We’re simply 119 days from the NFL’s “Thursday Night time Soccer” season opener between the Baltimore Ravens and the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs. Whereas that seems like loads of time for the league’s rookies to be able to shine in Week 1, you’ll be able to wager the league’s coaches are pondering the subsequent 17 weeks are nowhere close to sufficient.
Which brings us to the significance of this weekend. Whereas “rookie minicamp” sounds comparatively benign — what with the very best gamers on this planet not concerned — the subsequent three days set the tone for all the brand new guys.
Every workforce will get to work 30 hours (10 per day Friday via Sunday) with their newcomers. Notably for groups which have invested a lot of their franchise’s future on a rookie or two, these three days supply an enormous trace as as to whether their franchise would possibly turn out to be the subsequent Chiefs — or the subsequent laughingstock.
Listed below are 4 groups that basically want to come back away feeling good about their draft:
Tennessee Titans
Final month, Cam Ward turned the nineteenth quarterback within the final 25 drafts to be the No. 1 general decide. Guess what number of of these 19 have received a Tremendous Bowl? Yep, simply two: Matthew Stafford and Eli Manning.
We point out this for 2 causes: First, it’s statistically incorrect to count on Ward to guide the Titans to a Tremendous Bowl. Second, nobody’s going to care concerning the first purpose. The stress to be particular begins now.
Head coach Brian Callahan and offensive coordinator Nick Holz had months to determine that Ward was the very best match for the No. 1 decide. They imagine they perceive how he thinks, how he works and the way he reacts to success and failure — however this weekend is the equal of the top of the honeymoon. Will Ward and the Titans stay fortunately ever after? The primary indicators — good and unhealthy — will come out this weekend.
Jacksonville Jaguars
![The Jacksonville Jaguars’ first-round pick, Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver and defensive back Travis Hunter, left, answers questions as General Manager James Gladstone, right, sits next to him during a press conference Friday, March 25, 2025 at Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]](https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/1746799467575)
The Jacksonville Jaguars’ first-round decide, Colorado Buffaloes vast receiver and defensive again Travis Hunter, left, solutions questions as Basic Supervisor James Gladstone, proper, sits subsequent to him throughout a press convention Friday, March 25, 2025 at Miller Electrical Middle in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union] One of the thrilling storylines that can play out over the course of the 2025 season is what number of snaps Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter can deal with every week.
Is he a receiver first? Is he a nook first? Does he have the mental bandwidth together with the athletic potential to organize to play each side of the ball?
Contemplating Hunter was a two-time Tutorial All-America — he reportedly posted a 3.79 GPA whereas incomes his diploma in anthropology — his meeting-room preparation sounds prefer it received’t be an issue. However with Hunter obtainable to the Jaguars 10 hours per day this weekend, they’ll begin studying precisely how a lot they’ll pile on his plate earlier than he begins to buckle.
Las Vegas Raiders
Oct 12, 2024; Honolulu, Hawaii, USA; Boise State Broncos working again Ashton Jeanty (2) runs the ball in for a landing in the course of the first quarter an NCAA faculty soccer sport in opposition to the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors at Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complicated. Necessary Credit score: Marco Garcia-Imagn Photographs Ashton Jeanty wasn’t drafted sixth general to take somewhat warmth off new Raiders quarterback Geno Smith. He’s going to be the franchise. Jeanty is simply the sixth working again drafted within the high 10 over the past 10 years. Three have been Corridor of Fame-worthy: Saquon Barkley (No. 2 in 2018), Christian McCaffrey (No. 8 in 2017) and Ezekiel Elliott (No. 4 in 2016).
Bijan Robinson, who racked up 1,456 speeding yards and 14 touchdowns final yr after a so-so rookie season, is also on his technique to Corridor of Fame standing. Even Leonard Fournette (No. 4 in 2017), who’s the “bust” of the group, earned a Tremendous Bowl ring in 2021.
Of all these guys, Elliott loved the very best rookie yr. He piled up 1,631 yards and 15 touchdowns on the bottom and completed third within the NFL’s MVP voting. He touched the ball a mean of 23.6 occasions per sport. Count on Jeanty to the touch it at the least that usually — although he would possibly catch thrice as many passes as Elliott did (32) in his rookie yr.
This weekend, the Raiders begin to uncover how superhuman and versatile Jeanty may be.
Atlanta Falcons
Jan 18, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; Notre Dame Preventing Irish security Xavier Watts (0) throughout 2025 CFP Nationwide Championship Media Day at Georgia World Congress Middle, Constructing A. Necessary Credit score: Kirby Lee-Imagn Photographs Keep in mind when the Falcons drafted quarterback Michael Penix Jr. in final yr’s first spherical regardless of signing Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million deal only one month earlier than? The Falcons and GM Terry Fontenot caught some severe flak.
Now fast-forward to this draft: The Falcons obtained extra ridicule once they gave up their 2026 first-round decide to maneuver up 20 spots to get go rusher James Pearce Jr. with the No. 26 decide — though they’d simply used the fifteenth general decide on edge rusher Jalon Walker.
The one method this is sensible is that if Pearce is a lot better than the vast majority of the NFL believes him to be. The Falcons will breathe loads simpler if Pearce, who handled pre-draft whispers that he has a stiff physique and he’s “troublesome,” proves to be troublesome to dam.