6 Rookies With the Most to Gain in 2026 NFL Training Camp

The NFL is a win-now league, and patience is at a premium. Once upon a time, rookies had time develop at their own pace. That's no longer the case.

A roster is reliant on those individuals operating under rookie contracts to serve as the team's backbone in order to operate most efficiently under the salary cap.

Thus, the idea of first-year players not being under pressure as they adjust to the professional game seems like a novelty today.

Where an individual sits on the developmental curve is important in understanding what he can contribute early in the process. At the same time, specific selections were made based on potential and how they can help their respective squads. Once opportunity is added to the mixture, specific prospects have a chance to skyrocket depending on how they react early in the process, starting at the onset of training camp.

A majority of the league's rookies report to camp next week. Six stand out as the most to gain based on their specific situations and current expectations.

OT Monroe Freeling, Carolina Panthers

AP Photo/Nell Redmond

As a one-year starter with the Georgia Bulldogs, Monroe Freeling entered this year's draft cycle as a known developmental prospect. His performance and athletic profile still warranted a first-round draft pick despite the limited sample size.

The Carolina Panthers chose him with this year's 19th overall selection. Despite much-needed technical refinement, Freeling has the chance to earn a Week 1 starting spot at left tackle, even if that isn't the primary plan.

"His upright style as a drive-blocker saps his balance and leads to overextending/falling off blocks," B/R scout Brandon Thorn wrote in Freeling's predraft report, "but his tools and runway for improvement signal a solid starter with upside to climb into a top half of the league tackle."

The Panthers find themselves in a predicament at a premium position, because former top-10 draft pick Ikem Ekwonu suffered a ruptured patellar tendon in January. He's not expected back for the start of the 2026 campaign.

Even fully healthy, Ekwonu's performance to this point in his career can be viewed as a disappointment. Thus, left tackle is available for the taking.

Rasheed Walker did sign with the Panthers this offseason after three seasons as the Green Bay Packers' starting left tackle. While he has been a serviceable option rather than a clearly above‑average performer, he should be viewed as the insurance policy.

Whereas Freeling has the physical tools, upside and recent draft status providing a massive runway to earn the job and never look back, as long as he doesn't looked overwhelmed during training camp.

IOL Keylan Rutledge, Houston Texans

AP Photo/David J. Phillip

The Houston Texans' decision to trade up and draft Keylan Rutledge with this year's 26th overall pick after signing Ed Ingram to a contract extension and adding Wyatt Teller as a free agent was somewhat perplexing. The idea of Rutledge converting to center didn't immediately come to mind, because he never previously played the position. Rutledge will continue a significant position switch during training campaign. How successful the transition goes could drastically affect the Texans' offense.

Rutledge only started at right guard during his collegiate career. He was asked to take reps at guard and center during organized team activities and mandatory minicamp.

"It's been good, obviously I've got a lot to learn at center and guard, I mean it's the NFL," Rutledge told reporters. "But it's been good to just get in there and just taking all the vets and all what they know and obviously being around (offensive line coach Cole Popovich), so bouncing around has been fun."

If Rutledge becomes comfortable at center and claims the job in August, everything will be on track. However, another possibility exists where the rookie doesn't have a good feel for working over the ball. He'll then need to outperform two proven veterans at guard and take one of their spots. If neither happens, Rutledge won't be in the Texans' starting lineup—which would be viewed as a disappointment since he's seen as a blocker capable of serving as the unit's physical tone-setter.

LB Anthony Hill Jr., Tennessee Titans

AP Photo/George Walker IV

Cody Barton signed three-year, $21 million free-agent contract last offseason. Despite the Tennessee Titans' initial commitment, the 29-year-old linebacker should be looking over his shoulder, because second-round rookie Anthony Hill Jr. could displace him in the starting lineup sooner rather than later.

"Throughout the early stages of the 2025 offseason, it was widely reported that the Titans were heavily involved in the trade market for linebackers (presumably for Barton's replacement)," Paul Kuharsky wrote. "After none of these trades materialized and Tennessee made no significant free agent signings at linebacker, the focus then shifted to potential additions during the draft. This speculation came to fruition after [general manager Mike] Borgonzi traded back up into the second round on Day Two to select Texas linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. with the 60th overall pick."

The 21-year-old Hill is an outstanding athlete, with tremendous downhill feel as a run-defender and blitzer. He has some experience as a pass-rusher as well. His profile after becoming a two-time first-team All-SEC performer at a young age says a lot about what he can quickly become in the NFL.

Hill should be given every chance to dethrone Barton as the Titans' MIKE linebacker to prove Tennessee's defense with more upside under Robert Saleh's direction. The rookie could take on a lot, not only as a potential starter, but as the unit's primary communicator as well. His comfort level leading and directing a defense should become obvious during the dog days of summer.

S A.J. Haulcy, Indianapolis Colts

AP Photo/Michael Conroy

The Indianapolis Colts couldn't pay everyone this offseason and didn't. While the organization retained quarterback Daniel Jones and wide receiver Alec Pierce, the franchise lost a talented, young starting safety in Nick Cross, who signed with the Washington Commanders.

The Colts didn't own a first-round pick in this year's NFL draft because of last year's Sauce Gardner trade. Ultimately, general manager Chris Ballard waited until the third round to address safety. However, A.J. Haulcy can be a Week 1 starter depending on how he performs at strong safety this summer.

Haulcy is built like an old-school, sawed-off tone-setter. However, he's more than athletic enough, with the ball skills, not to be exploited in coverage. The two-time transfer snagged 10 interceptions and defended 19 passes between his stops at New Mexico State, Houston and LSU.

However, the Colts also signed Juanyeh Thomas in free agency as Cross' potential replacement. The 26-year-old veteran has some starting experience and flashed during his first three seasons. Injuries, specifically migraines, have held him back to a degree. If healthy, Thomas is a realistic possibility to partner with free safety Camryn Bynum.

Still, Haulcy has legitimate starter upside to complete a unit that's looking for significant improvement on squad that needs to win this fall.

"He's come in and exceeded my expectations, just from a mental standpoint," Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo told reporters last month. "He's not a repeat offender when it comes to a mistake that he may get. He gets football."

QB Carson Beck, Arizona Cardinals

AP Photo/Rick Scuteri

Carson Beck needs to attack his first NFL training camp like he's the Arizona Cardinals' starting quarterback, because he very well could be sooner rather than later.

The Cardinals shouldn't resign themselves to starting Jacoby Brissett or Gardner Minshew II simply because they're veterans and a coaching staff knows what to expect from each. Beck possibly offers something beyond this season. The rookie was once considered a potential first-round option before he suffered a ligament tear in his throwing elbow. Even so, Beck spins the ball well and he can pick apart defenses if properly protected.

Beck's presence serves as an opportunity. The Cardinals may already have their next franchise quarterback on the roster, or the 24-year-old rookie flounders and sets up the organization to select a top quarterback prospect in the 2027 draft class.

Right now, Beck must show he's capable of understanding, handling and operating an NFL offense during his initial training camp. If he does, the Cardinals can't ignore the possibility of finding the biggest missing piece of the puzzle.

"His demeanor, I guess you could say, but that hasn't really stood out," head coach Matt LaFleur said when asked about Beck. "I'm not shocked. He loves it. He loves just sitting there. He's a 24-year-old adult, and he loves ball.

"I'm not going to sit here and lie and say, 'Hey, the first round isn't different than the seventh round.' I understand that. But part of our job in this building is to say, 'Hey, take all that away, and let's develop at the pace that they can develop. Let's make sure we have great urgency in the way that we coach them.' They need to match that urgency back. Because again, the clock starts now for all these guys. No one really cares at that point. You got to put the best 53 on the roster, and the best 22 out there from a starting standpoint."

As a third-round draft pick, Beck isn't guaranteed anything. He must earn it. Although, he has the clearest pathway to becoming a team's QB1 among those drafted after this year's No. 1 overall selection, Fernando Mendoza.

CB Jermod McCoy, Las Vegas Raiders

AP Photo/Lucas Peltier

Jermod McCoy can generate significant excitement simply by staying healthy through training camp and preseason then being on the field at the start of the regular season.

McCoy was easily one of the 2026 draft class' most talented prospects. The cornerback could have been a top-10 pick had he played for the Tennessee Volunteers last fall. Unfortunately, he didn't after suffering a torn Achilles tendon during offseason workouts.

NFL combine medical assessments weren't kind, either. Concerns grew over a degenerative cartilage issue that required a bone plug in the same knee, according to Charles Robinson.

The Las Vegas Raiders intentionally slow-played McCoy's participation during the offseason program to ensure he's fully healed from last year's torn ACL.

"He's done a great job," head coach Klint Kubiak said, per ESPN's Ryan McFadden. "We're asking him to spend a lot of time with [wellness coordinator Alex Guerrero] just to get him ready, so that when we put him out there come training camp, we have 100 percent confidence in him. [We are] really excited about seeing him practice come training camp."

The Raiders took a chance when they made McCoy the top pick during the draft's third day. Las Vegas even traded up to do so. But the team's front office and coaching staff understand the caliber of talent they targeted.

"He jumps out when he does individual [drills] with how explosive he is, and you see the talent," defensive coordinator Rob Leonard said.

An unscathed and quiet training camp may not mean much for most rookies, but it would be the best possible outcome for McCoy since his skill set speaks for itself. A healthy McCoy should see significant playing time this fall and give the Raiders a massive boost in coverage.