The Browns’ rookie class get its introduction to the NFL this week.
Cleveland’s seven draft picks, as well as a group of undrafted free agents and tryout players, will spend the weekend participating in rookie minicamp. The minicamp will start Friday, May 9, and run over the course of three days.
There’s not going to be grand, sweeping proclamations made from the three days. That’s because it’s impossible to make grand, sweeping proclamations out of a couple of days of players basically running around in jerseys and shorts.
Still, the rookie minicamp at least provides a baseline from which to evaluate the rookies as they progress through to training camp and beyond. Two years ago, then-fourth-round pick Dawand Jones struggled to get through drills at rookie minicamp, which only made the progress he demonstrated once into training camp and the preseason more evident.
So what is there to look for in this rookie minicamp? Here are a few things, starting with the most obvious:
How do QBs Dillon Gabriel, Shedeur Sanders look in first practices?
The quarterback competition begins now. Sort of. Maybe. The rookie minicamp will provide the two quarterbacks taken in the draft — third-round pick Dillon Gabriel and fifth-round pick Shedeur Sanders — an opportunity to at least get out on the field and show off their physical skills, if not also what they’ve been able to pick up in an extremely short period of time in their new offense. Nothing will be decided in terms of depth chart spots, at least, nothing should be determined. However, what’s learned at the minicamp gives the quarterbacks a jumping-off point into the offseason program and, ultimately, the mandatory minicamp in June. At that point, when Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett join the mix, the competition — however it may actually look — takes off.
Can Mason Graham, Quinshon Judkins and other draft picks show off natural skill?
This seems like a very basic and obvious question. However, much like with the quarterbacks, expecting any of the rookies to have a full grasp of a system they had no fundamental knowledge of two weeks earlier. Even watching them learn the most basic aspects of the systems will be like learning a new language. However, what should be obvious even while they’re going through the learning process is the athleticism and natural skill the rookies possess. All five of the non-quarterbacks who were drafted were touted for their natural instincts and “traits.” You should be able to see a certainly level of fluidity to their games, even if there’s a level of “baby deer taking its first steps” to their progress.
Who’s the standout UDFA? Why Donovan McMillon is probably the answer
There always seems to an undrafted rookie or two who catches a coach’s eye during rookie minicamp, setting the stage for a promising training camp that leads to a spot on the 53-man roster. Three years ago, it was D’Anthony Bell; two years ago, it was Mohamoud Diabate and Ronnie Hickman. This year, it may very well be University of Pittsburgh safety Donovan McMillon. Why is that? Well, for one, McMillon is at a position where the Browns are desperately thin. Two, because his play seems to fit what the Browns are looking for at the position. He’s physical and plays aggressively downhill, which should help against the run, while also possessing a good ability to break on the ball in passing situation. The Browns didn’t draft a safety, which many thought they would. Maybe they look to follow what they did with Bell and Hickman and find that player among the undrafted free agents.
Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Browns rookie minicamp preview: All eyes on Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel
Reporting by Chris Easterling, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
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