2022 ROOKIES

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

PIERRE STRONG
RB, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

NESN's Zack Cox believes rookie RB Pierre Strong was drafted as James White's "long-term replacement."

An explosive ball carrier and excellent pass catcher in four years at South Dakota State, Strong -- taken with the 127th pick of the 2022 NFL Draft -- could be a natural fit to eventually supplant White, entering his age-30 season and coming off a catastrophic hip injury in 2021. Shrine Bowl director of operations and player personnel Eric Galko told NESN that Strong's pass-blocking ability will secure at least some playing time as a rookie. “I would say from a Patriots perspective, yeah, I think he starts working a lot more on those third-down roles, maybe as more of a pass-blocking option to James White’s pass-catching option, and then slowly eats into that," Galko said. "But don’t be surprised if they also work him heavily in the rotation.” Strong, who totaled 4,527 rushing yards and 40 touchdowns in 48 career games at South Dakota State, is an intriguing end-of-bench stash in deeper formats. Breaking out in a crowded Patriots backfield will prove exceedingly difficult, however.
SOURCE: NESN.com

May 17, 2022, 8:31 AM ET

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

DAXTON HILL
S, CINCINNATI BENGALS

Bengals signed No. 31 overall pick S Daxton Hill to a four-year contract.

The deal is fully guaranteed and comes with a fifth-year team option for 2026. Hill (6’0/191) made a name for himself as an instinctive, fast-twitch hybrid safety/slot corner with the versatility to move all around the defensive formation, playing heavy snaps in the slot, box, and at free safety throughout his college career. Hill posted strong passer ratings against of 63.4 in 2019 and 61.3 in 2020. Last year, the first-team All-Big Ten performer allowed 45 receptions on 65 targets due to his increased slot coverage responsibilities, which bumped him up to a 79.8 passer rating when targeted. His athleticism showed out in the speed and agility testing. Hill’s 4.38 forty and splits were 96th-percentile or better while his 4.06 shuttle was in the 93rd and 6.57 three-cone was worthy of the 99th-percentile. The scintillating marks contributed to a rock-solid 9.06 overall relative athletic score. The knock on Hill is that he is considered undersized for the safety position. His frame is somewhat slight, which could present issues while taking on blockers at the next level. However, his elite range, anticipation, and coverage ability made him one of the most versatile safeties in the 2022 class in the mold of Minkah Fitzpatrick.

May 18, 2022, 3:41 PM ET

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

TREYLON BURKS
WR, TENNESSEE TITANS

Titans coach Mike Vrabel said WR Treylon Burks is practicing without limitations at OTAs.

Burks was sidelined for his conditioning at rookie camp. The first-round pick has had a rough offseason, dropping passes and struggling to stay on the field in team workouts. The slow start from Burks makes Tennessee a potential spot for a veteran signing.
SOURCE: Sports Illustrated

May 28, 2022, 10:06 AM ET

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

CHRISTIAN WATSON
WR, GREEN BAY PACKERS

Packers offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich said WR Christian Watson will be a "problem" for opposing secondaries.

The rookie receiver from North Dakota State -- taken by Green Bay in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft -- has turned heads in spring practices. The Athletic's Matt Schneidman reports in "brief offseason workouts against phantom defenses, Watson has already flashed traits the Packers became enamored with." “His combination of size and speed is great,” Stenavich said. “He’s a big guy. He can move. He’s going to be a problem once he figures things out.” An explosive playmaker in a run-heavy North Dakota State offense, Watson, at the ripe age of 23, blew away scouts at the NFL Combine with a 4.36 40 yard dash, a 38.5-inch vertical, and a 136-inch broad jump. Watson has a 97th percentile catch radius, a 98th percentile speed score, and a 95th percentile burst score. The Packers hope his athleticism can translate quickly in Aaron Rodgers' offense. Rodgers has historically been tough on rookie pass catchers, taking years to develop chemistry with Jordy Nelson, James Jones, and Davante Adams. Watson will likely face a steep learning curve to start his rookie campaign.
SOURCE: The Athletic

May 27, 2022, 9:25 AM ET

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

DEREK STINGLEY
DB, HOUSTON TEXANS

Pro Football Network's Aaron Wilson writes that the Texans are "proceeding cautiously" with rookie Derek Stingley during OTAs.

Stingley was the No. 3 overall pick of this year's draft, despite missing much of the 2021 season due to a Lisfranc foot injury. Stingley has healed enough to participate in LSU's pro day in early April -- where he ran a 4.37 40-time -- but Houston has yet to put him on the field for a full practice. Wilson writes that Stingley has been limited to individual drills in OTAs but that he "didn't appear to have any issues with his mobility or discomfort."
SOURCE: Pro Football Network

May 26, 2022, 8:43 PM ET

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Packers: Christian Watson is as advertised at OTAs

https://lombardiave.com/2022/06/03/packers-christian-watson-otas/

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Jets' Michael Carter Offers Huge Compliment to Undrafted Free Agent Zonovan Knight

https://www.si.com/nfl/jets/news/new-york-jets-michael-carter-praises-undrafted-free-agent-zonovan-knight

[Jikkle]

Packers: Christian Watson is as advertised at OTAs

https://lombardiave.com/2022/06/03/packers-christian-watson-otas/

He was a lot of people's draft crush for the 9ers given the Trey Lance connection.

Hard to see him replacing DeVante Adam's production though and they are probably hoping he'll just be productive.

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

This was a prospect I wanted us to target as an UDFA. This comes as a surprise and it sounds like they’re discovered some serious medical issues?

JERMAINE WALLER
DB, UNSIGNED FREE AGENT

Lions rookie CB Jermaine Waller retired.

Waller signed a contract with the Lions in May after going undrafted. He participated in both rookie minicamp and OTAs, but was not present at the team's mandatory minicamp this week. The team announced on Wednesday that Waller has chosen to retire. Waller started 23 games during his career at Virginia Tech and led the team with four interceptions in 2021.
SOURCE: ProFootballTalk

Jun 8, 2022, 4:41 PM ET

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

TARIQ WOOLEN
DB, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

Speaking at OTAs, Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said of fifth-round rookie CB Tariq Woolen: "Once he got out there, shoot, you couldn’t miss him out there."

"He’s long and tall and really fast. He’s fast fast," Carroll added. Woolen was the size-speed poster boy of corners in the 2022 draft, and was destined to catch eyes in a workout environment. It's important not to go overboard and think this means Woolen will be starting in September. Still, it says something that Carroll already has his eyes locked on to the youngster this early.
SOURCE: The Athletic

Jun 10, 2022, 1:37 PM ET

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

WAN'DALE ROBINSON
WR, NEW YORK GIANTS

NJ.com's Darryl Slater reports Wan'Dale Robinson "could have a significant role [in the Giants offense] — perhaps as a gadget player — even if he doesn’t start."

The diminutive Robinson, standing 5'8" and weighing 178 pounds, was New York's second round selection in the 2022 NFL Draft after accounting for 45 percent of Kentucky's receiving yards in 2021 to cap off a hyper-productive collegiate career. Slater said Robinson could force his way into significant snaps in the Giants new offense in part because he has a "pretty similar" skill set as presumed starter Kadarius Toney. Robinson has ample experience as a rusher. At Nebraska in 2019, where he started his college football career, Robinson ran for 580 yards and four touchdowns on 134 carries (while catching 91 passes for 914 yards) as a hybrid running back-receiver. While his lack of size and poor NFL Combine performance are knocks against his pro prospects, the team spending second-round draft capital on Robinson likely means they intend to involve him in their offense this year.
SOURCE: NJ.com

Jun 10, 2022, 8:38 AM ET

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

I’m convinced that he’s the player the 9ers were targeting with our second round pick:

COLE STRANGE
C, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

ESPN's Mike Reiss believes Patriots first-round OL Cole Strange is a "plug-and-play starter" at left guard.

He was less sanguine on second-round WR Tyquan Thornton, noting that Thornton's work as a gunner could be "his ticket" to land on the 46-man game-day roster. The Patriots have plenty of depth at wideout after reeling in DeVante Parker this offseason, so it's not a surprise that Thornton will have to fight to see snaps. Him being a healthy scratch should be in our range of outcomes in 2022.
SOURCE: ESPN

Jun 12, 2022, 1:39 PM ET

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

KENNETH WALKER
RB, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker has missed OTAs with a hamstring injury.

Walker's absence comes after Rashaad Penny (hamstring) was just cleared to practice. The second-round rookie could remain sidelined for next week's mandatory camp but has over a month to get cleared for training camp.
SOURCE: Seattle Times

Jun 11, 2022, 11:45 AM ET

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

DESMOND RIDDER
QB, ATLANTA FALCONS

Sports Illustrated's Daniel Flick believes "it seems like a matter of when, not if" Falcons QB Desmond Ridder gets to start.

Coach Arthur Smith didn't rule out Ridder earning the starting job in April's post-draft press conference. The rookie hasn't done anything to change that since OTAs. The Falcons are selling Marcus Mariota, who hasn't started since 2019, as a bridge to Ridder, the third-winningest quarterback in college history. Mariota owns a 29-32 record in seven seasons, was benched his only year with Smith in Tennessee, and has never played a full season in his career. Mariota's Smith ties have him ahead of Ridder entering training camp, but if Ridder outplays Mariota this preseason, he'll have a chance to start Week 1.
SOURCE: Sports Illustrated

Jun 11, 2022, 11:07 AM ET

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

JAHAN DOTSON
WR, WASHINGTON COMMANDERS

Washington WR Jahan Dotson has been Carson Wentz’s top target at minicamp.

Terry McLaurin’s OTA absence has allowed Dotson to build up reps with Wentz. Washington expects McLaurin back for next week's mandatory camp, but the early returns have been good on Dotson, who looks to already be ahead of Curtis Samuel.
SOURCE: NBC Sports Washington

Jun 10, 2022, 6:25 PM ET

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

PIERRE STRONG
RB, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

The Sports Hub's Alex Barth believes fourth-round RB Pierre Strong "looks like the best fit" to replace James White (hip surgery) as the Patriots' pass down back.

With White limited at OTAs, the Patriots got an extended look at Strong and sixth-round RB Kevin Harris. Strong was known for his blocking at South Dakota State, where he was used as a lead blocker on quarterback runs, and had 22 catches his senior year. The Patriots drafted Strong two rounds higher than Harris, giving Strong the edge for snaps if White misses time. White landing on reserve/PUP would improve third-year RB J.J. Taylor's roster chances.
SOURCE: CBS Sports Boston

Jun 18, 2022, 11:20 AM ET

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

GEORGE PICKENS
WR, PITTSBURGH STEELERS

The Athletic's Mark Kaboly writes of George Pickens' fantasy stock: "Pickens will produce some splash plays as a rookie but not enough to be somebody you blindly start every week."

The Steelers have plenty of mouths to feed between Diontae Johnson, Chase Claypool, Pat Freiermuth, and Najee Harris. Pickens probably won't see too much of the fantasy football spotlight without injuries ahead of him in the pecking order. Still, he's a good buy for the long-term with Johnson in a contract year.
SOURCE: The Athletic

Jun 21, 2022, 4:35 PM ET

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

GEORGE PICKENS
WR, PITTSBURGH STEELERS

Steelers WR George Pickens "isn’t going to be asked to do much" as a rookie.

This isn't a surprise given Diontae Johnson, Chase Claypool, and Pat Freiermuth are ahead of Pickens for targets. Pickens will likely start out as Pittsburgh's third receiver and could be featured similar to how the Steelers used Martavis Bryant in the red-zone, who had eight touchdowns his first year. The second-round rookie was a full participant at OTAs after 2021 ACL surgery.
SOURCE: The Athletic

Jul 2, 2022, 10:04 AM ET

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

CAM JURGENS
C, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

Eagles signed second-round C Cam Jurgens to a four-year contract.

The Eagles selected Jurgens with the No. 51 overall pick. Jurgens will sit behind Jason Kelce as a rookie, but that may be the only season he spends on the bench. Entering his 12th season, Kelce is likely closing in on his retirement. The Wisconsin alum was hand-picked by Kelce, who helped the Eagles' front office evaluate lineman in the offseason. Jurgens is slightly undersized but makes up for that with supreme athleticism. Studying under Kelce should help him hone his craft in preparation for the starting gig down the road.

Jul 1, 2022, 2:00 PM ET

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

JEREMY RUCKERT
TE, NEW YORK JETS

Jets TE Jeremy Ruckert (foot) didn't participate in minicamp.

With TE C.J. Uzomah also sidelined, the missed time allowed Tyler Conklin to get the majority of first-team reps. Ruckert is expected to be cleared for training camp later this month. The third-round rookie projects to open the year as the Jets' No. 3 tight end.
SOURCE: The Athletic

Jul 3, 2022, 10:04 AM ET