Rising NFL Stars to Keep an Eye in OTAs

Brad Gagnon@Brad_GagnonX.com Logo NFL National ColumnistMay 17, 2018

Rising NFL Stars to Keep an Eye in OTAs

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    Nam Y. Huh/Associated Press

    With the 2018 NFL draft and the bulk of free agency in the rearview mirror, it's time for the next chapter of the offseason. 

    At this point next week, all 32 NFL franchises will have started their organized team activities for 2018. There'll be a lot to keep an eye on between now and the middle of June, when professional football takes a real vacation for the first and only time all year. 

    Between now and then, we've highlighted a dozen promising young players who are worth paying close attention to as OTAs get underway. Some are coming back from injuries, while others are learning new systems or preparing to play bigger roles, but they're all looking to prove they're ready to take the next step toward stardom. 

       

Chicago Bears QB Mitchell Trubisky

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    Nam Y. Huh/Associated Press

    Mitchell Trubisky was an NFL infant when he took the field for organized team activities with the Chicago Bears last spring. This time around, he's locked in as the starting quarterback. 

    As the Bears hold three sets of OTAs in May and June followed by a full-squad minicamp on June 5-7, it's worth monitoring how Trubisky meshes with his new weapons. Chicago added Allen Robinson, Taylor Gabriel and Trey Burton in free agency to better support the 2017 No. 2 overall pick. 

    On top of that, Trubisky is learning a fresh offense under the watchful eyes of new head coach Matt Nagy and offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich. 

    "Just having a bunch of brilliant offensive minds around me, I'm just getting a lot of information," Trubisky told reporters in mid-April. "I'm trying to be a sponge, and it's been a lot of fun working with those guys and learning as much as I can."

    If the North Carolina product shines in the coming weeks, it may be a sign that he'll continue to build on a strong finish to his rookie campaign. 

San Francisco 49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo

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    Jeff Chiu/Associated Press

    Newly crowned San Francisco 49ers franchise quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo also knows a thing or two about finishing strong. The 26-year-old wrapped up the 2017 season with victories in each of his first five starts as a member of the 49ers. 

    That—along with a 94.0 passer rating and a completion percentage of 67.1—was enough to earn Garoppolo a five-year, $137.5 million deal in San Francisco. 

    When the 49ers kick off OTAs next week, Garoppolo will work practices as a bona fide starting quarterback for the first time in his NFL career. 

    Soon after San Francisco acquired Garoppolo at the 2017 trade deadline, head coach Kyle Shanahan noted it would be difficult for the former New England Patriots backup to get the system down without having attended the offseason program, per Chris Biderman of USA Today.

    "It's not only just a different playbook, but it's a different game plan each week too this time of year. That's what is so important about OTAs and training camp. That's the foundation of your playbook, where the verbiage, how you package everything together, protections, concepts, run plays and the play action, how it all ties together. Then every week it's a different game plan from that foundation throughout the summer. When you miss that foundation, it's tough."

    This offseason, they'll lay that foundation. 

Minnesota Vikings RB Dalvin Cook

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    ANDY CLAYTON-KING/Associated Press

    Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook didn't have a chance to finish strong as a rookie. Instead, his maiden NFL season abruptly ended when he tore his ACL in Week 4.

    Through those four games, the second-round pick out of Florida State ranked third in the league with 444 scrimmage yards while averaging a splendid 4.8 yards per carry. 

    In April, Vikings athletic trainer Eric Sugarman told Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press that Cook has "knocked the rehab out of the park." He adding that Cook will participate in OTAs—which get underway next week—"on a limited basis."

    That's great news for Vikings fans who are anxious to see how Cook looks in his first full offseason as a pro, especially after the team lost versatile back Jerick McKinnon in free agency. 

Tennessee Titans RB Derrick Henry

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    Mark Humphrey/Associated Press

    Two seasons into his career, Derrick Henry has scored 11 touchdowns on only 310 touches while averaging a solid 4.3 yards per carry. That might explain why the Tennessee Titans released veteran back DeMarco Murray in March, paving the way for Henry to serve in a much larger role in 2018. 

    However, Tennessee also raised some eyebrows by signing former Patriots back Dion Lewis to a four-year, $19.8 million deal in mid-March. That puts the pressure on Henry to keep producing in both practices and games to remain the top dog. 

    The reviews Henry draws bear watching while he gets acclimated to new offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur's system when the Titans kick off OTAs next week. 

New York Jets WR Quincy Enunwa

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    Julio Cortez/Associated Press

    It's easy to forget that New York Jets wide receiver Quincy Enunwa broke out in his third NFL season with 58 catches for 857 yards and four touchdowns. The 25-year-old followed that up with a 2017 campaign that was over before it started due to a neck injury he suffered during training camp. 

    Nine months later, the Jets still hope Enunwa can emerge as a top-end starting receiver as they prepare to eventually pass the quarterback baton to rookie No. 3 overall pick Sam Darnold. The Nebraska product is feeling good as OTAs loom. 

    "I think I'll be able to go," he said last week in reference to the offseason program, per Darryl Slater of NJ Advance Media. "I think we'll be smart about it. I think I'm going to go out there and do what I need to do."

    Enunwa added that he's "probably ahead of schedule" and that he's been "doing everything with the guys," including "running routes [and] catching the ball."

    We'll see if he can do that in a more formal environment when the Jets hold their first set of OTAs next week. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin

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    Chris O'Meara/Associated Press

    Mike Evans, DeSean Jackson and Adam Humphries all saw far more work than 2017 third-round pick Chris Godwin in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' receiving corps last season, but Godwin capped his rookie campaign with 10 catches for 209 yards in Tampa Bay's final two games. 

    This offseason, Bucs general manager Jason Licht admitted the 22-year-old Penn State product "has earned the right for a bigger role in 2018," according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times.

    The Tampa offense likely will encounter some changes as Todd Monken moves into a full-time offensive coordinator role. That should give Godwin a chance to make a fresh impression when the Buccaneers launch OTAs next week. 

    If Godwin can deliver this spring, he should be on track to start stealing most of Humphries' snaps—and perhaps some of Jackson's—come September. 

Indianapolis Colts C Ryan Kelly

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    Darron Cummings/Associated Press

    Offseason practices aren't supposed to be physical, so it's difficult to get a feel for the effectiveness of those who work in the trenches. But when the Indianapolis Colts start OTAs next week, those in attendance will be closely monitoring third-year center Ryan Kelly. 

    After all, the 2016 first-round pick will be trying to prove that he's physically OK after a broken foot and lingering symptoms from a concussion derailed his sophomore NFL season. 

    Two years ago, the Colts hoped Kelly could bring some much-needed stability to an oft-maligned offensive line, and he got off to a good start by playing more than 1,000 snaps without missing a start as a rookie. According to Pro Football Focus, he didn't surrender a single sack that year. 

    Ahead of the team's veteran minicamp in April, Colts general manager Chris Ballard said Kelly was "good to go," according to Andrew Walker of the team's official website. The Colts will find out whether that's the case when they take the field next week. 

New York Giants DT Dalvin Tomlinson

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    Julio Cortez/Associated Press

    New York Giants defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson is another player who makes his money in the trenches but will still be worth watching closely during OTAs.

    After standing out as a 16-game starter during his rookie season, the second-round Alabama product will be making a major transition as new defensive coordinator James Bettcher installs a 3-4-based D. 

    Tomlinson's modus operandi might not change dramatically as he moves into a 3-4 defensive end role, but he'll have to deal with that technical adjustment while he also tries to avoid a sophomore slump in 2018. 

    Initial reviews will be notable, especially with his space-eating partner Damon Harrison now working as a pure nose tackle. 

Atlanta Falcons DE Takkarist McKinley

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    David Goldman/Associated Press

    After using a first-round pick on defensive end Takkarist McKinley last year, the Atlanta Falcons brought him along slowly as a rookie. But the UCLA product saw his role increase late in the year, and he delivered with six sacks in his final nine games (including two in the playoffs). 

    With 2017 regulars Adrian Clayborn and Dontari Poe now gone, McKinley should have a chance to earn an even larger role. 

    It'll help if he's able to bounce back from early-offseason shoulder surgery in time to make a strong impact when the Falcons kick off OTAs on Monday. 

Kansas City Chiefs LB Reggie Ragland

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    Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images

    After the Buffalo Bills traded him to the Kansas City Chiefs in late August, 2016 second-round pick Reggie Ragland took some time to recover from a knee injury and adjust to a new environment before eventually playing a significant role at linebacker in November and December. 

    He'll now have a better opportunity to get acclimated to the Kansas City defense as he embarks on his first offseason program with the team. And the expectations are high. 

    "I think we're all excited about him, and we think he can be a star," general manager Brett Veach said of Ragland last month, per the team's official website. "We were very fortunate to be able to execute that trade."

    Ragland is a high-instinct sure-tackler who was the 2015 SEC Defensive Player of the Year at Alabama. He has the ability to make a major impact, but he's rarely been healthy thus far in his career. 

    He is now, though, and we should see plenty of him in May and June. 

Tennessee Titans CB Adoree' Jackson

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    Mark Humphrey/Associated Press

    Cornerback Adoree' Jackson was a productive regular starter with the Tennessee Titans as a rookie in 2017, but a lot has changed over the past few months. 

    Jackson claims to have "a different build" after spending time working on his size and strength this offseason, according to Jim Wyatt of the team's official website. That could help as he fights for reps with new arrival Malcolm Butler and returning veteran Logan Ryan, both of whom are getting paid big bucks.

    What's more, all three of the team's top corners will be adjusting to a new defense under incoming defensive coordinator Dean Pees. 

    "Everything is different," Jackson said, per Wyatt. "But it's cool. I'm learning a new playbook, learning a new style. But I am enjoying it."

    If Jackson is going to make a leap as a sophomore, we might get a feel for it when the Titans hold their first batch of OTAs next week. 

Kansas City Chiefs CB Kendall Fuller

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    Michael Ainsworth/Associated Press

    As a sophomore with the Washington Redskins in 2017, cornerback Kendall Fuller broke out with four interceptions and 10 passes defensed while earning the fifth-highest qualified grade at the position from Pro Football Focus

    Fuller accomplished that while primarily covering the slot with support from star corner Josh Norman outside. Now, after a blockbuster offseason trade, he finds himself in Kansas City. And with Marcus Peters no longer a Chief, he's the top attraction on that cornerback depth chart. 

    While the Chiefs will continue to move Fuller inside when they're in a nickel defense, NFL Network's James Palmer reported in March that the team plans on using him to cover X and Z receivers outside in its base defense. 

    So, Fuller will be adjusting to a new role in a new defense in a new city, all as he tries to prove that his standout second season wasn't a fluke.

    The first impression he makes at next week's initial OTA sessions will be worth monitoring.

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