4 rookies who can transform their NFL team's fortunes in Nick Emmanwori fashion heading into the 2026 season

​  Which NFL rookies can transform their teams the most heading into the 2026 season? There are several on the defensive side of the football.The 2026 NFL season is approaching, and a handful of rookies appear poised to make the type of early impact that shifts a franchise’s trajectory. From Minnesota’s interior overhaul to Kansas City’s pass-rushing reinforcement, the defensive side of the football is where the most transformative first-year players reside heading into this year. On a recent episode of Best Pod Available, my co-host Joe DeLeone and I discussed the rookies with the best chance to elevate their respective teams from day one.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAlmost every year, a rookie or two helps to take a team from irrelevant to relevant, from relevant to playoff contention, or from contention to a Super Bowl winner. Nick Emmanwori did exactly that for the Seattle Seahawks last season, helping transform a very good defense into the best in the NFL en route to a championship. There are some strong candidates to follow in those footsteps.For me, it starts with the Minnesota Vikings and their two rookie defensive tackles, Caleb Banks and Dominique Orange. The Vikings made a deliberate decision to overhaul their interior defensive line after the pairing of Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave failed to produce results last season. Brian Flores is one of the best defensive coordinators in the NFL, but that interior group held the defense back.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWhile Banks has some injury questions rooted in a recurring foot issue over the last few months, there is no questioning how talented the 6-6, 330-pound behemoth is. If he stays on the field, he will end up being worth the 18th overall selection. You do not see athletes who move the way he does at that size. Banks carries superstar potential.Depending on that foot situation, there’s a chance that Dominique Orange could have the biggest impact of the two. The box score will not necessarily showcase how important “Big Citruys” can be, but the big physical nose tackle can unlock the players around him. Dallas Turner, Andrew Van Ginkel, and Blake Cashman on the second level all stand to benefit. If those defenders are making a bunch of plays, it will likely be because Orange is doing the dirty work in the middle and commanding attention.The Kansas City Chiefs had some issues on the defensive side of the football last season, which has been rare under defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. One of their biggest problems was a consistent inability to create negatives and generate pressure on the quarterback. In the second round, they took Oklahoma pass rusher R Mason Thomas.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementI don’t think Thomas will be a great player against the run from day one, but I do believe he can have an immediate impact as a designated pass rusher. Chris Jones is still a good player, but he has been a bit up and down with age. George Karl      ​Read More Feedzy