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NFL training camp season is upon us.
We're currently counting down the 32 teams in our annual preseason power rankings. And we've given our top storylines to watch the next few weeks as teams work their way into fighting shape before the regular season begins in September.
Now it's time to look at the 2026 rookies beyond our premature draft grades. Yahoo Sports writers Eric Edholm, Jori Epstein, Matt Harmon and Frank Schwab each answered this question in a roundtable discussion:
Which offensive and defensive rookies are you most excited to see in training camp and preseason?
Edholm — On offense, I'll go with Fernando Mendoza.
Picking the No. 1 overall selection quarterback isn't exactly a deep cut. But the news that the Raiders' plan might be to sit Mendoza and let Kirk Cousins take the early reins suggests the preseason could be the last time we see Mendoza for a bit. I'm still leery about the idea of sitting him the entire season because few top-10 QBs sit these days for reasons other than injury, but let's assume that's the plan for now.
Mendoza enters the NFL with a reputation as a tough, smart, highly competitive thrower with decent athleticism. We should expect to see plenty of him in the three preseason games, even if the Raiders want to give Cousins enough reps and perhaps leave enough time to showcase Aidan O'Connell for a trade. There's some schematic overlap between what Mendoza ran at Indiana and what he'll be asked to do for the Raiders, even if he'll have to adjust to more under-center snaps and prove he can master the timing and quick-reaction skills needed to operate Klint Kubiak's system at a high level. The Raiders are also flush with young pass-catching talent, so it'll be fun to see how Mendoza works with that crew.
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Defensively, give me Arvell Reese. He was a bit of a surprise pick to the Giants, though his talent is not in question. Reese was a hybrid defender at Ohio State, splitting his time between edge rusher and off-ball linebacker, and it appears the Giants will deploy him similarly. Even with changes up front, Reese could be a monster on a front that features Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux and Abdul Carter, along with free-agent LB addition Tremaine Edmunds.
I'll be curious to see just how much the Giants put on Reese's plate. They tried a similar approach with Carter as a rookie, and it took until later in his rookie season for the former Penn State star to really shine. Reese has all the tools to be a star eventually, but his instincts will be put to the test in Year 1. The preseason tape should be fascinating to watch.
Epstein — Ty Simpson.
No, I'm not suggesting any sort of controversy between the Los Angeles Rams' 13th overall pick and the NFL's reigning MVP, Matthew Stafford. But our prompt isn't asking which player we're excited to watch Week 1. It's whom we're excited to see in camp and preseason, and that leads me squarely to the former Alabama quarterback.
The Rams' decision to draft Simpson in their Super Bowl window independently allures enough to make his progress worth watching. Beyond that, Rams GM Les Snead told me that Stafford's back injury last offseason changed the club's plan for how it'll manage training camp QB reps even when the 38-year-old is healthy. When the Rams restrict Stafford's performance, will Simpson get some first-team reps against a defense that includes reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett? How steep will Simpson's learning curve be after just one year starting at Alabama — and how effectively will potential snaps against the Rams' first-team defense prepare Simpson for preseason play against lesser competition? I'm scheduled to visit the Rams deep into their camp schedule, and I'll be watching Simpson closely.
On defense, it's David Bailey. The former Texas Tech edge rusher feels like a cop-out for this answer, as he was the highest-drafted defensive player this spring. But remember, questions swirled around whether the New York Jets would take versatile defender Arvell Reese or the highly productive Bailey second overall. Bailey's readiness to down the quarterback after an FBS-best 14.5 sacks last season gave him the nod.
At Jets practices, watch for Bailey's first-step quickness that has turned coaches' and executives' heads. Watch how he disrupts the pocket and how the secondary finds opportunities because of the delayed release the Jets hope Bailey will force. That secondary portion is key and part of what I'll be watching when I say I'm watching Bailey. I'm watching his indirect impact on the Jets' chase to secure an interception after a historic no-interception season last year. Bailey's Red Raiders, in contrast, led the FBS with 32 takeaways.
No player can change takeaway fortune alone, much less an edge rusher singlehandedly flipping interception production, but Bailey's work ethic (hello, Quizlet playbook study sessions) will help. So will Jets coaches' insistence that he hone power and spin moves atop his already strong speed rush. The Jets are in a transition period. Will Bailey help them build toward their next window of contention?
Harmon — KC Concepcion and Sonny Styles.
For starters, I have to admit I was extremely bullish on Concepcion as a wide receiver prospect relative to consensus in this year's draft. So naturally, that's where a lot of my excitement comes from. However, I also think from a deployment standpoint, he landed in an intriguing environment within Todd Monken's offense. Concepcion is a three-level separator who needs to clean up some correctable flaws at the catch point but can thrive at all receiver positions.
He's also clearly the most dynamic player with the ball in his hands among the top pass-catchers in Cleveland. That should give Concepcion a runway to be the main manufactured touches player on the Browns' roster, which figures to endure shaky quarterback play throughout 2026, no matter who starts Week 1. If he can operate in a rookie year Zay Flowers-like role for Monken — with designed targets underneath along with downfield out-breakers — that should make Concepcion the most quarterback-friendly target on the team and most insulated from that chaos.
Every now and again, you get a young player who has a chance to be a truly transformative talent for a unit. That's a lot of pressure for a rookie and not something you can learn in training camp or the preseason, especially in its current form. However, if he's as good as I think he is, Styles has a shot to be that type of player for a defense in Washington that desperately needs it. Head coach Dan Quinn and Co. targeted a bevy of veterans to bolster the defense in free agency, but Styles should be the straw that stirs the drink.
This will especially be true if his immense athleticism and length translate into the ability to cover the middle third of the field. Quinn's brand of defense is at its best when a gifted athlete like the prime version of Bobby Wagner clogs up the throwing lanes over the middle. I'd love to see any signs in camp that Styles can come close to making that impact for Washington, as it was one of the most helpless stop units in the NFL last season, particularly in coverage.
Schwab — While there are more exciting rookies in the class, nobody might be more important to this season than Seahawks running back Jadarian Price. He steps into a huge spot, replacing Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III. The Seahawks like to run the ball — they had the third-lowest pass rate over expectation in the NFL last season — and with Walker gone and Zach Charbonnet recovering from a torn ACL suffered in the playoffs, Price could have an important job for the defending champs.
There are questions about whether the Seahawks overreached for Price in the draft to fill a need. In preseason, we should get a chance to see if Price is ready for a big role right away.
As for defense, safeties are still undervalued. That's why Caleb Downs, who could be the best player overall in this draft class, was available at No. 11. The Cowboys understood his value and traded up a spot to get him. Dallas was horrible on defense last season, and Downs is one of many new starters for that unit. He can impact the game in many ways, and in preseason, we should get an idea of how new Cowboys coordinator Christian Parker plans to use him.
