What a week of NFL action this past week brought. We had high-scoring games, quarterback battles nearing a conclusion and thrilling comebacks. It feels like the NFL is back in full swing, yet we are only in the second week of the preseason.
Another week, another slate of preseason games under the belts of the 2026 rookie class. Like last week, there were plenty of first-year players who stood out. However, there will be a difference this week compared to the prior week.
That change is that none of the players mentioned in the first week of the preseason will be brought up in this edition. That way, it keeps things more fresh and puts a spotlight on new talent that might not have had much shine up to this point in the preseason. With that in mind, let’s dive into the 10 offensive rookies whose stocks went up this week, in no particular order.
10 offensive rookies whose stocks went up this week
1. Marlin Klein
There was one moment early on in the opening game of the second week of preseason that really stuck out on commentary. It was when Joe Buck and Troy Aikman referenced that the Houston Texans were running two tight end sets during the game. For a team that just lost one of its starting wide receivers for the season and has struggled with blocking over the last couple of years, running multiple tight ends as a base offense might make sense for the Texans.
Enter Marlin Klein, who, in college, was known for his blocking prowess. Although he did not start the game with the starting unit, he came in immediately after and had about a quarter of play on Thursday night. The rookie looked amazing.
Klein might have been known for his blocking ability before going professional. However, the rookie tight end displayed his catching expertise in the first half on Thursday, going for three receptions and a team-leading 31 yards. If the Houston Texans are going to run a dual tight end set as a base offense during the 2026 season, Klein could establish himself as a starter, opposite Dalton Schultz.
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