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New York Times
19 minutes ago
- Sport
- New York Times
What should Year 1 expectations be for Cam Ward, other 2025 NFL Draft first-round picks?
Imagine a Christmas morning when you've just opened the greatest gift of your entire life — right before a guy in a business suit slides down the chimney and tells you that not only do you have to wait four months to use it, but also no one's actually sure if it'll work. Welcome to the NFL. The non-padded, honeymoon phase for most of the league's rookies is over, and now the exciting/terrifying stretch in which teams start to see whether they've actually drafted properly is underway. Here's a look at rookie-year expectations for each of the 2025 first-round NFL Draft picks: My biggest concern for Ward throughout the draft process was him being asked to carry a bad team immediately. However, the rebuilding Titans have given him some help. Kevin Zeitler and Dan Moore were big additions, as was Tyler Lockett. Even if Lockett can't quite give at age 32 what he had at 25, his presence will be a big deal. Advertisement Ward has to play faster in the pocket and continue to work on ball placement. He's going to struggle, especially early, but if the Titans ride with him through thick and thin, expect him to be noticeably better by January. It's difficult to set a baseline rookie expectation for Hunter — we've really never seen anything like him. The Jaguars have designed a camp plan that will work him on both sides of the football, including at corner and receiver in some of the same practices. It might take Hunter more time to make an impact defensively, but expect him to be a playmaker pretty quickly on offense when he's given a chance. Athletically, he's been ready for at least two years. Hunted down ❌@Dream_Finders | #DUUUVAL — Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) July 27, 2025 It's important to remember that Carter was a stack linebacker his first two years of college and only fully transitioned to the role he'll play for the Giants ahead of the 2024 season. That said, Carter has shown terrific development across the board as a pass rusher. I don't expect a dominant year right away, but I do think Carter will meet or pass the average rookie output we've seen from the last five edge defenders taken in the top five (Will McDonald IV, Travon Walker, Aidan Hutchinson, Kayvon Thibodeaux and Chase Young) — about 50 pressures and seven sacks. The cleanest O-line prospect in the '25 draft, Campbell is one of the rare offensive linemen who was probably ready for the NFL on some level as a true sophomore. He played with an advanced understanding of hands and feet in pass protection at LSU and was one of the toughest players in the class. He's likely going to be an instant starter. Advertisement Graham was a top-five player on my board for a long time, not just because of his ability to consistently explode blocks to collapse a pocket but also because of his football IQ and performances in the biggest moments against the best teams. As a sophomore, Graham was arguably the best player on Michigan's 2024 national title team. If he's in shape, he'll also be an instant starter. Jeanty's one of those guys — he's on the Bijan Robinson/Jahmyr Gibbs dance floor and has the ability to be an immediate difference-maker for an offense. Chip Kelly can, and probably will, have a field day with all the different things Jeanty can do. Expect a productive rookie year from Jeanty, who should be an offensive focal point alongside Brock Bowers very soon. The Jets got to take their time (for a bit) with Olu Fashanu last season. That probably won't be the case this year — and from an athletic standpoint, Membou's ready. He gets to slide into a right tackle job (the only spot he played in college) and should get to line up alongside Alijah Vera-Tucker. Membou might be a bit wobbly early as he adjusts to the way NFL refs call holding, but he's pro-ready. For Bryce Young's sake, I hesitate so I don't jinx anything, but the Panthers are starting to look like a team that supports a young QB rather than forcing him through roadblocks. Adding McMillan to a room with Xavier Legette and Adam Thielen gives Young plenty to work with, while allowing McMillan time to develop route nuance and his work against physical corners. He's talented enough to be the best receiver on this team by the end of the year, even if he won't need to be immediately. Advertisement Not only did I have other tackle prospects higher than Banks on my final board, but also I was in the camp that saw him more as a guard. Banks only played left tackle in college, and New Orleans got great rookie production from Taliese Fuaga at that spot last year. Although Banks has repped everywhere but center so far in New Orleans, the hope is surely for him to ultimately take over for Trevor Penning opposite Fuaga on one side or the other. I'm just going to be a bit nervous here until I see it all come together. A lot of this depends on Loveland's health, though the rookie was healthy enough to be on the field in some capacity when Chicago opened camp. In terms of schematic fit, though, this was one of my favorite picks. Loveland is a taller version of Detroit Lions TE Sam LaPorta, one of Ben Johnson's favorite weapons in Detroit. If Loveland's healthy, I think he can be an All-Rookie performer. You Love to see it 🤩 — Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) July 26, 2025 During the scouting process, there were days I thought Williams would be a no-doubt future Pro Bowler and others when I thought he was the draft version of a scratch-off lottery ticket. It's so hard to project Williams' instant NFL impact because he was hurt so much in college. If he can stay healthy all preseason and not miss any time, he'll surprise tackles and guards with his blend of power, length and burst. He can't be off the field, though, as much growth is needed. The more I've considered this one, the more I've liked it. Initially, I thought No. 12 was too high for Booker, but he was easily the most physically impressive run blocker this class had outside of Campbell and Membou. And I don't care that he's guard-only. If Booker stays in good shape weight-wise, he can be a dominant interior presence. He can also help change an offensive culture. Advertisement I didn't love this pick in April, and I'm still nervous about it. There's no doubt Grant is a fantastic athlete at 6 feet 4 and 330 pounds, but he also has had issues staying in shape year-round, played in a heavy rotation in college next to the best DT in the country (Graham) and wound up out of position too much against the run. If his flashes become the norm, Grant will be a star. However, we've only seen flashes to date. Everyone loved this pick. Warren is a great fit within the Colts offense, fills a huge need and arrives at a critical time in Anthony Richardson's development. His production as a rookie will depend on Indianapolis' QB situation, but his impact on the run game could be immediate and long-lasting. Part of the intrigue with Walker entering the draft was his potential to add versatility in the front seven. He has mainly worked with the outside linebackers in Atlanta so far, but he offers some of the traits that make Carter and Micah Parsons special (albeit in a slightly smaller package). Coverage could be an adventure, but Walker's fearlessness/rush instincts in the box should earn him a starting spot quickly. Physically, Nolen was arguably the most impressive defensive lineman in this class. On the field, he's been inconsistent. Nolen's first step and ability to create havoc immediately are going to translate, but he'll struggle against the run if he doesn't play with more discipline. Nolen's rush-move set is also limited — he might be a rotational player as a rookie if he can't become more efficient. Nothing about Stewart's first offseason in Cincinnati has been ideal, as he missed all of spring and the first three training camp practices due to a contract dispute. Of all the rookies who couldn't afford missed time like that, Stewart was high on the list. He left Texas A&M as more of a combination of traits and talent than a polished football player. Proceed with caution — it could take a minute for Stewart to settle in. Advertisement Zabel has been working with the starters at left guard since Seattle's offseason program started. He'll have growing pains, but I absolutely expect him to settle in as a plus-starter by the end of his rookie season. Zabel is also smart and tough enough to help C Olu Oluwatimi and OT Charles Cross improve. Egbuka was the most NFL-ready wide receiver in this class, even if McMillan has the higher ceiling. There isn't an offense in football Egbuka wouldn't work in — he reminds me of young Los Angeles Chargers standout Ladd McConkey. Don't judge him only by target and catch totals, though, as Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Jalen McMillan are still in Tampa Bay. Expect to see a lot more of this, Krewe 👀 — Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) July 26, 2025 The Broncos have already been impressed with Barron's football IQ as a coverage defender this summer. He was one of the most versatile DBs in college football the last two seasons, so Denver might move him around from time to time. However, if he's left to develop at corner, he has All-Rookie potential on the outside as a savvy playmaker teammates will love. I had Harmon ahead of Grant and Nolen on my final board and believe his potential to play basically anywhere up front will serve Pittsburgh well, early and often. It's hard to project a dominant season right away, but it's also hard to see a healthy Harmon not making an impact at multiple spots up front — especially in the run game. The Chargers signed Najee Harris this offseason, but Hampton eventually (if not immediately) will be the real bell cow in Jim Harbaugh's offense. He is a true three-down player who was closer to Jeanty on more scouting boards than the average fan thought. Don't be surprised to see him as a serious candidate for rookie of the year. Golden is the prospect Packers fans have been waiting for forever. The team's first first-round receiver since 2002 is a perfect match for everything Matt LaFleur and the Packers are about offensively. Green Bay has done such a great job with Jayden Reed, and Golden is a more explosive version. I expect a very productive rookie year here, as Golden should be an offensive weapon who moves all over the field. Advertisement Some of Jackson's appeal during the draft process stemmed from him playing well at tackle for Ohio State down the stretch in 2024, after spending most of his career as a guard. I'm not sure he's ready to be a starting NFL tackle, but Minnesota has been working him at left guard. Either way, Jackson still has technical issues (especially with his hands), so don't panic if he doesn't start immediately. There's no pressure on Dart to start immediately for the Giants. However, New York is still New York, so the second Russell Wilson looks like a 36-year-old, fans are going to make it very difficult for Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen to keep Dart on the bench. If it's even close, though, I'd lean toward playing Dart sooner than later — New York can't afford to guess on his development and skip a potentially great 2026 QB crop. My biggest question about Pearce is still whether you can trust him to be a true three-down player in the NFL. I have little doubt he's going to be great on third-and-long, but can he hold up (at around 240 pounds) on first and second downs? If he can't, trading up for him might go in the books as a head-scratcher. One of the safest prospects in the 2025 class, Starks should make an impact quickly. With respect to Detroit's duo of Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph, Starks and Kyle Hamilton could give the Ravens the NFL's top safety duo in short order. Williams is already in line for a ton of playing time early this season, as the Lions will be without standout DT Alim McNeill (knee) until October and versatile DT Levi Onwuzurike (knee) all season. I'm not sure how much pass rush Detroit can expect early from Williams, though I do think he's ready to be a huge help against the run and a great fit in Detroit's scheme. It wouldn't surprise me at all to see Conerly begin his career as a backup, because he was still more a collection of elite traits than a polished tackle when he left Oregon. He was a polarizing prospect for scouts for that exact reason. Advertisement He's competing at right tackle, though it might take some time for Conerly to get stronger and better with his hand discipline. Hairston suffered a non-contact injury to his right knee during a drill Tuesday, and his status moving forward is unclear. Even before the injury, questions remained about whether the 183-pound Hairston can hold up against physical NFL receivers right away. The Bills' rookie corner is also facing a lawsuit filed earlier this month alleging he committed sexual assault in 2021. Last week, GM Brandon Beane expressed his support for Hairston. 'We have to remember in society that people can make accusations and do things,' Beane said, 'and I have no idea what the agenda is there, but I can tell you every stone we turned over, every door we looked behind, this is a very good young man.' Injury concerns impacted Campbell's draft stock, but his potential is off the charts. Though Campbell has less experience than the other front-seven hybrids in this class, only Carter can claim physical and athletic superiority. The Eagles also don't have to rush Campbell, but he could turn into a serious steal — right away — for Philadelphia. Had he not injured his knee last year, Simmons might have been a top-10 pick. When he's right, his combination of foot speed and functional length makes him a terror to rush against off the edge. Not only is Simmons good enough to start right away, but also he has All-Rookie potential if he's 100 percent. (Illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic; Photos: Candice Ward, James Gilbert, Michael Reaves / Getty Images)
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Future Hall of Famer explains why it 'sucks' practicing against 49ers' top draft pick
It's difficult to get a gauge on rookies just two days into training camp, but future Hall of Fame left tackle Trent Williams provided a ton of optimism on San Francisco 49ers first-round pick Mykel Williams. The former spoke with media after Thursday's practice and was asked about going up against the team's rookie defensive end. That pair has already matched up together in practice and the 37-year-old Williams has not enjoyed going up against his first-year counterpart. "Kel's a huge dude, man," Trent Williams told reporters. "You usually don't see guys that size on the edge. It sucks having to base block guys with arms as long as your legs. But I think he has a chance to be a really good player in the NFL. I think he has a chance to be dominant. He has the best coach in the league pushing him. Gets to learn from some of the best guys in the league to learn from, obviously Nick (Bosa). So I'm happy to see how he'll turn out. I think he's got all the tools to be an All-Pro." There are still a ton of boxes to check for Mykel Williams on his path to becoming an impact player on the 49ers' defense. That his physical traits are so evident before pads come in is a good sign though, and the elder Williams heaping so much praise on a rookie without never facing him in pads is a strong reason for optimism. Continuing to check boxes once the pads are on and the reps are more real will be key for the rookie. For now though, the returns make it easy to see why the 49ers are so excited about their first-round article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 49ers draft pick Mykel Williams gets high praise from Trent Williams
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Dannie Rogers: Lions will fill in roster holes with rookies 'Back Together Weekend'
Detroit Lions team reporter Dannie Rogers says Lions will fill in roster holes with rookies.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
5 takeaways from the Nets playing in the Las Vegas Summer League
The Brooklyn Nets were hoping to see which of the five players they selected in the 2025 NBA Draft would have impressive performances in the Las Vegas Summer League earlier this month. Brooklyn finished the event with a 1-4 record, but along the way, they were able to see what four of the five rookies looked like against some NBA competition. Forward Drake Powell, the 22nd overall pick in the Draft by the Nets, was unable to play in Las Vegas due to left knee tendinopathy, something that isn't considered to be serious. However, Powell was held out of action by Brooklyn to ensure that he didn't make the injury worse by playing in the summer league when the team will have time to evaluate him over the rest of the offseason. The Summer league is usually the chance for all 30 NBA teams to evaluate their younger players along with some veterans who are looking for a chance to solidify themselves within a team's rotation or be seen by another team. With that being said, here are five takeaways from the Nets playing in Las Vegas, including a player who showed what he could do in a featured role: Drew Timme Showed He Can Play While Timme showed that he can play last season in his limited amount of game at the NBA level, his time in Las Vegas displayed a different level of impact that Timme could have thanks to his footwork and ability to remain calm under pressure. Timme came away from the summer league averaging 25.3 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.0 steals per game while shooting 55.4% from the field and 64.7% from the free-throw line. Egor Demin Can Shoot Demin, the eighth overall pick in the Draft and the first pick that the Nets made in the first round, came into the league with one of his biggest questions being his ability to play off the ball due to his poor shooting numbers. While Demin had serviceable numbers to the tune of 11.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game, he also showed that he can be efficient playing off the ball as he shot 43.5% from three-point land on an impressive 7.7 attempts per contest. Nolan Traore Is Fast Traore was one of the four players that was able to play in Las Vegas, but his evaluation was always going to be tough because of his having to fit in with three other players that are used to having the ball in their hands. Traore had some tough moments when it came to shooting and taking care of the ball, but his speed with the ball is as advertised so it's plausible that everything else will fall into place as he gains more experience. Ben Saraf Is Interesting For someone like Saraf, his place in the NBA will be dependent on how well he can balance being a scorer and a passer given his unique ability to do both at fairly-high levels prior to the NBA. Saraf shot just 30.4% from the field over the course of his three games played in Las Vegas, but his confidence grew by the game and his skillset is reliant on him trusting his instincts and playing in a free-flowing manner. Danny Wolf Is Exciting Wolf was already one of the more interesting players coming into the summer league due to his ability to handle the basketball while standing at 6-foot-11 and 250 pounds. Similar to the rest of the rookies that played in Las Vegas, Wolf had his struggles with efficiency in multiple areas. However, Wolf still shot 40.0% from deep on 3.3 attempts per game and he showed that the stage of the NBA will not stop him from using his package of flashy passes and stepbacks that he used to elevate himself to first-round pick territory during his college career. This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: 5 takeaways from the Nets playing in the Las Vegas Summer League
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
49ers embrace youth movement with potential influx of rookies in starting lineup
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers went into the past few training camps with one of the NFL's deepest rosters filled with established stars that left little opportunity for rookies to contribute. That's far from the case this year as San Francisco underwent a roster reset in the offseason that has infused the team with more youth and the most opportunities for rookies to compete since 2019 when draft picks like Nick Bosa, Deebo Samuel and Dre Greenlaw helped the Niners reach the Super Bowl. That's especially true on defense, where at least five rookies are in the mix for starting roles on a unit that has been overhauled completely in the offseason. 'There's a chance we could have six new guys starting. There's a chance we could have eight, we'll see how it plays out,' coach Kyle Shanahan said, referring to rookies, offseason additions and former backups. 'Any time you say that, that's different. That is a different team, that is a different side of the ball so that does take some time.' The 49ers have had only four rookies start a season opener over the past five seasons, tied for the fifth fewest in the NFL in that span. They could match that this season with first-round pick Mykel Williams and fellow draft picks Alfred Collins, C.J. West, Nick Martin and Upton Stout all in the mix. The Niners have started at least three rookies in a season opener just five times since the NFL-AFL merger, with the last time coming in 2006 when Vernon Davis, Manny Lawson and Melvin Oliver all got the nod. It also happened three times early in Bill Walsh's tenure in 1980, the Super Bowl-winning season in 1981 and 1983. The most rookies to start an opener for San Francisco since the merger was four in 1978. That's a challenge to a coaching staff that also includes a new defensive coordinator, with Robert Saleh returning after a stint as head coach of the New York Jets from 2021-24. 'With youth, the challenge is that a veteran never makes mistakes, but sometimes they might be a step slow," Saleh said. 'They're not running that 40 time that they ran back in the combine, right? Where a rookie is going to make a lot of mistakes, but he's flat fast, and explosive. So, the trick is, how quickly can you get that football player to play like a veteran while he's still connected to his 40 time that he ran back at the combine. So that youthful energy, that youthful explosiveness. With youth comes lumps because they're learning.' Saleh said even though his scheme isn't overly complex, he might need to simplify some things initially to help the young players acclimate. The problem is the opposing offenses won't be doing the same and they will hope to confuse the rookies who aren't used to dealing with NFL offenses. 'They don't just stand there and make it easy for us,' Saleh said. "They're motioning, they're moving, they're jetting, they're doing all kinds of stuff pre-snap. So there are going to be some moments where it's like, oh God. But, you prick your finger, you fight through it, you get them to a point where they see it over and over and over again, and your hope is that that youthful explosiveness comes out as they continue to gain experience.' The 49ers have liked what they have seen so far, with the young players being attentive in meetings and knowing their assignments on the field. Shanahan said they have brought needed energy to the team starting in the offseason and the veterans have been impressed. 'I like the group,' Bosa said. 'I think we have a lot of talent. I think when you look out on the field, you see NFL bodies out there that look impressive, which is a good thing. Obviously, we're young, but I think just because nobody knows them now, if they play a good couple games, then the whole world will know them. It'll be exciting.' ___ AP NFL:
