Stanford football has produced several NFL players over the years, and this season there are multiple Cardinal alums scattered all across the league making a name for themselves at the professional level.

But so far this season, there have been a few former Cardinal who have stood out among the rest and have been key difference-makers for their respective NFL franchises.

Here are three ex-Stanford Cardinal football players who have shone the brightest through the early portion of the 2026 NFL season.

Wilson was not supposed to be the main target with the Arizona Cardinals, with the franchise selecting Marvin Harrison Jr. in the first round just two years ago. But Harrison has underperformed and was recently traded to the Houston Texans, clearing the way for Wilson to step up and produce. Wilson broke out for 1,006 yards last season and seven touchdowns and has played well to start 2026.

Through five games this season, he has registered 29 catches for 288 yards and a touchdown. In Week 3 against the 49ers, he caught 11 passes for 89 yards and a touchdown and followed that up with a seven-catch, 95-yard performance in Week 4. The Cardinals may not be a great team this year, but at least Wilson is playing like a legitimate WR1.

McCaffrey is one of the greatest players ever at Stanford, and rightfully so. Registering nearly 4,000 all-purpose yards as a sophomore in 2015, he finished second to Derrick Henry for the Heisman Trophy and followed that season up with a 2,300-yard junior year. McCaffrey is not showing signs of slowing down even in his 10th NFL season.

So far in 2026, he has 61 carries for 286 yards and five touchdowns, averaging 4.7 yards per carry. The 49ers are 5-0, largely because of their high-octane offense, and McCaffrey continues to be a centerpiece of that attack. If the 49ers want to make a Super Bowl run, staying healthy and continuing to play at a high level will be vital.

Schultz is on Stanford's exclusive list of Tight End U players, enjoying a strong four-season stint on The Farm. Redshirting his freshman season, he totaled 55 catches for 555 yards and five touchdowns in 33 games played at Stanford before being drafted in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys.

Breaking out in 2021 with over 800 receiving yards, he has proven to be a top-tier tight end.

Schultz joined the Texans ahead of the 2023 season and has been a key part of the offense ever since. Through five games this season, he has 24 catches for 244 yards. While he has yet to record a touchdown catch, there is still plenty of time for that to happen. He is a free agent after this season and will be eager to earn another big contract.