Defense Breakouts in 2026: Carter, Campbell, Hunter Poised for Year 2
NFL.com’s scouts notebook identifies 11 defensive players primed for breakout in 2026, led by Abdul Carter, Jihaad Campbell and Travis Hunter, as teams deploy more aggressive schemes to unlock a second-year jump. The piece highlights youngsters who flashed late in 2025 and could take on bigger roles, with Walter Nolen, Kool-Aid McKinstry, Upton Stout and others poised to become major contributors.
