2021 NFL ROOKIES

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

KYLE PITTS
TE, ATLANTA FALCONS

Falcons signed No. 4 overall pick TE Kyle Pitts to a four-year, $32.9 million contract.

The contract is fully guaranteed and includes a fifth-year team option. With the signing, Pitts is officially the seventh highest-paid tight end in the league. Tight ends don't typically make waves in their first pro season but Pitts is arguably the best tight end prospect the league has ever seen. Pitts (6'6/245) has prototypical size but was also massively productive at Florida, 96.3 yards and 1.5 touchdowns per game in his final season with the Gators. Atlanta has moved on from Julio Jones since taking Pitts, forcing him into a sizable role as a rookie. Notes from minicamp have also indicated that the Falcons plan to feed in his debut season. Despite the history of rookie tight ends casting some doubt on Pitts, he is rightfully being selected as a top-five option at his position in fantasy drafts.
SOURCE: Adam Schefter on Twitter

Jun 29, 2021, 1:10 PM ET

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

ZACH WILSON
QB, NEW YORK JETS

SNY's Ralph Vacchiano reports the Jets are "not likely to budge" in ongoing contract talks with rookie QB Zach Wilson.

Wilson, the second pick in the 2021 draft, hasn't reported to training camp as his agent haggles with the Jets over "offset language" in his rookie deal that could let the team void his guaranteed money if he's punished by the league. First overall pick Trevor Lawrence didn't have offset language in his deal, a rarity for rookie contracts. Wilson is slated to get a four-year, $35.1 million deal that includes a signing bonus of $22.9 million and a fifth-year team option. Vacchiano said denying Wilson the change in offset contract language is "a matter of principle and precedent" for the team. "They have never given out a contract without offset language. And if they remove the offset language from Wilson’s contract, they might have to do it for future deals." A protracted contract battle between the Jets and their newest franchise quarterback could turn embarrassing if it doesn't end in the coming days. Quarterbacks Mike White and James Morgan will run the Jets' first team offense in the meantime.
SOURCE: SNY.TV

Jul 28, 2021, 11:08 AM ET

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

VIDEO: Justin Fields Zips Gorgeous Sidearm Pass For Crazy Completion

https://www.sportsmockery.com/chicago-bears/video-justin-fields-zips-gorgeous-sidearm-pass-for-crazy-completion/

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jefffedotin/2021/08/01/kansas-city-chiefs-rookie-trey-smith-is-one-of-the-nfls-best-bargains/


https://nflmocks.com/2021/08/04/kansas-city-chiefs-trey-smith-grabbing-headlines-training-camp/

[CrimsonCrew]

At least as of August 1 (when the Forbes article was published), they hadn't even had a padded practice, so we may want to pump the brakes just a little on this one. Granted any sixth-round pick getting starting reps for a SB contender is a pretty big deal.

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

D'WAYNE ESKRIDGE
WR, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said D'Wayne Eskridge (toe, active/PUP) has made adjustments to help his foot injury.

Eskridge has custom cleats to help manage his injury. He's reportedly running pain-free and could ramp up his conditioning next week. Out since late June, Eskridge will need to make up ground on Freddie Swain for the No. 3 receiver job when he gets cleared.
SOURCE: Sports Radio KJR

Aug 8, 2021, 11:17 AM ET

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

https://www.nbcsports.com/washington/football-team/dyami-brown-wants-show-hes-all-around-threat-and-so-far-its-working

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

JA'MARR CHASE
WR, CINCINNATI BENGALS

The Athletic's Paul Dehner Jr. writes Bengals No. 5 overall pick Ja'Marr Chase "has not shown as much separation as you’d hope" in training camp.

"His skill set is that unique," Dehner writes. "You see flashes of that early, but you also see somebody tentatively getting used to a new offense, new league and not playing football since January 2020. He has not shown as much separation as you’d hope, and the contested balls haven’t gone his way much, either." It's obviously very early into camp, especially for a 21-year-old who hasn't played competitive football in over a year, but all early signs point to Chase struggling in his transition to the NFL for a variety of reasons. That's not to say he won't simply get up to speed by the time the Bengals kick-off against the Vikings on September 12 -- there just might be a little more room for either Tee Higgins or Tyler Boyd to lead the team in targets than initially perceived. The overall WR21 in drafts right now, Chase's current ADP (43.6) at least warrants a second thought before locking him in at that range.
SOURCE: Paul Dehner on Twitter

Aug 9, 2021, 2:20 PM ET

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

https://dolphinswire.usatoday.com/2021/08/13/watch-jaylen-waddle-flashes-quickness-on-route-from-joint-practice/

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

ELIJAH MOORE
WR, NEW YORK JETS

According to Jets coach Robert Saleh, second-round rookie WR Elijah Moore is day-to-day with a quad injury.

Moore got an MRI after suffering a quad injury last week, but the results reportedly showed it wasn't a serious injury. Today, Saleh disclosed that the team is hopeful Moore will be back sometime during the next week. Even if he's not, it appears Moore's Week 1 status is not in doubt. The rookie has been dominating at camp and will be a popular late-round sleeper in season-long drafts.
SOURCE: Rich Cimini on Twitter

Aug 15, 2021, 12:44 AM ET

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

KADARIUS TONEY
WR, NEW YORK GIANTS

Giants coach Joe Judge told reporters that first-round rookie WR Kadarius Toney aggravated an injury he had been dealing with previously.

Judge did not disclose what Toney's injury is, but he went on to say that he's hopeful Toney will be back at practice during the week. It has not been a great offseason for the Florida product, who has missed a lot of practice time due to various problems (contract issues, injury, personal reasons). Once he's healthy, he figures to slot in as a backup option on a crowded Giants depth chart.
SOURCE: Kim Jones on Twitter

Aug 15, 2021, 12:22 AM ET

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

TREY LANCE
QB, SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

Trey Lance completed 5-of-14 passes for 128 yards, one touchdown, and no interceptions in the 49ers' preseason game against the Chiefs.

Lance's biggest highlight was an 80-yard touchdown to Trent Sherfield. His first three incompletions were drops, so the stats don't tell the whole story in that regard. That goes both ways though, as he threw two turnover-worthy passes and took multiple sacks. Still, the third overall pick showed off what made him such a mesmerizing prospect, and he's an immediate fantasy QB1 once he gets the job.

Aug 14, 2021, 11:03 PM ET

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

TREY SERMON
RB, SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

With Raheem Mostert not playing, Trey Sermon got the start and rushed nine times for 26 yards, in addition to two catches for 14 yards as a receiver.

It's encouraging to see Sermon get the start, even if Mostert didn't play. There has been a steady drumbeat out of 49ers camp that Sermon could have a legitimate role from the get-go. He didn't do much with his touches, but the fact that Kyle Shanahan trusted him right away – rather than making him earn it, as many coaches do – speaks volumes about how the team feels about him.

Aug 14, 2021, 10:53 PM ET

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Watch on YouTube

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

JA'MARR CHASE
WR, CINCINNATI BENGALS

Ja'Marr Chase was held catchless in Friday's preseason game against Washington.

Chase dropped all three of his targets. It's not the step forward the Bengals were looking for from Chase, who's struggled getting open in training camp practices. Chase admitted he's "still adjusting to the timing" of the NFL. Drops were never a problem for Chase at LSU, with just five on 118 targets in 2019. The Bengals may look to give Chase a few reps in the final preseason game against Miami next week.

Aug 21, 2021, 9:30 AM ET

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

DEVONTA SMITH
WR, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

First-round rookie WR Devonta Smith caught 2-of-4 targets for 19 yards and no touchdowns in the Eagles' preseason game against the Patriots.

Smith dropped his first two targets, although QB Joe Flacco wasn't exactly putting him in the best situation to succeed. He found his footing after that and had a beautiful route to shake his defender late in the second quarter. Smith has a good chance to be Philadelphia's WR1 right from the get-go, and it was encouraging to see him back on the field after missing some time with a sprained MCL.

Aug 19, 2021, 9:26 PM ET

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

TREVOR LAWRENCE
QB, JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

Jaguars OC Darrell Bevell said on Thursday that Trevor Lawrence and Gardner Minshew will continue to split first-team quarterback reps.

Lawrence is the overwhelming favorite to start Week 1 – and it would still be a massive shock if he doesn't – but the Jaguars have maintained all offseason that it's an open competition. Bevell confirmed on Thursday that the first overall pick will continue to split first-team reps with Minshew at practice. One could think it may be beneficial to get the rookie as many reps as possible in the new system, but it appears that is not the Jaguars' plan at the moment.
SOURCE: John Oehser on Twitter

Aug 19, 2021, 6:02 PM ET

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

JUSTIN FIELDS
QB, CHICAGO BEARS

Justin Fields completed 9-of-19 passes for 80 yards and rushed four times for 46 yards in the Bears' preseason loss to the Bills.

Fields only averaged 4.2 yards per attempt, but his offensive line and receiving corps did him no favors. He was constantly under pressure and victimized by dropped passes, so the numbers don't tell the whole story in this case. Fields did impress as a runner, escaping the pocket numerous times and making something out of nothing. Andy Dalton didn't play well, but the veteran is still in the driver's seat for the Week 1 nod if you believe what Bears coach Matt Nagy has been saying.

Aug 21, 2021, 4:27 PM ET

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

BREVIN JORDAN
TE, HOUSTON TEXANS

Sports Illustrated’s Anthony Wood believes rookie TE Brevin Jordan “has a good shot at making an impact straight away.”

Jordan, a three-year starter and team captain at Miami, was one of the standouts of Texans’ camp. The rookie fifth-rounder had seven touchdowns in eight games as a junior and likely would have went higher in the draft if not for a slow forty time (4.6) at his Pro Day. The Texans ran 12 personnel on 28% of plays in 2020 and have Jordan Atkins as the only veteran in front of Jordan after letting Darren Fells walk in the offseason. Jordan, who played 166-of-269 snaps in the slot last year, expects to “be moved around” in ex-TE coach Tim Kelly’s offense.
SOURCE: SI.com

Aug 29, 2021, 11:44 AM ET

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

JERMAR JEFFERSON
RB, DETROIT LIONS

Lions RBs coach Duce Staley said Jermar Jefferson has shown “a lot of growth” with his pass protection.

Jefferson, who started two of Detroit’s preseason games, has repped as the No. 3 back throughout camp. The rookie has a roster spot locked down, and with D’Andre Swift (core) looking questionable for Week 1, an early season role is possible. Zero RB drafters see potential for value with Jefferson, a First Team All-Pac-12 back, on a team that cleared house in the offseason and has no ties to Swift. Lions coach Dan Campbell famously backed Jay Ajayi over the higher drafted Lamar Miller during his final year with the Dolphins.
SOURCE: MLive.com

Aug 29, 2021, 10:25 AM ET