Each NFL offseason is a time when optimism and excitement rule discourse. The rush of OTAs and mandatory minicamps brings renewed optimism after the lull of spring. As football begins to ramp back up, discussions often center around who can change their NFL fortune, and these five ex-Gators are primed to make giant leaps.
Ventrell Miller tops the list of potential breakout candidates. The Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker enters the season as a favorite to replace Devin Lloyd in the starting lineup. Pro Football Focus recently named Miller to its 2026 all-breakout team after he earned a 72.6 defensive grade last season. The 2023 fourth-round selection has the potential to emerge as one of the league’s better run defenders.
Next up, and not far behind, is Gervon Dexter Sr., the Chicago Bears defensive tackle who is coming off his most productive season. Establishing himself as a key piece on Dennis Allen’s defense front, Dexter Sr. continues to develop as an interior pass rusher who can produce at a star level.
Tallying six sacks and finishing among club leaders for quarterback pressures in 2025, the 2023 second-round pick will play a bigger role for a Bears defense that is looking to become more effective at rushing the passer. Chicago ranked among the bottom tier of the league in QB pressures and sacks.
Elsewhere, Ricky Pearsall looks poised for a year-three ascension in San Francisco after major departures at wide receiver for the 49ers, while Kyle Pitts remains one of the most intriguing talents at tight end for the Atlanta Falcons. Pitts hauled in 88 receptions for 928 yards last season, earning him Second-Team All-Pro honors. Many experts believe Pitts has the skill set to supersede his 2025 campaign or, at the very least, sustain it.
Lastly, the No. 18 pick in this year’s NFL draft, Caleb Banks. The 6-foot-6-inch, 327-pound defensive lineman is an ideal piece for Brian Flores — with a giant wingspan and elite first step, Banks can thrive in odd or even fronts. Even more valuable is his ability to impose physicality at the line of scrimmage, which bolsters the Minnesota Vikings’ expectations of repeating as a top-10 total defense.
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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Five former Florida Gators whose NFL stock will soar in 2026
Reporting by Michael Long, Gators Wire / Gators Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Michael Long, Gators Wire | USA TODAY Network
