With the 2025 NFL season nearing its end, Pro Football Focus (PFF) identified one breakout candidate for each team ahead of the 2026 campaign.
Former Clemson safety R.J. Mickens was pegged as the early 2026 breakout candidate for the Los Angeles Chargers.
Mickens was an impactful rookie for the Chargers this season after being selected by the franchise in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft with the No. 214 overall pick.
“The sixth-round pick made 11 appearances, including six starts, and earned a 70.8 PFF overall grade in the process,” PFF’s Dalton Wasserman wrote.