The Breakout Players We're COUNTING ON for the 2026 Season

Breakout seasons from Azeez Al-Shaair, Byron Young and Tuli Tuipulotu helped define the 2025 season. Who might be those players this year? Robert Mays, Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman introduce the Breakout Player Draft on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.

0:00 Welcome to the show
1:22 The rules
5:21 Honorable mention: Byron Murphy
5:48 Paris Johnson
6:41 “They better!”
10:10 600-ft home runs
11:22 Omarion Hampton
14:57 Walter Nolen
18:47 Luther Burden
24:28 Amarius Mims
27:01 Nohl Williams
31:34 Malaki Starks
34:26 Yaya Diaby
36:28 Josh Simmons
39:17 Dallas Turner
43:12 Jonas Sanker
44:58 Craig Woodson
47:04 Listen up, Seattle Seahawks fans
47:56 Warren McClendon
52:04 Nic Scourton
55:16 Dylan Fairchild
57:14 Honorable mention: Michael Wilson
58:13 Patrick Paul
1:01:31 Tykee Smith
1:02:55 Ricky Pearsall
1:08:20 Rome Odunze
1:12:04 Cedric Gray
1:14:02 Honorable mention: Henry To’o To’o
1:14:50 Honorable mention: Travis Hunter
1:17:37 Austin Booker
1:19:54 Upton Stout
1:20:52 Billy Bowman
1:23:03 Jalen Travis
1:26:56 Honorable mention: Matthew Golden
1:27:50 Honorable mention: Jacksonville Jaguars
1:28:12 Honorable mention: Gunnar Helm
1:28:30 Honorable mention: Mykel Williams
1:28:40 Honorable mention: Josaiah Stewart

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