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Rookie Storylines

Rookie Storylines – Training Camp

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By: Nate Christian (@NateNFL)

With the NFL season starting in less than two months, teams are beginning to report to training camp. The off-season is truly over, and the players are once again putting on their pads. This will be the first time this year, for many teams, that all the starters will be on the field together. This will also be the time that some of those “starters” either tighten the grip on their role, or start to find themselves falling on the depth chart. Everyone loves a good training camp storyline, especially those where a rookie is trying to find their place on the team. The new kids on the block, who are full of potential, start to make their impact and those who have an opportunity may just make something of it. Going into this year’s training camps which rookies have the opportunity to make some noise, can they dethrone the veterans in front of them or will they end up riding the pine longer than anticipated? Here are some young guns to keep an eye on over the coming months.

Rachaad White (RB – TB) – 4 years/$1,282,500

The Buccaneers liked what they saw in Rachaad White, their third round pick this year (overall #91 pick), and his play style fits perfectly to spell Leonard Fournette ($7,000,000) throughout games. A big physical runner, White really excels as a pass catcher out of the backfield, something that we have seen Fournette take on a huge volume of since Tom Brady ($15,000,000) rolled into town. White’s competition behind Fournette includes 2020 3rd round pick Ke’Shawn Vaughn ($1,188,999) and veteran Giovani Bernard ($1,272,500). White is already being looked at as the shoe-in for the RB2 position on the team, but with Fournette showing up to camp overweight, there may be a chance for White to see significant time with training camp’s first-team offense as Fournette drops weight.

Jalen Tolbert (WR – DAL) – 4 years/$1,283,930

With incumbent wideout Michael Gallup ($11,500,000) coming off an ACL injury, the Cowboys drafted Jalen Tolbert in the third round (overall #88 pick). Despite being a small school prospect out of South Alabama, I considered Tolbert to be one of the best values at receiver in the draft and now it looks like he’ll get his chance. With a good chance Gallup starts out on the Physically-Unable-To-Perform (PUP) list, Tolbert will have the opportunity for targets early on in the season and could make enough noise to stay on the field once Gallup is back in the Cowboys high octane passing offense. Tolbert’s main competition for targets is James Washington ($1,187,500) who signed with the Cowboys as a free agent this off-season. While Washington is no slouch, I believe Tolbert has the talent to jump him in the pecking order for a team that had three receivers on the field for over 2/3rds of their offensive snaps.

Alec Pierce (WR – IND) – 4 years/$1,650,336

Drafted in the second round (overall #53 pick), yet barely talked about, Alec Pierce had an extremely productive college career at Cincinnati catching passes from Desmond Ridder ($1,340,739). Now he is in Indianapolis catching passes from Matt Ryan ($30,000,000), who despite being 37 years old, can still sling the rock. Pierce could be the WR2 for the Colts behind Michael Pittman Jr. ($2,153,212), as there is little competition outside of the oft-injured Parris Campbell ($1,193,984), who would likely be playing out of the slot when on the field. Pierce should be able to immediately take on the opposite outside receiver role across from Pittman and produce some big catches down the field with his 4.41 40-yard dash speed and 6’ 3” frame. Pierce should be able to take hold of the WR2 role rather quickly throughout training camp.

Kenny Pickett (QB – PIT) – 4 years/$3,516,976

The only first round quarterback selected in this year’s draft (overall #20 pick), Pickett looks to be taking the reins of the Steelers’ franchise from Big Ben, but not so fast. Before Pickett can take the field as the starting quarterback for the Steelers he’s going to have to beat out former first round pick, Mitchell Trubisky ($7,142,500). At the moment, the Steelers are giving Trubisky the first shot at the job and looking for Pickett to learn and grow before having to throw an NFL pass. Trubisky is anything but the long-term option though as Pickett and the Pittsburgh media will be breathing down his neck at the first sign of incompetency. Will Pickett be able to establish himself as a legitimate option by the end of training camp?

Skyy Moore (WR – KC) – 4 years/$1,612,625

One of the biggest storylines for the entire summer is the Chiefs passing attack post-Tyreek Hill ($18,000,000). The team brought in a couple outside options to help fill the hole he leaves, but none of them are expected to do it by themselves. JuJu Smith-Schuster ($3,250,000) is the most established free agent they brought to Kansas City, but Marquez Valdes-Scantling ($10,000,000) also came to town looking to make a big impact. We can’t forget about speedster Mecole Hardman ($1,248,763) who enters the last year of his rookie contract. Outside of those two free agent signings, the Chiefs drafted Moore in the second round (overall #54pick) and could be looking for him to contribute rather quickly. Coming from Western Michigan, Moore had an extremely productive college career ending with a stat line of 95 receptions/1,292 receiving yards/10 touchdowns in 2021. He offers great playmaking ability after the catch and with his speed should fit into the Chiefs’ offense nicely. Will he be able to do enough to stand out through training camp and push the veteran free agents that have joined the team? If he can become a top three option at the wide receiver position for the Chiefs, then he will likely make an impact for your Dynasty Owner team.

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