With a majority of the big name rookies forced to attend the NFLs Annual Rookie Premier weeks ago, many late round and undrafted free agents received the bulk of reps during the early stages of OTAs. However, since then first-rounders like Jake Matthews, Brandon Cooks, and Kelvin Benjamin have all been going full speed in hopes of learning the ropes of the NFL and to get acclimated as quickly as possible. Here are what rookies that have caught the eye of coaches and fans alike thus far during OTAs.
Kelvin Benjamin, Carolina Panthers, Wide Receiver: Stock Up
While many people thought the slot Benjamin was drafted at was far to high for how raw and unknown of a prospect he is, there is no arguing that he will trot into his first year as the clear cut number-one target for Cam Newton and the Panthers passing game. Benjamin was selected in the first-round because of his big body and enormous catch-radius that gives way to splash plays and can help aid any quarterback under duress. So far during OTAs the 6’5” 240 pound wide-out has destroyed the teams secondary on a daily basis, making unbelievable catches look routine.
His most recent “wow” play came last week during red-zone drills, when Benjamin reached up and over his defender in the corner of the end zone staying inbounds while falling backwards for the score. This daily ritual has become routine and is something that has Newton ecstatic as he now has an outside weapon that can win one-on-one match-ups and jump balls. With his arm strength Newton has been often criticized for continuing to “overthrow” his receivers when off target, but with his giant stature Benjamin has been nearly impossible to overthrow making him a valuable addition for his Newton and the offense.
Devonta Freeman, Atlanta Falcons, Running Back: Stock Up
With a slew of eligible and talented running backs that entered the draft, Freeman often got lost in the shuffle during predraft evaluations and rankings. Still, the Falcons saw great value in him when he fell in their laps with the 103rd pick, and have welcomed his talents with open arms in an offense that is ready to get more physical at the line of scrimmage. With the addition of blue chip offensive tackle Jake Mathews the Falcons are committed to grinding away their opponents on the ground, and Freeman looks ready to contribute to that plan in a big way.
Freeman is listed at just 5’8” but is a tank to bring down weighing 208 pounds, and has very little wear and tear on his body because of split time for the Florida State Seminoles. Freeman has looked fresh and sharp during the small sample we’ve seen him play so far, and continues to fine tune his pass protection, which is the bridge between being starter and backup at this point, especially with an injury riddled Stephen Jackson ready to breakdown at any moment.
Charles Sims, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Running Back: Stock Up
Another running back hits the list here, but Sims is a different type of player than the above mentioned Freeman. Sims, who transferred around in college multiple times yet still averaged over five-yards per carry, lit up the Senior Bowl as he showed off one of the more well rounded and versatile tool belts around. Sims has carried that momentum with him into Tampa Bay where he has excelled at running, blocking, and catching the ball, arguably his biggest strength.
With Doug Martin returning form season-ending injury and a new offensive system in place, coaches have already vowed to limit Martins carries this season, and turn the backfield into a two-back system. With Vincent Jackson, Mike Evans, and Austin Jenkins forming a real life basketball team on grass, Sims will have plenty of grass of his own opened up by those three stretching the field vertically, and is someone who should continue to earn more playing time while his role on offense increases.
Stanley Jean-Baptiste, New Orleans Saints, Cornerback: Stock Down
Following the success of Richard Sherman and the Seattle Seahawks secondary, Stanley Jean-Baptiste is the new prototypical cornerback in todays NFL with his big stature (6’3” 218 pounds) and long lanky arms. Thats exactly why the Saints swooped him up in the second round of the draft, to help add a big play element into their secondary that has struggled in stopping the pass. So far in OTAs however, Jean-Baptiste has looked lost more times than he’s been found, and has been twisted, tangled, and torched on a daily basis.
Defensive guru Rob Ryan will surly need time to fine tune this rookie cornerback, and while its clear he has the size that can’t be taught, he is still very raw at this point and will need time to adjust to the nuances of the NFL. Of course his struggles could be just a mirage at this point, as trying to defend passes form Drew Brees to Jimmy Graham during practice can make any savvy veteran look like a rookie all over again.