With NFL training camp underway, we will start to get a better picture of the impact the 2026 class can have this season.
Scouting reports, mock drafts and college film can only tell part of the story. Once the pads come on, rookies must prove they belong by earning snaps against NFL veterans and fellow draft picks.
These training camp battles will tell us which rookies are ready to perform for their new teams and which need more time to develop.
5 NFC rookie battles to watch this training camp
New Orleans Saints: Bryce Lance vs. Devaughn Vele for WR3
The New Orleans Saints made some heavy investments in pass-catchers this offseason. They drafted three wide receivers and a tight end in the 2026 NFL draft, and extended Chris Olave to a 4-year, $124 million contract.
Olave is clearly the number one receiver, and first-round pick Jordyn Tyson figures to be the No. 2 receiver. But the number three role is up for grabs.
Fourth-round pick Bryce Lance is going to be in the mix. Lance is a tall and explosive outside threat who can win deep. He averaged 21.2 yards-per-catch in college last season.
He'll be going up against Devaughn Vele for the number three role. Vele is also a taller receiver, but he relies more on strength and savvy to win routes than on explosiveness. Both players are eerily similar in size - Lance is 6'3, 204 pounds, and Vele was listed at 6'4, 203 pounds coming out of Utah.
The Saints traded for Vele before the start of last season. And he had a few productive games after they traded Rashid Shaheed to the Seahawks. But if Lance can make a few explosive plays in camp and the preseason, he could push Vele further down the depth chart.
Washington Commanders: Matt Gulbin vs. Nick Allegretti at center
The Washington Commanders released their starting center, Tyler Biadasz, early this offseason. The only thing they did to address the position after that was take Matt Gulbin in the sixth round of April's draft.
Washington appears to want veteran Nick Allegretti to win the job in camp. Allegretti was the team's starting left guard in 2024 after they signed him away from the Chiefs, but he was relegated to a backup role last season.
Allegretti strained his calf early on in training camp, potentially giving Gulbin a chance at the job. Gulbin has just average size, but below-average length for the NFL level, but he is a sturdy blocker with a strong anchor.
The Commanders are following a growing league trend of minimizing investment at center. And there's definitely a path for Gulbin to start for them, even as a late-Day 3 pick.
Atlanta Falcons: Avieon Terrell vs. Mike Hughes for CB2
The Atlanta Falcons used their first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on cornerback Avieon Terrell. Terrell is a sticky and physical corner who can play outside or in the slot.
For several seasons, the Falcons struggled with their play at cornerback opposite AJ Terrell, Avieon's brother. That is, until veteran Mike Hughes was signed in 2024 and has been the starter for two seasons.
Hughes is a solid player, but he will turn 30 in February, and the team can save $7 million in cap if they release him next spring. So the goal is to have both Terrells start by 2027.
But if Avieon can win the job earlier, that will only raise the ceiling for this Falcons defense. The 2026 second-round pick is very quick to break on routes and stick to the receiver he is covering. And he is always willing to mix it up in tackling opportunities. That could lead to more splash plays for the Falcons in 2026.
Terrell will also be competing for some work in the slot, especially with last year's fourth-round pick, Billy Bowman, out with his torn Achilles. The sooner Terrell can get on the field for Atlanta in 2026, the better.
Chicago Bears: Logan Jones vs. Garrett Bradbury at center
The Chicago Bears were also in the market for a starting center in the draft after the surprising retirement of Drew Dalman.
Chicago even met with the aforementioned Biadasz when he became a free agent, but opted for a smaller veteran move by trading for Garrett Bradbury. Bradbury matches the size and style of Dalman as a smaller and quicker center, which works better for Head Coach Ben Johnson's run scheme.
Chicago's second-round pick Logan Jones also fits that mold after measuring in at 6-foot-3, 299 pounds at the NFL Combine. Johnson made Jones the first true center selected in the draft, signaling a clear vision for the position. Jones's athleticism and experience in a zone-based scheme make him an ideal player for Johnson.
But it won't be easy to win the starting job out of the gate. Bradbury has been a starting center in the NFL for seven straight seasons, going back to his rookie year in 2019.
But like Terrell vs Hughes, Jones has the potential to raise the ceiling for the position should he win it from Bradbury.
Atlanta Falcons: Zachariah Branch vs. Olamide Zaccheaus and Jahan Dotson for WR2
We're heading back to Atlanta for this one. The Falcons did a great job of getting value in the draft without a first-round pick. I had a first-round grade on Terrell, and many believed their third-round pick, Zachariah Branch, would be selected before the 79th-overall pick.
The Falcons haven't had a consistent number two receiver in a long time. Even with Kyle Pitts playing nearly half his snaps detached from the line of scrimmage, Atlanta will need a No. 2 to line up opposite Drake London.
Branch is the perfect complement to London and Pitts because they are both bigger targets that can win downfield. Branch would force defenses to also stay close to the line of scrimmage because of his ability to turn quick passes into explosive plays.
Branch will be competing with veterans Olamide Zaccheaus and Jahan Dotson for snaps with the first team. If Branch can tap into his unique skillset during camp, he could be in line for a big role in the Atlanta offense as a rookie.
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