These are the NFL’s “Future Hits,” young players I believe will have a long-term impact either on their current teams, or in the league at large.Last year’s inaugural list included 32 players, one per team. This year, I was challenged to pare that down to 10. I couldn’t do it! Relying on the training camp practices I watched, insight gathered from our elite staff of beat writers and ongoing conversations with scouts and team executives from around the league — some of whose opinions and evaluations are reflected anonymously here — I eventually pared down my list of candidates to 15 Future Hits.These players are: rookies who were drafted in the second round or later. They have a little something special to them, a little extra “stuff” (my editors don’t let me swear here). They have an edge that stands out, a particular skill or certain traits that separate them from others. They might be in a very specific role this season and beyond, even complementing more established players — but when they do play, they will excel.They are not: starting quarterbacks or first-round draft picks (yes, we listened to your feedback from last year). Some of these players you may already be excited about if you are into following the fantasy football buzz of the summer months; some of these guys won’t help your fantasy football team at all (good!). These are the young players who, in my view, will be a blast to keep an eye on, root for and talk about with your friends in the seasons ahead.3 women of interest in our 'NFL 50 under 40' listJourdan RodrigueDenzel Boston, WR, Cleveland BrownsBoston and fellow rookie receiver KC Concepcion had such an impressive training camp that our Browns beat reporter, Zac Jackson, commented early in camp that they were “miles … galaxies … better than any of the other wide receivers.” Boston is a perimeter receiver who could eventually become a favorite target should the Browns ever facilitate competent play at quarterback.AFC scout: “The definition of an NFL X receiver. A perfect complement with KC Concepcion.”NFC executive: “Huge, talented, and makes it look easy when clean. Preseason best play certainly flashed of a better player than (only) a rebounder.”Brandon Cisse, CB, Green Bay PackersAs early as the first padded practice of Packers training camp, Cisse was thrown into the mix at outside cornerback with the starters. New defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon will have to lean on the cornerbacks and safeties to help manufacture pressure in the initial weeks of the season, until star edge rusher Micah Parsons returns from the knee injury that ended his 2025 season. Cisse may do well with more to do; he is an attacking cornerback who loves man coverage and can get in the mix in run support, too.AFC scout: “Sticky man cornerback and exactly what their secondary needed.”NFC executive: “LEGIT movement for a near-6-foot corner, even in a few preseason reps. Seems like he shored up a corner spot for them.”Bud Clark, DB, Seattle SeahawksClark broke his ankle in a preseason game this summer, but before that was on track to seriously contribute to Seattle’s talented defense this season. He will still do so in future seasons; the safety/third defensive back position is very important in Mike Macdonald’s scheme and it will be fun to see Macdonald collaborate with such a high-upside player.AFC executive: “Utility safety with nickel flexibility. Can play a variety of roles on defense. Has linear speed and excellent ball production. Played his best football last season. Older player, but makes a lot of plays.”Jonah Coleman, RB, Denver BroncosWhile the buzz out of Broncos camp is not quite that Coleman will start right away — he’s in a full position room with JK Dobbins and RJ Harvey — evaluators saw head coach Sean Payton’s fingerprints all over Denver’s fourth-round selection of Coleman. Dobbins’ injury history, plus Coleman’s natural ability to contribute in the passing game as well as the running game, are elements to monitor.AFC scout: “A ‘Sean Payton’ running back. Bowling ball, balanced, has vision, compact, efficient, tough. Shades of Mark Ingram?”NFC executive: “High floor runner, and he certainly showed that immediately in the preseason. He will be one whose usage and role, over the season, will be fun to track.”Ayden Garnes, CB, Tampa Bay BuccaneersGarnes is in a clearly defined backup role behind the Bucs’ talented starting cornerbacks — but to even get here as an undrafted free agent shows how much of an impact he made throughout training camp. It’s a familiar story for Garnes, who went from no-star recruit at Duquesne to eventual productive starter at Arizona — and I like taking a long-term view of a player in this exercise.AFC scout: “Great story, and he just continues to make plays.”NFC executive: “Had a good preseason; seems to have movement skills to ascend pretty quickly.”New Orleans Saints wide receiver Bryce Lance could see action early in the season with fellow rookie Jordyn Tyson sidelined by a hamstring injury. (Kirby Lee / Imagn Images)Bryce Lance, WR, New Orleans SaintsLance’s role will probably increase because of a hamstring injury to first-round pick Jordyn Tyson. In a joint practice with the Rams, the fourth-round pick out of North Dakota State (and younger brother of Chargers quarterback Trey Lance) showed a real ability to get open for Tyler Shough, including in the tighter red zone area. Shough hit Lance for two touchdowns that day.NFC executive: “Extremely green but growth (so far) is staggering. Highly intelligent, highly coachable. (His college) tape was hard to judge how quickly he could acclimate (to NFL) because he dominated so easily. Bet on (his) traits and makeup to say he would hit whatever ceiling he had.”NFC executive: “Size, speed and ball skills (especially tracking ability) are hard to bet against. Will be interesting to see if he can carve out a role before others return.”Eric O’Neill, OLB/edge, Detroit LionsWhile O’Neill will probably make most of his on-field contributions on special teams this season as an undrafted free agent out of Rutgers and James Madison, that’s clearly a route to head coach Dan Campbell’s heart.“He had to catch our eye every day and he did that every day,” said Campbell, who listed O’Neill first among players he felt proud of out of training camp when speaking to local reporters this week. “There’s not a coach on any given day that’s not saying something good about O’Neill. … And you can’t ignore it. … (Rookie) free agent, man, comes in and earned his right. It’s awesome. It’s what we’re about. And he’s a special teams player too, by the way. Guy can play special teams, man. … And then we’re not even talking about the defense. There are things on defense. He’s a smart player, especially for a rookie, man. He’s got high football intellect and plays hard and plays the run, plays the pass, can get an edge.”Eli Raridon, TE, New England PatriotsOn paper, the Patriots look like they want to live in 11 personnel this season, or possibly 21 personnel. But if Raridon emerges as expected, he and veteran Hunter Henry can make this offense a lot more multiple. Raridon is extremely athletic and has high-potential ball skills despite only catching 48 passes in four seasons at Notre Dame.AFC scout: “Excellent all-around skill set; will become a dependable target for (quarterback Drake) Maye.”Jacob Rodriguez, ILB, Miami DolphinsRodriguez appears set to anchor one-half of the Dolphins’ starting linebacker spots this fall as the team continues its rebuild and gets young players on the field for valuable snaps. The second-round pick out of Texas Tech “has a very average size profile, but his athletic versatility has made him a more instinctive linebacker and helps him play decisively,” The Athletic draft analyst Dane Brugler wrote.AFC executive: “Former quarterback, self-made into a linebacker. Highly productive, instinctive, excellent character makeup. Turnover machine.”AFC scout: “Ball magnet. Don’t see it stopping in the NFL.”NFC executive: “Got fooled/moved a couple times in the preseason (and did not play a ton) but you can quickly see how much football makes sense to him and his feel for getting to the edges of blocks. Linebacker can be the hardest transition; he will be fun to monitor.”Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Landon Robinson was a seventh-round pick out of Navy. (Sam Greene / USA Today Network via Imagn Images)Landon Robinson, DL, Cincinnati BengalsRobinson, a seventh-round pick out of Navy, finished the preseason with eight tackles and 2.5 sacks. College football fans are probably accustomed to seeing him on Bruce Feldman’s “Freaks List” (he made it three times), and Brugler noted that while Robinson is a smaller player for the position, “his quickness and energy lead directly to production.”AFC scout: “Excellent disruptor who could provide value to a good defensive line room.”NFC executive: “Was certainly on the radar. How does the (balance) end up working between rush flashes and run defense trust? Based on the preseason, (his) quicks and hands can impact as a rusher.”Sam Roush, TE, Chicago BearsThe No. 3 tight end position is important in head coach Ben Johnson’s offensive scheme, especially if Johnson wants to play as much 12 personnel as he did in 2025 — and even more 13 personnel. Roush, a blocking tight end with big potential in the passing game, may eventually become the No. 2.AFC scout: “Versatile chess piece whose production won’t always show in the stat sheet.”AFC executive: “Excellent size. Physical run blocker that can function at the POA (point of attack). Strong upper (body) to wrench and steer. Unique in that he’s a true Y with size and good testing numbers.”NFC executive: “Certainly fits the (tight ends) trend in the league. Hands and run after (the catch) potential flashed in the preseason.”De’Zhaun Stribling, WR, San Francisco 49ersWith Ricky Pearsall out for the season after surgery on his right knee, Stribling will be asked to contribute immediately in head coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense, in complement to veterans Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel. Stribling’s second-round selection by the 49ers was one of the biggest discussion topics among draft media and personalities this offseason, many of whom considered the pick a reach. However, evaluators see the 6-foot-2, 207-pound receiver as a total match for Shanahan and what the organization asks of its receivers.AFC executive: “Late riser in the process. Went earlier than expected but can see why. He has size, speed, play strength, good after the catch, very tough and aggressive play style.”NFC executive: “He has the size and speed that everyone talks about, but his strength through reroute contact and hand strength in contested catch situations stands out. A lot of rookies need to develop that; he has it.”AFC scout: “Perfect Kyle Shanahan receiver.”NFC executive: “The contested catch and radius certainly translated in the preseason. Would say his speed, grounded after-the-catch and blocking impact did not even necessarily get highlighted yet.”Jacob Thomas, S, Minnesota VikingsThomas was enjoying a breakout camp as an undrafted free agent out of James Madison, and looked poised to take on a real role in Brian Flores’ defense (a legitimate nod of respect from the veteran defensive coordinator, because of how complex and high-level that system is). Thomas suffered an ankle injury late in the preseason, but should still become a long-term impact player for this group.The Athletic’s Alec Lewis documented Thomas’ journey and ascension through training camp, writing that “Thomas’ signing as an undrafted free agent came with little fanfare. But even at the time, one NFC executive, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to speak openly about another team’s roster, pinpointed Thomas as a hidden gem. Months later, Thomas’ training camp performance is more than just a fun story. It’s an essential development for a Vikings roster lacking rangy safety options with the aptitude to operate the controls of (Flores’) scheme.”Keagen Trost, OT, Los Angeles RamsTrost injured his hamstring in the preseason but should be back by October. While he’ll back up starter Warren McClendon for now, McClendon is entering a contract year. Coaches and scouts were really impressed by Trost throughout training camp, with optimism that he could eventually be a longer-term starter in the vein of Rob Havenstein, the right tackle who played 11 seasons for the franchise before retiring last spring.AFC scout: “Big, strong and powerful. Another mid-round offensive lineman that L.A. will maximize.”NFC executive: “Proved (his) power is real and is calm, balanced and poised.”Mike Washington Jr, RB, Las Vegas RaidersWashington showed some good flashes in preseason games, but where I was most impressed was watching the fourth-round pick grind out a few positive runs against the fearsome Houston Texans defense in joint practices in August. Starter Ashton Jeanty dealt with an ankle injury in training camp but could be back by Week 1; still, it will be hard to keep Washington off the field, and maybe mixing him in will help maximize Jeanty’s snaps in the passing game.AFC executive: “Patient runner with good feet for a big back. Can adjust and find the run lane. Great fit in a zone scheme when he can build linear speed on his tracks. Will wear the defense down and then use his 4.33 speed to hit a home run when he gets a crease.”NFC executive: “Had a few of the bigger preseason highlights. Will be a great test case for the ‘traits versus trust’ conundrum that a lot of coaches face for game day.”