Training camps are opening around the league, and the AFC South already has a handful of players who look ready to make a real leap in 2026. Some are obvious because of draft pedigree. Others are the kind of names that can sneak up on people if they’re not paying attention.
Here’s one breakout candidate from each team in the division.
For Jacksonville, the spotlight lands on Bhayshul Tuten. The Jaguars made a notable move by letting Travis Etienne leave in free agency to the Saints, even after he posted 1,399 yards from scrimmage and 13 total touchdowns last season.
That opens the door for Tuten, a 4th-round pick from last year’s draft who brings big-time speed. He already flashed as a rookie with 7 total touchdowns, including 5 rushing and 2 receiving, and Liam Coen’s track record with running backs only adds to the appeal.
Houston’s name to watch is Woody Marks. The Texans’ offseason running back conversation has centered on newcomer David Montgomery, and for good reason.
Montgomery is the steady veteran who should help give Houston the balance it missed last season without Joe Mixon. But Marks has his own case.
He was already useful as a pass-game threat as a rookie, scored three receiving touchdowns, and quietly topped 900 yards from scrimmage while finishing with 5 total touchdowns. With Montgomery in the mix, Marks should have room to do damage in year two.
In Indianapolis, the breakout pick is rookie linebacker CJ Allen. This is the kind of situation that can accelerate a young player fast.
Zaire Franklin is gone to the Green Bay Packers in a trade, and Allen now has a clear path to becoming the centerpiece in the middle of the Colts’ defense. He could even wind up leading the team in tackles.
The question of whether he’ll be the “green dot” communicator as a rookie is still unresolved, but defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo has already shown confidence in him. The Colts’ 2nd-round pick out of Georgia looked like a steal on draft day, and he has a chance to prove it right away.
Tennessee’s breakout candidate is Kevin Winston Jr. Most lists would default to Cam Ward, so this is the deeper cut.
Winston was described this way by Justin Melo of Titan Sized: "He's a physical safety with a balanced and versatile skill set. Winston can thrive in coverage, but he's especially impactful when asked to utilize his physicality around the line of scrimmage.
That should make him the ideal running mate for Hooker, who wants to generate takeaways as a ball hawk." As a rookie, Winston appeared in 10 games with 6 starts and finished with 34 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, and 4 QB hits.
With Robert Saleh in the building, the former 3rd-round pick out of Penn State could be set up for a major jump in 2026.
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