Bold Predictions for Biggest NFL Rookies Ahead of 2026 Training Camp

With the training camp portion of the 2026 NFL offseason nearly here, it's time to check in on the league's new rookie class.

While there were 257 prospects taken in the 2026 NFL draft and many more catching on with clubs as undrafted free agents, several rookies already stand out as a cut above the rest—at least in terms of popularity.

Whether it's because they entered the league with tons of buzz based on their collegiate production or landed with one of the bigger franchises, these promising youngsters have already begun creating hype and moving merchandise at a high rate.

Here's a look at the 10 most popular first-year players based on the latest Fanatics jersey sales numbers:

With that in mind, let's highlight each of these big-name rooks and project what their 2026 stats/role could look like.

Edge David Bailey, New York Jets

AP Photo/Heather Khalifa

The New York Jets have one of the most intriguing defensive fronts in football following the addition of David Bailey at No. 3 overall in the 2026 draft. If Bailey lives up to his potential, it's going to be near-impossible for opposing blockers to keep the Texas Tech star out of their backfield.

Bailey has a ridiculous first step, hulking power and a motor that simply doesn't quit. He mixes explosiveness with fluid athleticism to create one of the more unique pass-rushing prospects to hit the NFL in some time.

While Bailey isn't quite a generational talent—he lacks ideal size, can get stuck on contact, still needs to learn how to sniff out screens and play action better and doesn't have too many counters at his disposal yet—he's a threat to blow up plays and take down quarterbacks every time he steps on the field.

The Jets have enough talent in the defensive trenches to allow Bailey to only play rotational snaps as a rookie, but even a part-time, situational workload will be enough to tally five-plus sacks and get him in the Defensive Rookie of the Year discussion.

2026 Stat Prediction: 25 tackles, 7 sacks, 2 forced fumbles

S Dillon Thieneman, Chicago Bears

AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh

The Chicago Bears secured a true impact player in Dillon Thieneman. The team had a clear hole at the safety spot and filled it by using the No. 25 overall pick on the former Purdue and Oregon player.

Thieneman entered the league with a wealth of experience as a three-year starter, a stretch that helped him hone his football IQ and playmaking talents. He can line up at any safety position and thrive, supporting the run and dropping into coverage with equal skill.

ESPN's Courtney Cronin noted Thieneman has adapted to the Bears' system quickly and is leveraging the knowledge of his veteran teammates to get prepared for his first NFL campaign:

"Thieneman worked his way into first-team reps during mandatory minicamp while spending the spring learning Dennis Allen's defense," Cronin wrote. "Thieneman has been a sponge, particularly with his teammates in the secondary, and soaked up as much knowledge as he could from fellow safeties Coby Bryant and Elijah Hicks."

Given his natural athleticism, relentless motor and impressive instincts, Thieneman will not only open 2026 as a starter for the Bears, but also have a strong chance to lead all first-year players in interceptions while racking up a ton of tackles. 

2026 Stat Prediction: 98 tackles, 5 interceptions

OL Caleb Lomu, New England Patriots

AP Photo/Charles Krupa

The New England Patriots' shaky offensive line came back to haunt them in their Super Bowl defeat to the Seattle Seahawks. The team made it a priority to reinforce the offensive trenches during the draft, taking Caleb Lomu with the No. 28 overall pick.

The New England fanbase clearly approves of the pick, helping make Lomu the only offensive lineman to have a top-10 selling jersey ahead of training camp.

There isn't much to dislike about the selection, with Lomu both representing a fantastic value for the draft slot and filling a major need for the franchise. He possesses ideal athleticism, length and balance for an NFL-caliber offensive tackle, with upside to be a force as a pass protector and run blocker. 

New England isn't likely to rush Lomu into the starting lineup, especially with incumbents Will Campbell and Morgan Moses locked into their bookend positions.

The swing tackle position is ripe for the taking, though, with head coach Mike Vrabel already hinting during OTAs that is the likely role the rookie will assume in 2026.

"I think he's going to have the ability to play both sides. I can report that he'll be on the right today. He might get some snaps on the left," Vrabel said. "But you guys know how this goes. We played 10 linemen last year. We're going to have to have five good ones that can protect Drake [Maye], as well as a swing tackle."

Getting early reps as a swing tackle will set Lomu up well for sustained success in the NFL. It may not be the most prominent job, but it's a pivotal one that will keep New England in contention for another championship if Lomu performs at a high level.

2026 Prediction: Wins swing tackle role

RB Jeremiyah Love, Arizona Cardinals

AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin

By taking Jeremiyah Love at No. 3 overall in the 2026 draft, the Arizona Cardinals completely overhauled a backfield that gravely disappointed last season.

Love immediately slots in as the team's top playmaker and figures to be the focal point of the offense for years to come.

He became the first running back since Saquon Barkley in 2018 to be selected in the top five and unsurprisingly has a huge amount of hype ahead of his rookie season.

Shortly after the selection, the Notre Dame product said he doesn't just hope to follow in the footsteps of other recent Day 1 backs, he wants to outperform them.

"I have the opportunity to really set a new standard for running backs," Love said. "We've already had Saquon, we've had Bijan (Robinson, picked at No. 8 in 2023), we've had Ashton Jeanty (No. 6 in 2025), and now you have me. It's my job and my duty that when I set foot in Arizona I do what I gotta do to represent in the right way."

While the Cardinals have a long road back to respectability after parting ways with quarterback Kyler Murray and head coach Jonathan Gannon this offseason, the team at least has a major piece of the puzzle in place with Love. He'll be able to shoulder the offensive load while the team attempts to sort out the quarterback position and other weak areas of the roster.

Barring a training camp setback, Love will open 2026 as the Offensive Rookie of the Year favorite. He may have some struggles here and there working within a limited offensive attack, but sheer volume alone will push him over the 1,000-yard rushing mark.

Strong hands and quality route-running skills will only add to his contributions, setting him up to lead the rookie pack by a wide margin in yards from scrimmage and touchdowns.

2026 Stat Prediction: 1,209 rushing yards, 9 rushing touchdowns, 280 receiving yards, 39 receptions, 4 receiving touchdowns          

CB Chris Johnson, Miami Dolphins

AP Photo/Lynne Sladky

Chris Johnson is one of several promising rookies to join a rebuilding Miami Dolphins organization this offseason. The team scooped him up at No. 27 overall, solidifying a secondary that has some serious question marks going into the draft.

Dolphins fans loved the selection, quickly turning the San Diego State product's jersey into a top seller. It's now up to Johnson to realize his vast potential and deliver on the hype surrounding him.

Johnson came off the board on Day 1 due to his special combination of speed, athleticism, recovery ability and ball skills. He has the versatility to thrive in any scheme and can play both inside and outside, traits that will help him become a fixture on the field as a rookie.

Even if he opens his career as a rotational depth option in certain packages, Johnson has a clear path towards starting if he proves he can hold up in man coverage against top-flight wideouts.

Johnson's playmaking talents will help him snag a couple interceptions regardless of role and there is a real chance he ends up creating more turnovers than any other rookie if he winds up starting at least half the season.

2026 Stat Prediction: 59 tackles, 3 interceptions

QB Fernando Mendoza, Las Vegas Raiders

AP Photo/John Locher

It shouldn't come as any surprise that the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft is one of the most anticipated rookies to enter the league in years.

Fernando Mendoza is coming off a legendary season at Indiana—winning both the Heisman Trophy and College Football Playoff championship—and will now attempt to have a similar impact on a long-suffering Las Vegas Raiders franchise. The Raiders have had just one winning campaign since the start of 2017, but there is finally hope for the future with Mendoza in the picture.

While Mendoza will have to contend with Kirk Cousins for the QB1 role, it's only a matter of time before the rookie usurps the veteran free-agent pickup. The Hoosiers star has just about everything a team could want in a modern NFL passer, including uncanny accuracy, flawless mechanics, ability to get in a rhythm quickly and elite leadership traits.

Mendoza may not be perfect—he's not much of an improviser, hasn't spent much time under center and lacks mobility—but he was the closest thing to it in the 2026 draft class. Cousins won't be able to keep the rookie at bay for more than month, opening the door for Mendoza to make an Offensive Rookie of the Year push while significantly elevating the Raiders once he takes the reins. 

2026 Stat Prediction: 3,204 passing yards, 15 passing touchdowns, 8 interceptions

QB Drew Allar, Pittsburgh Steelers

AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar

The Pittsburgh Steelers are officially running it back with Aaron Rodgers this year, but fans are already excited about the future of the team's quarterback position.

Drew Allar, the team's third-round pick, has been selling plenty of jerseys despite having no real path to playing time in 2026.

Allar has the makeup to eventually be a seamless heir when the team looks to transition away from Rodgers—likely next offseason. The prospect looks the part at 6'5", 228 pounds with a cannon for an arm.

While Allar is raw and needs lots of polish on his game, Pittsburgh is the perfect place to hone his craft while studying behind a future Hall of Famer.

The rookie recently told Fox Sports' Eric Williams about how thrilled he is to get an opportunity to work under Rodgers in new head coach Mike McCarthy's system:

"I'm really excited to learn from him. With him being in Coach McCarthy's system in Green Bay, it's beneficial because he knows the system inside and out, even though he hasn't played in it in five or six years at this point. And just everything he's going through in his career, playing in tens of thousands of snaps, how much experience and knowledge he has—the nuances of playing the position of quarterback, reading coverages, the defensive tendencies—any little thing I can pick up to help me process faster and be more accurate, I'm all in for it." 

If Allar can improve his processing ability, dial in his accuracy and clean up his mechanics while spending a year on the bench, he'll be in great position to come out of training camp with the QB1 job next year.

2026 Prediction: QB3 unlikely to see the field in 2026.

Edge Malachi Lawrence, Dallas Cowboys

AP Photo/Gareth Patterson

Caleb Downs isn't the only popular rookie the Dallas Cowboys drafted in 2026. Malachi Lawrence, the team's other first-round selection at No. 23, has seen his jersey flying off shelves as fans eagerly await the edge-rusher's NFL debut.

Lawrence developed into a true game-wrecker during his stint at UCF, racking up 19.5 sacks over his final three seasons. He possesses all the tools an edge defender needs to succeed in the pros, including ideal size, length and athleticism for the position.

He is far more than an athletic prospect, however, as he utilizes a large array of moves and counters to get past his blockers and into the backfield. He'll be a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks to deal with, and it won't be a surprise if he ends up leading all rookies in sacks in 2026.

2026 Stat Prediction: 22 tackles, 5 sacks, 1 forced fumble

LB Jacob Rodriguez, Miami Dolphins

AP Photo/Lynne Sladky

Jacob Rodriguez may not be a first-round pick like many of the players on this list, but that hasn't stopped fans of the Miami Dolphins from snapping up his jersey and expecting big things from the young linebacker.

Rodriguez surged up big boards during the pre-draft process, ultimately landing with the 'Phins on Day 2 at No. 43 overall. New head coach Jeff Hafley admitted that he didn't expect to land the Texas Tech linebacker at that spot, pointing out the prospect's blend of upside, leadership, playmaking and production should have led to him being taken earlier in the draft.

Rodriguez was an instrumental piece of a ferocious Red Raiders defense over the last two seasons, averaging an eye-popping 127.5 tackles, three sacks, 2.5 interceptions and two forced fumbles during that stretch.

It remains to be seen if Rodriguez can secure a starting role right out of training camp, but he'll at least earn some rotational snaps early on and increase his role as the season progresses. The rookie's instincts, tackling abilities and playmaking prowess are too tantalizing for this rebuilding franchise to keep on the bench.

S Caleb Downs, Dallas Cowboys

AP Photo/LM Otero

Caleb Downs may have slipped all the way down to No. 11 in a draft that many experts had him coming off the board within the top five in, but that tumble didn't seem to hinder the immense amount of hype surrounding the Ohio State safety.

The Dallas Cowboys badly needed a playmaking safety going into the draft and managed to secure a game-changer in Downs. The team was rewarded for its patience—it only traded up a single spot to get its man—and now appears to have a much more complete defense than it fielded in 2025.

Barring a shocking training camp collapse, Downs will immediately slot in as one of Dallas' starting safeties to open his career, working alongside key free-agent pickup Cobie Durant to form one of the league's most intriguing tandems.

Expect Downs to rarely come off the field in 2026, using his unique combination of speed, athleticism, instincts and coverage skills to impact nearly every play. He's a bona fide Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate who should secure his fair share of tackles and turnovers while transforming the Cowboys into one of the NFL's better defenses.

2026 Stat Prediction: 93 tackles, 2 interceptions, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble