The NFL can be a harsh business. The players obviously make life-changing money, but if you don’t produce up to expectations, you can find yourself looking for a new team in an instant. Notable players find themselves released or traded to free up cap space all the time.

This got us thinking: which players are under the most pressure coming into the 2026 regular season?

A good chunk of these players will be incoming third-year players, seeing as though the general rule is that it takes three years to evaluate an NFL draft pick. With fifth-year option decisions looming next offseason for the 2024 class, there are several players who haven’t lived up to the hype who are running out of time to do so.

That said, there are veteran talents across the board who have a lot to prove going into 2026, too. We’ve broken it down by choosing one player for all 32 NFL teams that’s under the most pressure heading into the new season.

Arizona Cardinals: Marvin Harrison Jr.

To call Marvin Harrison Jr. a bust might be unfair, seeing as though many first-round wide receivers have done way worse upon entering the NFL. That said, he’s hardly lived up to expectations as the blue-chip prospect he was at Ohio State. He’s yet to grade in the top 45 in PFN WR Impact Scoring, and his 17-game average is fewer than 900 receiving yards. That’s not the WR1 the Arizona Cardinals used the No. 4 overall pick on in 2024.

Atlanta Falcons: Michael Penix Jr.

The addition of Tua Tagovailoa should tell you the Atlanta Falcons are disappointed with how Michael Penix Jr.’s start to his NFL career has been. He’s averaging fewer than 200.0 passing yards per game, and he’s had fewer than one passing touchdown per game. He also partially tore his ACL in November, adding to his extensive injury history. Once he returns, his seat will be incredibly hot with his fifth-year option looming next offseason.

Baltimore Ravens: Nnamdi Madubuike

With a post-June 1 release, the Baltimore Ravens would free up $22.5 million in cap space by releasing Nnamdi Madubuike. He was a Pro Bowler in 2023 and 2024, but he turns 29 years old in November and missed most of last season with a severe neck injury. If he doesn’t return to form after the injury – or at least close to it – the Ravens could look to move on.

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Buffalo Bills: Keon Coleman

The Buffalo Bills have a crowded wide receiver room, but it consists heavily of complementary weapons, rather than bona fide starters. Keon Coleman is one of those players, and with a decrease in production in 2025, his status in Buffalo is up in the air. He hasn’t lived up to his billing as the No. 33 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, though at just 23 years old, there’s plenty of time for him to turn things around.

Carolina Panthers: Bryce Young

Though the Carolina Panthers picked up Bryce Young’s fifth-year option, they have yet to sign him to a contract extension. They made the playoffs last year, but they did so at 8-9 in a weak division and in spite of Young’s inconsistent play. He’s graded outside of the top 30 in PFN QB Impact Scoring each year he’s been in the NFL and will need to improve to earn himself a big-money extension with the Panthers.

Chicago Bears: Dayo Odeyingbo

Dayo Odeyingbo signed a big-money contract with the Chicago Bears in the 2025 offseason, but he had just 10 pressures and one sack in eight games last year. He returns to the team coming off of an injury, and he needs to stay healthy and return to his 2023 form, in which he had 8.0 sacks. The Bears would save $15 million by releasing him next offseason, which feels like a foregone conclusion if he doesn’t bounce back.

Cincinnati Bengals: Amarius Mims

With an increase in PFN OL Impact Scoring from Year 1 to Year 2, the arrow seems to be pointing up with Amarius Mims. He went from a below-average starter to a slightly above-average one in 2025. At that current rate of ascension, he could prove himself as a top-tier tackle by the end of 2026. That could set him up for a monster extension after this season.

Cleveland Browns: Deshaun Watson

Deshaun Watson has started in just 19 games since the Cleveland Browns traded for him in 2022. He’s regressed across the board statistically and has struggled with availability. That’s not even including the off-field baggage he carries. The price the Browns paid for him, including the salary and the draft capital given up to get him, makes this one of the worst moves in NFL history. Cleveland is stuck with him for now, so the pressure is on him to improve in any capacity in 2026.

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Dallas Cowboys: DaRon Bland

Since his All-Pro campaign in 2023, DaRon Bland has failed to replicate his success in following seasons. He already earned a big extension from the Dallas Cowboys, but they’d save $13 million by releasing him with a post-June 1 designation. He had a career-low 71.1 PFN CB Impact Score last year; the presence of young cornerbacks like Shavon Revel Jr. and Devin Moore could push Bland out of the starting lineup eventually.

Denver Broncos: J.K. Dobbins

J.K. Dobbins missed seven games in 2025, which continues the trend of availability issues in his NFL career. He averaged a career-high 77.2 rushing yards per game with a strong 5.0 yards per carry for the Denver Broncos last year. However, with 2025 second-round pick RJ Harvey and rookie Jonah Coleman also in the backfield, the Broncos could save $8 million by releasing him if he continues to struggle with staying healthy.

Detroit Lions: Terrion Arnold

Through his first two seasons, Terrion Arnold hasn’t quite lived up to expectations as the Detroit Lions’ first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. His CB Impact Score decreased in Year 2, and he missed nine games due to a shoulder injury. The Lions added Keith Abney II and Roger McCreary this offseason, making the cornerback room more crowded and the pressure for Arnold to perform much more prevalent.

Green Bay Packers: Jordan Morgan

After a limited rookie season in 2024, Jordan Morgan started in 12 games for the Green Bay Packers in 2025. He’ll be making the switch from guard to tackle, which provides reason for concern. He ranked No. 59 out of 74 qualified guards last year in PFN OL Impact Scoring, and he’s kicking outside to where his flaws will be placed on an island. Entering Year 3, the jury’s still out on Morgan, but the early returns haven’t lived up to his first-round billing.

Houston Texans: Tank Dell

Late in the 2024 season, Tank Dell suffered a serious knee injury that forced him to miss the final few games, along with the entire 2025 season. He looked like a potential star for the Houston Texans before getting hurt, but with such a long absence in between his last action, he has a lot to prove heading into a contract year.

Indianapolis Colts: Josh Downs

The Indianapolis Colts have several targets up for grabs after trading Michael Pittman Jr. to Pittsburgh, and Josh Downs figures to be a beneficiary of that move. It’s coming at the right time; he dropped from 803 receiving yards in 2024 to just 566 yards in 2025, and he’s entering a contract year. Downs is a twitchy young weapon but one who needs to prove bounce back to increase his stock on the open market.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Brian Thomas Jr.

After an incredible Pro Bowl campaign as a rookie in 2024, Brian Thomas Jr. went from 1,282 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns in 2024 to 707 yards and only two receiving touchdowns in 2025. Trade rumors swirled around him, even though Jacksonville Jaguars general manager James Gladstone shut them down. That said, the fact that they even needed to be addressed showed how disappointing his 2025 was.

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Kansas City Chiefs: Xavier Worthy

Through his first two seasons in the NFL, Xavier Worthy has yet to average more than 40 receiving yards over the course of a full season. He’s an effective speed weapon in spurts, but the Kansas City Chiefs likely had higher expectations than a middling WR2 type when they took him in Round 1 of the 2024 NFL Draft. They’ll need better production for him to earn a reasonable extension.

Las Vegas Raiders: Jackson Powers-Johnson

After finishing as a top-15 guard by PFN OL Impact Scoring as a rookie, Jackson Powers-Johnson was a below-average starter by the metric in his second year with the Las Vegas Raiders. He has a great opportunity to grow in 2026 with Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum now alongside him, but he’ll need to rely on individual improvements to work his way into big-money extension talks.

Los Angeles Chargers: Quentin Johnston

The Los Angeles Chargers picked up Quentin Johnston’s fifth-year option, though a lot has changed since he got drafted. It’s a new head coach and a new general manager since he was a first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. His production has improved each year he’s been in the NFL, but he’s yet to reach 750 receiving yards in a single season. He might get an extension, but he won’t earn as much at his current rate of production.

Los Angeles Rams: Kobie Turner

Kobie Turner is facing pressure in a different way from a lot of other players on this list. He’s tallied 24.0 sacks in his first three seasons with the Los Angeles Rams, but with reports of Aaron Donald’s likely return, he’s likely to see his playing time decrease. Turner will also hit free agency after the 2026 season; with several key contributors hitting the open market, will the Rams choose to bring him back over the others?

Miami Dolphins: Malik Willis

From a contractual perspective, it’s likely Malik Willis will see out at least two seasons of his three-year deal with the Miami Dolphins. He’s making very good money, but he still needs to perform well in 2026. With a potentially loaded 2027 NFL Draft class, the Dolphins could still draft a quarterback if they pick high enough next year, thus putting the writing on the wall for Willis early in his tenure with the team.

Minnesota Vikings: J.J. McCarthy

The start to J.J. McCarthy’s NFL career has been less than ideal. He missed his entire rookie season due to injury, and he ranked No. 37 among 42 qualified quarterbacks in PFN QB Impact Scoring to finish out 2025. He needs to beat out Kyler Murray to retain his job as the Minnesota Vikings’ starting quarterback; if Murray wins and performs well enough, McCarthy could be on the way out before his rookie deal reaches its end.

New England Patriots: Kayshon Boutte

Kayshon Boutte will be a free agent heading into 2027. Though he seems in line for a nice contract as a young wide receiver whose efficiency has been improving year over year, he still hasn’t broken out as that high-volume receiver that opposing defenses plan around. The New England Patriots’ trade for A.J. Brown could eat into Boutte’s targets, but if he takes a leap in 2026, he could still put up big numbers and make some serious cash.

New Orleans Saints: Chris Olave

Coming off a second-team All-Pro campaign in 2025, Chris Olave is well established as a true WR1 in the NFL. He’ll be playing on his fifth-year option in 2026 and has yet to sign an extension. He’s dealt with a blood clot issue this offseason and has a history of concussions; it’s not a question of if Olave is talented enough for a huge deal, but if he’s medically reliable enough for the New Orleans Saints to invest bona fide WR1 money in.

New York Giants: Jevon Holland

Jevon Holland is the ninth-highest paid safety in the NFL at $15.1 million AAV, but his first year with the New York Giants didn’t live up to that. He finished No. 29 in the NFL in PFN Safety Impact Scoring, and he missed three games due to injury. There’s a new defensive coordinator in the Big Apple, and with Holland’s potential release freeing up $13.8 million next offseason, it could happen as the Giants build the defense in Dennard Wilson’s image.

New York Jets: Olu Fashanu

The New York Jets got incredible results out of 2025 first-round pick Armand Membou at right tackle immediately, but it’s been a slower process for their 2024 first-round pick, left tackle Olu Fashanu. He improved his PFN OL Impact Score from 58.9 to 73.8 in the jump to Year 2, but he’s still behind other 2024 draft picks like Joe Alt, Amarius Mims, and Roger Rosengarten. Fashanu will need to continue to improve this year to secure a big extension.

Philadelphia Eagles: Moro Ojomo

Originally a seventh-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Moro Ojomo has proven to be an absolute steal for the Philadelphia Eagles. He’s coming off a season in which he had 6.0 sacks and 38 tackles, both of which being career-high numbers. He was quiet in his first two NFL seasons, but with another year like his 2025 campaign, he’ll be in for a massive extension as a pass-rushing defensive tackle who will be just 25 years old in August.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Broderick Jones

It feels like it’s now or never with Broderick Jones in regards to his tenure with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He had a career-low D+ grade and a 67.5 PFN OL Impact Score last year, undoing any progress he saw from his slight improvement from 2023 to 2024. The Steelers drafted Max Iheanachor in Round 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft; Jones already had his fifth-year option declined, so if he doesn’t beat out the rookie and improve his play, he might not get a great deal in free agency next offseason.

San Francisco 49ers: Ricky Pearsall

Ricky Pearsall was quite efficient in his second year in the NFL; he finished No. 19 among 112 qualified wide receivers in PFN WR Impact Scoring. That said, he’s missed a total of 34 regular season games since joining the San Francisco 49ers. They’ll have to decide on his fifth-year option next offseason, and if Pearsall can’t stay healthy, the potential he’s displayed might not be enough to warrant that hefty price tag.

Seattle Seahawks: Zach Charbonnet

As is the case with any Super Bowl champion, the Seattle Seahawks have a few contributors slated to hit free agency in 2027. Among them is Zach Charbonnet, who’s been their 1B to Kenneth Walker’s 1A in the backfield. Walker has since been replaced by Jadarian Price. The Seahawks have Jalen Sundell, Leonard Williams, Anthony Bradford, and Uchenna Uwosu they could pay. Charbonnet will need to prove he’s worth paying over those guys.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Cody Mauch

2024 was an incredible year for Cody Mauch, as he made the jump from the No. 56 overall guard in PFN OL Impact Scoring as a rookie in 2023 all the way to No. 7 in Year 2. Things were looking up for him, but he only played in two games last year due to injury. Now entering a contract year, Mauch has the potential to make some serious money next offseason, whether that’s from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or somebody else. He just has to stay healthy and get back to full strength this year.

Tennessee Titans: Tyjae Spears

You could choose between Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears, seeing as though both running backs are slated to hit free agency in 2027. That said, the latter is four years younger, making him the more likely extension candidate for the Tennessee Titans. His rushing yardage total has decreased each year he’s been in the NFL; he’ll need a breakout year to prove himself worthy of a sizable pay increase.

Washington Commanders: Frankie Luvu

Frankie Luvu is slated to hit free agency after the 2026 NFL season, and with Leo Chenal and Sonny Styles both under contract in the long haul, his next deal might not come with the Washington Commanders. Luvu’s coming off a rough year in 2025, but it’s worth noting he was a second-team All-Pro in 2024 who had 8.0 sacks as an off-ball linebacker. If he bounces back and shows his trademark blitzing ability, he could still get a nice contract elsewhere after the season ends.