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
Houston Texans
Jayden Higgins | WR
The Houston Texans’ 2nd round pick in 2025 had a respectable rookie year, catching 41 passes for 525 yards and 6 TDs, but he’s expected to eclipse those numbers in 2026 as he has earned a larger role in the Texans’ offense going forward.
As a rookie, Higgins earned 68 targets in 17 games, though he only started 10 of them. In 2026, he’s expected to be WR2 with Nico Collins and should earn legit WR2 looks. Jaylin Noel and the returning Tank Dell will get their opportunities, but they should dwarf the targets of Higgins.
A year of NFL maturation and continued work with C.J. Stroud make Higgins a likely breakout candidate. A sustainable offense in 2026 makes the Texans a Super Bowl contender, and Jayden Higgins could be a key piece of their championship goals.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Ventrell Miller | LB
The departure of Pro Bowl linebacker Devin Lloyd creates a great opportunity for Ventrell Miller to fill the void as the shot caller for the Jaguars defense.
Miller was selected in the 4th round of the 2023 draft but missed his entire rookie season due to a torn Achilles tendon that he suffered in the preseason. In 2024, he received subpar numbers from PFF with a 52.0 overall grade, but improved mightily in 2025. Although he played fewer snaps, he finished the season with a 72.6 overall grade and an 82.8 in run defense.
His impressive play in limited action earned him the opportunity to start at linebacker for the Jaguars in 2026. He is currently listed as the starting middle linebacker on ESPN’s projected depth chart.
Indianapolis Colts
C.J. Allen | LB
Contributed by Kobe Sutherlin, Colts Writer for Blitz Sports Media.
The Indianapolis Colts used their first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft to replace a defensive leader. The leader I am referencing is new Packers linebacker Zaire Franklin, who led the Colts in total tackles from the 2022 to the 2025 seasons. As I mentioned in my article from April 28th, Franklin was traded to Green Bay for defensive tackle Colby Wooden. So what did Indianapolis do to counter this transaction? They used the 53rd overall pick to add Georgia linebacker CJ Allen.
CJ Allen was in the top four in tackles in his three seasons for the Georgia Bulldogs. Also, Allen stands at 6’1″ compared to Franklin’s 6’0″ stature, so vision for seeking the ball on every down should not be an issue. Allen’s stats on paper are impressive in themselves, but his tape needs no words or numbers. My analysis of watching Allen’s film is this: he is very quick and extremely athletic, his tackles on contact seem to always stymie an opponent and not allow any further forward progress, and he has a nose for the football, including deflecting passes at the line of scrimmage and stripping the ball from would-be catchers.
Tennessee Titans
Cam Ward | QB
Second-year quarterback and 2025 first overall pick, Cam Ward, has the potential to skyrocket in his second year. His rookie year appeared underwhelming, but he did so with a lackluster supporting staff and a head coach who was fired only 6 games into the season. Despite the Titans’ collective struggles, Ward showed plenty or promise. His ability to create plays off-script translated from college to the NFL, but he also showed progression in his ability to make plays from within the pocket.
2026 looks much more promising for the Titans and especially Ward. New head coach Robert Saleh hired Brian Daboll as offensive coordinator, who was instrumental in the development of Josh Allen as OC in Buffalo, and the successes of Jaxson Dart as head coach of the New York Giants in 2025.
New weapons Wan’Dale Robinson and 4th overall pick, Carnell Tate, give Ward the reliable weapons he missed in his rookie season.
The Titans are far from a finished product as a team, but their second-year signal-caller could be primed for an explosive step forward, which could carry the Titans to a surprising 2026 season.
