We are a couple of months away from the 2026 NFL season beginning. With so much time until the games officially begin, we are tasked with projecting and guessing what the new season can bring. That includes which younger players could take that next step and assume star status. On the AFC side, there are some interesting players to choose from.

On a recent episode on the Best Pod Available YouTube channel, Joe DeLeone and I projected some of those breakout players to watch. Here are the four talented options I settled on, one coming from each division. The offensive line became the group to focus on most for me.

OT Josh Simmons (Kansas City Chiefs)

Simmons’ rookie season was a bit odd from the outside looking in. When he was on the field, he showcased a lot of the talent that made him such a favorite among the NFL media. He started the eight games he played in for the Chiefs. Just based on that small sample size, you have to believe that the Chiefs are pretty happy with what the future could hold. 

With the Simmons’ absence down the last stretch of the season, it left many wondering what was going on. It appears that the former Ohio State and San Diego State standout is back fully healthy and is ready to protect Patrick Mahomes’ blindside. While his weight is down right now around 285 pounds, he’s expected to be back in the 300s before the season begins. Simmons looks locked in and ready to have a huge season. 

OT Jalen Travis (Indianapolis Colts)

With Bernhard Raimann and Braden Smith holding down the offensive tackle spots for the Colts, rookie Jalen Travis wasn’t expected to play much last season. Due to injury, the former Iowa State standout was tasked with starting in three games. The 6-8, 339-pound behemoth performed well in that limited time, and now heads into 2026 as the starter at right tackle. 

Travis has created some excitement in that building, which made them not hesitate to let Smith walk via free agency. For such a big offensive tackle, Travis is extremely comfortable in pass protection. Possessing tremendous balance and comfort playing in reverse, Travis has also shown massive improvement in the run game over the last couple of years. There’s a world where Travis becomes a quality starter in 2026, and I wouldn’t be surprised if an ascension toward being one of the best right tackles in the country isn’t far behind. 

OT Dylan Cook (Pittsburgh Steelers)

Cook’s story has been an awesome one to watch. Originally undrafted coming out of Montana in the 2022 NFL Draft, Cook was initially signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He spent some time on the team’s practice squad over the next year, eventually being signed by the Steelers in May of 2023. Since then, Cook has been on and off the team’s practice squad and injured reserve. 

After an injury to starting left tackle Broderick Jones, Andrus Peat was asked to fill in by the Steelers. Peat was eventually injured and replaced by Cook. He would proceed to start the team’s final four games of the season, and Cook performed very well. So much so that Cook is now the projected starting right tackle for the Steelers heading into the 2026 season. 

As of today, it’s being projected that Troy Fautanu will shift over to left tackle, making space for Cook on the right side. With his contract expiring after the 2026 season, the former Montana standout has the chance to play himself into a big contract. I believe he does just that, showcasing a ton of progress last season, especially in pass protection. 

CB Maxwell Hairston (Buffalo Bills)

Buffalo Bills cornerback Christian Benford has become one of the more underrated defensive backs in the NFL. The organization, however, has been searching for its bookend at cornerback in recent years. That led them to select former Kentucky cornerback Maxwell Hairston in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, valuing his combination of ball skills and long speed. 

Hairston missed a total of eight games as a rookie due to a combination of ankle, head, and knee injuries. Now that Hairston is healthy, he’s expected to emerge as the full-time starter opposite Benford. While Hairston started just three games last season, he did flash when healthy, finishing the year with 18 total tackles, two interceptions, and five pass breakups.