2026 NFL Rookies Trending in the Right Direction Ahead of Training Camp

NFL teams and fans alike tend to have high expectations for rookies, especially those drafted highly. However, it's always worth remembering that the jump from college to the NFL carries a steep learning curve for incoming prospects.

Of course, this hasn't prevented recent rookies such as Carson Schwesinger, Tetairoa McMillan, Jared Verse and Jayden Daniels from becoming stars almost immediately.

They largely succeeded because they hit the ground running after strong inaugural offseasons.

With this in mind, let's examine some of the most notable 2026 rookies who are trending in the right direction through organized team activities (OTAs) and minicamps. These first-year players still have much to prove—and training camp is still over a month away—but they're providing reasons for hope heading into the summer.

Carnell Tate, WR, Tennessee Titans

AP Photo/George Walker IV

In an effort to support second-year quarterback Cam Ward, the Tennessee Titans used the fourth overall pick on Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate.

While many pundits believed Tennessee could have gotten better value by taking one of the draft's elite defensive prospects, Tate is already looking like an early-impact receiver.

Offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, for one, has been impressed.

"He's a young player, still learning, but he's smart," he said, per John Glennon of the Nashville Post. "He's got good ball skills. Everything we saw on tape at Ohio State …He's come in and he's acclimated himself well."

Tate wasn't a true No. 1 receiver at Ohio State, but he frequently flashed with his route-running, body control, reliable hands and ball skills. In other words, he's the sort of reliable go-to target that Ward simply didn't have as a rookie.

The good news is that Tate doesn't seem to be struggling with the NFL jump. The better news is that he already appears to be developing chemistry with his new quarterback.

"The Titans believe Tate has the tools to be a No. 1 receiver," ESPN's Turron Davenport wrote. "The rookie is off to a good start so far, after Ward connected with him frequently during OTAs."

Caleb Downs, S, Dallas Cowboys

AP Photo/Gareth Patterson

Ohio State safety Caleb Downs was one of the elite defensive prospects Tennessee might have considered at No. 4.

While safeties don't tend to go highly in the draft, Downs is a do-it-all defender who was also the top-ranked overall prospect on the B/R Scouting Department's final draft board.

The Dallas Cowboys may have gotten themselves an immediate starter and a significant draft steal by landing the 21-year-old at No. 11 overall.

So far, the rookie has met expectations.

"He's as advertised," Cowboys defensive coordinator Christian Parker said, per Jon Machota of The Athletic. "...He's a worker. He looks for coaching. He craves that. He wants to be corrected. He wants more information. And he works as hard as he can with the extras and everything else."

Downs is expected to be a franchise centerpiece on the back end of the defense and to immediately lift a unit that ranked dead-last in points allowed last season. So far, the former Buckeye is ramping up to meet the challenge.

Denzel Boston, WR, Cleveland Browns

AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki

Wideout Denzel Boston wasn't the Cleveland Browns' first draft selection. In fact, he wasn't even the first receiver they took.

The Washington product was a second-round pick taken after Cleveland nabbed Utah lineman Spencer Fano and Texas A&M receiver KC Concepcion in Round 1.

However, Boston might already be trending as the Browns' go-to receiver. He flashed early in the offseason with his combination of speed and 6'4" length.

Boston has also reportedly emerged as the favorite target of Cleveland's quarterbacks.

"It seems like Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders have turned to Boston every time they want to make a play this spring, and the rookie has delivered time and time again," Ernesto Cova of FanSided wrote.

The Browns might not have their quarterback of the future until they dip into the position-loaded 2027 draft. If Boston carries his early offseason success into the regular season, however, they may already have their long-term No. 1 receiver.

Fernando Mendoza, QB, Las Vegas Raiders

AP Photo/John Locher

The Raiders appear to have found their quarterback of the future in No. 1 overall pick and reigning Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza.

Of course, the Indiana product might not be Las Vegas' quarterback of the present, after the team added Kirk Cousins shortly before the draft.

The expectation is that the veteran will start early in 2026 and hold down the QB1 gig until the Raiders are fully convinced Mendoza is ready. If the rookie keeps building on his early offseason, though, Cousins probably won't hold onto the job for the entire season.

To be clear, Mendoza appears to be firmly behind Cousins right now and has shown his fair share of rookie growing pains.

"Mendoza's operation wasn't as clean," The Athletic's Sam Warren wrote during minicamp. "He was less accurate than in prior practices—he threw behind a few receivers, resulting in deflections and incompletions. Miscommunications appeared to occur as well."

However, this doesn't mean Mendoza hasn't shown considerable growth.

"He's working his tail off. He's gotten a ton better," Raiders coach Klint Kubiak said, per ESPN's Ryan McFadden. "With anyone coming into the league, you've got to put the work into it, and he's done that. …The things we've asked him to improve on, he's been diligent at."

Hard work and incremental improvement are about all a team can expect from a rookie quarterback during OTAs and minicamp. It will be interesting to see what sort of jump Mendoza can make in August.

Jermod McCoy, CB, Las Vegas Raiders

AP Photo/John Locher

Mendoza isn't the only notable Raiders rookie moving in the right direction. However, fourth-round pick Jermod McCoy is trending upward for very different reasons.

The Raiders landed the former Tennessee cornerback in Round 4 because of injury concerns. McCoy suffered a torn ACL last offseason, missed all of 2025, and saw his predraft stock slide amid reports that he may require another surgery.

In a vacuum, though, the 20-year-old was considered an elite prospect. He was the 11th-ranked player and second-ranked cornerback on the final B/R board.

While McCoy hasn't been a full participant in Las Vegas' offseason to this point, he's expected to be ready for training camp.

"I expect him to practice. I expect him to be on the field," Kubiak said, per Owen Crisafulli of Heavy. "It's gonna be a moving target with him, but we drafted him for a reason. We drafted him to play, so I expect him to compete in camp and get plenty of reps."

Considering the concerns McCoy carried into the draft, having him healthy and ready to compete in camp would be a big win for the Raiders.

Zavion Thomas, WR, Chicago Bears

AP Photo/Gerald Herbert

The Chicago Bears made the bold decision to trade away standout receiver D.J. Moore early this offseason, but they may already have his replacement in third-round rookie Zavion Thomas.

The LSU product drew some pre-draft buzz with a 4.28-second 40-yard dash. However, he'll need to add some polish to his game to be more than just a deep-threat novelty in Chicago.

So far, his progress is encouraging.

Per Larry Mayer of the team's official website, head coach Ben Johnson said: "Coach [Antwaan Randle] El and [offensive quality control coach] Isaiah Ford are doing a phenomenal job with him and the rest of the room, getting him up to speed and challenging him, and I think he's developing the work ethic we expect not only from a receiver but from anyone on offense or the team."

Johnson isn't the only one impressed with Thomas' progress to this point. Quarterback Caleb Williams is already envisioning what the 22-year-old can provide in the long term.

"I'm really excited, if he can get the offense down and he can do his part, I think he'll be really special for years on out," Williams said, per Mike Pendleton of Bears Wire.

Rueben Bain Jr., Edge, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

AP PhotoChris O'Meara

Edge-rusher Rueben Bain Jr. was the fifth-ranked prospect on the final B/R board. However, he fell in the draft—possibly due to his shorter-than-ideal arm length—and landed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at No. 15.

The Bucs were thrilled to see the Miami product fall.

"I've probably never seen a more excited draft room," general manager Jason Licht said, per Scott Smith of the team's official website.

Tampa should also be thrilled with what the 21-year-old has shown thus far in the offseason.

"He never wastes steps. He always uses his hands. He understands leverage," head coach Todd Bowles told the Sports Day Tampa Bay podcast (h/t JoeBucsFan.com). "...He's even more of a football player than I thought. He's extremely bright. He picked up the system very well. He runs games very well. And you can see the possibilities."

Bain doesn't fit the mold of a long, lean edge-rusher, but that didn't stop him from being one of college football's most dominant defenders last season. He's trending toward being a difference-making defender for the Bucs as a rookie, too.