- Tyson Bagent has starred for the Bears: Chicago's backup quarterback continues to impress in August with a 91.1 preseason PFF passing grade.
- Cole Van Lanen turned a promising preseason into a career revitalization: Van Lanen earned a 77.5-plus overall PFF grade in three consecutive preseasons to become a core piece of the Jaguars‘ offensive line.
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There is no better annual reminder that football is back than convincing yourself an undrafted rookie with eight catches against third-string defenders is about to become your team’s next superstar.
Every August, fans fall in love with players they had barely heard of a month earlier. Against largely vanilla opposing schemes, a backup quarterback can suddenly look like a franchise cornerstone, while a wide receiver destined for the bottom of the depth chart briefly becomes the hottest name on social media. One strong outing is all it takes for optimism to spiral, with fanbases convincing themselves they have unearthed the league’s next hidden gem.
Sometimes that excitement proves completely justified. Victor Cruz remains the gold standard after announcing himself with a spectacular preseason before becoming an established NFL wide receiver.
Far more often, though, preseason greatness exists in its own universe. Some players seem built specifically for August, producing momentary highlights before fading into supporting roles once the real football begins. Others carve out long NFL careers almost entirely because they consistently shine when roster spots are on the line.
With another preseason now underway, we’re looking at some of the greatest August performers of the last decade.
Quarterbacks
By sheer volume, stalwart backup Brandon Allen leads the way with 2,579 preseason passing yards over the last decade. His stat line also illustrates why he has spent his career on the bench rather than as a viable starter, throwing nine touchdowns and 16 interceptions. Allen will likely get an opportunity to add to those totals this summer as he battles for a roster spot with the Giants.
Patrick Mahomes sits atop the grading leaderboard with a 91.6 PFF preseason passing grade. That may come as a surprise considering how sparsely he has played in recent Augusts, but his overall sample size is larger than many would expect. Mahomes has appeared in 21 career preseason games, and no regular starting quarterback has taken more preseason dropbacks over the past decade than his 258.
Right behind Mahomes is Tyson Bagent, whose 91.1 preseason passing grade has turned him into something of a cult hero among Chicago Bears fans. Bagent is the only quarterback over the last decade with at least 100 preseason pass attempts and zero turnover-worthy plays. That pristine record contrasts sharply with his regular-season opportunities, where he committed 11 turnover-worthy plays during a five-game stretch as a rookie and hasn’t seen much meaningful football since. Each preseason, he seems to rediscover the poise and efficiency that first put him on the radar as a top backup.
Running Backs
Among nearly 200 running backs with at least 50 preseason carries over the past decade, Jordan Mason owns the highest PFF rushing grade at 90.4. Unlike many names on this list, Mason translated his preseason production into a meaningful NFL role. After arriving as an undrafted free agent, he used successive impressive summers to earn the trust of San Francisco’s coaching staff before eventually establishing himself as a legitimate contributor.
One player who could again feature in preseason headlines is Israel Abanikanda. Now with his fourth NFL franchise despite still being only 23 years old, Abanikanda continues to flash the explosiveness that made him a productive collegiate back. His 20 forced missed tackles are the most by any active player under 30 in preseason action over the last decade. If he receives another heavy workload this August, there is every chance he will strengthen his chance of a long-term home in the NFL.
Wide Receivers & Tight Ends
Like Mahomes at quarterback, A.J. Green tops this position group despite never necessarily needing to prove anything in the preseason. His 89.8 PFF preseason receiving grade is the best among pass-catchers and serves as a testament to his work rate even when the stakes were low.
The next names on the list are much less familiar outside their own fanbases. Veteran tight ends MyCole Pruitt and Tanner Hudson rank second and third with preseason receiving grades of 86.5 and 86.1, respectively. In particular, Hudson has become one of August’s most notable performers. His 676 preseason receiving yards and six touchdowns are both the highest totals recorded by any player over the last decade. Heading into another training camp with Cincinnati, he has an opportunity to extend that lead even further. Hudson has dropped just four of his 68 catchable preseason targets.
Among younger players, Lil’Jordan Humphrey continues to be one of the league’s most productive preseason receivers. The Broncos wideout has accumulated 582 preseason receiving yards, the most of any active player under the age of 30.
Offensive Line
The offensive line is where the gap between preseason football and the regular season becomes most obvious. Some of the highest grades belong to players who were already stars and simply happened to play limited preseason snaps. Creed Humphrey has posted an 89.7 overall preseason grade, followed by Frank Ragnow at 88.5 and Kevin Zeitler at 87.7.
However, the most interesting story belongs to Cole Van Lanen. Originally a sixth-round pick by Green Bay, Van Lanen endured being released during his first roster cutdown. Rather than disappearing from the league, he rebuilt his reputation through consistently excellent preseason performances. Now entering his fifth season with Jacksonville after signing a three-year extension, Van Lanen stands as the best example of how a productive summer can rejuvenate a football career.
Defensive Linemen & Edge Defenders
Surprise, surprise. Myles Garrett owns the highest overall preseason grade among active front-seven defenders with at least 100 snaps, posting an outstanding 92.1 mark. Even in limited preseason action, one of the NFL’s greatest ever pass-rushers constantly looks like just that.
Chicago Bears edge defender Austin Booker may be the next player to make the leap from preseason sensation to regular-season contributor. Still only 23 years old, Booker carries a 91.3 PFF preseason grade through his first two summers, fueled by 6.5 sacks and an exceptional 22.7% pressure rate. He should already have a rotational role in Chicago’s defense this season, but another productive August could push him firmly into the conversation for a full-time position.
Veteran pass-rusher Trevis Gipson has quietly built one of the strongest preseason resumes of any active defender. Gipson has spent time with five different NFL franchises, and his 92.2 preseason pass-rushing grade demonstrates why teams keep bringing him in for another chance. He is the only active defender under 30 to eclipse 40 preseason pressures.
Linebackers & Defensive Backs
Several of today’s established linebackers have tuned up for real football with dominant preseason performances. Frankie Luvu, Nakobe Dean, Malcolm Rodriguez, Drue Tranquill and Zack Baun have all produced career preseason grades above 85.0.
Retired linebacker David Mayo stands alone as the preseason tackling king of the last decade. Across nine NFL seasons spent with four NFC franchises, Mayo is the only player to accumulate 100 preseason tackles since 2016.
Among active players still in their twenties, safety Jeremy Reaves is a standout preseason contributor. Entering his ninth season in Washington, Reaves has experienced three different franchise names and precious little team success, yet every August, he seems to remind coaches exactly why he belongs on an NFL roster.
Safety Tycen Anderson deserves special recognition for his coverage prowess. After spending the duration of his rookie contract in Cincinnati before moving to Denver this offseason, Anderson has allowed a passer rating of just 6.5 when targeted during preseason play. This can be explained by three interceptions, tied for the most among active players, and only four receptions allowed across more than 200 coverage snaps.
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