NFL Rookie Notebook: Titans' linebacker duo gaining steam, AFC North rookies to watch, and minicamp notes

NFL minicamps are underway, giving us our first extended look at the 2026 rookie class as teams begin preparing for the upcoming season. In this week's Rookie Report, we break down Tennessee's promising young linebacker tandem of Cedric Gray and Anthony Hill Jr., examine how Cashius Howell could provide an immediate boost to Cincinnati's pass rush, spotlight four AFC North rookies to watch, and cover several other first-year players who are already generating buzz around the league.

Titans' emerging linebacker duo building momentum

The Tennessee Titans had one of the worst defenses in the NFL last season, allowing more than 28 points per game, which ranked 28th in the league. One of the few bright spots, however, was 2024 fourth-round pick Cedric Gray, who finished fifth in the NFL with 160 tackles. Beyond the impressive production, Gray was outstanding against the run, displaying excellent athleticism, instincts, and tackling ability on his way to earning a 92.7 PFF run-defense grade.

The Titans further strengthened the position in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft by selecting Texas linebacker Anthony Hill Jr., whom I graded as the No. 21 overall player in the class. Landing him with the 60th overall pick was one of the biggest value selections of the draft. Hill will compete with Cody Barton for the starting spot opposite Gray and appears to be the favorite to win the job. His immense talent, coupled with Barton's disappointing 2025 season that included a 46.0 PFF run-defense grade, gives Hill a strong chance to crack the starting lineup early.

When evaluating Hill, the first thing that stands out is his well-rounded skill set. He has been a playmaker since arriving at Texas, earning co-Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year honors early in his career. He followed that up with a dominant 2024 season, leading the SEC with 16.5 tackles for loss while also forcing four fumbles. Despite battling a hand injury for much of last season, Hill still earned All-American honors for the second consecutive year.

His game should translate well to the NFL. At 6-foot-2 and 238 pounds, Hill possesses elite range for the position, running a 4.51-second 40-yard dash and showing the speed necessary to track down ball carriers from sideline to sideline. He also plays with impressive functional strength, allowing him to take on and shed blockers effectively. Another major positive is his reliability as a tackler, as he missed only three tackles all season. The primary area where he still needs development is his awareness and consistency in coverage.

With Gray already emerging as one of the league's better young linebackers and Hill bringing Pro Bowl-caliber potential to the position, the Titans appear to have found a promising long-term linebacker duo. Look for both players to play a major role in helping Tennessee take a significant step forward defensively this season.

AFC North rookies to watch

Baltimore Ravens: Olaivavega Ioane

One of Baltimore's biggest priorities this offseason was improving the protection around Lamar Jackson, who was pressured at a career-high rate last season. The Ravens addressed that need by selecting Olaivavega Ioane with the 14th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Ioane is coming off a dominant All-American campaign in which he allowed just four pressures all season. While I felt the selection was a bit high given his lack of elite mobility, his strength, technique, and consistency make him one of the safer offensive line prospects in the class. Baltimore's track record with early first-round picks also inspires confidence, as nine of the franchise's previous 11 selections in the top half of the first round have gone on to earn Pro Bowl honors.

Cincinnati Bengals: Cashius Howell

The Cincinnati Bengals entered the 2026 NFL Draft without a first-round pick after trading it to the New York Giants for Dexter Lawrence, but they may have still landed one of the draft's top pass rushers in the second round with Cashius Howell. The former Texas A&M standout is coming off a dominant season that saw him earn SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors after recording 11.5 sacks. Howell now joins a Bengals defense that managed just 35 sacks last season and will be counted on to help generate more consistent pressure off the edge. His explosiveness, pass-rush repertoire, and proven production make him one of the rookies most likely to make an immediate impact in Cincinnati.

Cleveland Browns: Denzel Boston

I've already gone on record saying I expect Browns second-round pick Denzel Boston to lead all rookies in receiving yards, so it's no secret I believe he'll play a major role in Cleveland's offense this season. What makes Boston such an intriguing prospect is his combination of size and ball skills. At 6-foot-4 and 213 pounds, he consistently uses his frame to shield defenders and win at the catch point, helping him secure an impressive 77% of his contested-catch opportunities last season according to PFF. He also possesses some of the most reliable hands in this rookie class, dropping just two passes all year. With his physicality, strong hands, and ability to make plays in traffic, Boston has all the tools to become an immediate contributor for the Browns.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Kaden Wetjen

While I thought the Steelers reached a bit by selecting Kaden Wetjen in the fourth round after I gave him a sixth-round grade, don't be surprised if he makes an impact as a rookie. His biggest contribution will likely come on special teams, where he was one of the most dangerous return specialists in college football. Wetjen set a Big Ten single-season record with a 28.3-yard punt return average and became the first player in conference history to record three punt return touchdowns and a kickoff return touchdown in the same season. Beyond special teams, expect Pittsburgh to find creative ways to get the ball in his hands on offense, including jet sweeps and designed touches that can take advantage of his speed and playmaking ability.

NFL rookie news and notes & quotes

• To absolutely no one's surprise, Dallas Cowboys first-round pick Caleb Downs is already turning heads in training camp with his elite football IQ. That should come as little surprise given that processing speed and instincts were among his defining traits in college and a major reason why I viewed him as a future All-Pro entering the 2026 NFL Draft. The Jim Thorpe Award winner brings rare versatility to Dallas' secondary, possessing the tackling ability and physicality to thrive near the line of scrimmage while also having the range and coverage skills to make plays on the back end. Expect Downs to be firmly in the conversation for Defensive Rookie of the Year this season.

"Premium instincts. You can tell his (Caleb Downs) football intellect, the way he directs traffic out there, the way he reads and reacts, his brain is connected with his feet. It was constant. You're watching three years of film, and there's not a difference in the tape. He's constantly making the right decision, constantly down in the football, constantly making contact with it, constantly just in the right spot."

Dallas DC Christian Parker

• It looks like there is a strong chance Washington Commanders third-round pick Antonio Williams could earn the starting wide receiver job opposite Terry McLaurin. While that opportunity is partly due to Washington's lack of proven depth at receiver, Williams has also impressed the team this offseason with how quickly he has picked up the offense. He is coming off an impressive career at Clemson, where his quickness, route-running ability, and reliable hands helped him lead the Tigers in receptions in each of the past two seasons. 

• The Jacksonville Jaguars have been impressed with the early development of fifth-round pick Tanner Koziol. The 6-foot-7 tight end has made several highlight-reel catches in the red zone during minicamp over the past two weeks, showcasing the large catch radius and ball skills that make him an ideal target for Trevor Lawrence. Koziol displayed those same traits throughout his college career, recording 46 contested catches over the past two seasons, the most of any tight end in college football. Given his size, reliability at the catch point, and ability to create mismatches in the red zone, expect him to carve out a role in Jacksonville's offense and catch a few touchdown passes as a rookie.

• One late-round pick who has generated positive buzz early in the offseason is New York Giants sixth-round selection J.C. Davis. The former Illinois standout has seen work at both tackle and guard, showcasing the versatility that made him an intriguing developmental prospect entering the draft. During recent OTAs, Davis logged extensive reps against some of the Giants' top pass rushers and more than held his own. Despite earning First-Team All-Big Ten honors and posting an impressive 87.8 overall PFF grade last season, Davis slipped to the sixth round. What makes him such a promising prospect is his impressive strength and physicality at the point of attack. He is difficult to move with power, making bull rushes largely ineffective, while his ability as a run blocker gives him a solid foundation to compete for playing time early in his career.

• While Giants sixth-round pick J.C. Davis has impressed early in the offseason, Los Angeles Chargers second-round pick Jake Slaughter has gotten off to a slower start. Slaughter has spent most of his reps with the second-team offense, which is somewhat concerning considering Los Angeles drafted him with the expectation that he could compete for the starting left guard job. At the same time, the adjustment is understandable given that he played exclusively at center in college, a position where he excelled and earned All-American honors in each of the past two seasons. Even if he falls short in the competition for the left guard spot this year, his experience and versatility should allow him to provide valuable depth at both guard and center as a rookie.

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