Buying or Selling the Biggest NFL Buzz Ahead of 2026 Training Camp

As NFL teams wrap up spring practices, there's a ton of buzz about early offseason standouts and prospective roles on depth charts.

Some of the chatter could translate to training camp headlines, though we should take other reports with a grain of salt.

Coaches want to see players showcase their athleticism through mandatory minicamp, but they know padded practices in summer will help them better evaluate talent on the roster.

Still, we can pick up early tidbits on who's leading position battles and what plans teams have for rookies and developing players.

Taking a look at the biggest storylines across the league, here's what we're buying or selling ahead of training camp.

Buy: Bears Rookie WR Zavion Thomas Could Carve Out Major Role

AP Photo/Michael Conroy

With one of their two third-round picks in this year's draft, the Chicago Bears selected Zavion Thomas, who emerged as a star at practices during the spring.

Many believe Thomas can work his way into a significant role this year. 

Head coach Ben Johnson talked about what the rookie wideout must do to earn notable playing time in the upcoming term:

"He's got a long highlight reel in terms of showcasing that speed in the SEC. He tends to make a play almost every single day right now that says 'OK, if we can harness all of this energy and make sure that we can trust him and he's going to align where he needs to and run the route the way we need him to, that we really could use him and he could be a big weapon for us this year."

Johnson wants to see Thomas' physical abilities translate when players put on pads in the summer and his understanding of the system in those training camp practices.

Although Thomas posted modest collegiate receiving numbers at Mississippi State and LSU, he'll have a chance to fill a major void in the Bears' passing attack after the team traded DJ Moore to the Buffalo Bills.

Chicago signed Kalif Raymond, who played in Johnson's offense for three seasons while with the Detroit Lions, but he's taken the field for fewer than 38 percent of offensive snaps in three consecutive years.

If Thomas demonstrates a strong command of Johnson's offense, he could be a fixture in three-receiver sets.

Sell: Broncos TE Evan Engram Will See Expanded Role in Passing Offense

AP Photo/Eric Lutzens

Quarterback Bo Nix will have a new lead pass-catcher in wideout Jaylen Waddle. The Denver Broncos gave up a first-rounder, a third-rounder and a fourth-rounder to acquire him and a fourth-round pick from the Miami Dolphins. So, he should see the most targets.

Nonetheless, Troy Renck of The Denver Post believes Waddle's presence could have a positive impact on tight end Evan Engram's role in the passing attack with offensive coordinator Davis Webb set to call plays:

"There is confidence that new offensive coordinator Davis Webb will find a way to expand Engram's role. They were teammates with the Giants. Webb recruited Engram to the Broncos. With Jaylen Waddle in the mix, there should be obvious openings in the middle of the field for Bo Nix, an area where he has struggled in his first two seasons.

"If Waddle takes coverage on a slant that leaves Engram in man-to-man on a stick route or RPO quick hitter. The Broncos did not forget about Engram last season. He received 76 targets. And while Nix never totally clicked with Engram, especially when plays broke down, it is on the 31-year-old to do his part."

Waddle's speed should open up the middle of the field for his teammates on short-to-intermediate routes.

However, Engram will turn 32 in September. Last season, he suited up for 16 games but played a career-low 42 percent of the offensive snaps.

Keep in mind that the Broncos signed fellow tight ends Adam Trautman and Nate Adkins to extensions this offseason and drafted Justin Joly and Dallen Bentley, who play the same position.

Although Waddle will garner attention outside the numbers, Engram may not be the full beneficiary of his involvement in the aerial attack.

Engram is the best pass-catcher among the Broncos' tight ends, but he could continue to lose snaps to younger talent behind him on the depth chart.

Buy: Browns Have No Front-Runner In QB Competition

AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki

Shedeur Sanders

Early in the offseason, Cleveland.com's Mary Kay Cabot reported that Deshaun Watson had an "inside track" for the starting quarterback job. At the conclusion of the Cleveland Browns' spring practices, that doesn't seem like the case.

Based on head coach Todd Monken's hesitation to name a starting signal-caller, Zac Jackson of The Athletic doesn't see a clear-cut leader between Watson and Shedeur Sanders in their battle to lead the offense:

"…New Browns coach Todd Monken veered from his stated goal of naming a starting quarterback in time for training camp, because he wants and needs to see more from Sanders and Deshaun Watson this summer — and because neither won the job in the spring the way Monken at least hoped one of them would. 

"Like so many previous Browns teams, the 2026 version doesn't have a quarterback." 

Jackson noted that Sanders has made strides through the spring, but Monken will base his evaluation on who gives the team the best chance to score.

If the Browns' season goes off the rails, we'll probably see Watson and Sanders under center in different stretches. With an additional first-round pick from the Myles Garrett trade, Cleveland can move into position for a top quarterback prospect in the 2027 draft.

In the meantime, Watson and Sanders will head into the summer with an even chance at being the short-term starter.

Buy: Jaguars WR Parker Washington Will Be Core Piece of Aerial Attack

AP Photo/John Raoux

Jacksonville Jaguars fans should be excited about all the buzz about their wide receiver group following mandatory minicamp.

According to SI.com's John Shipley, Brian Thomas Jr. "is the leader in the clubhouse to be the offseason program's MVP."

Shipley believes the chemistry between quarterback Trevor Lawrence and Jakobi Meyers "has taken a leap."

The Jaguars beat reporter also thinks Parker Washington will develop in a full-time role on offense:

"While Hunter is still set to play some kind of role in Liam Coen's offense this fall, it is clear through minicamp and the early days of OTAs that Washington is set to be a core piece of what the Jaguars do in the passing game. Coen had some big things to say about Washington and how he is approaching his role, and earlier this offseason he also said he wanted to unlock Washington's potential with the ball in his hands."

While on The Rich Eisen Show, Jaguars general manager James Gladstone said Travis Hunter will see an increase in snaps at cornerback and still play wide receiver in the upcoming season, but he didn't specify a snap count percentage for either position.

Hunter will likely be a part-time pass-catcher, which would open up more opportunities for Washington, who led the team in receptions (58) and receiving yards (847) last season.

Washington took advantage of more looks in the passing game while Thomas and Hunter battled injuries through the previous campaign. He could see enough targets on the perimeter to be a top-two pass-catcher in the Jaguars offense.

Sell: Packers WR Matthew Golden Will Take Huge Leap in Year 2

AP Photo/Kayla Wolf

The Green Bay Packers moved on from wide receivers Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks, allowing the former to walk in free agency and trading the latter. They saw 131 targets combined last season.

Entering his second year as a first-round pick from the 2025 draft, Matthew Golden is in line for an expanded role.

Fellow wideout Jayden Reed expects Golden to make a "huge jump" and "be dangerous" in the Packers' aerial attack.

Golden only saw 44 targets in the previous term, hauling in 29 for 361 scoreless yards. Barring injury, he'll see more passes in the upcoming season as one of the Packers' top three receivers.

However, Golden still has to compete with Christian Watson and Reed, who both signed extensions this offseason, and tight end Tucker Kraft, who's working his way back from a torn ACL.

Also, keep in mind that head coach Matt LaFleur has leaned heavily on the ground game over the previous two years. Green Bay ranked fifth and seventh in total rush attempts for the 2024 and 2025 campaigns, respectively, while finishing in the bottom six in passing attempts in both terms.

Golden will outpace his rookie receiving numbers, though he may take a step rather than a leap in the right direction.

Buy: DT Aaron Donald 'More Likely Than Not' to Unretire, Rejoin Rams

AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill

The Los Angeles Rams sent shockwaves across the league, acquiring superstar edge-rusher Myles Garrett from the Cleveland Browns.

In doing so, the Rams stirred up Aaron Donald's competitive juices—perhaps enough for him to make a return to the field.

ESPN's Adam Schefter believes Donald is "more likely than not" to come out of retirement.

Donald retired after the 2023 campaign. In that year, he performed at a high level, recording 53 tackles (16 for loss), eight sacks and 31 pressures.

Donald turned 35 in May, but he's still in good physical shape, though lifting heavy weights is much different from putting on pads and playing through an 18-week season.

However, at his age, three years removed from the game, Donald could play a reduced snap count within a strong interior defensive line group that includes Kobie Turner, Braden Fiske and Poona Ford.

The Rams own the rights to Donald's contract. So if he's willing to play 50-60 percent of the defensive snaps, they can easily welcome him back to a loaded roster.

Garrett and Donald working together within the same defense would be a sight to see this year. They've won five of the last nine Defensive Player of the Year awards. 

Sell: George Holani Emerging as Seahawks' No. 1 RB

AP Photo/Matt Ludtke

The Seattle Seahawks must fill a major void in their backfield after allowing Kenneth Walker to walk in free agency.

The Seahawks signed Emanuel Wilson and selected Jadarian Price in the first round of this year's draft, though it could be a roster holdover who takes on the bulk of the rushing workload.

According to ESPN's Brady Henderson, George Holani had the "first crack" at the lead running back role, though he did share first-team reps with Price.

The Tacoma News Tribune's Gregg Bell noted that Wilson has taken snaps with the third-team offense during the spring.

While the Seahawks' running back pecking order through mandatory minicamp is notable, it's far from a cemented unit in terms of snap distribution.

Price is a rookie who could pick up steam as he gets comfortable in a pro setting. Also, head coach Mike Macdonald told reporters that "everything is possible" when asked about Zach Charbonnet's availability for Week 1.

Entering his fourth season, after rushing for 730 yards and 12 touchdowns in the previous campaign, Charbonnet will likely handle a bulk of the touches once he's healthy. The 25-year-old tore his ACL in January, which may sideline him for weeks into the regular season.

Regardless of Charbonnet's status, it's too early to tab Holani as the Seahawks' premier running back. 

Holani has logged 25 carries for 83 yards and a touchdown in 16 career games. He needs a strong showing through training camp to lock up the top spot on the depth chart if Charbonnet is sidelined at the beginning of the season.

Sell: Steelers Won't Trade Edge Alex Highsmith This Year

AP Photo/Matt Durisko

The Pittsburgh Steelers have a lot invested in their edge-rusher group. Yet NFL Network's Ian Rapoport expects the club to keep that unit together for the upcoming season.

Last offseason, the Steelers signed T.J. Watt to a three-year extension worth $123 million. He has a $42 million cap number this year, per Over the Cap.

Pittsburgh inked Nick Herbig to a four-year, $100 million extension during OTAs.

Meanwhile, Alex Highsmith is set to play 2026 with no guarantees left on his contract, leaving him exposed if he suffers a major injury. In that situation, some established veterans choose to hold out or apply pressure for more financial security.

While the team has attributed his minicamp absence to an illness and emphasized that he remains in the building, any time a high‑priced edge‑rusher misses practice right after a teammate's massive extension, fans and media are going to speculate about what it means for his long‑term future in Pittsburgh.

The 28-year-old led the Steelers with 9.5 sacks and 15 tackles for loss last season. One can make the case that he is underpaid, considering Herbig's deal after his 7.5-sack campaign.

Don't be surprised if Highsmith is dealing with an illness or injury that keeps him out of training camp until Pittsburgh addresses his contract situation.

Player contract details are provided by Over the Cap.

Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.