2025 NFL rookie minicamp takeaways: Seahawks’ Jalen Milroe displaying promise early on; Eagles QB battle brewing?

Life comes at you quick. Simply ask the rookies of six groups who took half of their first NFL practices only a week after the conclusion of the 2025 NFL Draft. 

The Ravens, Cowboys, Packers, Chiefs, Eagles and Seahawks every carried out rookie minicamps this previous week. In Baltimore, the main focus is on protection and on the offensive line, two areas of the crew that had been a spotlight throughout the draft. In Dallas, there’s a new period underway below new head coach Brian Schottenheimer. 

There’s one other period underway in Seattle, too, after the Seahawks determined to bear a change at quarterback after buying and selling Geno Smith and signing Sam Darnold to a multiyear deal. Whereas Darnold is the projected starter for 2025, the crew’s latest quarterback shortly confirmed indicators of progress throughout his first NFL observe. 

These are only a few of the notable storylines from the primary rookie minicamps of the 2025 offseason. This is the principle takeaway from every of the half-dozen groups that already carried out their rookie minicamps, beginning with the defending two-time defending AFC North division champs. 

Baltimore opened its rookie minicamp on Saturday, with the media being granted entry to Sunday’s observe. Heading into rookie minicamp, the expectation in Baltimore is that first-round choose Malaki Starks and second-round choose Mike Inexperienced will likely be fast contributors on protection. Inexperienced, particularly, will likely be fascinating to comply with as he’s coming off an extremely prolific 2024 season that noticed him report 17 sacks (probably the most within the FBS) and 23 tackles for loss. 

Offensive line is one other space to observe after the Ravens added three gamers to that unit by way of the draft. Particularly, Ravens followers ought to control the progress of Carson Vinson, a fifth-round choose who was the one HBCU participant chosen within the draft. A product of Alabama A&M, the 6-foot-7, 321-pound Vinson undoubtedly improved his pre-draft inventory following spectacular showings in his faculty’s matchups in opposition to Vanderbilt and Auburn. 

Vinson’s journey to the NFL can at the least partly be attributed to his drive to show folks mistaken after he was evenly recruited popping out of highschool. He stated that he wished to go to North Carolina, which did not present curiosity in him till after he had already began to determine himself at Alabama A&M. 

“[North Carolina] got here again calling round my junior [or] senior yr, and I wasn’t going to go as a result of [they] did not need me out of highschool,” Vinson stated. “So, it was actually only a chip on my shoulder that I took all through school. I stated, ‘OK, I’ll do it from the varsity that wished me first.'”

Rookie minicamp has supplied up the primary likelihood for the media to see Schottenheimer’s preliminary practices because the Cowboys’ head coach. A primary-time NFL head coach, Schottenheimer and his workers are getting some early reward from a few of Dallas’ new gamers. 

“The coaches have a lot vitality on this workers,” rookie operating again Phil Mafah stated. “It permits the gamers to be themselves. … We simply feed off one another.”

Music and vitality from the teaching workers had been two of the largest takeaways from the Cowboys’ first open observe of the Schottenheimer period. One other notable takeaways was the observe standing of rookie third-round choose Shavon Revel Jr.. Revel, a cornerback who was thought of by some as a potential first-round choose, continues to be working his means again from a torn ACL he suffered 4 weeks into his remaining season at East Carolina. 

Throughout his first NFL observe, Revel (whose knee surgical procedure was carried out seven months in the past by Cowboys crew physician Dan Cooper) participated in stretching and conditioning drills along with his teammates earlier than doing rehab work throughout place drills. He did reportedly look good when he was seen operating and reducing throughout observe. 

“Proper now I can just about do the whole lot,” Revel stated. “Operating straight line, reducing, have not gotten an excessive amount of into that, simply making an attempt to take it day-to-day, making an attempt to take it sluggish.”

One of many greatest storylines from Inexperienced Bay’s rookie minicamp did not happen on the sector. It was first-round choose Matthew Golden’s choice to vary his jersey quantity from No. 81 to No. 22. Golden, who wore No. 2 in school, stated that he did not trouble to ask Packers backup quarterback Malik Willis (who at the moment wears No. 2) to surrender his quantity. 

What prompted Golden to pick No. 22?

“My grandma, her favourite quantity was ‘2’ rising up, and he or she advised me she wished me to signify that quantity,” Golden stated, by way of The Athletic. “And so I knew the final receiver that was drafted (by the Packers within the first spherical) was 2002, so I really feel prefer it sort of made sense to me.” 

Inexperienced Bay’s second-round choose, offensive sort out Anthony Belton, is hoping to make use of the spring/summer season to enhance his hand approach, which was fairly presumably the largest factor that prevented him from being drafted even greater than he was. Whereas Belton performed solely left sort out at NC State, the Packers assume he can play each sort out and each guard spots, assuming he makes the required enhancements within the coming months. 

“I had a foul behavior of sort of gathering as a substitute of putting,” Belton stated of his hand approach. “So, quite a lot of occasions, guys sort of accumulate it, and that is sort of giving up your chest, in order that invitations bull rushes. So now you are within the quarterback’s lap, and, particularly at this degree, you possibly can’t try this in opposition to guys. … Relating to that side, I must do a greater job of utilizing my size, maintaining that separation so I am unable to let guys in my physique.” 

Just like the Cowboys, the Chiefs even have a rookie who’s overcoming a knee damage. Offensive sort out and first-round choose Josh Simmons continues to work his means again from his knee damage he suffered halfway by means of his remaining season at Ohio State. 

Throughout his first NFL observe, Simmons didn’t take part in 11-on-11 or particular person drills, however he did take part in place drills with the remainder of the offensive linemen. 

Simmons stated that he would prioritize psychological reps and finding out the playbook throughout minicamp. Considerably surprisingly, Simmons stated that the Chiefs’ playbook was “not as complicated” as he predicted. That could be as a result of he spent his school years taking part in inside Ohio State head coach Ryan Day’s NFL-style offense. 

Simmons did not take the bait when he was requested if he views himself as a direct starter. 

“[I want to] assault rehab as onerous as I can,” Simmons stated, by way of The Athletic. “That means, when coaching camp does come round, I may be probably the most assist that I presumably may be. There’s nothing, actually, I can do to sort of drive — there are quite a lot of vets in right here, and my factor is to remain out the best way, work onerous and be a useful piece if I can.” 

One other notable takeaway from the Chiefs’ first rookie minicamp observe was receiver Jalen Royals, a third-round choose who stated that he felt “very anxious but in addition completely satisfied” since arriving in Kansas Metropolis. Royals did not seem like anxious in any respect throughout observe. All advised, Royals (who stated that he watches veterans Davante Adams and AJ Brown to attempt to “piggyback off of what they do”) did a superb job showcasing his quickness and powerful arms throughout place drills. 

“Simply taking it one step at a time,” Royals stated. “I do know it is the primary day, however simply making an attempt to return in and work and take it step-by-step.” 

For a second straight yr, Philadelphia is using a younger quarterback who grew up an Eagles fan. After Kenny Pickett realized his dream of taking part in for his favourite childhood crew final yr, rookie sixth-round choose Kyle McCord will now get that likelihood. 

McCord can also be lastly getting an opportunity to work with Scot Loeffler, the crew’s new quarterbacks coach who supplied McCord a scholarship when he was in eighth grade as Boston Faculty’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. 

“He is one of many few school coaches that I did not play for that I nonetheless have quite a lot of conversations with,” McCord stated, by way of Sports activities Illustrated. “And now to be taking part in for him. I imply you by no means understand how your paths are gonna cross and so it could be in his first yr [in the NFL] and clearly my first yr within the NFL. Being collectively is fairly candy.”

The 6-foot-3, 220-pound McCord spent nearly all of his school profession at Ohio State. After sitting behind C.J. Stroud for 2 years, he acquired his likelihood to begin in 2023. However regardless of serving to lead the Buckeyes to an 11-0 begin, McCord was inspired to enter the switch portal at season’s finish. He in the end went to Syracuse, the place final yr he led the whole FBS with 4,779 yards whereas ending tenth within the Heisman Trophy voting. 

McCord will now look to earn a spot on the Eagles’ depth chart. He will likely be competing with Dorian Thompson-Robinson, a 2023 fifth-round choose who was a part of the Eagles’ commerce with the Browns that included Pickett, for the QB3 job and presumably a remaining roster spot. 

Can McCord additionally problem Tanner McKee for the first backup spot? That is unlikely, however not totally inconceivable. McKee, a 2023 sixth-round choose, performed properly final season (he threw for 269 yards and two touchdowns in his first profession begin, a Week 18 win over the Giants), properly sufficient to persuade the Eagles that they may commerce Pickett this offseason. That being stated, McCord might make issues fascinating if he has a powerful sufficient spring/summer season whereas benefiting from his observe reps. His relationship with Loeffler would not damage his probabilities, both.

Rating AFC groups following 2025 NFL Draft: Ravens edge Chiefs for prime spot; Cam Ward not sufficient for Titans

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All eyes on Seattle had been on Jalen Milroe, who is just the third quarterback the Seahawks have drafted since 2010, John Schneider’s first season as common supervisor. Throughout his first minicamp observe, Milroe and fellow rookie Will Rogers, who went undrafted, spent the day working a standard NFL offense that did not characteristic any designed runs. That is notable, provided that Milroe scored 20 touchdowns on the bottom throughout his remaining yr at Alabama. 

Seattle clearly feels snug with Milroe’s prowess as a runner. On Friday, it was clear that the crew’s brass wished to see what he might do as a signal-caller. He and Rogers had been requested to name performs within the huddle, yell cadences on the line of scrimmage and take under-center dropbacks with and with out play motion. Additionally they had reps with multiples reads within the development that required throwing on time and in rhythm. 

Milroe did not disappoint. Whereas there are issues he has to enhance on as a passer, it seems he has the work ethic and dedication to make these enhancements. 

A part of Milroe’s preparation has been his work with QB guru Jordan Palmer. Milroe, who has been working with Palmer for over a yr, has been specializing in bettering his decrease physique mechanics and weight distribution when throwing. 

“With that, it is all about being an environment friendly passer,” Milroe stated, by way of The Athletic. “The extra you’re employed, the extra you perceive your physique, you are going to be extra of an environment friendly passer. That is one thing we work on and [will] proceed to work on so I may be the perfect quarterback I may be.” 

Milroe stated when he is not on the soccer area, he is going to spend so much of time this spring/summer season diving into the Seahawks’ playbook. He additionally harassed the significance of taking good care of his physique. 

“I am taking good care of my physique in order that I may be out there for the coaches, my teammates,” he stated. 

Milroe’s intangible strengths had been on full show Friday, as he was ceaselessly seen encouraging and celebrating the success of his new teammates. 

“Irrespective of the place you are at on the depth chart, we’re all making an attempt to achieve success,” Milroe stated. “That is one thing I noticed [today] and was actually completely satisfied about as a result of we have now quite a lot of good dudes that had been on the soccer area immediately.”