article is behind a paywall here, but they take a look at how each rookie is doing through preseason. here's what they say about Texas rookies:
Round 5 (No. 162): Christian Jones, OT. There's a scenario where Jones makes the roster as one of the last offensive linemen, but his two penalties against the Colts won't help his case.
Round 2 (No. 38): T'Vondre Sweat, DT. Sweat quickly climbed to the first unit along the interior next to Jeffery Simmons. His presence has been felt by coach Brian Callahan. "He's just so big and so powerful," Callahan said. "He's got real pass-rush wiggle for a guy his size. He can get on the edge and work it."
Round 5 (No. 175): Jaylan Ford, LB. Ford has missed practice time in two separate stints due to hamstring issues, and that could make it tough to crack the 53-man roster in a crowded linebacker room.
Round 2 (No. 52): Adonai Mitchell, WR. Mitchell has made a huge impression and has secured a role on offense. With second-year receiver Josh Downs out with a high ankle sprain, Mitchell has tackled a new role and is learning to play in the slot.
Round 1 (No. 16): Byron Murphy II, DT. Like talented linemen tend to do, Murphy started to flash once the pads came on in training camp. He routinely wins his one-on-one reps in practice, and his combination of power and quickness has stood out in the preseason as well as in Seattle's joint practices with the Titans. Seattle's interior D-line rotation is so deep that Murphy might not technically start, but he already looks like the best player in that group other than Leonard Williams. "I think he's pretty polished to be a rookie," Williams said. "Like I said before, I think you see a lot of first-rounders or rookies in general that come into the league and kind of have God-given ability and talent, but they don't really understand the game quite well yet. I think he has a combination of both."
Round 6 (No. 213): Jordan Whittington, WR. Whittington impressed in the first preseason game, making six catches for 74 yards, leading McVay to say after the game that the receiver is "going to be a factor" this season. He added five catches for 52 yards in the second preseason game.
Round 1 (No. 28): Xavier Worthy, WR. Worthy is one of the regulars in the Chiefs' wide receiving rotation and should receive a significant number of snaps from the start of the season. He has consistently shown his value as a deep threat but has also made plays on shorter throws such as screen passes and on handoffs on the end around. "He's able to track the ball really well," quarterback Patrick Mahomes said. "He runs a lot of great routes [and] he's making plays happen so he'll keep getting better and better."
Round 4 (No. 131): Jared Wiley, TE (he counts!). The fourth-rounder will get playing time, mostly in tandem with Travis Kelce when the Chiefs go to their multiple-TE formations favored by Andy Reid.
Round 2 (No. 14): Jonathon Brooks, RB. The second-round pick continues to rehab from ACL surgery in November. He has already been ruled out for the preseason and Canales said Week 3 or 4 is a realistic timetable. Brooks is a long-term solution, so Carolina's taking no chance rushing him back too fast.
Round 4 (No. 1): Ja'Tavion Sanders, TE. The fourth-round pick out of Texas is considered a dynamic future option at an important position in Canales' system, so he'll make the roster even if he hasn't flashed much as a playmaker.
Round 5 (No. 167): Keilan Robinson, RB/KR. He has been dealing with a toe injury for much of camp and was wearing a protective boot last week.
Round 6 (No. 195): Ryan Watts, DB. Primarily a college cornerback, Watts made the move to safety and figures to make the roster as depth and a special teams contributor thanks to his speed.
Round 5 (No. 162): Christian Jones, OT. There's a scenario where Jones makes the roster as one of the last offensive linemen, but his two penalties against the Colts won't help his case.
Round 2 (No. 38): T'Vondre Sweat, DT. Sweat quickly climbed to the first unit along the interior next to Jeffery Simmons. His presence has been felt by coach Brian Callahan. "He's just so big and so powerful," Callahan said. "He's got real pass-rush wiggle for a guy his size. He can get on the edge and work it."
Round 5 (No. 175): Jaylan Ford, LB. Ford has missed practice time in two separate stints due to hamstring issues, and that could make it tough to crack the 53-man roster in a crowded linebacker room.
Round 2 (No. 52): Adonai Mitchell, WR. Mitchell has made a huge impression and has secured a role on offense. With second-year receiver Josh Downs out with a high ankle sprain, Mitchell has tackled a new role and is learning to play in the slot.
Round 1 (No. 16): Byron Murphy II, DT. Like talented linemen tend to do, Murphy started to flash once the pads came on in training camp. He routinely wins his one-on-one reps in practice, and his combination of power and quickness has stood out in the preseason as well as in Seattle's joint practices with the Titans. Seattle's interior D-line rotation is so deep that Murphy might not technically start, but he already looks like the best player in that group other than Leonard Williams. "I think he's pretty polished to be a rookie," Williams said. "Like I said before, I think you see a lot of first-rounders or rookies in general that come into the league and kind of have God-given ability and talent, but they don't really understand the game quite well yet. I think he has a combination of both."
Round 6 (No. 213): Jordan Whittington, WR. Whittington impressed in the first preseason game, making six catches for 74 yards, leading McVay to say after the game that the receiver is "going to be a factor" this season. He added five catches for 52 yards in the second preseason game.
Round 1 (No. 28): Xavier Worthy, WR. Worthy is one of the regulars in the Chiefs' wide receiving rotation and should receive a significant number of snaps from the start of the season. He has consistently shown his value as a deep threat but has also made plays on shorter throws such as screen passes and on handoffs on the end around. "He's able to track the ball really well," quarterback Patrick Mahomes said. "He runs a lot of great routes [and] he's making plays happen so he'll keep getting better and better."
Round 4 (No. 131): Jared Wiley, TE (he counts!). The fourth-rounder will get playing time, mostly in tandem with Travis Kelce when the Chiefs go to their multiple-TE formations favored by Andy Reid.
Round 2 (No. 14): Jonathon Brooks, RB. The second-round pick continues to rehab from ACL surgery in November. He has already been ruled out for the preseason and Canales said Week 3 or 4 is a realistic timetable. Brooks is a long-term solution, so Carolina's taking no chance rushing him back too fast.
Round 4 (No. 1): Ja'Tavion Sanders, TE. The fourth-round pick out of Texas is considered a dynamic future option at an important position in Canales' system, so he'll make the roster even if he hasn't flashed much as a playmaker.
Round 5 (No. 167): Keilan Robinson, RB/KR. He has been dealing with a toe injury for much of camp and was wearing a protective boot last week.
Round 6 (No. 195): Ryan Watts, DB. Primarily a college cornerback, Watts made the move to safety and figures to make the roster as depth and a special teams contributor thanks to his speed.
