2026 NFL offseason: Biggest surprise players on each team - ESPN

Welcome to the NFL waiting period, the monthlong break until training camp begins in late July. Offseason team activities and mandatory minicamps have wrapped up and players are now on vacation.

It's a perfect time to take a look back at under-the-radar players who turned heads this spring while battling for starting spots or depth roles.

Which players surprised their coaches and teammates the most? Our NFL Nation reporters picked one player on every team who unexpectedly stood out and could make a serious impact in the fall.

Jump to:
ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN
CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND
JAX | KC | LAC | LAR | LV | MIA | MIN
NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF
SEA | TB | TEN | WSH

LB Kaleb Elarms-Orr

Elarms-Orr had an opportunity this offseason and took advantage of it. Linebacker Dorian Williams wasn't on the field during OTAs and minicamp due to an unspecified lower-body injury. With the increased snaps, Elarms-Orr made an impression in the battle for the open inside linebacker job next to Terrel Bernard.

«He's doing everything we're asking him right now,» defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard said of Elarms-Orr in May. — Alaina Getzenberg

TE Greg Dulcich

Dolphins fans might remember Dulcich's late-season contributions, but he has emerged this spring as one of the primary targets in Miami's passing game. Quarterback Malik Willis has an entirely new group of skill players to build chemistry with, but during team drills, there was clear trust in Dulcich, who was one of the best tight ends in the league last season at making plays after the catch. He returned from injured reserve in Week 8 and finished the season averaging the second-most yards after catch per reception (7.6) in that span. —