Yet while the exhibition slate seldom features an extensive run for the league’s biggest stars – or even many of its starters – the contests can often be a vital proving ground for those entering the league without a massive buy-in from their respective teams.
Competition for the last roster spots can be fierce, and the final cutdown date looms on Aug. 26. That window leaves only so many chances remaining for players to make an impression after organized team activities, minicamps and training camp. And for the players and coaches who have slogged through an array of practices, the preseason offers at least an approximation of a game setting while shining a new light on the skills that have been on display throughout the spring and summer.
Every year, at least a handful of players seemingly take advantage by building on strong training camp performances. With the first week of preseason set to kick off Thursday, here are seven under-the-radar rookies who could surprise in games:
Seattle Seahawks WR Tory Horton
From a massive change at coordinator to a surprising shift behind center and a full-blown overhaul of the receiving corps, perhaps no other offense underwent as stark of a transformation this offseason as the Seahawks. Yet amid all the change, the figure making the most noise in camp has been a fifth-round rookie.
Horton arrived in the Pacific Northwest as a potential depth piece, but he might exit the summer as a Day 1 contributor. After the Colorado State product repeatedly wowed during first-team reps in camp, coach Mike Macdonald said Saturday that Horton is ‘making multiple plays every day.’ Teammates have fed into the hype as well, with cornerback Riq Woolen playfully calling out ‘Jerry Rice Jr.!’ after walking by the receiver’s meeting with the media. And fellow rookie Nick Emmanwori, a second-round safety from South Carolina, went as far as to call Horton ‘the steal of the draft.’
While there’s still plenty left for Horton to prove, his emergence could hold weight in the regular season. With DK Metcalf traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers and Tyler Lockett cut, the deep passing game didn’t seem to be in a particularly promising spot after Cooper Kupp was brought aboard to fill a void at receiver. Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who averaged 22.6 yards per catch last season while playing under new Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak for the New Orleans Saints, was signed to help stretch the field. But the veteran will turn 31 in October, and Horton – who recovered from a knee injury that cut his final season short – has proven adept at tracking downfield shots. Now, the rookie’s workload indicates he might be poised to rocket as high as the No. 3 role behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Kupp.
Washington Commanders RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt
If there’s one under-the-radar rookie who can match Horton in camp buzz, it might be Croskey-Merritt.
The seventh-round pick has been one of the main attractions for Washington’s offense in the early going, as he has routinely reeled off long runs. The 5-11, 208-pound ball carrier’s slashing style is enabled by his instantaneous cuts, allowing him to shake defenders at the second level with ease. That has drawn a sharp contrast with the rest of the Commanders’ backfield options, with starter Brian Robinson Jr. and other backups employing a steadier but less explosive approach.
NFL preseason players to watch: 32 who should catch your eye in exhibition games
Yet experience matters for a team that has invested heavily in veterans as it tries to seize on its ahead-of-schedule arrival as a contender. And despite turning 24 in April, Croskey-Merritt isn’t a finished product as a runner after the two-time transfer sat out all but one game of his final college season at Arizona due to eligibility issues. His atypical college career trajectory has only heightened the boom-or-bust element inherent to his game, with his pass protection proving to be particularly wild at times. So long as he establishes a bit more stability in the preseason, however, Washington might find it hard to keep him stuffed on the practice squad or the end of the depth chart – he’s currently fifth behind all the veterans – given the jolt he could provide for the ground game.
Dallas Cowboys RB Jaydon Blue
Dallas’ decision to wait until the fifth round to draft a running back seemed to firm up the notion that Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders would take the lead in revitalizing one of the league’s worst rushing attacks. Indeed, the two veteran newcomers were the top two backfield options on the unofficial depth chart released this week.
But after a shaky introduction to the pro game in organized team activities and minicamp, Blue is coming on strong in camp – and the Cowboys staff has taken notice. The 5-9, 198-pound speedster out of Texas has slowly accumulated more first-team reps and showcased his big-play ability. First-year coach Brian Schottenheimer responded by likening him to a ‘larger version of Darren Sproles.’
To that end, Year 1 success for Blue might entail providing a spark as a third-down back and weapon in the passing game rather than taking on a more traditional bell-cow role. Reliability, however, remains somewhat of a concern for a player who had five fumbles in 2024 and has run hot and cold throughout his collegiate career.
Cincinnati Bengals RB Tahj Brooks
For many late-round rookies, seeing the field early beyond special teams often depends on having one elite trait. For Brooks, however, the comprehensiveness he offers as a runner could be his superpower.
Having rushed for 4,560 yards and 45 touchdowns over five years at Texas Tech, the sixth-round pick arrives in the NFL with a rare level of comfort across all assignments. The 5-9, 214-pounder is equally adept at breaking tackles by slipping past defenders or powering through them. With extensive experience in the passing game as both a receiver and blocker, he seldom needs to come off the field.
Though Brooks lacks the speed to break big gains with any regularity, his well-rounded skill set makes him an appealing fit as a backup. With the team having cut veteran Zack Moss last week, the rookie could push Samaje Perine to be the primary alternative to starter Chase Brown, who looks in line for a heavy workload.
Carolina Panthers WR Jimmy Horn Jr.
No one can accuse the Panthers of not taking their shortcomings at wide receiver seriously this offseason. From adding Tetairoa McMillan with the No. 8 overall pick to signing former Pro Bowler Hunter Renfrow, Carolina made it clear that it wouldn’t stand pat after 2024 first-round pick Xavier Legette, veteran Adam Thielen and surprising undrafted rookie Jalen Coker only could take Bryce Young so far in the quarterback’s second pro season.
Yet even with that newfound depth, a sixth-round pick has managed to squeeze out some time in the spotlight.
Horn has strung together a series of strong showings, with the latest coming in a Saturday scrimmage in which he notched two touchdown grabs on passes from Andy Dalton. Coach Dave Canales, who first broke into the NFL as a receivers coach, has made special note of the Colorado product’s tenacity, describing his playing style as ‘all gas.’ And though the 5-8, 174-pound is known for his speed, Horn hasn’t been afraid to attack a jump ball or operate in traffic.
In the short term, Horn might have trouble cracking the receiver rotation. But the preseason could help him stick as a player who can add value in the return game.
Los Angeles Rams WR Konata Mumpfield
Latching on with a team as a late-round draft pick typically entails making the proper impression with the right people. Mumpfield already appears to have done just that.
Six-time Pro Bowl receiver Davante Adams recently marveled at how the Pitt product could adapt his game and ‘kill some of our better corners on some amazing routes,’ adding that he feels ‘like a proud dad watching him out there.’ Sean McVay, meanwhile, lauded him as a ‘mature’ rookie who is ‘wired to be able to separate.’
Not bad for a seventh-round draft pick.
The preseason might be only for show given how little value the Rams place on player performances in the setting. Mumpfield, however, can continue to solidify his standing for the 53-man roster if he keeps up his pace. Regular-season targets likely will be hard to come by with Adams, Puka Nacua, Tutu Atwell and Jordan Whittington all ahead in the pecking order, but Los Angeles sizes up as a good forum for Mumpfield to ply his trade.
Los Angeles Chargers WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith
Mumpfield isn’t the only wideout creating a stir in Los Angeles this summer. A fifth-round pick out of Auburn, Lambert-Smith wasted no time in affirming himself as a trustworthy deep threat for Justin Herbert.
Lambert-Smith’s appeal was readily evident in the Hall of Fame Game, when he evaded Detroit Lions cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr.’s attempted jam and tracked down a fade from Trey Lance for a 28-yard gain. Later, he again dusted his defender at the line of scrimmage on a slant rant that he took for a 15-yard score.
For all of the promise the 6-1, 182-pound target has displayed thus far, any bold proclamations for his rookie season might have to be tabled after the Chargers brought back Keenan Allen. But taking on a smaller but more specific role as a designated deep threat could be a fitting recalibration for a player who should be brought along slowly.
This post appeared first on USA TODAY
