Each year, new breakout players emerge throughout the NFL, whether it’s a sophomore success, a player on a new team, or a veteran who finally got his chance to shine. Each week leading up to training camp, I will post an article with potential breakout players for every team, division by division.
Connect with me on X to let me know how you feel about my selections, or to announce your own breakout players. @JLSports24
Pittsburgh Steelers
Troy Fautanu | OT
After missing his entire rookie season due to injury, Troy Fautanu started at right tackle for the Steelers in all 17 games in 2025. Although the offensive line as a whole was shaky, Fautanu offered consistency and stability in his sophomore season.
Pro Football Focus graded Fautanu as the 44th overall tackle in 2025, which didn’t do his season any justice. In 17 games, he committed just 3 penalties and allowed only 2 sacks all season. After a strong season, he struggled mightily in the wildcard loss to the Texans, but most struggled against their pass-rush duo of Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter.
The Steelers selected a right tackle in the first round of the 2026 draft, which is anything but an indictment of Fautanu. In fact, it’s a vote of confidence that he has the flexibility to move to left tackle, where he started 29 games in college.
The potential move to left tackle, the strong 2025 season, and the addition of proven offensive line coach James Campen make Troy Fautanu a strong candidate to become a household name at left tackle.
Baltimore Ravens
Malaki Starks | S
None may benefit or be happier about Jesse Minter’s appointment as Ravens head coach than Malaki Starks. Minter has been at the forefront of the defensive trends, featuring high-level play from safeties. Last year, in Minter’s defense, Tony Jefferson and Derwin James achieved grades of 71.9 and 83.7 in coverage, good enough for 22nd and 5th among all safeties, respectively.
Stark’s coverage grade in 2025 was 63.4, which was 39th among safeties, but he recorded 2 interceptions and a 79.9 run defense grade, which was 16th best. I expect his strong instincts and physicality will play perfectly in Minter’s system. Starks also has the advantage of playing with the best safety in the game, Kyle Hamilton.
The Ravens are very clearly in win-now mode, and a big step from Malaki Starks could be instrumental in improving the recently disappointing defense and getting the Ravens over the hump and to the Super Bowl.
2025: Rashod Bateman
Cincinnati Bengals
Amarius Mims | OT
The Bengals have longed for consistent offensive line play, and may have finally found stability and reason for optimism at right tackle. The 2024 first-round pick had an up-and-down start to his career, but it appeared to click halfway through the 2025 season.
After allowing 8 sacks in his first 24 career games, he finished the last 8 games of 2025 without allowing a single sack, just two QB hits, and committed zero penalties. The Bengals hope that the strong finish in ’25 is a sign of things to come in ’26.
The Bengals shored up their leaky defense through free agency and trades, but largely are trusting in progression along their offensive line. The offense is loaded with weapons, and in order for Joe Burrow to feed them, he needs to be upright and healthy. Amarius Mims has an outstanding opportunity to contribute to an MVP-caliber season for Burrow by keeping him on his feet and healthy.
2025: Dax Hill
Cleveland Browns
Isaiah McGuire | DE
Isaiah McGuire, the Browns’ 2023 fourth-round pick from Missouri, is poised for a breakout in 2026 as a key edge defender. The 6’4″, 268-pound 24-year-old showed promising flashes in 2025, earning a solid 73.5 overall PFF grade (36th among 115 qualified edges) across 428 snaps and eight starts in 17 games.
His elite run defense stood out with a 75.5 grade (14th at the position) and multiple high-impact weeks, including top run-stop production. McGuire added 30 tackles (17 solo), two sacks, one forced fumble, and strong physicality against the run.
Entering his fourth NFL season in a contract year, McGuire has the athleticism, length, and motor to step into a larger role opposite Myles Garrett. Continued growth in pass rush alongside his run dominance could make him a disruptive starter, bolstering Cleveland’s defensive front and creating mismatches in both phases.
The Browns have long been looking for a book-end edge opposite of Myles Garrett, and Isaiah McGuire has a golden opportunity to solidify his spot in 2026.
2025: Cedric Tillman
