6 NFL players with the most to prove in 2026

HOUSTON, TX - AUGUST 13: Quarterback C.J. Stroud of the Houston Texans on the field before the NFL preseason game between Houston Texans and Los Angeles Chargers on August 13, 2026, at Reliant Stadium in Houston, TX. (Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images The NFL is at a major pivot point for many teams around the league. We’re hitting make-or-break time for a lot of players from the 2022 and 2023 NFL Drafts, as well as some guys who might have more runway — but still haven’t lived up to expectations and need to prove something. In 2025, we went from a prevailing feeling that most teams were set at quarterback to a sense that many teams might be dipping their toes in the water once more. The pressure is on not just for teams to get over the hump, but for individual players to prove they’re worthy of faith beyond this season. No. 1: C.J. Stroud, QB — Houston Texans There’s no way to sugarcoat Stroud’s 2025 season. Not only was he mediocre during the regular season, but a disaster in the playoffs as the third-year QB finished two playoff games completing barely over 50% of his passes, throwing two touchdowns and five interceptions in an effort that dismantled a potential Cinderella run for the smothering Texans defense. We’re in a position where Stroud has regressed for two straight seasons. His breakout rookie campaign feels a mile away, and while there are fair excuses to be made about the lack of protection from the Texans’ line, it’s also fair to note that Stroud has not seen pressure well, adapted effectively, or found a way to get the ball to his receivers in spite of it all. There are no more excuses. Stroud needs to step up this season and prove he’s a franchise quarterback, not just a decent passer. That’s what’s at stake for 2026. No. 2: Marvin Harrison Jr, WR — Arizona Cardinals There’s no question that sometimes there are draft busts, but it’s very, very rare that we see a player who everyone thought was a lock for greatness, only to watch him struggle. There’s been nothing special about MHJ since he entered the league, and while we initially thought it was just rookie nerves, we’re now entering year three of him playing like a second or third receiver, not the game-breaking No. 1 we assumed him to be. Quarterbacking has been garbage in Arizona, but that doesn’t excuse his lapses in concentration, lazy work in and out of his routes, as well as simply having mental errors that shouldn’t be popping up with a player of his pedigree. Even without an elite QB in 2026, Marvin Harrison Jr. still has a lot to prove. No. 3: Kyler Murray, QB — Minnesota Vikings There’s been a symbiotic relationship between Kyler Murray and the NFL ever since he was the No. 1 pick that has meant the league has been unfair to him, and he’s been unfair to the league in kind. Questions about his effort and demeanor in Arizona saw the Cardinals decide to go in a different direction, with Minnesota being his final stop to salvage his NFL career — at least as a starting quarterback. This can definitely happen with the Vikings, where he will land on a talented roster with an abundance of weapons, meaning there are really no excuses not to make this work. It’s not like Murray needs to be a Top 10 quarterback this season, but at least he needs to show that he can still be an effective starter. At this stage he’s on a one-year prove-it deal, meaning he needs to prove it. If that doesn’t happen he’s destined to ride the bench, or potentially try to make it in baseball. No. 4: Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE — New York Giants It’s honestly surprising the Giants didn’t decide to move on from Thibodeaux after drafting Arvell Reese, but there’s some method to their madness. At this point Thibodeaux’s value is in the toilet, and there was no reason to force a deal just to get a day-three pick — so instead New York will have a deep pass rush rotation in 2026. Thibodeaux is on the final year of his rookie contract, meaning that he is fully in “prove it” mode at this point. This year will determine if he’s a rotational pass rusher for the remainder of his career, or if he can prove that he has the potential to be a long-term starter. No. 5: Jalen Hurts, QB — Philadelphia Eagles I’m really in two minds about including Hurts here, because he’s a very odd case study. Hurts is neither as good as Eagles fans believe, nor is he as bad as 31 other fanbases think he is. Ultimately he’s an above-average QB who is exceptionally good at running Philly’s system, but he’s not elite in comparison with other QBs around the NFL. The “something to prove” factor comes from the weight of expectations. The Eagles are routinely a team that should be contending for Super Bowl appearances with the weight of their roster, so when they fall short it’s only going to raise questions about whose fault that is. One of these has been Hurts’ consistency in the playoffs, where he very often looks like a shadow of himself — and that talk was stoked by A.J. Brown being angered that he wasn’t getting the ball enough. In many ways Hurts has nothing to prove, but he also has everything to prove in 2026. No. 6: George Pickens, WR — Dallas Cowboys The breakout of Pickens last year was a mammoth jump for the Cowboys, and it not only justified trading for Pickens, but also established him as a top receiver in the NFL. One season wasn’t quite enough to justify a long-term extension, with Dallas being up against the salary cap and wanting to see more maturity — which led to the franchise tag. This season will shape Pickens’ future. Either he’ll show out once more and become one of the highest-paid receivers in the NFL, or it will fall apart, and he’ll likely get short-term contracts as teams wait to see whether or not he can be relied on. This is a mammoth season for him.

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