NFL rookie takeaways after first week of OTAs: Jayden Daniels among first-round QBs making early impression

Organized team activities started around the NFL, and with these organized events, we can see new faces in new places. Another fun aspect of OTAs is that we see rookies take the field to practice with veterans. Many first-year players are expected to make immediate impacts in 2024, but which ones appear to be making an impact from the jump?

Below, we’ll detail some newcomers that made headlines at OTAs. We’ll discuss some notable names, key injuries, and also some players to keep an eye on as we head into training camp and the preseason. Let’s start with the defenders selected in the first round.

Football games aren’t won and lost in May, but No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams made an impact for the Chicago Bears in OTAs. He is one of the many newcomers who put these “feature pieces” in films that circulate on social media, but you can’t make too much of them. What you can gauge is how coach Matt Eberflus says both rookies and veterans have rallied around the USC product.

“Once [Tony] Romo was injured when he fell into that preseason game in Seattle, the team just got together [Prescott]” said Eberflus, via SI.com. “And I feel it already in our building here. Everyone is rallying around it. You can feel it with the reps we got with some of the first on-field things we did, with the seniors. You can see the offense, they They are very supportive and the same goes for the guys on defense. And their personality is contagious.

With the No. 1 overall pick, you want superstar talent as well as a leader who sets the pace. So far, it appears that’s what Chicago got in Williams.

“Just in terms of people, it’s been excellent,” Eberflus said. “I’m talking about a worker – this guy is a worker. He wants to learn, he wants to know everything about the offense, he learns very well, he asks great questions, he’s been great in the quarterback room. I’ve been there pretty much every time with these guys, and it’s been great to see that relationship grow between him and Tyson [Bagent]It is [QB coach] Kerry [Joseph] and Shane, the guys that are there. And there aren’t many people there, because we keep everything closed, and that’s been wonderful.

“And his interaction with the players in the building, on the field, has been excellent. So obviously the talent, you can certainly see the talent.”

Bears beat reporter Nicholas Moreano noted that Williams had a rough day on Thursday, completing just three passes during the 7-on-7 period. That’s to be expected of any rookie from the get-go. Nobody is going to be perfect.

Washington Commanders star defensive back Jonathan Allen already has some issues with new quarterback Jayden Daniels. Because the new guy is beating him by being the building’s first Weekday Commander.

“He always beats me here,” Allen said, via the official Washington website. “I think that’s really cool. He stays late. He does everything you want from your second overall pick.”

Daniels made some impressive passes that were seen on social media, but like Williams, perhaps the most impressive feat Daniels accomplished was impressing his fellow veterans.

TE Zach Ertz: “He [Daniels] really cares about this. He wants to be as good as possible. He’s working hard.”

QB Marcus Mariota: “I think he moves really well, throws the ball well and for a young guy coming in, he seems to really enjoy running the offense and I think that’s important. like standing in front of these guys, especially the older players, and getting it right and saying, ‘I got it, I figured it out.’ So I think he did a great job of that.”

New England Patriots first-year head coach Jerod Mayo had a viral quote about third overall pick Drake Maye at rookie minicamp, saying, “He has a lot to work on.” But it’s easy to exaggerate this. He also received praise from teammates such as rookie wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk.

“The guy can shoot, man,” said Polk, via ESPN. “He’s very confident. He’s a leader, very vocal; he’s setting the tone in practice, trying to get guys moving and operating at a high level.”

Maye learned a footwork lesson early in the OTAs, by NBC Sports Bostonand has been working behind Jacoby Brissett. Fox Sports mentioned he spent a lot of time watching rather than pitching during 11-on-11 and 7-on-7 the first day, but he stayed late and pitched with his rookie pitches.

The surprise pick of the first round, and perhaps 2024 NFL Draft entirely, Michael Penix Jr. appears to have come as advertised. This means there are good things and not so good things too. When analyzing Penix’s first three open training sessions, Daniel Flick from SI.com said Penix showed “flashes of brilliance” along with some “pretty severe takedowns.” But there is no doubt that last year college football The passing leader has a NFL arm.

JJ McCarthy became a polarizing prospect throughout the pre-draft process. Some fell for the “top five pick” noise, and although McCarthy ended up being the fifth quarterback taken, he found a great place to land with Kevin O’Connell and the Minnesota Vikings.

Alec Lewis of Atlético praised McCarthy’s arm talent and is even intrigued to see how the football doesn’t combust when thrown by the rookie.

“Pitching coaches often use the term, ‘The ball explodes out of your hand.’ The same cliché applies to McCarthy, whose ball spins so steadily in the air that you almost expect flames to flow from behind. It generates its speed with efficient mechanics and fluid movement. In fact, the Vikings will have to monitor the torque on his arm. .”

Benjamin Allbright of KOAColorado said quarterback Bo Nix threw a few passes behind receivers last week, while DNVR noted that the former Oregon Duck didn’t make any significant mistakes and didn’t look like a rookie.

“He’s further along than most,” Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton said of Nix. “We are talking about a player who played 61 matches [in college]. He is extremely intelligent. He learned very quickly.”

Nix is ​​the most experienced quarterback in the college football history, and with him being selected 12th overall, one can guess that he will likely win the quarterback competition that also involves Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson.

The New York Giants opted to draft wide receiver Malik Nabers rather than start over at quarterback, and he’s an explosive playmaker who should make one of those immediate impacts we’ve been talking about. Last week, ESPN reported that Nabers had an explosive and eye-opening play where he scored a 50-yard touchdown on a double move.

By all accounts, Nabers has been impressive in every OTA. New York’s daily newspaper even reported that he was basically open on every 11-on-11 route he ran during a practice session last week.

“On one hand, you can tell he loves football,” said quarterback Daniel Jones, via the Giants’ official website. “It’s important to him. He cares about it a lot. He wants to get it right. Obviously, he’s extremely talented. Everyone knows that. Great route runner, strong, fast, adapts to the ball well. All the things you look for.” It will be a process. I look forward to working with him.”

Injuries

The 40-yard dash champion hasn’t had the best start since being drafted. Xavier Worthy supposedly had his car stolen in the Kansas City area last week and is now out of OTAs with a hamstring injury, according to Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid. ESPN reports Worthy only got about a day and a half of work in before editing. Again, it’s early in the process.

Those damn hamstring injuries. Rome Odunze suffered a hamstring strain two weeks ago and was sidelined out of caution. For 670 the scoreHe is recovering and hopes to return to training next week.

“When I first saw him, I thought, ‘He can move,’” Bears teammate DJ Moore said of Odunze, for 670 the score. “And I didn’t know he was that fast until I saw him in person and how smooth he was. I’m looking forward to him being there.”

T’Vondre Sweat was the Tennessee Titans’ most polarizing draft pick. Some analysts believe it could be GM Ran Carthon’s worst selection, although it could be the Titans fan base’s favorite pick. In short, this 360-pound defensive tackle won the 2023 Defensive Player of the Year award and has enormous potential.

Sweat was not on the field on Day 2 of the OTAs, and first-year head coach Brian Callahan declined to provide any information about the injury. By reporter Paul KuharskySweat’s problem is “minor” and his not practicing was “precautionary.”

Others to watch

The New York Jets may have found a steal in Western Kentucky’s Malachi Corley in the third round. Corley led the FBS in yards after catch the last three years with 2,068, according to the Jets’ official website. That’s why they call him the “King of YAC”. Corley FaceTimed Aaron Rodgers just minutes after he was selected by New York, by ESPN. This led to an invitation for Corley to stay at Rodgers’ house during training camp.

O Jets official website says that in just a few days, Corley felt at home on the training field, and also showed that the ability of YAC.

Luke McCaffrey was described by Commanders’ official website as “a consistent standout” and a player who “could play a bigger role in the attack”.

One thing to know about Rice’s third-round pick is that he’s a former quarterback, and that’s something that could help his connection with his new quarterback, Daniels.

“It’s a difficult position to understand unless you’ve played it. The biggest thing I noticed is the communication aspect. It’s a whole new language, it’s a whole new system,” said McCaffrey, via Fox43.

How about another jet? New York has a star in Breece Hall, but who will be the player who will get representatives? That could be rookie Braelon Allen. What’s interesting from this perspective is that he’s a great player at just 20 years old, but he also has a lot of experience. He rushed for more than 980 yards in three consecutive seasons at Wisconsin, including a 1,268-yard campaign as a freshman. Brandyn Pokrass from Jets X-Factor mentioned that Allen had an impressive Thursday afternoon where he had a long run and showed solid hands when targeted in the passing game.