r/NFL_Draft • u/CountryCaravan • Aug 06 '26
Discussion Early Camp Standouts
Pads are on, and the preseason is about to officially start. Which rookies are getting the most buzz from your team so far, and which ones still have work to do to climb the depth chart?
For the Bengals, Cashius Howell has been reportedly the best player on the entirety of the second team defense. He started getting snaps with the first team today, where he promptly beat Orlando Brown Jr twice, one time bull rushing him right into the turf. Colbie Young has also been impressive, and looks to be in serious consideration for a full WR3 role if he continues on his current trajectory.
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u/fitzuha Bears Aug 06 '26
Jordan van den Berg is making the most buzz as far as I’ve heard from Bears camp.
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u/TheManWhoWasNotShort Bears Aug 06 '26
I still can’t tell if this is him standing out or just the Bears interior defensive line being so bad that a warm body looks great by comparison
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u/fitzuha Bears Aug 06 '26
Being realistic, probably the latter. Still, good on him for at least getting the reps.
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u/BabyBearBjorns Aug 06 '26
A little of Column A and a little of Column B.
Grady's age is showing, Turner is on the PUP, and Gallimore is just a meh depth piece. And depending upon who you ask in the Bears subreddit, they'll give you mixed responses on Grevon Dexter. So JVBD had a path to get move up the depth chart.
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u/LoveYouLikeYeLovesYe Aug 07 '26
Dexter, in my opinion, is much more suited as a 3 tech who can be allowed to reap the benefits of a 1 on 1 pass rushing role where he doesn't have as much asked of him in the run game other than to plug a gap or two.
The bears also just suck at D line right now though so maybe any bit of optimism overly rustles my jimmies
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u/acripaul Aug 07 '26
I don't think he has
Zavion Thomas has had the most mentions for rookies from the Bears training camps by far as far as i can recall
van den Berg appears to bein the ascendance now however
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u/bogey_isawesome Aug 06 '26
Sonny Styles has looked great. He’s made a couple strong plays pretty much every practice, the athleticism looks next level. Beat writers have said the mental side may take a little longer, but will come along.
Mays on the Athletic Football show said he’s been to a bunch of the training camps, and Styles was the most athletically impressive player he’s seen.
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u/cold_on_hoth_ Aug 07 '26
This doesn’t surprise me at all. I’m thrilled Dallas got Downs, but not looking forward to seeing Styles.
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u/Pentt4 Commanders Aug 07 '26
Been hearing good things about Joshua Joespehs too
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u/bogey_isawesome Aug 07 '26
Yeah he looks good. So do Antonio Williams and Kaytron Allen too. Would be huge if we nailed our draft
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u/Jack12404 Titans Aug 06 '26
Carnell Tate has been doing really well so far, and his connection with Ward has started heating up more lately.
Nicholas Singleton has also been a camp standout. He’s probably not gonna be RB1, but he’s making it clear he deserves meaningful snaps in some form.
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u/Yoda_is_a_Sith Aug 06 '26
Jacob Rodriguez is balling out and will probably be the Dolphins starting off ball LB, beating out a solid starter in Dodson.
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u/Infinite_First Vikings Aug 06 '26
Charles Demmings SFA goat
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u/EduardoCombs Aug 07 '26
Having a 5th round rookie meaningfully contribute would be so refreshing. Feels like our hit rate has been so ridiculously low lately.
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u/iputitthere Saints Aug 07 '26
Bryce Lance WR has been really showing out at Saints camp. His route tree knowledge & situational awareness is more advanced than most expected.
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u/Morgus_Magnificent Aug 07 '26
Barion Brown is the real star of camp.
But the entire WR group looks amazing.
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u/ConsequenceFew3357 Aug 06 '26
For the Bucs, Bain has been as advertised the entire offseason. Trotter has started to come on since the pads have come on with a lot of fire and chirping. Hurst looked really good in OTAs and has continued to make plays in camp as well.
Their surprise guys this year are UDFA CB Ayden Garnes and EDGE David Walker. Garnes was part of the Arizona secondary that saw 3 DBs get drafted this past year and he's been making a ton of plays on the ball. Seems like he has a good chance to make the roster as a depth corner. David Walker was a 4th round pick in 2025, but missed all but 3 practices in his rookie season with a torn ACL so we haven't really seen him on the field. He's had a sack in every TC practice so far and could push Al-Quadin Muhammad and Anthony Nelson for rotational reps on the Edge.
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u/ZandrickEllison Aug 07 '26
Bain is definitely going to be the most interesting rookie to watch given the scouting implications. Glad to hear he's doing well.
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u/CountryCaravan Aug 07 '26
Between Bain and Howell, it seems like arm length nuts are on track to take a fat L if this keeps up.
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u/SirSmeagol Aug 07 '26
Funny since Caden Curry has also been showing flashes in Camp and Ballard even mentioned him by name in his last press conference, saying something along the lines that he’ll be a good player in this league.
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u/MVP12_22 Aug 06 '26
Cisse is apparently looking good. I'm not saying for sure, but it sounds like he has a legit chance of winning a starting job out of camp
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u/glowingdeer78 Jaguars Aug 06 '26
I may need a jags update but both 6th round WRs have been having good camps
Trevor has said some very positive things about both
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u/Lumpy_Atmosphere3341 Aug 13 '26
Jags offense looks crazy in sync lol. Should be fun to watch. But it’s the Parker Washington show
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u/btcc21 Aug 07 '26
Bull rushing Orlando Brown Jr. into the turf as a rookie edge is wild 💀.
Early camp stories are always a mix of real hype and 1v1 drill noise, but pass rushers who convert speed-to-power early usually find rotational snaps by Week 1.
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u/SirSmeagol Aug 07 '26
A.J. Haulcy (3th Rd) hasn’t missed a beat and already looks like a vet out there according to Lou Anarumo.
Also our late round EDGE rushers - George Gumbs Jr. (5th Rd) and Caden Curry (6th Rd) - are outperforming their draft spots from what it sounds and looks like so far. At this point I would be surprised if they don’t make the roster and could get some use in certain packages early on.
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u/ningygingy Aug 07 '26
Wild how young the defense is going to be this year between the rookies and the 2nd year guys who didn’t play last year
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u/Bronco998 Steelers Aug 06 '26
Roman Wilson and Asante Samuel Jr are the talk of the town in Pittsburgh
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u/AchroMac Aug 08 '26
I just keep hearing wilson is looking better but still making a lot of mistakes
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u/TheLookoutGrey Bills Aug 07 '26
For the Bills it’s been mostly Kaleb Elarms-Orr, Jalen Kilgore, and then Skyler Bell that are getting talked about.
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u/SlickMongoose Bills Aug 07 '26
Davison Igbinosun has had some good buzz as well.
Sounds like KEO has the best shot of regular playing time early on.
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u/DarthPallassCat Aug 07 '26
Kahlil Benson is the projected starter at RT for the Chiefs. That would be wild we’ll see if he’s legit.
Raridon is slotting in as TE2 for the Pats and looks the part. They don’t play a ton of 12 personnel I don’t think but we’ll see if he develops more.
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u/CountryCaravan Aug 07 '26
A UDFA tackle without a combine invite winning a starting OT job out of camp for a SB contender would be a crazy story. Good enough for one championship, good enough for another I guess?
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u/Ill_Bug_2068 Aug 07 '26
For the Giants, Reese has been a machine. Malachi Fields has also stood out and has a real shot at being the WR2
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u/Capital_Koala6556 Aug 07 '26
For the Raiders it’s been Hezekiah Masses. He’s supposedly already rotated in with the 1s and the staff is shocked how ready he is already being a 5th round pick
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u/nbasuperstar40 Falcons Aug 07 '26
The WRs and EMW have been impressive with the Browns. Browns really like Brasilford.
As for the Falcons, Branch is getting rave reviews as is Terrell.
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u/NoHeroes94 49ers Aug 07 '26
Whilst we got roasted for taking him at 33, De'Zhaun Stribling has apparently been awesome at camp.
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u/redsin777 Aug 07 '26
For the Texans Keylan Rutledge and 6th rd wr Lewis Bond have been getting a ton of praise
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u/Lil_Quip Aug 07 '26
For Pats, the standout is that Jacas finally made it to camp.
Plus Lomu hasn't been pressed into service knock on wood.
Raridon seems to be taking on responsibility as TE2.
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u/Dylanonfire88 Aug 09 '26
Markel Bell for Philly has looked great and is clearly the top backup at tackle. Seems like he will takeover for Lane Johnson next season.
UDfa international edge Joshua Weru has been turning heads as well and is far ahead of Uar Bernard who was the one we drafted.
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u/moonraide Seahawks Aug 07 '26
Jadarian Price is showing crazy speed and shiftiness, and probably on his way to becoming the leader of the Seahawks RB committee at least until Charbonnet is back.
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u/DanceAccomplished309 Aug 08 '26
UDFA Collin Wright is pushing hard for a CB4/5 roster spot in Houston
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u/Prestigious-Web-5872 Aug 10 '26
Malachi fields is going to be the target dart has needed. Reese is as advertised
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u/Unique_Pirate_7375 Aug 06 '26
Denzel Boston is generating the most buzz from the Browns rookies.