10 NFL Players Who Are Out Of Excuses In 2026
This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.
The 2026 NFL regular season will be here sooner than we realize, and when it returns, we get to see our favorite players dominate on the field.
Numerous rookies will slowly begin to find their footing in the league, while veteran superstars will continue to flourish, rack up incredible stats during the season, and make their next respective Pro Bowl.
However, there are quite a few guys in the league who need to have a strong 2026 season, or risk getting released or traded from their respective teams in the 2027 offseason, and looking for a new team to join at that point.
Competition is always fierce in the NFL, but these guys must prove themselves worthy to earn their way back to relevance or to continue building on the success they saw in 2025 into the 2026 regular season.
Here at TPS, we’re going to look at 10 guys who are entering a make-or-break season and what they have to do to right the ship or continue building upon their success from the previous season.
Which NFL players need to have a very good 2026 season?
J. J. McCarthy
McCarthy is entering a make-or-break season after a disastrous 2025 season, where he threw 11 touchdowns against 12 interceptions, and suffered multiple injuries, like a high ankle sprain in week two against the Atlanta Falcons, and missed the team’s week 13 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks with a concussion.
The Vikings recently signed Kyler Murray to a one-year veteran minimum deal during the offseason, and still currently have Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer on the roster.
Adding Murray to the roster increases the competition for McCarthy, while also adding veteran leadership who can help mentor McCarthy during the regular season.
The expectations remain high for McCarthy to pull it together, as he is a top-10 pick from the 2024 NFL Draft, which already has guys like Drake Maye, Joe Alt, and Malik Nabers becoming superstars.
McCarthy must rebound from his rough 2025 season and compete against the likes of Murray, Brosmer, and Wentz for a chance to earn the starting job in week one of the regular season.
McCarthy has to focus on his development rather than rehabilitation, and improve on his fundamental mechanics and footwork for the upcoming season.
If McCarthy can rebound in 2026, the Vikings should be satisfied; if not, then they’ll have to rely on Murray, Wentz, or Brosmer to take command of the offense.
Jalen Nailor
Nailor is entering a make-or-break 2026 NFL season, as he transitions from being a depth player on the Minnesota Vikings to potentially becoming a consistent playmaker with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Nailor played in eight games in 2025, catching 29 receptions for 444 yards and scoring four touchdowns, while playing alongside Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison.
He is on a Raiders team that has Tre Tucker and tight end Brock Bowers, and has the potential to break out in his own way, as opposed to playing in Jefferson’s and Addison’s shadows.
Nailor has played in all 17 games with the Vikings in 2024 and 2025, but he has dealt with his fair share of injuries in the early parts of his career.
The Raiders are paying Nailor a three-year, $35 million deal with $23 million guaranteed. Nailor must prove he’s the real deal in “Sin City.”
Nailor is a speedster with great hands and could form great on-field chemistry with Kirk Cousins or Fernando Mendoza, depending on who earns the starting job for the “Silver and Black” to begin the 2026 regular season.
Xavier Legette
Legette has been inconsistent in his first two seasons with the Carolina Panthers due to numerous drops, poor route running, and increased competition from Jalen Coker, Tetaiora McMillian, and the drafting of rookie receiver Chris Brazzell II.
Legette has yet to have a season where he tops 500 yards, as he has dealt with a lingering wrist injury in 2024 and hamstring issues in 2025.
Because of Legette’s performance decline, the Panthers drafted Brazzell II, who has great vertical speed, a constant catching ability, and downfield separation, which Legette lacks in his on-field performance.
Legette went from a 58.7 percent catch rate in 2024 to a 54.6 percent catch rate in 2025, which is not great for someone who was drafted in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
2026 is likely Legette’s last chance to prove he’s worth keeping on the Panthers’ roster, as the team looks to build upon the success they had in their 2025 season.
If Legette doesn’t improve his numbers, he could be traded out of Carolina in the 2027 offseason to another team looking for a reclamation project or depth for a championship-contending roster.
Marlon Humphrey
The four-time NFL Pro Bowl cornerback enters a make-or-break 2026 due to salary cap hits, declining performance, and nagging injuries.
Humphrey is entering the final year of his contract, carrying a cap hit of $26 million, and has taken a step back in his performance, as opposing quarterbacks have targeted him a lot more in 2025, and he missed tackles on occasion that turned into drive-extending plays for opposing receivers.
He will be 30 by the time week one of the regular season kicks off, and a lot of cornerbacks typically slow down at that age.
Humphrey also had a 50.1 grade from Pro Football Focus, ranking him at 105 out of 114 cornerbacks, and allowed 67 receptions during the 2025 season.
Humphrey’s time in Baltimore may likely be finished after the conclusion of the 2026 season, unless he finds a way to turn things around.
The Ravens did draft Chandler Rivers out of Duke University in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft as a potential replacement or immediate success to Humphrey.
We’ll have to see what Humphrey accomplishes in the 2026 season, as he’s been one of the leaders on the Ravens’ defense for years. Especially with a new coaching regime leading the team in 2026, with head coach Jesse Minter and defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver taking over for John Harbaugh and Zach Orr, respectively.
Bryce Young
The 2025 Panthers were a surprise, as Bryce Young led the team to the playoffs despite the team’s 8-9 record, which tied them with the Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC South.
Young must continue to build upon the success he found in the 2025 season and prove to the Panthers that he’s the team’s long-term answer at quarterback.
Young’s stats improved from his sophomore season, as he completed 304 passes for 3,011 yards, threw 23 touchdowns against 11 interceptions, rushed for 216 yards on 54 carries, and scored two rushing touchdowns.
However, Young still struggled with turnovers, throwing 11 interceptions, as mentioned earlier, and lost three fumbles in 2025.
Young must improve at maintaining control of the ball and throw fewer interceptions in 2026.
The Panthers’ roster surrounding Young has improved from his rookie season, giving him the “No Excuses” label for the 2026 regular season.
The roster added offensive guards Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis, who should protect Young, and drafted wide receiver Chris Brazzell II, who should help Young out on offense.
The Panthers picked up Young’s fifth-year option, keeping him on the roster through the 2027 season, and he must make the most of it during the upcoming regular season.
Quentin Johnston
Johnston continued to show improvement in his third season in the league, catching 51 receptions for 735 yards and scoring eight touchdowns for the Bolts.
However, Johnston still must work on dropping the ball less and compete with other pass-catchers on the roster like Ladd McConkey, tight end Oronde Gadsden II, and newly signed tight end David Njoku.
Johnston is still expected to be a high-value passing target for Justin Herbert to work with, as he was drafted 21st overall in the 2023 NFL Draft.
The Chargers picked up Johnston’s fifth-year option of his rookie contract, meaning he needs to break out and potentially earn his first 1,000-yard season.
If Johnston can’t do that in 2026, he’ll be a free agent and sign with another team needing a new wide receiver for the 2027 NFL season.
If Johnston does make it work with the Bolts, he’ll potentially be rewarded with a new contract and be a strong fixture on the Chargers’ offense for a long while alongside McConkey.
We can’t wait to see what Johnston does during the upcoming regular season, and we’re hoping his production continues to improve under head coach Jim Harbaugh and newly hired offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel’s watch.
Cole Kmet
Ever since the 2023 season, Kmet’s stats have taken a downturn, as he caught 47 receptions for 474 yards and scored four touchdowns in 2024, and caught 30 receptions for 347 yards and scored two touchdowns in 2025.
The Bears put Kmet on notice when they drafted Sam Roush in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Kmet’s salary will also balloon to $15.47 million in 2027, which is also the final year of his contract, as they could move on from Kmet if he doesn’t improve in the 2026 season, and focus on developing Roush moving forward.
On top of that, Colston Loveland outplayed Kmet in the lineup, catching 58 receptions for 713 yards and scoring six touchdowns in the 2025 season.
The Bears will also look to focus on watching Loveland improve if Kmet continues to regress in the 2026 season.
Kmet is still a dependable passing option on the Bears’ offense, but he must rebound and step it up in the upcoming regular season, or be traded or released by the Bears in 2027.
Tyree Wilson
After three average seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders, Wilson was traded from the “Silver and Black” to the New Orleans Saints in the 2026 NFL offseason.
Wilson’s development with the Raiders was slow, and he also dealt with injuries, such as a foot injury in 2023 that required surgery and a knee sprain in 2024.
Wilson also had 91 tackles, 12 sacks, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and a safety during his tenure with the Raiders, which is not great for a guy who was drafted in the early round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Getting traded to the Saints should provide Wilson with a fresh start for the upcoming 2026 season, as he’ll be coached by defensive coordinator Brandon Staley, who should be able to help Wilson transition from a high-pressure starter to a rotational edge rusher.
Wilson will play alongside veterans like Chase Young and Carl Granderson, as the team will likely utilize Wilson’s talents for situational pass rushing to improve his development.
Wilson must improve with the Saints in 2026 by staying healthy and increasing his number of sacks, or be labeled as a massive draft bust.
Kwity Paye
Staying on the Raiders, Kwity Paye signed a three-year, $48 million deal with the “Silver and Black” for the upcoming 2026 season, after an underwhelming 2025 season with the Indianapolis Colts.
Paye had 39 tackles, four sacks, and a pass deflection with the Colts during the 2025 season, which was a step back from his 2024 season when he had 41 tackles, eight sacks, and a pass deflection.
Even though Paye secured a decent contract with the Raiders, he still has to prove he can be a reliable pass-rusher rather than a solid run defender.
Paye will work alongside Pro Bowler Maxx Crosby and is expected to play a huge role in the Raiders’ defense.
Defensive coordinator Rob Leonard will coach Paye for the 2026 season as he and the Raiders look to improve.
Paye will also go from a 4-3 defense to a 3-4 defense, with the potential of having a strong 2026 NFL season and reinventing himself in the Raiders’ defense.
De’Von Achane
The Dolphins had a brutal offseason, watching Jaylen Waddle get traded to the Denver Broncos, and releasing Tua Tagovailoa, while De’Von Achane is still on the roster.
Even though the Dolphins are likely going to tank and rebuild in 2026, Achane is entering a make-or-break season in “South Beach” because he’s on the final year of his $5.4 million rookie contract.
Achane has improved his performance each year and rushed for over 1,000 yards in the 2025 season.
He must build upon his successful statistical season from 2025 into 2026, as he’ll be the main focal point of the offense, just to earn either a new contract from the Dolphins or sign with another team in the 2027 offseason.
Achane must also stay healthy during the 2026 season, as he’s dealt with a knee injury during his rookie season back in 2023.
The 2026 Dolphins won’t be successful, but Achane must prove to everyone that he can be durable, strong, and a fierce runner to build around during the upcoming season and beyond.
