With all NFL training camps open, some players are already making strong impressions.
Could rookies supplant veteran wide receivers in Miami and Pittsburgh? Will a wideout in Houston who played sparingly in 2023 earn significant playing time?
Yardbarker NFL writers identify one potential fast riser on the depth chart for all 16 AFC teams.
AFC East
BUFFALO BILLS | Safety Damar Hamlin | Two years removed from his on-field cardiac arrest, Hamlin finds himself in the mix to claim the starting safety position opposite Taylor Rapp. He must beat out free-agent signing Mike Edwards and rookie Cole Bishop, but Hamlin could have the inside track for the job. He started on Buffalo’s first-team defense during its first and fourth practices.
MIAMI DOLPHINS | Wide receiver Malik Washington | With veteran wideout Odell Beckham Jr. landing on the physically unable to perform list, Washington will have a chance to earn reps as the first-team offense’s No. 3 receiver. A sixth-round pick, Washington was one of the most productive players in college football last season for Virginia, catching an FBS-high and ACC-record 110 passes for 1,426 yards and nine touchdowns.
NEW YORK JETS | Edge rusher Takkarist McKinley | Edge rusher Haason Reddick’s holdout has opened the door for McKinley, who couldn’t crack an NFL roster last season after his release by the Cowboys. The former first-round pick has made the most of his opportunity, racking up six sacks in three practices, according to Athlon Sports’ Nick Faria.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS | Wide receiver Javon Baker | According to Boston.com’s Khari Thompson, Baker, a fourth-round pick, hasn’t received many first-team reps so far, but that could soon change as he is turning heads in training camp. The 6-foot-1, 202-pounder has made several spectacular catches, providing optimism that he can be a reliable deep-threat target for New England as a rookie. — Colum Dell
AFC West
DENVER BRONCOS | Wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. | Mims’ workload should increase after Denver’s trade of WR Jerry Jeudy to the Cleveland Browns in March. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported the Broncos plan to use the second-year wideout as an “explosive play guy” in the passing game and in the new kickoff returns setup.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS | Defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah | Anudike-Uzomah should fill in for starting DE Charles Omenihu, who’s recovering from an ACL tear he suffered in the AFC title game. This offseason, Anudike-Uzomah trained with former Chiefs Pro Bowl DE Tamba Hali to hone his pass-rushing skills. Perhaps that will pay dividends.
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS | Wide receiver Tre Tucker | Veteran WR Michael Gallup’s unexpected retirement could give Tucker more opportunities. The third-round pick out of Cincinnati flashed big-play ability in 16 games during his rookie season, leading the Raiders in yards per reception (17.4).
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS | Cornerback Cam Hart | Per The Athletic’s Daniel Popper, the rookie impressed during the first day of training camp with a spectacular interception. Following the practice, Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh said, “(Hart) could go a long way in this game” if he keeps improving. — Clark Dalton
AFC North
BALTIMORE RAVENS | Cornerback Nate Wiggins | Veterans Marlon Humphrey and Brandon Stephens will get the first nod as starting outside corners, but don’t overlook Wiggins, the No. 30 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. He may be a bit undersized at just 182 pounds, but general manager Eric DeCosta believes he was “the best cover corner in the draft.”
CINCINNATI BENGALS | Running back Chase Brown | The Bengals must find a way to replace their third all-time leading rusher, Joe Mixon, after trading him to the Texans in March. Cincinnati signed veteran Zack Moss in free agency, but Brown, a fifth-round pick in 2023, could prove to be the answer after averaging 4.1 yards per carry and showing off his receiving ability with 14 catches for 156 yards and a touchdown as a rookie.
CLEVELAND BROWNS | Defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. | The Browns placed veteran defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson on the physically unable to perform list, which will allow Hall Jr. to get valuable reps and state his case in Tomlinson’s absence. The No. 54 overall pick was Cleveland’s first selection in the 2024 NFL Draft after registering 45 tackles (10 for a loss) and six sacks at Ohio State.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS | Wide receiver Roman Wilson | The Steelers signed veteran wide receivers Van Jefferson, Quez Watkins, and Scotty Miller this offseason in hopes of filling the void left by Diontae Johnson, whom the team traded to Carolina in March. However, Wilson, a third-round pick, could prove to be Pittsburgh’s best No. 2 option opposite George Pickens after reeling in 48 catches for 789 yards and 12 touchdowns during his final year at Michigan. — Aaron Becker
AFC South
HOUSTON TEXANS | Wide receiver John Metchie | The start of Metchie’s NFL career was interrupted by a terrifying leukemia diagnosis that kept him out for the entire 2022 season. He returned in 2023 but seems primed to do much more after impressing quarterback C.J. Stroud in minicamp by running some of the “best routes” he’d ever seen. In training camp, he got the best of No. 1 cornerback Derek Stingley Jr.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS | Tight end Jelani Woods | Woods missed last season with a hamstring injury but could be a breakout candidate for the Colts if healthy. With a compelling mix of size (6-foot-7, 253 pounds) and speed (4.61 40-yard dash), he should separate himself from the rest of the depth chart, including Kylen Granson, Mo Alie-Cox, and Will Mallory, and carve out a significant role.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS | Cornerback Jarrian Jones | A third-round pick in this year’s draft, Jones has the potential to make an impact. He has received praise for his work on special teams early in training camp, displaying outstanding coverage skills and versatility that could earn him more snaps on the outside. He also could push veteran Darnell Savage for nickel reps.
TENNESSEE TITANS | Linebacker Cedric Gray | The 6-foot-2, 225-pound rookie linebacker is already in line for a spot in the rotation after a successful four-year career at North Carolina, where he ranked among the top five in the ACC in tackles three times. Gray’s sideline-to-sideline speed, instincts, and ability to play inside or outside could ultimately lead to more opportunities in Tennessee’s 3-4 scheme. — Mike Santa Barbara
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