The picks are in, prospects are en route to their new homes, and the book is closed on the 2026 NFL Draft. As they prepare for their upcoming rookie seasons, it's time for fanbases to get acquainted with the new talent injected into their rosters.
There's always tremendous excitement when it comes to rookies, as they bring with them the hope that they'll become a fan favorite in some form or fashion. That could simply be them blossoming into a bona fide star, or it could be them becoming a plucky contributor that reflects the hard-nosed fabric of the region.
As is the case with every draft, there's always one player in particular who gets the fans buzzing. Below, we highlight one draft pick from each team that the fanbase is going to be obsessed with this summer.
Position: QB | School: Miami | Pick: Round 3 (No. 65 overall)
Jeremiyah Love will, of course, garner a lot of attention as the No. 3 overall pick and a budding superstar running back, but quarterbacks get the people going. There's going to be plenty of intrigue over how former Miami quarterback Carson Beck performs this summer and whether or not he could unseat Jacoby Brissett. While there's skepticism about whether Beck can translate to the NFL, Cardinals fans will likely have themselves convinced that he can be the franchise savior by August. Whether that holds up throughout the season is a different story entirely.
Position: CB | School: Clemson | Pick: Round 2 (No. 48 overall)
This is sort of a package deal because the hype around Avieon Terrell isn't just that he's a first-round talent who fell to Atlanta in the second. It's also because he joins a secondary that is led by his older brother, All-Pro corner A.J. Terrell. The siblings will now play opposite one another in the secondary, which is going to be wildly entertaining for Falcons fans. The brothers shared an emotional embrace once Avieon was selected, only building the hype of this sibling-led secondary.
AJ and Avieon Terrell embrace after becoming @AtlantaFalcons teammates ❤️NFL Draft on NFLN/ESPN/ABCStream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/w2hT9NOeFK
How could you not be excited about this brotherly duo battling it out against the rest of the NFC South?
Position: WR | School: USC | Pick: Round 3 (No. 80 overall)
The Ravens offense already has physical freaks with Lamar Jackson at quarterback and Derrick Henry at running back. Now, they may have added another in USC receiver Ja'Kobie Lane.
While CBS Sports NFL Draft expert Mike Renner has noted Lane is a "project" receiver, his upside is tremendous, which is exactly what will have Baltimore hooked. Lane is 6-foot-4, 200 pounds, and has a knack for winning in the red zone. As noted by Warren Sharp of Sharp Football Analysis, Lane had the fifth-best adjusted catch radius in this class, and 50% of his targets went for first downs (also fifth-best).
Still not over this catch from Ja'Kobi Lane 🤯An easy catch of the year contender 🔥@uscfb pic.twitter.com/ucm47F7XP0
For a franchise that previously tried squeezing the last ounce of talent out of various veterans, this is an opportunity to tap into a young receiver who could become a stud for years to come.
Position: EDGE | School: Clemson | Pick: Round 2 (No. 36 overall)
The Bills moved all around the draft board this weekend, making several trades that included moving out of the first round entirely. Despite ultimately not picking in the opening round, they did get a first-round talent in Clemson edge rusher T.J. Parker. Buffalo desperately needs a stronger presence attacking the quarterback as they look to get over the hump in the AFC, and fans will look to Parker as the possible answer to that need. If the Bills can get Parker to look more like how he played during his sophomore season, where he had 11 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss, they'll be thrilled.
Position: WR | School: Tennessee | Pick: Round 3 (No. 83 overall)
Carolina continues to build around Bryce Young. They gave their quarterback some protection with Georgia offensive tackle Monroe Freeling at No. 19 overall, and stayed in the SEC to give him a weapon in Tennessee wideout Chris Brazzell II. Panthers fans will certainly be enamored with Brazzell when they see the 22-year-old's length (6-foot-4) and explosive-play ability.
Chris Brazzell II joins the Panthers at pick #83.A new weapon for Bryce Young. 👀 pic.twitter.com/YpYcLY8mId
If Carolina really wants to get excited, they should turn on his tape from last season's Georgia game, where he posted a stat line of six catches, 177 receiving yards, and three touchdowns.