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7 Rookies to Watch in NFL Preseason Week 1
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- 7 Rookies to Watch in NFL Preseason Week 1
Now that the Hall of Fame Game is officially in the books, we can now take a look ahead at Week 1 of the NFL preseason, as the entire league finally gets their first crack at exhibition game action later this week.
These games are the perfect opportunity for players who are lower on the depth chart to make a name for themselves, and that's especially true for the incoming rookie class, who will get their first chance to prove themselves against live competition after a handful of training camp practices.
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Here are seven rookies who should be on every NFL fan's radar during the first full week of preseason action:
WR Cyrus Allen, Chiefs
Cyrus Allen has been a star at Chiefs training camp. (Denny Medley-Imagn Images)
A fifth-round pick out of Cincinnati , Allen has been the star of training camp for Kansas City . With the decline of Travis Kelce 's play in the twilight of his career, and a lack of consistency throughout the rest of the team's pass-catchers, the Chiefs are still in search of a reliable No. 1 target for Patrick Mahomes moving forward. Even as a Day 3 pick, Allen has made his presence felt in a big way, quickly developing trust and chemistry with Mahomes. It remains to be seen how much action Allen will get in the team's preseason opener, but anytime he's on the field, he'll be worth watching.
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RB Mike Washington Jr., Raiders
Mike Washington Jr. has big-play ability out of the backfield. (Candice Ward-Imagn Images)
Ashton Jeanty will obviously be the workhorse back in this offense, but he's not likely to see the field much in the preseason. A fourth-round pick out of Arkansas, Washington brings an intriguing blend of size and explosiveness to the table, and preseason action will give him an immediate opportunity to show off those traits in real-game reps. Washington excels at making one cut and exploding into the second level, and while those gaps will be smaller in the NFL than they were in college, his frame and skill set are built to make a big impact when he gets the ball.
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WR Ted Hurst III, Buccaneers
Ted Hurst III has been a constant highlight reel during Bucs training camp. (Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Even without Mike Evans , the Bucs are still loaded with talent at wide receiver, but that didn't stop them from spending a third-round pick on Hurst. He doesn't have Evans' rare traits, but Hurst still brings valuable size and speed to Tampa Bay's passing game, and he's been a constant highlight reel throughout training camp. He'll likely have a limited role as a rookie behind more experienced receivers, but don't be surprised if Hurst provides plenty of big plays in the preseason, as he shows off the tools that made him dominant at Georgia State, and were proved against top competition during Senior Bowl week.
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WR Ja'Kobi Lane, Ravens
Ja'Kobi Lane should make an immediate impact for Lamar Jackson in Baltimore. (Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images)
The Ravens' passing game needed more size at receiver, and Lane brings that with a towering frame and massive catch radius . Combined with some of the most reliable hands in this year's receiver class, Lane has put on a show in training camp for Baltimore , making the same kinds of eye-popping catches that were routine for the third-round pick at USC. Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman are still the easy starters for Lamar Jackson , but they probably won't get as much action in the preseason, which should give Lane more opportunities to shine before earning the WR3 role as a rookie.
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LB Jaishawn Barham , Cowboys
Jaishawn Barham's versatile skill set should be a valuable weapon for the Cowboys. (Chris Jones-Imagn Images)
One of my favorite defensive players in this year's rookie class, Barham's athleticism, versatility and physicality made his film such a fun watch throughout the predraft process. The Cowboys' defense needs more difference-makers at every level, and that's exactly what Barham can be, no matter where he lines up. In the preseason, Dallas should experiment with moving Barham around and letting him attack opposing offenses in various ways, and the results should be entertaining. A third-round pick out of Michigan, Barham's the kind of player who will be tough to take off the field when the regular season rolls around.
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RB Nicholas Singleton , Titans
Nicholas Singleton put up huge numbers at Penn State. (Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images)IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Titans already have a strong veteran tandem in their offensive backfield with Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears , but that hasn't stopped Singleton from stealing some attention with his play in training camp. That's not surprising given his production and impact at Penn State , but after stealing him in the fifth round, Tennessee should give him plenty of work in the preseason to see if his practice performance can translate to real-game situations, even in exhibition fashion. The talent is clearly there, and Singleton has the size and well-rounded skill set to put up impressive numbers over the next month.
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QB Taylen Green , Browns
Taylen Green brings rare physical traits to a QB-needy team in Cleveland. (Ken Blaze-Imagn Images)
While most of the conversation surrounding Cleveland 's quarterbacks will understandably center around the starter battle between Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson , Green is the most intriguing guy in the room. There's no denying the rare physical traits he brings with his combination of size, athleticism and arm strength, and the preseason will be the perfect opportunity for the sixth-round pick out of Arkansas to fine-tune his chops as a pocket passer against NFL competition. He should be good for a fun highlight on a long run or a deep shot, and he's easily got the most upside of any quarterback on this roster, which should make for a fun watch this week.
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Aug 10, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
