithling
AFC East
BUFFALO BILLS | QB Mike White | The 30-year-old journeyman, signed by the Bills to their practice squad in 2024, went 3-of-11 for 28 yards in the team’s regular-season finale but has been splitting second-team reps with Mitchell Trubisky in early practices. He could be a more cost-effective option with a $1.1M cap hit for 2025.
MIAMI DOLPHINS | LB Grayson Murphy | Murphy joined the Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2024 but suffered a season-ending knee injury in Miami’s first preseason game. Once healthy, Murphy used a quick first step to shine in early OTA practices and could steal a roster spot from linebackers Cameron Goode or Channing Tindall, who combined for six tackles and no sacks last season.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS | TreVeyon Henderson as a receiver |
New England’s rookie running back has impressed as a receiver, with some using words like “special” and “difference-maker” to describe his pass-catching abilities. Henderson averaged a career-high 7.1 yards per carry for 1,016 yards and 10 rushing TDs in 2024 with Ohio State. But he also had 77 catches for 853 yards and six TDs in four years with the Buckeyes and could prove to be a reliable target for second-year QB Drake Maye.
NEW YORK JETS | WR Arian Smith | Smith had 48 catches for 817 yards and four TDs for Georgia in 2024 and posted the fifth-fastest time (4.36) in the 40-yard dash of any receiver at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine. A fourth-round pick in this year’s draft, Smith has earned praise from head coach Aaron Glenn for his explosive plays and ability to catch in traffic, and could make an impact paired with fellow receiver Garrett Wilson. — Bruce Ewing
AFC West
DENVER BRONCOS | WR Troy Franklin | Franklin, who had only two touchdown catches in 16 games during his rookie season in 2024, is making explosive plays in camp. Per DNVR Sports’ Zac Stevens, he had multiple TD catches during Tuesday’s practice, including a 25-yarder from QB Bo Nix. Denver offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi said Tuesday the Oregon product has “stood out” throughout camp.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS | WR Tyquan Thornton | Thornton had just two touchdown catches in his first three seasons with the Patriots, but he’s developing chemistry with QB Patrick Mahomes. Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy has said that “there’s a lot of trust building” between the QB and WR. With WRs Marquise “Hollywood” Brown (ankle) and Rashee Rice (groin) battling injuries, expect Kansas City to keep giving the Baylor product more reps.
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS | QB Trey Lance | Chargers QB Justin Herbert is entrenched as the starter, but Lance has looked like a dependable backup. The former San Francisco 49ers/Dallas Cowboys bust completed 13-of-20 passes for 120 yards and two TDs during L.A.’s 34-7 win over the Detroit Lions in the Hall of Fame Game. Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh complimented the QB’s poise in a postgame news conference.
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS | TE Michael Mayer | After second-year TE Brock Bowers had the league’s third-most receptions (112 in 17 games) in 2024, Mayer seemed like a cut candidate. However, the 2023 second-round pick has been “among the offensive standouts” at camp (via ESPN’s Ryan McFadden). Perhaps new Raiders offensive coordinator Chip Kelly will be running plenty of 12 personnel (one running back, two TEs) this season. — Clark Dalton
AFC North
BALTIMORE RAVENS | WR Devontez Walker | Walker spent the 2024 season playing primarily as a special-teams contributor, catching just one pass all season. But he has developed an early chemistry with QB Lamar Jackson and beaten first-team Ravens defenders such as CB Jaire Alexander.
CINCINNATI BENGALS | Rookie linebackers | The Bengals invested heavily in their defense in the draft, and rookie linebackers Demetrius Knight II (second round) and Barrett Carter (fourth round) have been early standouts. A lot of the defensive improvements will come from first-round DE Shemar Stewart, but if Knight and Barrett can help transform their linebacker group, it could be a big game-changer for a team that needs a defensive boost.
CLEVELAND BROWNS | WR Gage Larvadain | The Browns do not have much proven wide receiver depth after Jerry Jeudy, but the undrafted Larvadain is making a strong case for a roster spot. He is one of the biggest surprises in the passing game and landed in a great spot (a team without a lot of proven wide receivers) to maybe make an immediate impact.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS | TE Darnell Washington | Washington is a mountain of a man (listed at 6-foot-7, 264 pounds) who has primarily been used as a blocking tight end over the first two years of his NFL career. He is still mauling defenders in camp, but he has also been a dominant red-zone target in the passing game and showed breakaway speed that could give OC Arthur Smith a dream three-tight-end set with Pat Freiermuth and Jonnu Smith. — Adam Gretz
AFC South
HOUSTON TEXANS | RB Nick Chubb | Chubb rushed for only 332 yards in eight games with the Browns after returning from a knee injury in 2024, but he may not be out of gas. Texans HC DeMeco Ryans said Tuesday he’s improved every day in camp. That bodes well for Houston, as starting RB Joe Mixon is expected to miss the preseason with a right foot injury.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS | WR Adonai Mitchell | Mitchell had zero touchdown catches in 17 games during his rookie season but could be poised for a second-year breakout. Former Cincinnati Bengals WR Chad Johnson praised the Texas/Georgia product after he dominated Wednesday’s joint practice with the Baltimore Ravens. The Colts need Mitchell to become a dependable target for Anthony Richardson or Daniel Jones, who are competing for the starting QB job.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS | CB/WR Travis Hunter | Letting Hunter play both ways was always going to be challenging for the Jaguars, but it seems their plans are working. New head coach Liam Coen has said the 2024 Heisman winner doesn’t seem overwhelmed by his workload.
TENNESSEE TITANS | LB Cody Barton | Tennessee may have found a steal in Barton, whom it signed to a three-year, $21M deal in free agency. According to ESPN’s Turron Davenport, he led all Titans in interceptions (two) through the first eight practices. Fellow LB James Williams told Davenport, “He’s a defensive coach on the field.” — Clark Dalton
