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It’s all too easy to get caught up in the hype of first-round picks immediately following each NFL draft, but history shows that the biggest impact is often made by players selected after Day 1.
Case in point: The top two defensive rookies in the NFL last year — Cleveland Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger and Seattle Seahawks defensive back Nick Emmanwori — were both Day 2 steals.
The players below may not be the biggest names today, but they fit schematically with their respective teams and appear to have a relatively clear path to playing time. That’s why they’re poised to make big contributions in 2026. And few of them were drafted in the first round.
With training camp now underway, here are my AFC rookies to watch.
AFC EAST
Buffalo Bills: Kaleb Elarms-Orr, LB, TCU (No. 126 pick)
The Bills’ projected starters inside linebackers — Terrel Bernard and Dorian Williams — have struggled with durability and consistency during their respective careers. Elarms-Orr has played in 47 games over the past four years and possesses elite speed. At a minimum, he should prove a quality backup and special teams ace as a rookie, and I think his closing speed in coverage and as a blitzer could generate enough flashy plays that he ends up stealing a starting role sooner rather than later.
Miami Dolphins: Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State (Pick No. 27)
With the Dolphins undergoing a significant rebuild, there should be several rookies making an immediate impact this year in Miami. With all due respect to new linebackers Jacob Rodriguez and Kyle Louis, the defensive player I’m most excited about is Johnson, a polished cover corner who I think will prove to be Miami’s best player in the secondary by the end of his rookie campaign.
The Dolphins are counting on Chris Johnson to step in and be their best corner right away. (Photo by Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
New England Patriots: Gabe Jacas, Edge, Illinois (Pick No. 55)
Full disclosure, I’m much higher on Jacas than many, ranking him as the 32nd overall prospect in the 2026 class. As such, I think he’ll prove to be a steal at No. 55 overall — especially considering the talent New England will have around him. Jacas isn’t as nervous or stooped as some of the top-ranked edge rushers in this class, but he accelerates smoothly and powerfully. Although Jacas isn’t that tall, he might remind some longtime Patriots fans of former franchise standout Chandler Jones.
New York Jets: D’Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana (Pick No. 50)
First, the bad news: The Jets were awful last season and had plenty of holes to fill. The good news, however, is that GM Darren Mougey filled at least four of those holes with the club’s top pick. Honestly, any of them could legitimately be listed here, but I’m going with Ponds, who I predict will lead the Jets in interceptions as a rookie.
AFC NORTH
Baltimore Ravens: Zion Young, Edge, Missouri (Pick No. 45)
Young was the perfect answer to anyone who wondered if the Ravens would lose their rugged identity when Jesse Minter took over as head coach for John Harbaugh. Young may not be the most benevolent in this class, but he plays with the passion and violence that has long personified this franchise.
Cincinnati Bengals: Tacario Davis, CB, Washington (Pick No. 72)
The Bengals invest as much in attributes as any team in the NFL, and the nearly 6-foot-4, 194-pound Davis offers a unique blend of size, length (33 3/8-inch arms) and speed (4.41 40). He projects as a future starter on the fringes for a Cincinnati team whose current starters, Dax Hill and DJ Turner, are both slated for free agency after this season.
Cleveland Browns: Spencer Fano, LT, Utah (pick No. 9)
I loved how the Browns played this draft and strongly considered wideouts KC Concepcion or Denzel Boston for this article. Ignoring Fano just to highlight other picks later doesn’t give the Browns enough credit for accurately recognizing the much greater depth at receiver than tackle in this draft, and that it doesn’t matter who catches the passes (or throws the ball) if the blocking up front isn’t up to par. Fano was the best pass protector in this class, and he will be forged by fire practicing daily against Jared Verse. He will start right away and soon prove to be a franchise cornerstone.
Spencer Fano was the first offensive lineman to come off the board in the 2026 draft. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)
Pittsburgh Steelers: Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama (Pick No. 104)
I was tempted to name either right tackle Max Iheanachor or running back Kaden Wetjen here, but Bernard strikes me as the kind of savvy QB-friendly target Aaron Rodgers is going to love. In fact, while I expect DK Metcalf and free-agent addition Michael Pittman to generate plenty of big plays on the outside, I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see Bernard end up leading the Steelers in receptions this season.
AFC SOUTH
Houston Texans: Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State (Pick No. 36)
McDonald was a first-round talent who fell to Day 2 due to perceived positional value. Still, given the Texans’ elite combination of Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter, McDonald is ideally placed to make a splash.
Indianapolis Colts: AJ Haulcy, S, LSU (Pick No. 78)
A strong case could be made for linebacker CJ Allen (or fellow LB Bryce Boettcher) for this spot. But given the coverage abilities of Colts starting cornerbacks Sauce Gardner and Charvarius Ward, I’m especially intrigued by Haulcy in the deep middle of this secondary. Like free agent Juanyeh Thomas, Haulcy is bigger than most safeties, and his ferocious hits reinforce that. He’s also a proven ballhawk, which is why I think he’ll start as a rookie.
Haulcy will be surrounded by veterans in the Colts secondary. (Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Jacksonville Jaguars: Emmanuel Pregnon, OG, Oregon (Pick No. 88)
With quality blocker Ezra Cleveland and high-priced 2025 free-agent addition Patrick Mekari manning the guard positions in Jacksonville, Pregnon doesn’t have an easy path to starting for the Jaguars as a rookie. However, he is talented, tough and experienced at both guard positions. Additionally, Cleveland is a pending free agent, and Mekari struggled with both consistency and durability in his first year in town.
Tennessee Titans: Anthony Hill, LB, Texas (Pick No. 60)
Although Cody Barton is a proven starting-caliber linebacker and Cedric Gray has shown the skill set to be even better than that, I’m excited to see how disruptive Hill can be in Robert Saleh’s defense. Hill was asked to play so many roles at Texas that he never had a chance to blossom. His range and hunting skills could lead to big things for the Titans.
AFC WEST
Denver Broncos: Tyler Onyedim, DL, Texas A&M (Pick No. 66)
Quick, agile and long-armed, I think Onyedim will develop into a better pass rusher in the NFL than he ever was in college. Playing alongside Zach Allen and Nik Bonnito, he was definitely drawn into a defense that has the “horses” to help in that development.
Kansas City Chiefs: R Mason Thomas, Edge, Oklahoma (Pick No. 40)
Considering the QB talent in the AFC West, adding edge rushers is always a good idea. I’m especially excited about Thomas’ speed in this division, but since the opposing quarterbacks are not only quality passers, they’re also talented scramblers. Thomas has the burst and closing speed to help capture them. Thomas may not start as a rookie, but don’t be surprised if he plays a pivotal role as a designated pass rusher right away.
The Chiefs invested heavily in their defense during the draft, using their first four picks on that side of the ball. (Photo by Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images)
Las Vegas Raiders: Trey Zuhn III, OG, Texas A&M (pick No. 91)
Needless to say, all the focus on the Raiders’ rookies will start with No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza. But after allowing Geno Smith to be sacked more than any other quarterback in the NFL in 2025, boosting the offensive line is just as important. Although Zuhn lined up at tackle and center with the Aggies, the Raiders announced him as a guard shortly after selecting him, and I think he has a shot to unseat free agent Spencer Burford on the left side. As his experience at left tackle suggests, Zuhn is quite athletic, despite his huge 6-foot-6, 319-pound frame, offering pass protection and run-blocking abilities to help the investments in Mendoza (and Ashton Jeanty) pay off.
Los Angeles Chargers: Travis Burke, OT, Memphis (No. 117 pick)
Chargers fans are likely hoping it’s Jake Slaughter — the blocker who was drafted two rounds earlier than Burke — who makes the most immediate impact, and I think Slaughter has the toughness and girth to transition from center to guard effectively. But given the Chargers’ struggles with durability at tackle in recent years, Burke may prove more important. He is surprisingly agile for his size, has experience at both tackle positions and plays with the grit Jim Harbaugh demands up front.
