It shouldn't be a surprise if a rookie can't find a starting spot early in their career. There are multiple external factors involved with joining a new team and becoming a professional.
It's a cliche, but going into their second seasons, the game slows down for NFL players. Both on and off the field.
Without the "burden" of going through the draft process and getting acclimated to their new surroundings, players can spend the offseason preparing for year two now that they know the expectations.
Therefore, for many players, their second training camp is their first real opportunity to prove they can play. And that's no different for these five players.
5 NFC training camp battles featuring second-year players
Dallas Cowboys: Shavon Revel vs Cobie Durant for CB2
Shavon Revel was a borderline first-round talent out of ECU in 2025, but a knee injury kept him undrafted until the third round. The injury was significant, and he was out of the Cowboys' lineup until November.
Revel is big and fast, and can be one heck of a playmaker. With a healthy offseason to get accustomed to the defense after playing some at the end of 2025, he could take a big leap and be a ceiling raiser for Dallas.
Veteran Cobie Durant is entering his fifth year in the NFL after playing a lot of snaps for the Rams as a fourth-round pick. He made some big plays for the Rams early in his career before becoming a full-time starter the last two seasons.
Durant would be a solid fifth starter on the defense in 2026. But if Revel proves healthy and ready to jump Durant in the lineup, that can only mean good things for him, and for the Cowboys as a whole.
Carolina Panthers: Princely Umienmielen vs Patrick Jones II for EDGE2
The Carolina Panthers drafted two edge rushers in the 2025 class: Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen.
Scourton was coming into 2026 with high expectations - only to suffer a torn ACL on the first day of camp.
Now all eyes are on Umanmielen, wondering if he can take the leap to help push this Panthers defense over the top.
At 6'4, 244 pounds, Umanmielen is a bendy and fast-twitched athlete. His almost frenetic nature was very fun to watch on tape coming out of Ole Miss. But if he's going to start, he's going to have to be better on run downs, which coach Canales highlighted.
Umanmielen will be mostly battling with veteran Patrick Jones II for more snaps. As a veteran with about 20 pounds on Umanmielen, Jones II can theoretically play the run better than the second-year man. But if Umanmielen can narrow that gap, his pass rush upside could lead to more play time.
Washington Commanders: Trey Amos vs Mike Sainristil for CB2
The Washington Commanders have undergone a lot of changes this offseason. New coordinators, a new first-round pick in the middle of the defense, and a new pecking order among the defensive backs.
Second-year man, Trey Amos, was activated off the PUP list last Friday to practice on Monday. However, Amost left practice early after sustaining some sort of ankle injury.
If the injury doesn't keep him out too long, Amos has some work ahead of him. Amik Robertson, whom the Commanders signed this spring, seems to have locked down one of the outside cornerback jobs. And Mike Sainristill, the 2024 second-round pick, can play both on the outside and in the slot. And veteran Rasul Douglas, who Washington signed in July, could be in the mix as well.
If Amos can get back into camp healthy, his toughest competition is Sainristil. Washington would like to play Amos outside, but he has to be available and ready to take that spot.
Minnesota Vikings: Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins vs Caleb Banks for DT2
Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins is one of many second-year players trying to hold off an incoming rookie. The Vikings selected Caleb Banks in the first round of the 2026 draft. Banks was regarded as highly talented coming out of Florida, but injuries kept his draft value unclear.
Ingram-Dawkins showed flashes last year as a rookie, playing 250 snaps on defense, spelling veterans Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave.
After Minnesota parted with Allen and Hargrave this spring, it looked like Ingram-Dawkins would be taking a step forward alongside rising star Jalen Redmond. But then, the Vikings drafted Banks and Domonique Orange, who they selected in the third round.
Ingram-Davis is now competing with Banks, Orange, and third-year lineman Levi Drake Rodriguez. The good news for Ingram-Davis, with all of them being on rookie deals, there should be a decent rotation this season.
Minnesota Vikings: Tai Felton vs Jauan Jennings for WR3
Tai Felton is another Viking who was poised for an increased role earlier in the spring. When Jalen Nailor was signed by the Las Vegas Raiders, it opened the door for Felton to move into the number-three role in Minnesota's offense.
But veteran Jauan Jennings was signed later in the summer, and now Felton has to go back to working for those offensive snaps.
Felton is a good route runner who controls the tempo of his routes well. He decelerates and accelerates at the right times to create openings for himself. He's also strong at the catch point and has just enough athleticism to be useful after the catch.
We've seen the "older" wide receivers going to new teams go both positively and negatively. Jennings could end up being a key piece of the Vikings' offense this year, or he could just be a veteran in the locker room that doesn't produce a lot. Those potential outcomes could be impacted a lot based on what Felton brings this training camp.
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