NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Impressive and fantastic are a couple of the words that have been used to describe Tennessee quarterback Cam Ward as the No. 1-overall pick in April's draft takes over as the starter for a franchise that won just three games last season.
Yes, the preseason means many rookies will be surrounded by the hype that made them , even if some might be tagged already as potential busts soon to be forgotten. Ward isn't the only one being watched closely to see how his first NFL season turns out.
Travis Hunter will have to show he really can play wide receiver and cornerback in the NFL, just like he did in winning the at Colorado. The Las Vegas Raiders certainly hope Ashton Jeanty runs through defenses like he did at Boise State.
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Abdul Carter won't have to carry the New York Giants' pass rush by himself.
Then there's , who was projected to be a first-round selection but who wasn't taken until the fifth round by Cleveland. After his , everybody will be monitoring what Sanders does all season long.
Here's a closer look at some of the NFL rookies to watch this season:
Tennessee Titans quarterback Cam Ward.
Cam Ward
The Titans tried to for the rookie during the offseason. They embraced giving him as much work as possible and listed him as the starter to start the preseason with to have season-ending shoulder surgery.
Ward has shown the ability to adapt quickly after playing at three different colleges. He set a Division I record with 158 touchdown passes in his career. He threw for 18,184 yards during his college career while running for 473 yards and 20 more TDs. He became an AP All-American at Miami.
Titans coach Brian Callahan, who worked with Joe Burrow as a rookie in Cincinnati as the Bengals' offensive coordinator, has studied how other top picks fared in their rookie seasons at quarterback, hoping to help Ward avoid missteps.
“There’s really no stone unturned when it comes to getting a rookie quarterback ready,†Callahan said. “And there’s nowhere I won’t look for potential edges or advice or anything like that. So it’s been a fun process for sure.â€
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter.
Travis Hunter
Yes, Jacksonville plans to give the man they traded up to select at a chance to play both offense and defense in the NFL. The Jaguars have Hunter listed as a starting wide receiver and a backup cornerback to start the preseason.
Hunter is getting plenty of work with the offense, where the Jaguars want Hunter to help receiver Brian Thomas Jr. and franchise quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
Jacksonville also is making sure Hunter gets practice time on defense. Hunter did join Charles Woodson (1997) as the only full-time defensive players to win the Heisman Trophy. The Jags have packages for the rookie to contribute defensively.
“He’s still learning,†Jaguars coach Liam Coen said.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty.
Ashton Jeanty
The Raiders finished last in the NFL in 2024 by managing just 79.8 yards rushing per game. That's why they and made him the highest-drafted running back since Saquon Barkley was taken No. 2 overall in 2018 by the Giants.
easily won over the Raiders, overcoming concerns about his size at 5-foot-8 and 208 pounds. Jeanty led the nation by rushing for 2,601 yards and 29 TDs last season, averaging 7.0 yards on 374 carries.
He just missed Barry Sanders' and finished second to Hunter in the Heisman voting.
Now Jeanty just has to prove he can help the Raiders run in the AFC West.
New York Giants linebacker Abdul Carter.
Abdul Carter
Unlike Ward, who got Hall of Fame quarterback to wear his No. 1, Carter was by Hall of Fame linebacker Lawrence Taylor in his quest to wear No. 56 even though he came to the Giants after 12 sacks at Penn State and after leading the nation with 23½ tackles for loss last year.
won't have the pressure of carrying the Giants' pass rush, a unit that features three-time Pro Bowl tackle Dexter Lawrence and edge rushers Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux. The 6-3, 250-pound Carter will have the chance to be rested and strong throughout games.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
Shedeur Sanders
Projected to be drafted as high as No. 2, Sanders had to wait until to hear his name called during the draft.
Now the quarterback is at the back end of a crowded quarterback room. The Browns have him fourth on the depth chart behind veterans Joe Flacco and and fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel, a third-round pick.
But it is Cleveland, where four different quarterbacks started at least one game during the 2024 season.
The NFL has banned the use of “smelling salts†during games over concerns that they aren’t safe and can mask concussion symptoms. In a memo sent to the teams, the league explained their decision to ban the product and any other ammonia inhalant during pregame activities, games and halftime on the sideline or in locker rooms. “The FDA noted potential negative effects from ammonia inhalant (AI) use. AIs also have the potential to mask certain neurologic signs and symptoms, including some potential signs of concussion. As a result, the NFL Head, Neck, and Spine Committee recommended prohibiting the use of AIs for any purpose during play in the NFL,†according to the memo obtained by the Associated Press. The memo adds that the league prohibits any team from supplying products such as ammonia capsules, inhalers, ammonia in a cup, or any form of smelling salts. San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle first revealed the ban had been put in place during an interview with the NFL Network, where he discussed his disappointment with the news. Kittle said that he had been “distraught†ever since he heard the news, adding that he was a regular user of the product and took them before every offensive drive. The 31-year-old, who is a nine-year veteran, noted that he hoped the NFL would walk back on the decision and “figure out a middle ground.â€Â Smelling salts have been a feature of the NFL for a number of years, with players taking the product as a way of gaining extra alertness or an energy boost.
