Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
By Ross Jackson
With rookie minicamp set to kickoff Friday for the New Orleans Saints, it’s finally time to see what their exciting rookie class has to show early.
While there’s only so much to be learned from this portion of the offseason, it is a chance for newcomers to impress and do so along with veterans looking for an opportunity.
Here are three rookies that have a real chance to impress as camp gets under way.
The name everyone is waiting to see hit the field. Rocking the No. 0, it won’t be hard to find Tyson in his helmet and shells on Friday, but with his route-running ability, body control and catch radius, he shouldn’t take long to catch eyes with his play. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound pass-catcher will have his first chance to show off his athletic, playmaking potential much like in the private workout that quelled a lot of fear around his recovery.
One question around him will center around how much he participates. He was cautious throughout much of the pre-draft process. Whether or not the Saints decide to approach with that same caution or cut him loose immediately will be interesting.
With so much untapped potential in the pass-catching game, Delp has a real chance to standout quickly. While he was mostly used as a blocker at Georgia, the big-bodied tight end could see more opportunities to run routes and catch passes in the Saints’ system. His blocking experience will, of course, be of benefit. However, what will get a chance to stand out during rookie minicamp will be the early glimpse at how he’s utilized in the passing game.
With his 4.34-second 40-yard dash speed, it shouldn’t be hard for Lance to catch eyes. Saints general manager Mickey Loomis views Lance as a developmental but exciting addition to the team because of his conviction of height, weight and speed. Anytime you get a chance to add a 6-foot-3, 204-pound player that moves as quickly and well as Lance, you take that swing.
The Saints did. And now they have an intriguing player that has put up back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons and 25 touchdown receptions over his career at North Dakota State. Whether or not he can carry a high level of production over to the NFL begins to become clear at rookie minicamp.
Honorable Mentions: The Trenches
Draft picks like defensive tackle Christen Miller and offensive lineman Jeremiah Wright won’t have a ton of opportunity to stand out in a highlight sense, but this time is important for them in laying their foundation. Their omission from this list is only based on the format of practices, which are no-contact and without pads.
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