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Every year in the NFL, several players emphatically announce their arrival to the rest of the league.
Some are rookies who find immediate success. Others are veterans who come out of nowhere and have a career season.
The Jacksonville Jaguars had multiple players who enjoyed breakout seasons in 2025. Wide receiver Parker Washington and safety Antonio Johnson both exploded onto the scene, even though neither one began the year as a starter.
Someone from the Jaguars is likely to follow suit this season and shatter any preseason expectations the organization had for them.
But, who will that be?
Any of Jacksonville's trio of running backs (Bhayshul Tuten, Chris Rodriguez Jr., LeQuint Allen Jr.) would be a good choice. All three will be thrust into larger roles than they have ever had in the NFL. Even though the group is seen as a team weakness by some, it is possible that at least one of them could break out in 2026.
There is also second-year safety Caleb Ransaw, who lost his entire rookie season to a serious foot injury. Now healthy, Ransaw could be in line for a big role in 2026. Even if he can't beat out Eric Murray to start alongside Johnson, defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile loves using three-safety sets, and Ransaw is the favorite for that spot.
However, Ben Solak of ESPN chose a different player for Jacksonville in his article, picking one breakout candidate for each team. Solak went with newly acquired defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro, who came to Duval in a trade with the Atlanta Falcons this offseason.
The trade for Orhorhoro didn't create much buzz around the league. The Jaguars and Falcons swapped two defensive tackles who were former second-round picks. Maason Smith, whom Atlanta received, and Orhorhoro both had disappointing starts to their NFL careers and are hoping a change of scenery is just what they needed to reach their potential.
Solak believes the change of scenery, as well as a thin defensive tackle room in Jacksonville, are reasons that Orhorhoro can have a breakout 2026 season.
"It's pretty easy to explain why Orhorhoro had such a tough tenure in Atlanta. Overdrafted in 2024 and then injured during his rookie training camp, Orhorhoro came out of the gates slow: 11 combined tackles in eight games played in Year 1. He was asked to play in two different defenses in two seasons, and his fit next to Grady Jarrett and David Onyemata was never ideal in either year. It was a mess in Atlanta, and he was worthy of a fresh start in Jacksonville.
"Orhorhoro hasn't had enough splash plays yet to even call him an exciting developmental player. But the new opportunity in Jacksonville comes with a thin depth chart. Nose tackle DaVon Hamilton and aging veteran Arik Armstead are the only players clearly above Orhorhoro on the depth chart in what figures to be a rotation anyway. If he is freed up to play a penetrating, disrupting style, he should become an important player with the Jags."
As a second-round pick, Orhorhoro certainly has the talent and expectation to succeed in the NFL. So far, he has not come close to being the player the Falcons were counting on when they drafted him in 2024.
Now, in Jacksonville, Orhorhoro will have his development entrusted to Campanile, an excellent DC. That alone gives him a chance to revive his career.
I believe it is more likely that Tuten, given his probable role as RB1, will break out this year. However, Orhorhoro is a very talented player who may indeed have a career season in 2026.
If he does, Jacksonville's defense may be even better than expected this year.
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Continue reading...
Some are rookies who find immediate success. Others are veterans who come out of nowhere and have a career season.
The Jacksonville Jaguars had multiple players who enjoyed breakout seasons in 2025. Wide receiver Parker Washington and safety Antonio Johnson both exploded onto the scene, even though neither one began the year as a starter.
Someone from the Jaguars is likely to follow suit this season and shatter any preseason expectations the organization had for them.
But, who will that be?
Any of Jacksonville's trio of running backs (Bhayshul Tuten, Chris Rodriguez Jr., LeQuint Allen Jr.) would be a good choice. All three will be thrust into larger roles than they have ever had in the NFL. Even though the group is seen as a team weakness by some, it is possible that at least one of them could break out in 2026.
There is also second-year safety Caleb Ransaw, who lost his entire rookie season to a serious foot injury. Now healthy, Ransaw could be in line for a big role in 2026. Even if he can't beat out Eric Murray to start alongside Johnson, defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile loves using three-safety sets, and Ransaw is the favorite for that spot.
However, Ben Solak of ESPN chose a different player for Jacksonville in his article, picking one breakout candidate for each team. Solak went with newly acquired defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro, who came to Duval in a trade with the Atlanta Falcons this offseason.
Why Orhorhoro Was The Pick
The trade for Orhorhoro didn't create much buzz around the league. The Jaguars and Falcons swapped two defensive tackles who were former second-round picks. Maason Smith, whom Atlanta received, and Orhorhoro both had disappointing starts to their NFL careers and are hoping a change of scenery is just what they needed to reach their potential.
Solak believes the change of scenery, as well as a thin defensive tackle room in Jacksonville, are reasons that Orhorhoro can have a breakout 2026 season.
"It's pretty easy to explain why Orhorhoro had such a tough tenure in Atlanta. Overdrafted in 2024 and then injured during his rookie training camp, Orhorhoro came out of the gates slow: 11 combined tackles in eight games played in Year 1. He was asked to play in two different defenses in two seasons, and his fit next to Grady Jarrett and David Onyemata was never ideal in either year. It was a mess in Atlanta, and he was worthy of a fresh start in Jacksonville.
"Orhorhoro hasn't had enough splash plays yet to even call him an exciting developmental player. But the new opportunity in Jacksonville comes with a thin depth chart. Nose tackle DaVon Hamilton and aging veteran Arik Armstead are the only players clearly above Orhorhoro on the depth chart in what figures to be a rotation anyway. If he is freed up to play a penetrating, disrupting style, he should become an important player with the Jags."
Final Thoughts
As a second-round pick, Orhorhoro certainly has the talent and expectation to succeed in the NFL. So far, he has not come close to being the player the Falcons were counting on when they drafted him in 2024.
Now, in Jacksonville, Orhorhoro will have his development entrusted to Campanile, an excellent DC. That alone gives him a chance to revive his career.
I believe it is more likely that Tuten, given his probable role as RB1, will break out this year. However, Orhorhoro is a very talented player who may indeed have a career season in 2026.
If he does, Jacksonville's defense may be even better than expected this year.
Join our ROUNDTABLE community! It's free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members. Download the free Roundtable APP, and stay even more connected
Continue reading...
