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.
In Other News...
Jaguars Add Another Interior Lineman To An Already Crowded Camp Battle
Jerome Carvin is back in the mix for the Jaguars after spending last season on the practice squad, a familiar role for the offensive lineman who arrived late in training camp a year ago. He still has not gotten into a regular-season NFL game, but his time in preseason action has shown the kind of versatility teams value, with work at center and guard giving Jacksonville another interior option as camp rolls on.
The problem for Carvin is the same one that has followed him through much of this roster conversation: the Jaguars have plenty of bodies inside, and the path to the 53-man roster looks crowded. At this point, the more realistic battle appears to be for a practice squad spot, where he will still have to fend off other linemen trying to hold onto a place in the organization. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Camp Is Here And A Few Key Names Loom Large
Training camp is finally about to put the Jaguars offseason work under a brighter spotlight, with rookies and quarterbacks set to report July 25 before the rest of the roster follows a few days later. It is the kind of summer checkpoint that can sharpen the focus on a team with plenty of young names to watch, from rookie Albert Regis to Nate Boerkircher, while also giving the staff a first real chance to see how the offseason momentum carries into a more demanding setting.
There is also a little more uncertainty baked into this camp than usual, because some of the most intriguing pieces around the roster were limited in the spring. Trevor Lawrences cleaner, more aggressive offseason work drew attention, but the Jaguars still have to turn those encouraging signs into something that holds up once the pads come on, and the early weeks of camp should tell a lot about who is ready to push forward and who still needs time. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Fans Know Austin Trammell Is Suddenly Fighting For His Spot
Austin Trammell has already shown he can carve out a role in Jacksonville, even if it has been a modest one. The receiver joined the Jaguars as a free agent in June 2024, got into six games last season and contributed as both a pass catcher and a return man, giving the coaching staff a look at his value beyond the offensive depth chart.
The problem now is that the roster picture around him has changed, and the competition for a 53-man spot looks a lot tougher than it did a year ago. With new faces pushing for jobs and Trammells clearest path still tied to special teams, he is suddenly in the kind of fight where every rep matters and every return could help decide whether he sticks around. [Read more 🡒]