Buying Stock for the 2026 NFL Season

Photo via bills.com

When you invest in a stock, you buy ownership shares in a company, also known as equity shares.

Your return on investment depends on the success or failure of that company.

NFL players are the company, and claims of ball knowledge are your ROI.

The word stock, in non-monetary contexts, can be squabbled over.

Mostly because we do not have money to show when we actually bought the stock, and what the stock was worth at that time. We are buying based off of the public perception, which is tough to measure.

When "buying stock", there are biases towards younger players, because most of them have not fully emerged as elite yet, but the signs are often obvious. But again, we have no way to measure this. In my opinion, those players aren't actually worth much in the "market". Yes, the price can go up, but you are already buying fairly high, because everyone is thinking along the same lines.

And if not youth, we think in terms of breakout. This makes more sense, because you are buying when a player has performed at a lower level, and anticipating them breaking out to a close to elite level.

However, buying stock is a bit different, because it does not necessarily have to be a breakout. In theory, you could buy stock on Mike Evans. Everyone knows how good he is, but he is coming off a down year. If you believe he's due for 1200 yards and 10 TDs, it's worth "buying his stock", because the public does not perceive him in that sense. But that would not be a breakout season.

There are infinite numbers of examples to give, but let's do our best to boil it down.

By buying stock in a player, you are selecting a guy you believe in to either;

a). outperform what the public currently thinks of him, or

b). simply become well regarded in the public eye by season's end.

Again, it's hard to gauge where a stock price truly lies with a player because of all the gobbledygook across the media. But you are choosing to believe a player will be perceived in a brighter light by the public.

Let's discuss who I am buying stock in prior to the 2026 NFL season.

Cole Bishop, Safety, Buffalo Bills

85 tackles, 2.0 sacks, 3 INTs

PFF isn't everything. But they do have 1.5m followers on twitter, and claim to be "the most trusted site for NFL insights." And ProFootballFocus did not rank Cole Bishop as a top 32 safety in the NFL.

Bishop was the Bills' 2nd round pick in 2024, and enters year three with 21 career starts under his belt, including 17 last season and an additional 3 playoff starts.

Here are some of my favorite highlight plays from his 2025 season.

I think you could reasonably suggest that Cole Bishop is a top 10 safety in the NFL right now.

The guy is one of the best movers I've ever seen. He has incredible range at all times, at 6'2 207lbs.

He can be the single high safety and have sideline to sideline range to help shutdown the deep passing game. He can be single high and come make a tackle near the line of scrimmage. He can line up over a tight end and end up knocking down a ball on the opposite hash, or shed the tight end in the run game to make a tackle in the box.

One of my favorite parts about Bishop as a player is that an 8 yard completion is only an 8 yard completion. This 23 year old has such great range and eliminates space so quickly. He rarely allows yards after the catch, because he's already on the receiver by the time the ball arrives. Bishop might not always produce a highlight play, but he limits what opposing offenses can do.

Cole Bishop's instincts in zone coverage are those of an elite safety. He's a fantastic mover with true football instincts. This creates interceptions, pass break-ups, the ability to stop the run in the box, he can do everything.

I love watching him most on the backend because of the way he shows off his range, speed, and athleticism. But Bishop can play all over the field. With his vision, instincts, and size, he truly contributes in the box, navigating through traffic to stop the run.

Bishop moves so smoothly, he reminds me of being a user on defense in Madden 20, the game where movement physics did not exist. Just running around pre-snap, and ending up in the perfect place to make a textbook form tackle or make a play on the football.

You might not want Cole Bishop one on one with the opponents top wide receivers, but the kid is a perfect safety. The type of guy you build in the lab.

Bishop is one of those guys you cherish getting to watch play for your favorite team. It can be hard for safeties to get public recognition, unless they produce a ridiculous amount of turnovers, but Bishop should be on track. He's so much fun to watch, is capable of producing highlight plays, and the Bills should be back to being an above average defense in 2026.

This is a perennial Pro Bowl safety, everyone. Invest now.

Nohl Williams, Cornerback, Kansas City Chiefs

48 tackles, 1.0 sacks, 7 PBUs

The 2025 3rd round pick started just 5 games as a rookie, with Kansas City having two solidified cornerbacks. Both of whom are now members of the Los Angeles Rams, leaving Williams in line to lock down his starting spot on the outside.

The Cal product did a bit of everything as a rookie, with 5 TFLs, 7 PBUs, and keeping his missed tackle rate extremely low.

Here is a cut-up of Nohl Williams' rookie season that I made for my "Chiefs in Three Players" article.

The public is fairly down on the current Chiefs defense. A typically stout unit, Kansas City was hardly above average in 2025.

Future Hall of Fame DT Chris Jones is now 32 years old. All-Pro CB Trent McDuffie was traded. And two of the more underrated players in the game, in S Bryan Cook and CB Jaylen Watson, left in free agency, where they received massive contracts.

It makes sense to project this unit as a below average group.

Without getting into the rest of the squad, let me inform you of why Nohl Williams will not be a part of the problem for the Chiefs in 2026, and onwards.

Kansas City has every right to trust Williams as a starter with how he played as a rookie. Describing Williams' game is hard, because if you just give a quick summary, he sounds like an All-Pro(...).

Williams has a solid frame that shows up in every phase of the game. A synopsis of his rookie year would include surprisingly high level coverage snaps, at least for a 3rd round rookie. But what I loved about his game, and why he is sure to, at the bare minimum, stick as an NFL starter, is his approach to the run and screen game.

It's hard for receivers to block Williams. He can outmuscle them fairly easily. And if not outmuscling, he just knows how to get off of blocks, even doing so against lead blocking TEs and FBs. His tackling form is clean, and he'll rarely miss or take a bad angle, being charted with just 4 missed tackles in 2025.

But man, forget the clean film. Forget the run defense and tackling. Forget the clean technique and solid trigger to the ball.

Just turn on the highlights. Williams can put together a pure cornerback highlight tape.

Step for step with some of the best in the NFL. Aggressive hands that showcase his ball skills, which will soon translate into the 7 INTs he had as a senior at Berkeley. The athleticism to not only go stride for stride, but to contest perfectly placed throws and be fluid when responsible for two guys in zone coverage.

I love everything about Nohl Williams. Not only is he walking into a starting spot on a team in the spotlight, but he has earned every snap he will get in 2026.

I'm still new to evaluating players, but if Nohl Williams' performance tanks, I genuinely might give up. This is the ideal cornerback.

2010 Amazon, folks. Ride this train with me.

Jalen McMillan, Wide Receiver, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

12 catches, 178 yards (4 games)

McMillan missed 13 games in 2025, his second NFL season, after fracturing vertebrae in the preseason. He put up 461 yards and 8 TDs as a rookie 3rd round pick in 2024.

There's so much to like about how McMillan plays receiver, and I think he's one of the most under looked players headed into the season.

Here is a cut-up of Jalen McMillan's 2025 season from my "Bucs in Three Players" article.

As I lauded in the article, McMillan is an incredibly smooth player. One of the smoothest in the NFL. That is his brand.

McMillan is in a situation in Tampa Bay where the receiving room is quite good, but the target shares are undetermined. There does not appear to be a clear pecking order in Tampa.

Chris Godwin is 30 years old and coming off a bad season, one that followed a 2024 ankle injury. He is best when getting work out of the slot, although at his peak, which was cut short by his injury, he had success from all alignments.

Emeka Egbuka had a great start to his rookie season, but his success was hampered by an hamstring issue. He saw work form all alignments, but looked more comfortable working from the slot.

And rookie Ted Hurst, who is reportedly having a great training camp, is a 6'3 perimeter guy from Georgia State.

While it may take a while, I truly believe McMillan will find a permanent role on the outside in the Buccaneers offense. He has reliable hands, is a nice route runner, and a good mover who has the speed to generate yards after the catch as well.

I think by the end of the season, the Bucs will realize McMillan offers more than Godwin.

While I won't predict some insane breakout to superstardom, McMillan's 2026 production should increase. I would expect for McMillan to see around 70 targets. In his 4 games in 2025, he was pacing for 64 targets, 51 receptions, and 757 yards. And he showed as a rookie he can be reliable in the redzone.

Now, that's a hypothetical stat line. However, if he had put up a line like this in 2025, or at least close to it, McMillan would have had more hype coming into this season.

Again, don't anticipate some superstar season. But I do think McMillan puts up at least 50 catches for 700 yards and a handful of TDs, setting himself up for a nice payday going into Year 4.

And nobody seems to care about the role McMillan is set up for. I believe he could end up being the best perimeter option for Tampa in 2026.

You do not need to invest in early Apple for the investment to pay off.

Defensive Tackle Walter Nolen, Arizona Cardinals

11 tackles, 2.0 sacks, 5 TFLs (6 games)

Missing the first 8 games of his rookie season with a calf issue, Nolen also missed out on forming a DROY campaign. The Cardinals 1st rounder also missed the final two games of the season, requiring surgery on a torn meniscus.

But watching this guy play, it screams All-Pro. There is not much to dislike about his game, Nolen is just so dominant.

Here are a few plays that show off Nolen's dominance from his rookie season.

It does not always look pretty on a snap-by-snap basis on the Cardinals defense, but I promise Nolen dominates the majority of his reps. Ridiculously impressive for a rookie defensive tackle who was coming off a lower body issue that cost him most of his offseason.

I do think the word ridiculous sums up Nolen as a football player.

The strength is just A+, he's built of pure strength. He bullies guards all day in pass rush. Nolen isn't exactly suited for a nose role, but he still holds gaps with his strength.

While he has super-strength, Nolen is not unathletic. He's listed at 300lbs, which makes his power extra impressive. Nolen can make a play in space, he moves around well when he penetrates into the backfield.

And he lives in the backfield. He has nearly every tool in his toolkit to apply pressure on the QB, or change the running lane for the back.

The combination of pure power and hand (dis)placement gets Nolen far enough, but the movement I mentioned really takes Nolen's impact over the top, allowing him the chance to effect the play on every single snap.

Nolen's production is insane for only playing in 6 games, as a rookie!

Sorry to Cardinals fans, but if he resided on a team that was not buried at the bottom of the NFL News totem pole, Nolen would be hyped up as the next big thing. This is the time to buy folks.

It's always nice when a player passes the highlight test. Going through the highlight plays, Nolen dominates the reps. That does not happen with all players.

But not only does he pass the highlight test, his overall film is so, so solid.

Nolen may not be in line for his stock to make a huge jump in 2026, considering he's coming off of meniscus surgery, and the fact that the Cardinals defense projects to be fairly awful.

But it's never a bad idea to invest in a player with this much talent. You could argue Walter Nolen is the best, or at least second best, player on the Cardinals.

Never a bad idea to throw some change on a guy like Nolen.

Onto some honorable mentions.

These guys may not break out this season, but I like their talent. Or just are not poised for a gigantic leap, but may still be perceived better in the public eye after 2026.

WR Jalen Nailor

Nailor landed in Las Vegas after four years in Minnesota, and will be their WR1. TE Brock Bowers should see the majority of the targets, but Nailor is the Raiders best pass catcher with the wide receiver label.

He also will start the season catching passes from Kirk Cousins, who he played with for two seasons. Nailor is reliable in all levels of the field, with toughness at the catch point and solid route running.

Everyone knows his name, but Nailor will likely see close to 75 targets, an uptick of over 20 from last season. His production should skyrocket, and I believe he will have a highly increased respect from the media. Not exactly a young guy who's poised to take the big jump, but a good player who will see a bigger role in 2026.

S Malaki Starks

I was very close to putting Starks on the main list. He checks so many boxes. Great defense, great safety room, and (hopefully) an improved defensive playcaller. Starks also just had a very good rookie season roaming Baltimore's defensive backfield.

I just wasn't in love with his film, although he is quite good, to the point where I was with my top four guys. Also, in terms of how the public perceives him, he will always be overshadowed by Kyle Hamilton, unless he starts racking up INTs.

But as a whole, Starks is a very good young player who covers a ridiculous amount of ground and will not have to take on an unfavorable role on the Ravens defense. In terms of investing, this feels safe to rise.

LB Cedric Gray

Gray is a guy I wanted to put on the main list, but he lacks great coverage ability or upper tier athleticism at backer. It's hard for me to envision Gray becoming a true star in the NFL. However, he's a tackling machine, and an elite one at that.

The Titans defense should be much improved, particularly up the middle, and while Gray is a big part of that, he should also benefit from these improvements. Gray's maneuverability near the line of scrimmage is truly impressive for a 2024 4th round pick, and it's why he can rack up 150 tackles with ease.

While I don't see superstar in Cedric Gray's future, I do see a consistent LB that plays on good defenses who can add some Pro Bowls to his resume, especially if he continues to add some playmaking ability to his game.

WR Kyle Williams

I loved Williams pre-draft in 2025, and thought he flashed his talent as a rookie, but only ran the 9th most amount of routes among Patriots receiving targets. He was buried on the depth chart and kind of still is, with the acquisitions of A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs.

However, I expect the 2025 3rd rounder to see more snaps this season, and with the likely departures of Demario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte in free agency next offseason, I anticipate the public hyping up Williams in this Patriots offense to have a big 2027 season.

So I am getting in now, and I completely believe in the young, explosive receiver in New England, who will be catching passes from Drake Maye.

LB Teddye Buchanon

Another guy I loved pre-draft in 2025, and I thought Buchanon had a fantastic rookie year. Until he tore his ACL in Week 15. There were times in Buchanon's rookie season where I thought he was arguably Baltimore's best linebacker.

Starting next to Roquan Smith, Buchanon will be playing behind an upgraded Ravens defensive line. I would have loved to added Buchanon to my main list, but who knows how he'll look just 9 months removed from his knee injury.

Buy in now before everyone else catches on to the next young linebacker to get paid.

WR Matthew Golden

This is a popular selection, with the Packers potentially being a more pass heavy offense, and with Green Bay moving on from two receivers who saw more targets than Golden in 2025. Here's my "Packers in Three Players" article, where I discussed Golden as a player.

DT Mason Graham

Like Golden, I reviewed Graham in my Three Players article series. He has the ability of a future star. Of course, things will not exactly get easier without Myles Garrett being next to him on the defensive line. Graham is a great player whose rookie season went underrated because he did not flash statistically and was outperformed by fellow rookie, the 2025 DROY Carson Schwesinger. I discussed Graham more in the article I linked.

WR Ricky Pearsall

Pearsall was my number one breakout candidate, buying stock player, whatever you want to call it. Numero uno. The numbers were elite before he got banged up in 2025, and they were still dang good once he returned. Unfortunately, Pearsall's injury was nagging, and he is getting season ending PCL surgery. Maybe next season.

DT Bryan Bresee

Bresee was a name I was eyeing for this list, but before I finished watching his film, he was out for the season with an ACL tear. Absolutely brutal for the fourth year DT who had gotten better every season. I thought Bresee could be a key piece on an underrated New Orleans defense looking to win the division.

DT Jer'Zhan Newton

Similar to Bresee, I had Newton on my watchlist. But he will miss the majority of the season, recovering from pectoral surgery. I like what Washington has added defensively, and thought Newton may have shined a bit brighter in 2026.

So, I may have gone away from my original point of separating "breakout" versus "buying stock." Only one of these guys(Nailor) is not on his rookie contract.

But they are similar, simply because "the market" has mostly figured out veteran players, and very few are in situations that have changed to set them up for success. And if they are in a situation like that, it often comes via free agency and the public is quite aware.

But if I missed any of veteran players who's stock I should buy, let me know!

There are countless amounts of young players I would love to mention, but this is the list. Again, feel free to add on with a comment, or on Twitter/X, @GridironGoldM_.

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