In this series, we've been working to identify the rookies who will make the biggest impact in their first NFL season. We spent months scouting the top prospects leading up to the 2026 NFL Draft, then turned our attention to determining what kind of roles those players could have with their new teams.
Now, late in the summer, as training camp winds down and the preseason is taking place, it's time to determine who will be a real factor as a rookie.
These NFC North rookies should impact the division this season
8. Chicago Bears CB: Malik Muhammad II
The Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions are in similar situations with their secondary. Both teams are underwater with injuries and could be relying on day three picks to play significant snaps, especially early in the season.
But Chicago's Malik Muhammad II, a fourth-round pick, might be pushed into his role with a little more necessity.
Chicago currently has starters Coby Bryant and Kyler Gordon out with injuries. Bryant is out for several months with a knee injury, while Gordon is still on PUP with more soft tissue issues.
The coaching staff is also obviously at a loss with the state of Gordon's injuries, opening up the nickel corner spot to Muhammad, potentially.
At the same time, fourth-year corner Tyrique Stevenson has dealt with his own injuries in camp and has had an up-and-down career so far in Chicago. Creating an avenue for Muhammad to also play on the outside.
The Bears let several starters from their secondary walk in free agency. With injuries and questionable long-term starters left on the roster, there could be significant playing time in 2026 for Muhammad.
7. Green Bay Packers DT: Chris McClellan
The Green Bay Packers selected Chris McClellan in the third round of the NFL Draft.
With longtime defensive tackle Kenny Clark being traded last season, there's still an opportunity in the middle of Green Bay's defensive line.
Early in camp, McClellan saw a lot of first-team reps as veterans Javon Hargrave and Devonte Wyatt worked their way into full participation. And the rookie impressed. He is a big, strong lineman who can play up and down the line. This is key in Green Bay's odd-front scheme.
Hargrave was released by the Minnesota Vikings this spring after not living up to his contract. Keeping this in mind about the 33-year-old, there's not much depth on the line behind Wyatt.
Green Bay is still trying to establish their defensive front while Micah Parsons works back from last season's knee injury. McClellan could be a big part of that at different points through the season.
6. Chicago Bears center: Logan Jones
At this point in the calendar, Logan Jones may not start at any point during his rookie season in Chicago. But he can't be left off the list.
When Drew Dalman retired, Chicago pivoted very swiftly and with intention. They traded for veteran Garrett Bradbury and drafted Jones in the second round. Both players are the smaller, quicker style of center that fit in Ben Johnson's offense.
But Jones has had his struggles in camp. Slowly moving the conversation from when he would become the starter, to if.
Alas, if Jones does break into the starting lineup, it will be significant for an offense, and team, with high expectations for 2026.
5. Detroit Lions EDGE: Derrick Moore
The Detroit Lions have been looking for a consistent edge rusher to play across from Aidan Hutchinson for years. Second-round pick Derrick Moore out of Michigan has the tools to be that player.
Out of Michigan, Moore is a strong edge setter who can disengage well from blockers in the run game and push the pocket as a pass rusher. This particular skill can funnel plays to Hutchinson, even when the opposing offense is trying to move away from the All-Pro.
Moore dealt with an injury for a short period in training camp, but is now back on the practice field, taking snaps with the first team.
With veteran DJ Wonnum as the main competition, Moore has a clear route to snaps on defense to help the Lions improve on that side of the ball.
4. Minnesota Vikings DT: Caleb Banks
The Minnesota Vikings made the surprising pick in the draft when they selected Caleb Banks in the first round last April. Banks missed most of last season with a foot injury, which he reaggravated at the combine.
Banks is certainly very talented. He measured in at over 6'6 and nearly 330 pounds while posting well above-average jump measurements. On tape, he explodes out of his stance when his pad level is good and has very good hand usage.
After moving on from veterans Hargrave and Jonathan Allen this spring, Minnesota is counting on a group of young defensive tackles to keep the defense at the top of the league. Banks could be a ceiling-raising type player for this group as a rookie.
3. Green Bay Packers CB: Brandon Cisse
The Packers selected South Carolina cornerback Brandon Cisse in the second round of the draft. Cisse was supposed to be a developmental player behind a veteran group of defensive backs in Green Bay this season.
But plans change, and Cisse has been running with the starters for most of camp.
Cisse is very athletic and smooth as an outside cover corner with the potential to be a real playmaker.
Green Bay has been patchworking their outside corners for years with guys like Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine. For a team looking to make a deep run in the playoffs, going to a second-round rookie from practically day one is a big swing.
If he hits, Cisse could be a major story for Green Bay throughout the season.
2. Chicago Bears S: Dillon Thieneman
I already mentioned all of the injuries in the Chicago secondary. But the player that will be most responsible for putting a band-aid over all of that is first-round pick Dillon Thieneman.
Whether or not Thieneman spends more of his time in the box or deep, he will be counted on to cover a lot of ground in 2026. Thieneman can cover to a degree, but his best attribute is to read and react, then make a tackle.
Chicago's defense last season only held on by a thread due to forcing a lot of turnovers. With regression likely, multiple new faces in the unit, and now all of the injuries they are facing, Thieneman has a lot of pressure put on him as a rookie.
And for a team with deep playoff aspirations, his play will have a huge impact on their outcome for 2026.
1. Detroit Lions OT: Blake Miller
The Detroit Lions have seen significant changes to what was the core of their team for several seasons - the offensive line. Gone from the recent core are Taylor Decker and Graham Glasgow, plus Frank Ragnow, who briefly attempted a comeback last season.
As two solutions to all of those changes, All-Pro Peneii Sewell is moving to left tackle, while first-round pick Blake Miller was drafted to take his place at right tackle.
Miller was an interesting prospect. A good player out of Clemson, he could have been a day two pick had he come out in 2025. But without any real change in his profile, and while all of his Clemson teammates took a hit to their draft stock last year, it was clear Miller would be a first-round pick in 2026.
Miller has a very strong upper body and uses that plus good footwork to maintain balance in pass protection. He's very good at making first contact with defenders to keep them off his body, and his good feet allow him to block in space a bit in the run game.
Even with Sewell still on the roster, Miller has big shoes to fill on the line. Many think he can outplay what Decker looked like in 2025, helping the Lions in 2026. Meeting this bar will go a long way for an offense undergoing another change at offensive coordinator, as well as the rest of the changes on the line.
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