2026 NFL Preseason: Players to Watch on Saturday

Saturday brings a loaded NFL preseason slate with plenty of intriguing storylines, but I’m less interested in the final scores than I am in the individual evaluations.

There are quarterback battles to monitor, young players making their NFL debuts, veterans fighting for bigger roles and several prospects I believe could become legitimate contributors at the next level. Here are the players  (and one quarterback battle) I’m watching most closely on Saturday.

Note: Some of these games have finished prior to the publishing of this article.

2026 NFL Preseason: Players to Watch on Saturday

When Cleveland has the ball

Watch the quarterback battle: Deshaun Watson vs. Shedeur Sanders

The Cleveland Browns are currently in a quarterback battle between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders. Saturday is pivotal for both players in their attempts to claim the starting job.

Sanders is scheduled to start in Week 2 of the preseason, but Cleveland has not announced who will start in Week 3. My assumption is that the organization wants to have a decision made before that final preseason game. That makes these opportunities incredibly important.

Each quarterback essentially has portions of two games to plant his flag as the starter. Does one of them run away with the competition? Do both play well enough to make the decision extremely difficult? Or, perhaps the worst-case scenario for Cleveland, do they both struggle and the team ultimately has to choose the better of two imperfect options?

That’s what makes this battle so fascinating. For both Watson and Sanders, Saturday is an opportunity to make the case that the job should be theirs.

When Chicago has the ball

Watch for Tyson Bagent

Tyson Bagent is expected to start the first half for the Bears, and I genuinely believe he is one of the best backup quarterbacks in the NFL.

Bagent is accurate, he can move, he processes the game well and he possesses better arm talent than he gets credit for. I think there is a world where Bagent eventually starts games in this league. Maybe not as a franchise quarterback, but certainly as a bridge starter or someone capable of stepping in and winning games when a starter misses significant time. He simply hasn’t earned the respect I think he deserves.

Bagent is already one of the better backup quarterbacks in the NFL, and Saturday gives us another opportunity to watch him operate. That’s especially valuable because, barring an injury, we probably aren’t going to get many opportunities to see him play meaningful football during the regular season.

So I’m going to enjoy watching him.

When Carolina has the ball

Watch for Jonathan Brooks

After the Panthers selected Jonathan Brooks in the second round, we’ve only gotten to see him play a handful of times. Now, finally, he’s healthy again after the knee injuries that have plagued his young career. I’m excited to see what kind of juice he has.

The Texas version of Jonathan Brooks was a dynamic, physical runner with excellent vision, contact balance and explosiveness. That player was good enough for me to believe he could become a starting NFL running back. The question is whether that player is still there.

Can Brooks push Chuba Hubbard for the starting running back job? Can he show the burst, physicality and creativity that made him such an exciting prospect before the injuries? That’s what I’m watching. This isn’t necessarily about proving Brooks is talented. We already know he is. It’s about finding out how much of that talent is still there after everything his body has been through.

When Buffalo has the ball

Watch for the Josh Allen–DJ Moore connection

The Josh Allen–DJ Moore connection will be front and center in my mind Saturday afternoon.

For years, I have felt Buffalo hasn’t surrounded Allen with the collection of pass catchers he deserves. We saw what happened when the Bills acquired Stefon Diggs all those years ago, Allen exploded as a passer. Since Diggs’ departure, it has often felt like Buffalo has surrounded Allen with a collection of good players and role players without giving him that true go-to No. 1 receiver. DJ Moore might still be capable of being that guy.

That’s what I’m watching for.

I think Moore is a fantastic fit for what Joe Brady wants to do offensively, and I expect Allen to love having him as a new target. Saturday isn’t going to tell us everything about their eventual chemistry, but it can be the beginning of something. Watch for this connection to start developing throughout the preseason.

When Minnesota has the ball

Watch for J.J. McCarthy

J.J. McCarthy is an interesting case because I view this situation very differently than some others.

With Kyler Murray now established as the starter, some may view this as an opportunity for McCarthy to continue developing until he potentially gets another opportunity down the road — perhaps in a situation similar to what Bryce Young experienced. I see it differently.

The timing of the decision, how quickly Minnesota moved to establish its quarterback situation and how everything has unfolded makes me feel rather certain that McCarthy’s time with the Vikings is coming to an end, potentially sooner rather than later. If that’s the case, this preseason becomes an audition. McCarthy needs to show another organization that he is worth trading for and deserves a fresh start somewhere else.

I’ve never been the biggest McCarthy guy. I never viewed him as a starting quarterback personally. But more importantly, that that doesn’t mean he can’t convince an NFL organization otherwise. This is his opportunity. I expect him to play quite a bit Saturday. Will he take advantage of it?

When New York has the ball

Watch for Jaxson Dart

Jaxson Dart played pretty well last season considering the expectations surrounding him. Yet, some of the concerns I had about his game remained evident on film. Now he gets another opportunity.

The Giants have a new head coach and a new offensive play-caller. And, the organization has added more weapons around him, including Isaiah Likely and Malachi Fields while also getting Cam Skattebo back from injury.

The infrastructure should be better. The weapons should be there. Now it’s on Dart. Can he capitalize?

I’m watching to see whether the improvements around him allow Dart to take another step as a quarterback and, more importantly, whether the concerns that remained on film last season begin to disappear.

When Los Angeles has the ball

Watch for Ty Simpson

Ty Simpson is about to take his first NFL snaps. A lot of people were surprised when the Rams selected him No. 13 overall.

I was too.

But now it’s time for Simpson to step onto the field and quiet the noise. You only get one chance to make a first impression. This is his.

Play well, and the noise surrounding the selection starts to quiet. Struggle, and the questions about whether Los Angeles reached for him at No. 13 are only going to get louder. That’s the reality of being a highly drafted quarterback.

I’m not expecting Simpson to come out and look like a finished product. I want to see the traits that made the Rams believe he was worth selecting that high. This is the first step.

When Kansas City has the ball

Watch for Cyrus Allen

Has there been a bigger offseason hype train than Cyrus Allen? Maybe Parker Washington, but I digress.

Allen has generated an incredible amount of buzz this offseason, particularly surrounding his relationship and developing trust with Patrick Mahomes. That makes Saturday interesting. Mahomes won’t be playing, so we won’t get to see the quarterback-receiver chemistry everyone has been talking about. But we will get to see Allen’s actual skill set.

How does he look? Does he play like the player everyone has been hyping up all offseason? Or, does Saturday become the first time the hype train loses a little steam? I’m fascinated to find out.

When Jacksonville has the ball

Watch for LeQuint Allen Jr.

LeQuint Allen Jr. has been a fan favorite, and he’s been one of my personal gems going all the way back to the 2025 NFL draft. I believe this is a player who can carve out a legitimate role in an NFL offense. With Jacksonville’s starters unlikely to see much action in this game, I expect Allen to get an opportunity to handle a significant workload. That’s exactly what I want to see.

Show me the three-down skill set. Show me the vision, physicality, receiving ability and pass protection that can allow him to stay on the field in different situations. I believe Allen can become one of the better RB3s in the NFL — the kind of player who may not necessarily be a team’s featured back but can step into a game and give an offense quality snaps.

Saturday is a great opportunity for him to show why I’m right.

When New Orleans has the ball

Watch for Oscar Delp

I would have loved to put Jordyn Tyson here, but another hamstring injury to the same leg he dealt with throughout the offseason means we’ll have to wait at least a little longer. So instead, I’m going with Oscar Delp. And I’m excited about it.

Delp was a tight end I was higher on than most during the draft process, and I still believe there’s a lot to like about his game. He can block, run routes, and catch. He also plays with some real grit. That’s the kind of profile that can become extremely valuable in an NFL offense.

I think Delp has a chance to develop into a starting tight end. Yet, even if he doesn’t reach that ceiling, I believe he can be a really good all-around No. 2 tight end. He’s also a good athlete, which gives him another avenue to create value.

I’m hoping he gets a healthy amount of work Saturday because I want to see that complete skill set on display.

When Philadelphia has the ball

Watch for Markel Bell

Markel Bell is one of the biggest offensive linemen you’re going to come across. He’s huge. Yet, he’s also technically unrefined. That’s what makes him so interesting to watch in Philadelphia.

The Eagles have consistently demonstrated an ability to develop offensive linemen, particularly in the trenches, so I want to see what kind of progress they’ve made with Bell. The physical potential is there. The question is whether the technique catches up.

If Bell can refine his hands, footwork and overall consistency, there’s a path for him to become a legitimate NFL contributor. If he doesn’t, he could simply become a massive depth piece who never develops enough to earn meaningful playing time. Saturday gives us an early look at whether that development is happening.

Side note: If he aligns next to Willie Lampkin, the sheer size difference is staggering – watch for it.

When Baltimore is on defense

Watch for T.J. Tampa Jr.

I’m excited to watch someone Saturday that probably won’t be on many other people’s lists: T.J. Tampa Jr.

The 2024 fourth-round pick didn’t get much opportunity last season, but I continue to believe there’s a legitimate NFL corner hiding in there.

Tampa has a long frame and the skill set to become a quality outside corner. He has good ball skills, he can bully receivers at the line of scrimmage and his length gives him the ability to impact the catch point. The speed isn’t elite, but I think it’s good enough. Now I want to see him put it all together.

I believe Tampa has a chance to establish himself as Baltimore’s CB3 this season, and Saturday is an important opportunity to start making that case.

When Dallas is on defense

Watch for Caleb Downs

I’m hoping we get to see the rookies in preseason action Saturday. Specifically, I’m hoping Malachi Lawrence and Caleb Downs see the field. Downs is the one I’m most excited about.

I absolutely love Downs, and believe he’s going to be the heart, soul and leader of this Dallas defense for years to come. He’s a phenomenal football player. The instincts, physicality, intelligence and versatility give him everything he needs to eventually become the head of this defense. So if we get our first opportunity to watch him play in an NFL uniform Saturday, I’m going to be locked in.

I’m also intrigued by Lawrence. He was selected earlier than I would have taken him, but I still think he’s a good football player, and I’m interested to see how quickly his game translates.

For Downs, though, I’m simply excited to see the beginning.

When Seattle has the ball

Watch for Jalen Milroe

This was supposed to be Jadarian Price. Unfortunately, we’ll have to wait at least another week for him. So instead, I’m going with Jalen Milroe.

Milroe is another player I’m excited to watch even though I never viewed him as a starting quarterback in the NFL. I don’t think this is necessarily the environment where he is going to suddenly create a conversation about becoming a starting quarterback – certainly not in Seattle, but I’m talking about even trade buzz, don’t get that twisted. But that’s not why I’m watching.

Milroe is a fun, physically gifted quarterback, and sometimes those players can put on a show in the preseason. That’s what I’m hoping for to close out Week 1 of the preseason. That is, fun, explosive football. I want fireworks. We won’t have football again for five days, go out with a bang. Give me the splash plays, the athleticism, the arm talent. But, I also want to see whether the throwing mechanics have improved and whether he can put together a more consistent performance as a passer.

Sometimes preseason football is simply about watching a player go out there and make you say, “Wow.” Milroe has that kind of ability. I’m hoping he gets a chance to show it Saturday.

Final Thoughts

Saturday’s NFL preseason slate is loaded with players I’m genuinely interested in evaluating. Some are fighting for jobs. Others are trying to establish themselves. Some are making their NFL debuts. Others are players I believe the league hasn’t fully appreciated yet. That’s exactly what makes preseason football fun.

The scoreboard doesn’t matter nearly as much as the individual evaluations. Saturday gives us another opportunity to see which players are ready to take the next step and which ones still have work to do.