The NFL Draft involves a lot of theorizing. We try to determine how a player's skills will translate to the NFL. Or predict what sort of team or scheme a player would fit with. But now that we are at the start of training camp, we get to find out how exactly each player is stacking up.
One of the biggest storylines to follow throughout training camp is the position battles. Who is taking first-team reps? Who is rotating snaps with whom? Which players are getting more opportunities each day?
5 battles in the AFC involving rookies this training camp
Baltimore Ravens WR3
The Baltimore Ravens have been looking for a consistent wide receiver to complement Zay Flowers for years. Rashod Bateman had the worst season of his already inconsistent career in 2025. The Ravens haven't had two receivers with over 45 catches in a season since 2021.
Third-round pick Ja'Kobi Lane and fourth-round pick Elijah Sarratt will try to fill that spot. Lane is an outside receiver who takes up space well with his long frame. But how he plays through contact as a rookie will be a big factor for how much he can be on the field.
Sarratt is a solid all-around receiver. He's a dependable route runner with strong hands. But without an elite trait, the question is whether he will make enough plays in camp to see snaps in games or not.
There's a scenario where both players see a lot of action if the new-look Ravens play more three-receiver sets, and they can beat out Bateman for a spot. If not, they may be competing with each other for time on the field.
Cincinnati Bengals edge rusher
The Cincinnati Bengals finished 23rd in pressure rate and sacks last season, and then they lost Trey Hendrickson in free agency.
Enter Cashius Howell. Howell produced 25 sacks in his last three college football seasons. He is undersized (just over 6'2, 253 pounds, and less than 31-inch arms), so he'll struggle early on to be a full-time player. But he'll be competing in a room that needs pass rush.
The Bengals just gave Boye Mafe a three-year, $60 million contract to presumably start on one side of the line. And team veteran Myles Murphy just had a career year of 5.5 sacks. But 2025 first-round pick Shemar Stewart had a disappointing rookie season and went down with an injury early in camp.
Howell will be competing with all three players for some sort of role on the Bengals' defense. Is he strictly a designated pass rusher who only comes in on third and longs? Does he rotate regularly with a veteran? Or is he strictly a backup? Time will tell.
Pittsburgh Steelers right tackle
The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Max Iheanachor in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Iheanachor is the third offensive tackle taken in the first round by Pittsburgh in the last four years.
Iheanachor came to football late, so he is a raw prospect that might need time to develop before jumping into the starting lineup. But he's an excellent athlete and a very natural pass protector. He'll be competing primarily with Dylan Cook, an undrafted free agent who has been with the Steelers since 2023.
Cook filled in admirably in 2025 and started in four games at left tackle, and now has a chance to start at his college position on the right side.
The wild card in this is Broderick Jones. Jones was Pittsburgh's first-round pick in 2023, but position changes and a significant injury last year have stalled his progress. He did not begin camp on the "Physically Unable to Perform" (PUP) list, but he is still working back from injury.
There's a path for Iheanachor to start as a rookie, but he might have a tougher time than other first-round picks to start right away.
Houston Texans center
The Houston Texans made one of the most surprising selections on the first night of the draft by selecting Keylan Rutledge out of Georgie Tech.
What might have been more surprising was the news that he would be competing for their starting center spot.
Rutledge was exclusively a guard in college. And aside from two games his freshman year, he only played right guard. So positional flexibility was not one of the strengths listed on his draft profile.
But Rutledge does have a size and a demeanor that the Texans' offensive line has lacked for years.
He'll be competing with veteran Jake Andrews, last year's starter. Andrews was a fourth-round pick in 2023 who only started one game before last season.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback
Tom Brady is backing up everything he said about how to develop a rookie quarterback. Not only did the Raiders bring in a veteran quarterback to at least compete with first-overall pick Fernando Mendoza, but they brought in Kirk Cousins.
Cousins has enough respect in the league and still a high enough level of talent that he doesn't just seem like a placeholder for Mendoza. It wouldn't surprise me if Cousins is the starter in Las Vegas for all of Mendoza's rookie season.
Still, Mendoza will be competing every day to be ready for when his time comes. How quickly he can pick things up, take command of the offense and team, and play well when given opportunities, will decide how early he becomes the starter.
In a lot of ways, Mendoza will be competing with himself before he's competing with Cousins. But that doesn't mean he won't push Cousins for the job at some point in 2026-2027 season.
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