Speed, Size & Swagger: Rookie Pass Catchers Stealing the Show Before Training Camp

Brenen Thompson, WR, Los Angeles Chargers

Speed still kills in this league, and the Chargers used a fourth-round pick on Mississippi State’s Brenen Thompson for exactly that reason. He led the SEC with 1,054 receiving yards in 2025 and blazed a 4.26 at the Combine — the kind of number that makes defensive coordinators lose sleep.

At a recent minicamp practice, Thompson delivered the kind of play that gets noticed. He went up and won a contested catch in 7-on-7, securing the ball over a defender on a ball from quarterback DJ Uiagalelei. Chargers observers called it the play of the day. Thompson’s 5-foot-9, 164-pound frame isn’t built for bullying people at the catch point, yet he did it anyway. That’s the kind of toughness that translates when pads come on for real.

You could almost hear the sideline energy shift after that grab. Thompson adds a legitimate take-the-top-off threat to the Chargers’ offense. In a league that rewards spacing and big plays, his ability to stretch defenses should create opportunities underneath for the rest of the room. He’s the kind of rookie who forces coordinators to game-plan differently.

Oscar Delp, TE, New Orleans Saints

Oscar Delp’s path to impact looked uncertain for a minute. The third-round tight end from Georgia had been dealing with a hamstring issue that sidelined him for part of OTAs. When he returned to minicamp, though, the 6-foot-4, 245-pounder looked like he’d never missed a beat.

Delp became the most targeted weapon in one Saints practice, hauling in three receptions on four targets according to reports from the field. He ran crisp routes, found holes in zone coverage, and showed the reliable hands that made him a favorite target in college. Head coach Kellen Moore’s offense loves tight ends who can stretch seams and win in traffic. Delp fits that profile.

The Saints already have veterans Noah Fant and Juwan Johnson ahead of him on the depth chart. Reps won’t come easy. But when Delp is on the field, he’s making the most of them. That resilience after the injury, combined with his sudden burst back into the rotation, tells you something about his mentality. Rookies who bounce back like that tend to stick around.

Zachariah Branch, WR, Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons grabbed Georgia’s Zachariah Branch in the third round, and he has wasted little time showing why. The speedy, undersized receiver ran a 4.35 at the Combine after posting 81 receptions and setting a single-season school record for the Bulldogs in 2025. He also brings more than 1,200 career return yards and two touchdowns from his college days.

Branch has produced several explosive plays during the spring and earned praise from teammates and observers, including Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports highlighting his suddenness and big-play ability. Whether it’s on offense or as the primary kickoff and punt returner, Branch gives Atlanta a dynamic piece they didn’t have before.

He’s competing with Jahan Dotson and Olamide Zaccheaus for reps in the receiver room. But his quickness and YAC ability make him a natural fit in the Falcons’ offense with Michael Penix Jr. under center. Branch’s explosiveness forces defenses to respect the perimeter and opens things up for everyone else. Special teams value only adds to his case for early playing time.

Ted Hurst, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Buccaneers lost a franchise legend in Mike Evans this offseason, but they still have a talented group of wideouts led by Emeka Egbuka, Jalen McMillan, and Chris Godwin Jr. Third-round pick Ted Hurst from Georgia State is trying to break into that mix, and he’s already drawing attention.

The 6-foot-3 Hurst brings a classic vertical skill set — size, catch radius, and the ability to win down the field. Offensive coordinator Zac Robinson has already noted Hurst’s fit as a true X receiver. More importantly, veteran Emeka Egbuka has taken notice, highlighting the rookie’s elite catch radius and playmaking traits during minicamp.

Hurst isn’t just another body in the room. He’s a big target who can stretch the field and create mismatches. In Baker Mayfield’s offense, that kind of weapon matters. The Bucs need someone to step up opposite their established stars, and Hurst’s early camp momentum suggests he could push for meaningful snaps sooner than expected.

These four didn’t arrive with massive draft hype, but they’ve done exactly what you want from late-round picks and priority free agents: they’ve made coaches pay attention. Thompson’s speed, Delp’s sudden impact after injury, Branch’s explosiveness and return skills, and Hurst’s size and contested-catch ability all point to players who could carve out roles in 2026.

Training camp will tell us more. Pads change everything. But the early returns from minicamp are promising. These sleepers have the lightbulbs flickering — and in today’s NFL, that flash of potential can turn into real production fast.