National Football League

NFL all-hype team: Which players have stood out in training camp, preseason?

Updated Aug. 22, 2023 10:52 a.m. ET

FOX Sports NFL Staff

On Aug. 16, 2010, undrafted rookie free agent Victor Cruz caught six passes for 145 yards and three touchdowns for the Giants in his first preseason game. Cruz went viral in social media's early days. He was injured for most of that season, but the next year he became one of the NFL's best receivers — catching 82 passes for 1,536 yards and nine touchdowns.

Marques Colston was a seventh-round pick in 2006. He looked so good in training camp that the Saints traded Donte Stallworth to give him an opportunity to play as a rookie. Colston caught 70 passes for 1,032 yards as a rookie — and exceeded 1,000 yards five more times in a 10-year career.

For every Cruz or Colston, each franchise has a dozen players who turned heads in training camps and preseason games but couldn't rise to the task in the regular season. With all that said, we've compiled an early all-hype team made up of players around the league you should keep an eye on. Some are early picks and some weren't picked at all. Some will start games and others will work day jobs. But these are the players making an impression — and the ones who have the most to gain by doing so in August.

QB

Dorian Thompson-Robinson, Browns — At this rate, DTR has the makings of a preseason legend. Across three games, the rookie has passed for 348 yards and two touchdowns while running the ball very effectively. He even threw blocks for runners! It's enough to make you wonder how he fell to the fifth round. He may have passed veteran Kellen Mond in the Browns' backup QB battle.

Aidan O'Connell, Raiders — For a second straight week, the rookie out of Purdue was the most efficient quarterback on the field. In a 34-17 victory over the Los Angeles Rams, O'Connell completed 11-of-18 passes for 163 yards, with two touchdowns and no interceptions for a 127.8 passer rating. With his performance, O'Connell has turned up the heat for the backup quarterback job with veteran Brian Hoyer behind Jimmy Garoppolo.

Shane Buechele, Chiefs – In his third year with the Chiefs, the 25-year-old Texas native has looked comfortable in Andy Reid's offense. Buechele finished 10-of-10 for 105 yards in the Chiefs' second preseason game and also scrambled 15 yards for a score. Buechele provides good mobility outside the pocket, and his play has given Reid something to think about as he evaluates the backup quarterback job behind Mahomes.

Tanner McKee, Eagles — It's remarkable that, even in the preseason, a third-string quarterback could become a hot topic in Philadelphia, the home of Jalen Hurts. But that's what happened this weekend after McKee went 10 of 18 for 147 yards and a TD in an 18-18 tie with the Browns. The sixth-rounder out of Stanford continues to look competent. But he's gotten a boost from some awful play from veteran Marcus Mariota, Hurts' primary backup. The pecking order isn't about to change anytime soon, but fans and media in Philly are at least talking about it now.

Skylar Thompson, Dolphins — He had a very rough preseason outing in Week 1, but he really stepped up and helped his case for a roster spot in Week 2. He finished 15 of 22 for 157 yards and three touchdowns. Thompson saw an increased workload after quarterback Mike White, the presumed backup, suffered a concussion. While White recovers, Thompson can get more work with the second-team offense.

C.J. Stroud, Texans — After a rough preseason debut, the No. 2 overall pick looked comfortable and confident Saturday against Miami, throwing with decisiveness, accuracy and confidence. He played better than his stat line would suggest (7-of-12 for 60 yards, 71.5 passer rating). All indications continue to point to him being the Texans' QB1 for their season opener.

Expectations for rookie QB C.J. Stroud in the NFL

RB

Deuce Vaughn, Cowboys — Let's just set up permanent residency for the Cowboys' short-stack running back on this list. Vaughn's overall numbers weren't all that impressive in Seattle, but his first touch saw him spin out of an arm tackle and scamper to the end zone from 14 yards out. The only question left for the sixth-rounder is how big of a role he can carve out for himself on Sundays.

[Helman: Deuce Vaughn still has a lot to prove, but preseason opener was a great start]

Jaylen Warren, Steelers — Much like Vaughn, Warren only needed one touch to get the Steelers' fan base buzzing. His only carry against Buffalo went 62 yards to the house, and now there's the making of a running back controversy in Pittsburgh. That's obviously silly. There are plenty of carries to go around between Najee Harris and his backups. But it's a testament to Warren's ability that people are seeking to get him more involved.

Chris Rodriguez, Commanders – His five carries for 39 yards in the preseason opener don't jump off the stat sheet, but they do equate to an impressive 7.8 yards per carry. More importantly, the sixth-round pick out of Kentucky has become a training-camp favorite of Commanders offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy. In a deep backfield, performances like this could earn him a role.

Tyjae Spears, Titans — Spears has starred in two preseason games, with 13 carries for 89 yards. He hurdled a defender and hit a max speed of 20.1 mph on his 33-yard touchdown run Saturday at Minnesota. The former Tulane standout has continued to prove he can be a weapon complementing Derrick Henry out of the backfield for Tennessee.

Salvon Ahmed, Dolphins — Last week, I projected him to miss the 53-man roster cut, because the Dolphins could probably stash him on the practice squad. Now I'm not so sure. He finished the game with 12 carries for 99 yards, including a 65-yard carry. He added four catches for 32 yards and a touchdown. It was a good outing for the bubble player.

WR

Austin Watkins Jr., Browns — Stories like this are why the preseason can be magical. Watkins went undrafted in 2021 and spent the last two years in the USFL, but he's making the most of his opportunity in Cleveland. He built on a strong outing last week by blowing up in the Browns' tie against the Eagles, nabbing seven catches for 139 yards in a touchdown. He's got 245 yards and two touchdowns in games, and it's getting hard to imagine that he won't make the Browns' final 53.

George Pickens, Steelers — We already know George Pickens is a good wide receiver, but he has the look of a player about to make The Leap. Pickens did nothing to dissuade that notion in Pittsburgh's first preseason game against Tampa Bay, as his only catch of the night went to the house from 33 yards out.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seahawks — The first wide receiver taken in this year's draft, the Ohio State product showed why the Seahawks made him the No. 20 overall pick in a 22-14 win over the Dallas Cowboys. Smith-Njigba led his team with three catches for 58 yards, including a 48-yard run and catch on a crossing route he almost took in for a score. Smith-Njigba has been everything Seattle expected so far in training camp and in games, showing great hands, polished route running and explosive playmaking ability after the catch.

A.T. Perry, Saints — A sixth-round rookie out of Wake Forest, Perry had a great Saints debut Sunday, catching six passes (on six targets) for 70 yards and a touchdown from Jameis Winston. New Orleans has Chris Olave and Michael Thomas, but the 6-foot-3 Perry (who caught 26 touchdowns in his last two years at Wake) could be a solid depth piece.

Tank Dell, Texans — Building off an impressive training camp, Dell was by far the best receiver in the Texans-Patriots showdown in Foxborough, with a game-high five receptions for 65 yards and a touchdown. Houston faces uncertainty in its receiving room without a true No. 1 option, and Dell showed that he can be a dependable target for C.J. Stroud.

Erik Ezukanma, Dolphins — Last year, the hype was non-stop. But after he lit up training camp, Ezukanma didn't have any production in the regular season. Maybe that's why the buzz is dissipating around this young receiver. But I'm here to keep it alive. It was an underwhelming performance from Miami's offense, but Ezukanma did well with his opportunities. He had three catches on three targets for 15 yards and two carries for 52 yards, including a 39-yarder. He then added three catches for 24 yards in the second preseason outing.

Jordan Addison, Vikings — Addison had just one catch for 22 yards in his first preseason game, but he should have had another. It was a toe-tapping grab before he fell out of bounds that showed everything you need in your first-round receiver: reliable hands, body control and awareness, overall tenacity. The catch was ruled incomplete but if it were the regular season, head coach Kevin O'Connell would have challenged the play and he would have won.

Jalin Hyatt, Giants — The third-round pick hasn't even really unveiled his stellar speed yet and he already has Giants fans dreaming of big plays. He gave them one in the second game, when he caught a 33-yard touchdown pass. It was more about quickness than speed. He made a fast move to get open, freezing the safety, and then had to wait for the pass to catch up. But it was enough to get everyone excited. Never mind that his other three catches went for two yards. This is about hype!

Demario Douglas, Patriots — In the preseason opener, he played just two snaps, which was Bill Belichick's way of telling the sixth-round pick that he'd made the roster. New England managed to stay coy on how important Douglas has been in the early weeks of camp. But then in the second preseason game, he converted two snaps into two catches. Douglas is special. It doesn't always pay to be an undersized slot receiver. But in New England? Well, it sure as heck does.

Ronnie Bell, 49ers — A favorite target of Trey Lance and Sam Darnold, Bell finished with a game-high seven catches for 114 receiving yards on nine targets, including a 43-yard reception that set up the winning field goal by rookie Jake Moody. With injuries to Danny Gray and Ray-Ray McCloud III, Bell could earn a spot on the 53-man roster for the 49ers.

TE

Cole Turner, Commanders — He continued to take advantage of the absence of 32-year-old Logan Thomas (calf) with another strong performance in the second preseason game. After catching four passes for 31 yards in the opener, he added two more for 24 yards on Monday night. Both catches came on the Commanders' opening scoring drive. Washington is desperate for production out of that position. Turner threw a couple of big blocks during his time in the game, too.

Cole Fotheringham, Raiders — Tight ends tend to flourish under Raiders coach Josh McDaniels. The question is whether Fotheringham will be a Raider in 2023. Las Vegas has veteran Austin Hooper and rookie Michael Mayer atop a deep group of tight ends. But Fotheringham led the Raiders in receiving yards (71) after a five-catch performance against the 49ers. That should keep the Raiders (and likely the other 31 teams) interested in rostering the undrafted free agent. He went quiet in Week 2 of the preseason, but maybe because the team wanted to see what he could do as a run blocker, with Fotheringham spending 11 of his 15 snaps blocking for running backs. But he recorded no catches.

Luke Musgrave, Packers — Green Bay quarterbacks went to their two rookie tight ends six times throughout the game. Granted, Musgrave and Tucker Kraft only caught a pass each but they are going to be a huge part of the Packers scheme. Musgrave has drawn glowing reviews from players and coaches alike this camp and the Packers utilized 12 personnel at the second-highest rate in the league last season. Musgrave is a rookie but he's carrying high expectations.

Is there too much pressure on Packers QB Jordan Love?

Dalton Kincaid, Bills — He was scarcely used in the team's preseason opener, an indicator the Bills saw him as a starter. He came out with a strong performance with the team's starters in the second game. Kincaid had three catches for 45 yards. He still has a ways to go as a run blocker, with a rough grade of 52 on the preseason, per PFF. But that part of his game will take time to develop. Buffalo drafted him in the first round to contribute as a pass-catcher.

OL

John Michael Schmitz, Giants — There is no doubt now: Schmitz is the Giants' starting center. The second-round pick followed up his strong preseason opener with another good performance in the second game–particularly when the starters were in the game. Again, overall, it wasn't a great game for the line, especially when the reserves were in. But Schmitz stood out as someone who looks ready to jump right in.

Mekhi Becton, Jets — It felt like an accomplishment for Mekhi Becton to play 28 snaps in the team's preseason opener against the Panthers. He had a few breakdowns in pass protection, with a sack and hurry allowed. But because of his strong run-blocking abilities, he finished with the second-highest PFF grade among Jets offensive linemen (70.8). In the second preseason game, he was even better, with a PPF grade of 85 after he allowed zero pressures on 28 snaps.

Riley Reiff, Patriots — It's good for New England that they have a tackle on this list. It was beginning to look dire on the offensive line, with tackle Trent Brown on the left side and no one stepping up to play on the right. But maybe Reiff provided the answer in the second preseason game. He played 31 snaps and allowed zero pressures in the passing game.

Darnell Wright, Bears — Head coach Matt Eberflus said a big part of playing the offensive starters in Chicago's first game was for Wright's benefit. But Wright already looked the part from the first snap. On Chicago's second long touchdown of the game, coming on a 56-yard catch-and-run from running back Khalil Herbert, Wright held down the right side on his own while acting right guard Ja'Tyre Carter and center Cody Whitehair ran with Herbert up the field, escorting him to the end zone after a breakdown in protection on the left. Whatever it was, it worked, and Wright had a lot to do with it.

DL

Nick Herbig, Steelers — It's officially fair to wonder if the Steelers found themselves a steal in the fourth round. Herbig logged another sack in his second preseason outing, this time stripping the quarterback. In two brief appearances, he's at four pressures, 2.5 sacks and the forced fumble.

Bryce Huff, Jets — He has been impressive during the preseason, with a sizable workload (63 snaps in two games). He has converted that playing time into seven pressures, three sacks and a QB hit. He's also contributing in the run game, with a handful of tackles.

Keion White, Patriots — It felt unfair for New England to keep him on the field for as long as it did in the preseason opener. White tore up the Texans offensive line while lined up at outside linebacker, defensive end and defensive tackle. He finished with three pressures (including a QB hit) and three tackles. He also got into the backfield on a fumble and knocked the running back away from the football to ensure his teammates could recover the turnover. It was a dominant performance from the 46th overall pick in the 2023 draft. The only problem? He suffered an injury in joint practices. That bears monitoring.

Boogie Basham, Bills — Here's a guy to keep an eye on. Basham has underwhelmed since the team drafted him in the second round of the 2021 draft. He has just 4.5 sacks over the last two seasons. But Buffalo will need help off the edge with Von Miller recovering from ACL surgery. In presason Week 1, Basham did well to keep himself relevant, with two pressures and two tackles against the Colts. He then added three big stops on run defense in the second preseason game.

Trevis Gipson, Bears — When the unofficial depth chart came out earlier this week, Gipson found himself at the bottom of it. He then went on to be the player of the game on Saturday, registering a sack, five combined tackles and three quarterback hits in an eight-sack effort by Chicago.

Terrell Lewis, Bears — The former Alabama edge rusher could end up being a huge steal for the Bears. Perhaps it's the scheme. Perhaps it's that the Los Angeles Rams were that bad last season. But whatever it is, Lewis was an under-the-radar signing for Chicago and has been impressing in camp so far. He racked up three sacks in two preseason games.

LB

Nakobe Dean, Eagles — If there's one weakness on the Eagles defense, it sure looks like it'll be at linebacker. But don't blame that on Dean, who continues to flash his speed, power and play-making ability. A reserve who took only 34 snaps on defense in the regular season last year, the 2022 third-round pick out of (where else?) Georgia looks primed for a much bigger role this season.

Cam Gill, Bucs: Battling for a backup outside linebacker job, Gill came through with 1.5 sacks in Tampa Bay's loss to the Steelers. He missed all of 2022 with a Lisfranc foot injury, but showed he was back as the most productive part of Tampa Bay's pass rush in his preseason debut.

Channing Tindall, Dolphins — It's rare to see anyone rack up double-digit tackles in a preseason game but that's exactly what Tindall did in the preseason opener: 10 tackles and a sack. In the second preseason game, he played less but still managed to impress, with two tackles and a pass breakup. Last year, Tindall contributed only on special teams after Miami drafted him in the third round. He had nine total snaps on defense. Tindall's prolific work should reflect well on his chances of earning a more sizable defensive role in 2023.

Tua believes Dolphins are legit contenders: 'it can get very scary, pretty dangerous'

Dorian Williams, Bills — He might just be on the path to winning Buffalo's top linebacker spot alongside Matt Milano. Buffalo needs a starter to step up in Tremaine Edmunds' absence. And that's exactly what Williams has done in preseason. He has been an absolute beast, with pressures in the passing game and particularly stout work at the goal line.

DB

Tycen Anderson, Bengals — There's been a lot of discussion about the safeties in Cincinnati, but it never felt like Anderson was part of that conversation — until now. Anderson missed his entire rookie season with a hamstring injury, but he splashed onto the radar with two interceptions against Green Bay. That's how you make the roster at a position of need.

Dee Alford, Falcons — The former CFL standout had 25 tackles for Atlanta last year, but he could make a splash on punt returns – with three minutes left and a three-point lead on the Dolphins, he took a punt 79 yards for a touchdown to help put the game away.

Jason Pinnock, Giants — Pinnock played a little more in the second game but was much quieter. That's not surprising considering the third-year safety was going to find it hard to duplicate the interception, tackle for loss and pass breakup he had in five snaps in the opener. He was sold, though, making it clearer than ever that he'll be starting at safety next to Xavier McKinney.

Sam Franklin, Panthers — Not much went right for Carolina in a 27-0 loss to the Jets, but Franklin picked off a Tim Boyle pass and returned the interception 24 yards. He's a special-teams standout but has a chance to show his defensive chops in the preseason.

Eli Ricks, Eagles — One week after he stole the show with a Pick 6, the undrafted corner out of Alabama came back to Earth when he was beaten for a touchdown. He did rebound nicely and even broke up a pass, but he looked much more like a rookie. His chances of making the roster were helped, though, when corner Zech McPhearson tore his Achilles. There's an open spot now that Ricks can claim in the final preseason game.

Dane Jackson, Bills — In the first preseason game, he logged an interception, with Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson throwing the ball almost directly to Jackson. So on just five snaps, Jackson logged a turnover and a tackle. Not a bad day's work. On the preseason as a whole, he hasn't gotten much playing time because the Bills are looking at Kaiir Elam and Christian Benford as potential replacements for Jackson in the starting lineup. It does not seem like they made up much ground — Jackson seems to have planted himself firmly in the driver's seat for Buffalo's CB2 spot.

Darius Rush, Colts — The fifth-round rookie cornerback had a 52-yard pick-six in Indianapolis' preseason opener. That's the kind of playmaking that will stick out in the Colts' young and inexperienced cornerback room. The team traded Stephon Gilmore and released Isaiah Rodgers Sr this offseason.

Carrington Valentine, Packers — Valentine led Green Bay in tackles during the first preseason game with four, and while you never want a cornerback to have that honor, he also had three pass breakups and nabbed himself an interception. It wasn't the only interception of the day, either. Safety Dallin Leavitt had one, too. It seems there might be something to "Strap City" in Green Bay, after all.

Gregory Junior, Jaguars — The second-year cornerback had an interception to set up a Jaguars' touchdown in the first half of Saturday's game against the Lions. In the preseason opener at Dallas, he also had a forced fumble on defense and a fumble recovery on special teams. After making just one appearance as a rookie, Junior is positioned to play a key special-teams role and backup spot in Year 2.

Quan Martin, Commanders — After a rough preseason opener, he announced his presence with a highlight-reel interception in the second game. He fell behind Ravens WR James Proche when he got picked by one of his teammates. But he caught up and apparently distracted Proche, who let a ball drop through his hands in the end zone. From there, Martin showed incredible concentration. He caught the ball, stopped on a dime before his momentum carried him out of bounds, turned around and returned the interception 59 yards. It was the play-making the Commanders had in mind when they drafted him in the second round.

Special Teams

Jake Camarda, Bucs: Drafted last year, Camarda opened with two strong punts Friday night against the Steelers, first a 54-yarder to the Pittsburgh 17. On the next drive, he drilled a 61-yard punt that was fielded at the 8, and thanks to a penalty, the Steelers started at the 4 for a net 65-yard punt. He ended up with three punts inside the 20, compared to only one touchback.

In the team's second game, he averaged 46.3 yards on four punts, with one inside the 20.

The all-hype team was compiled by:

AFC South reporter Ben Arthur (@benyarthur)
NFC South reporter Greg Auman (@gregauman)
Dallas Cowboys reporter David Helman (@davidhelman_)
AFC East reporter Henry McKenna (@McKennAnalysis)
NFC West reporter Eric D. Williams (@eric_d_williams)
NFC East reporter Ralph Vacchiano (@RalphVacchiano)
NFC North reporter Carmen Vitali (@CarmieV)