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
Chicago Bears
Colston Loveland | TE
The 2025 offseason was one of dramatic change for the Chicago Bears as the Ben Johnson era was ushered in. The very first draft selection of the new era was none other than Colston Loveland. It came as a surprise at the time, due to veteran Cole Kmet, who had been a good Bears starting tight end for five seasons. Ben Johnson was looking for better than good, and that’s what he will get in 2026.
Colston Loveland started slow, as many rookies do, logging 3.6 targets per game through the first half of the season. From week 9 on, his targets jumped to 6.6 per game. Loveland wasn’t drafted 10th overall to sit behind Cole Kmet – he’s a playmaker.
Although he finished his rookie year with 58 catches, 718 yards, and 6 touchdowns, that’s just the beginning for Loveland. He’s already proven himself to be a good NFL tight end, but in 2026, I expect him to be a great one. As the full-time starter and a focal point of Ben Johnson’s offense, Loveland will enter the conversation as one of the best tight ends in football. With the likes of Travis Kelce and George Kittle aging, the top of the tight end class in the NFL is up for grabs, and Colston Loveland has the tools and supporting cast to claim the title as one of the best.
Green Bay Packers
Jordan Morgan | OT
Drafted as a high-upside tackle, Morgan spent his first two seasons in a versatile but less-than-ideal role, bouncing between guard and tackle amid injuries and depth chart realities. In 2025 alone, he made starts at left guard, right guard, and right tackle. This limited his ability to settle in and showcase his natural traits. Late in 2025, however, when shifted to right tackle, he flashed elite potential with strong pass protection and run-blocking reps, including standout playoff performances.
Now, with Rasheed Walker departed in free agency, Morgan is locked in at left tackle, which is his preferred position from college, where he excelled in pass protection. This stability should allow him to refine his technique, leverage his athleticism (quick feet, length, and balance), and develop chemistry with Jordan Love. A reliable LT is crucial for Green Bay’s offense, which relies on play-action and deep shots.
2026 could be a big year for Jordan – fewer position changes, more reps with the starters, and high expectations for him to anchor the line. If he delivers, he could become a cornerstone protector, elevating the entire unit and silencing early-career questions. Health and consistency remain key, but the setup is ideal for a breakout.
Detroit Lions
Isaac TeSlaa | WR
Isaac TeSlaa could be poised for a breakout season in 2026 after bursting onto the scene late in his rookie season. Before drafting him in the 3rd round of the 2025 draft, NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein had this to say about TeSlaa:
“TeSlaa’s ball skills and ability to work down the field from the slot should carry backup value for teams in the market for help at receiver.”
His ball skills and ability to work down the field were on display time and time again late in 2025. From weeks 13-18, TeSlaa was targeted 18 times and caught 4 touchdowns – a score on nearly a quarter of his looks.
He won’t continue that pace into 2026, but he has shown his ability to compete and start in the NFL. TeSlaa is slated to start for the Lions, and although his strength is lining up outside and stretching the field, he’s shown versatility, too. Last year, he lined up in the slot 127 times.
The Lions produce stars on offense, and I fully expect Isaac TeSlaa to be the next as he breaks out in 2026.
Minnesota Vikings
James Pierre | CB
James Pierre signed a 2-year, $8.5M contract with the Minnesota Vikings as a free agent in 2025. Undrafted in 2020, Pierre signed as a UDFA with the Steelers, where he would spend his next five seasons. He made his mark on special teams, becoming a staple of their unit, averaging nearly 250 special teams snaps a year, until 2025.
2025 was thought to be another season with Pierre buried on the depth chart, playing exclusively on special teams, but injuries piled up, and James Pierre was forced into a starting outside corner role, where, to the surprise of many, he thrived. Pierre supplanted Darius Slay as the starting corner (forcing Slay into retirement) and didn’t look back. His long-standing run on special teams had ended.
| Season | Special Teams Snaps | Defensive Snaps |
| 2020 | 236 | 35 |
| 2021 | 244 | 414 |
| 2022 | 196 | 260 |
| 2023 | 279 | 28 |
| 2024 | 273 | 207 |
| 2025 | 171 | 407 |
The little-known Florida Atlantic alumnus started 6 games down the stretch and earned a coverage grade of 89.7 per PFF, which was best in the NFL among all cornerbacks. His 86.8 overall grade was 2nd, and he broke up 9 passes, good enough for 12th best.
Pierre joins former Steelers defensive assistant Brian Flores in Minnesota, where he’s penciled in as a starter on the Vikings’ projected depth chart. At age 29, Pierre will go into a season as a starter for the first time. He’s shown his ability to succeed at corner in limited play; now it’s his opportunity to prove himself as a long-term option in Minnesota’s pressure-heavy defense. Turnovers and big plays could come in bunches, which would truly turn James Pierre into a legitimate breakout player.
