As the combine has concluded and the draft will be here before you know it, the focus shifts to this year’s prospects. While the Fernando Mendozas and Jeremiyah Loves’ of the world are going to have the focus for the next six weeks, there are plenty of players who may have had the attention on them last year, who have room to grow. With that in mind, here are the biggest breakout candidates from players entering their sophomore seasons.
Cam Ward (QB) – Tennessee Titans
Cam Ward having a breakout is less dependent on him and more about how Tennessee attacks this offseason. This team has a lot of things that need to be fixed for last year’s first overall pick to take a large leap forward. Through the coaching cycle, the Titans have shown a yearning for a change, bringing in Robert Saleh as the new head coach. Saleh’s tenure as head coach with the New York Jets was very lackluster. However, his defensive mind has never been doubted. Pair that with the addition of Brian Daboll as the team’s new offensive coordinator, who will call plays for Ward and the offense, and that sets a good tone for more competency than splitting the season between Brian Callahan and Mike McCoy.
As for the other factors that could catapult Ward’s numbers, staying upright was a struggle in 2025. Only Ward, Geno Smith, and Justin Herbert were sacked over 50 times last season. Bulking up the offensive line has to be one of the front office’s main focuses this offseason. Tennessee has eight picks in this year’s draft, paired with over $90 million in cap space, so there are multiple avenues they could pursue to fix the line.
Getting a true No. 1 target is another thing that could catapult Ward. In his debut year, his top receiver was Chig Okonkwo, who set personal bests in receptions (56) and receiving yards (560). While that’s a solid option to have, Ward desperately needs a top talent to optimize his potential. The big names in the draft are Carnell Tate, Jordyn Tyson, and Makai Lemon, so with a top-five pick, Tennessee could dictate the receiver fallout of this year’s draft. Even if it’s not a first-round pick, a Day Two pick could very much lead to a top talent that slides. With all the cap space as well, taking a wideout off the open market is within the range of outcomes.
The talent is there for Ward. If even one of the three external factors improves, he is going to take a leap in year two. If all three boxes get checked, Ward could catapult himself into conversations that people might not be comfortable having.
Jayden Higgins (WR) – Houston Texans
In a season that saw a lot left to be desired in the Texans‘ passing game, Jayden Higgins showed flashes of being a No. 2 receiver for the Houston offense. Nico Collins has been C.J. Stroud‘s top option throughout the QB’s first three seasons. Add the fact that Dalton Schultz had his best season with Houston, and the passing game has a solid base for the pass game. Higgins may not have made as big of an impact as the likes of Emeka Egbuka and Tetairoa McMillan, but that’s not to say he didn’t have success in year one.
He did have some duds in spots where he should’ve had good games, but he did have numerous big catches to help Houston finish the regular season on a nine-game win streak. After the injury to Tank Dell in 2024, Houston was looking for that WR2 for Stroud. And while Dell is projected to be working towards his return in 2026, having as devastating an injury as he had, there’s no saying he’ll be able to return to the potential he once had. Higgins has the ability to be a game changer, having accumulated over 2,000 yards and 15 TDs in his final two years at Iowa State. Quarterback play is going to be huge, and after back-to-back regression seasons since a stellar rookie year, Stroud is in need of a big 2026 to show Houston that he’s worthy of a long-term deal. If Stroud can have the bounce-back people anticipated for this past season, he’s going to need a productive trio of pass-catching options. Looking for that third to pair with Collins and Schultz, Higgins is the driver’s seat to be that third option.
RJ Harvey (RB) – Denver Broncos
If it hadn’t been for J.K. Dobbins, RJ Harvey could’ve been looked at as one of the best rookie running backs last season. However, Dobbins was on pace for north of 1,000 rushing yards if not for a season-ending foot injury. Harvey was getting integrated into the Denver offense and showed flashes of what we saw to end the year. He’s a true three-down back. With almost 900 yards from scrimmages and 12 total scores, Harvey had a great first season, given the fact that he started the year as the secondary option out of the backfield.
A reunion between Dobbins and Denver is a potential outcome. But, even if that’s the result this offseason, Harvey has done enough to make himself the top guy in the backfield. Add the fact that he’s comfortable in the offense and has built a rapport with Sean Payton and Bo Nix, Harvey has all the signs of showing that he has a chance to enter the top-15-to-20 range for the position.
Colston Loveland (TE) – Chicago Bears
How can someone who finished top-five in rookie receiving yards have a “breakout?” It’s because last season just scratched the surface of what Ben Johnson can get out of Colston Loveland. The first two months out of his rookie year were forgettable. But once Loveland became a go-to guy in the offense, he made it abundantly clear that he’s going to be a cornerstone of Chicago for a long time.
When he was drafted 10th overall, many questioned why Chicago took the Michigan product instead of Penn State‘s Tyler Warren. And, yes, Warren did have more catches and yards than Loveland. And while Warren is going to have an exceptional NFL career, we’re focused on what Loveland can become. His performance against the Green Bay Packers in the playoffs is the epitome of what Loveland is capable on a weekly basis. What Loveland put on display across the end of Chicago’s regular season and the pair of playoff games, there’s no doubt that Loveland could cement himself in the upper echelon at the position.
