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
2:14 The rules
6:30 Paris Johnson
12:04 Omarion Hampton
15:40 Walter Nolen
19:34 Luther Burden
25:12 Amarius Mims
27:43 Nohl Williams
32:25 Malaki Starks
35:12 Yaya Diaby
37:19 Josh Simmons
40:09 Dallas Turner
44:02 Jonas Sanker
45:49 Craig Woodson
48:58 Warren McClendon
53:05 Nic Scourton
56:18 Dylan Fairchild
59:10 Patrick Paul
1:02:31 Tykee Smith
1:03:57 Ricky Pearsall
1:09:23 Rome Odunze
1:13:06 Cedric Gray
1:18:40 Austin Booker
1:20:55 Upton Stout
1:21:54 Billy Bowman
1:24:05 Jalen Travis

Host: Robert Mays
Co-Hosts: Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman
Executive Producer: Michael Beller
Senior Producer: Katy Duffy
Social Producer: Scott Krinch

Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social
Follow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.social
Follow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.social
Follow Robert on X: @RobertMays
Follow Dave on X: @DaveHelman_

Theme song: Haunted
Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs
Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC
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