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Today we cover expected signings for 19 teams, plus:
- 👀 The Giants potential trade
- 💬 Dear NFL: Stay with 17
- 🔦UDFA class of 2024
NFL rookies expected to start in 2024
As AthleticismThe incredible team of beat reporters at released their updated depth charts and post-draft takeaways, I wanted to know which rookies should start on day one.
Ranked in order of their places in Josh Kendall’s Power Rankings, here we go. (Click on each team name for a full article from our expert on that franchise.)
Level 1: competitors
- Leaders: WR Xavier Worthy, who recalled Andy Reid’s DeSean Jackson, should see regular playing time sooner. Kingsley Suamataia is expected to compete for the starting LT job.
- 49ers: WR Ricky Pearsall — who handled punts in college — could see time as a return, especially with general manager John Lynch not expecting a Brandon Aiyuk trade.
- The Lions: If Terrion Arnold is as good as they hope, he will soon start in place of recently signed Amik Robertson as CB2.
- Crows: Second round pick Roger Rosengarten will compete for the starting RT role vacated by Morgan Moses, while Nate Wiggins is expected to see time as CB3.
- Texans: Kamari Lassiter could start as CB2, but must beat out veterans Jeff Okudah and CJ Henderson.
- Packers: Jordan Morgan is expected to compete for the starting LT role. LB Edgerrin Cooper and S Javon Bullard are likely to start.
- Cowboys: Scheduled to start at LT and C respectively, rookies Tyler Guyton and Cooper Beebe have yet to earn their roles.
- Browns: The Browns acquired some solid depth pieces, but no expected first-year starters.
- Bengals: WR Jermaine Burton has a leg up for Tyler Boyd’s vacant role, while DT Kris Jenkins and OL Amarius Mims provide needed depth.
- Bills: WR Keon Coleman projects to start immediately, while C/G Sedrick Van Pran-Granger could push for a starting role.
- Eagles : Two of the best corners in the class – Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean – could start in 2024. Mitchell is more likely.
Level 2: playoffs, at least
- Rams: Former FSU teammates OLB Jared Verse and DT Braden Fiske bring instant chemistry to what should be starting roles. S Kamren Kinchens could start in three safety looks.
- Bear: Quarterback Caleb Williams and WR Rome Odunze give Chicago the best starters in the class. They also drafted a punter, Tory Taylor, who “is a weapon for the entire football team,” according to HC Matt Eberflus. Taylor is a must-have.
- Foals: Edge Laiatu Latu and WR Adonai Mitchell should make an immediate impact, but don’t expect them to start from day one.
- Buccaneers: OL Graham Barton could slide to center and replace the retired Ryan Jensen, while OLB Chris Braswell could replace Shaq Barrett. DB Tykee Smith will compete for the slot corner role.
- Dolphins: No rookies are expected to start, but upside Chop Robinson will make his debut.
- Jets: Don’t expect OT Olu Fashanu to start, but WR Malachi Corley should immediately contribute as a slot/gadget weapon.
- Steelers: Securing three potential opening day starters puts the Steelers second in Dane Brugler’s draft rankings. WR Roman Wilson fills the slot role, while LT Troy Fautanu and C Zach Frazier are also expected to start.
- Sea Hawks: G Christian Haynes should start, and although Bryon Murphy II might not technically Being a Week 1 starter, expect to see a lot of the best DTs in this class.
We’ll cover the remaining teams tomorrow. If you want to receive it directly in your mailbox, subscribe to Scoop City, AthleticismThe free daily NFL newsletter.
For now, a glimpse of Dianna.
What Dianna hears: Big Blue Bet
The New York Giants made an early decision. If they could trade for Drake Maye, they would try to get him. After selling ownership on the idea that Maye is “special,” general manager Joe Schoen attempted to trade to the Patriots for Maye, but New England wouldn’t budge from No. 3.
Now the plan is to build around Daniel Jones, who is coming off a torn ACL. Look for the Giants to possibly add more weapons this offseason.
Back to you, Jacob.
Poll results: Stay with 17 games, Roger
Many of you Really don’t like the idea of an 18-game regular season, just as much as others don’t like preseason games. Health is one of the main reasons why:
- “17 games is hard enough for players from an injury point of view. Worse, more teams will be forced into short weeks with the abomination of Thursday Night Football (which should be banned in the lower regions). – Greg P.
- “It’s too much. How many teams use 2nd and 3rd string QBs in the last quarter of the season due to injuries? Hard to have an entertaining game without solid QB play. -Ryan M.
Charles W. had a strong For answer: “As a season ticket holder, I have to pay full price for two “workouts” every two years. With an 18-game schedule, I could see nine real games every year.
What if it happens?
- “Bad idea. But if it comes to fruition, they’ll have to expand the lists. –Brian M.
- “The NFLPA should require better health insurance.” –Steve B.
- “A second bye could be used to maintain the health of the players. » – Mike R.
UDFA Review: Vikings Win Again
Undrafted players – like Tony Romo or Antonio Gates – also become stars. Last year, UDFA LB Ivan Pace started for Minnesota and was by far the best UDFA in the class. As for this year’s best:
The Vikings are ahead of Gabriel Murphy. Ranked No. 127 on Dane Brugler’s top 300, Murphy earned a fifth-round grade. It was one of 17 UDFAs signed by the Vikings, aka the UDFA wizards.
Eagles DT Gabe Hall. The 6-6, 294-pound Hall had a fourth-round showing in The Beast. The Eagles added him – a member of Bruce Feldman’s Freaks List – to their strong defensive line.
Nick Baumgardner and Scott Dochterman take a team-by-team look at the most interesting UDFA adjustments this year.
Around the NFL
Tyler Boyd East to visit the Chargers and will meet the Titans, of whom former Bengals OC Brian Callahan is the head coach.
Ezekiel Elliott will wear number 15 during his second stint with the Cowboys, returning to the number he wore at Ohio State. Trey Lance moves to #19.
The NFL announcement off-season training dates for all 32 teams. Rookie minicamps begin May 3.
Should teams ever trade? Bill Barnwell shared an interesting read on everything you need to know about trading in the draft. Over the first six rounds, “when teams trade for a player at a given position, that player is better than the next drafted at that position only 49% of the time. It’s a draw.
Jacob’s choices
📕 No adult supervision in Atlanta? Mike Sando has collected NFL executives’ unfiltered thoughts on the draft classes of all 16 NFC teams. As you can imagine, they were thinking about the Falcons. (Athleticism)
📺 Remember the reference camera? The NFL needs to bring him back. (X)
🎙 Post-draft questions. In Nate Tice’s latest episode, he joins Robert Mays to address the biggest questions remaining after the 2024 draft. He will miss Nate and Robert’s chemistry, a legendary run. (The athletic football show)
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The rebound 🏀 | Liquidation ⚾ | Full time ⚽ | Main tire 🏁 | Until Saturday 🏈
(Photo: Michael Reaves/Getty Images)