- Two young Bengals are in the spotlight:Shemar Stewart and Demetrius Knight Jr. look to be part of the solution on a retooled Cincinnati defense.
- Last year's top two picks aim to become unbridled stars: The Titans' Cam Ward and the Jaguars' Travis Hunter both have questions to answer in their sophomore years.
An NFL player’s rookie season isn’t always a strong indication of their career trajectory. From newcomers who didn’t fare great — like Peyton Manning and Josh Allen — to those who hardly saw the field — like Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes — it’s clear that a first year in the pros only holds so much weight.
At the same time, today’s league encourages and often relies upon instant success. Players nabbed with high draft picks are intended to change organizations almost overnight. Just last season, all of Colston Loveland, Tetairoa McMillan and Carson Schwesinger did that by earning top-16 overall PFF grades at their respective positions, solidifying themselves as cornerstones.
While the aforementioned trio dominated, other classmates didn’t start off on the foot they wanted. These 10 sophomores are under extra scrutiny in 2026.
WR Matthew Golden, Green Bay Packers
When the Packers selected Golden with the 23rd overall pick, Green Bay fans rejoiced that the team had finally added a marquee weapon. Yet Golden’s rookie season didn’t follow suit.
In the regular season, Golden posted a 68.1 PFF receiving grade and 1.35 yards per route run, which each ranked fifth among 12 rookie receivers to garner 35 or more targets. Although Golden dropping only one pass was a bright spot, he seldom looked like a game-changer — producing only three single-game overall PFF grades above a 70.0, including the playoffs.
After Romeo Doubs signed with the Patriots and Dontayvion Wicks was traded to the Eagles, Golden is squarely in the crosshairs as Green Bay’s WR2. Considering Christian Watson’s injury history and the Packers’ Super Bowl aspirations, the Texas product will be under tons of attention from opposing cornerbacks and fans alike in 2026 as he looks to rebound.
QB Jaxson Dart, New York Giants
Despite mixed pre-draft evaluations, the Giants traded back up into the first round to select Dart with the 25th overall pick. Although his first season showed some flashes, plenty of refinement is needed.
Among 26 quarterbacks to play at least 340 dropbacks last season, Dart’s 67.9 overall PFF grade ranked 23rd, and his 64.2 PFF passing grade slotted 24th. While Dart had a propensity for high-level plays with a 5.2% big-time throw rate, his 3.4% turnover-worthy play rate tied for sixth-highest. Part of what contributed to Dart’s woes was subpar accuracy: His 11.2% plus accurate throw rate tied for last, and his 58.9% accurate attempt rate tied for 21st.
Dart’s arm, athleticism and improvisation give him naturally raw talent, but more development is required — particularly in avoiding poor decisions and sacks. With John Harbaugh now coaching New York, Dart's play should go hand-in-hand with whether or not the Giants can return to competitiveness. If Dart fails to make a jump in 2026, it could render some uncomfortable conversations and/or transactions next offseason.
EDGE Mykel Williams, San Francisco49ers
Williams was touted as a raw but high-upside prospect coming out of Georgia. The 49ers took a shot on him with the 11th overall pick in 2025 but will need to see much more of the latter.
Williams played only 385 snaps after suffering a torn ACL in Week 9, but the results were generally subpar. His 51.9 PFF pass-rush grade ranked 90th out of 95 qualified edge defenders, as he tallied just 19 pressures on an 8.8% pass-rush win rate. Despite his run-stopping prowess in college, Williams wasn’t dominant in that department either with a 6.2% run stop rate, good for the 51st percentile.
After Bryce Huff’s retirement, the 49ers are counting on Williams to be a legitimate running mate for the returning Nick Bosa. The second-year pass-rusher looms as a big X-factor on a team with continued title intentions, aiming to boost a unit that placed 25th in PFF pass-rushing grade.
QB Cameron Ward, TennesseeTitans
Despite being the first overall pick a year ago, Ward has yet to consistently light the league on fire. In fact, his rookie play left plenty to be desired.
Within the aforementioned 26 qualified quarterbacks, Ward finished last in both overall (58.4) and PFF passing (56.4) grades. His 3.7% turnover-worthy play rate was even higher than Dart’s, and his 22.4% uncatchable inaccurate throw rate ranked sixth among passers with at least 250 attempts.
Ward did put his elite skillset on display late in the year against the Seahawks, Chiefs and Jaguars, notching 78.7-plus overall grades. His underlying talent, plus a better receiving corps and a new offensive coordinator, should bode better for 2026. Ward may not need to be great as quickly as Dart given the Titans’ slower timeline, but he still has plenty of questions to answer in Year 2.