Wolfpack coach Dave Doeren called “Ickey” the best finisher he’s seen in 28 years in coaching. When the board broke right for the Panthers, they had their choice of the top three tackles in the draft and went with Ikem Ekwonu, the Charlotte native who became a pancake-blocking legend over three seasons at NC State. Quarterback Josh Allen and offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey will have fun creating ways to get Cook the ball. With home-run speed, Cook will be an immediate challenge for the linebackers and safeties. He is an outstanding pass-catching back with great speed and will likely immediately factor into the Bills’ offensive picture.
#From rookie to all star football story free#
McKissic in free agency to be their pass-catching back but have to be ecstatic with instead landing James Cook on a cost-controlled four-year deal. He’s going to need to get stronger and develop a rapport with Lamar Jackson, but he has the smarts, intelligence and fundamentals to make a quick transition. The Ravens maintain a run-heavy approach, and Linderbaum, who was a dominant run blocker at Iowa, should feel right at home. The Ravens usually avoid anointing rookies as immediate starters following the draft, but head coach John Harbaugh made clear he expects Tyler Linderbaum to start at center from day one. London immediately steps into a starting lineup that until his selection included Damiere Byrd, Auden Tate and Olamide Zaccheaus. The seven other wide receivers on the Falcons’ roster combined for 74 catches, 945 yards and five touchdowns last season. Atlanta’s first-round selection had 88 catches, 1,084 yards and seven touchdowns in only eight games for USC last season. Meanwhile, wide receiver Drake London has nothing but open runway in front of him. If the Falcons get super lucky, the answer will be quarterback Desmond Ridder, but it’s more likely Ridder spends the season backing up veteran Marcus Mariota. Arizona got only 777 total receiving yards out of its tight ends last year - 574 of which came from Ertz, who arrived in a late October trade with Philadelphia - so with the addition of McBride, expect that number to increase significantly this fall. But McBride is a talented enough receiver and a strong (and willing) blocker, giving Kliff Kingsbury options to run two tight end sets that were unavailable to the Cardinals’ offense last season.
That job belongs to Zach Ertz, whom Arizona re-signed earlier this year. Trey McBride, the Cardinals’ second-round pick, won’t be asked to be Arizona’s starting tight end. Now that the 2022 NFL Draft is over, The Athletic’s writers took turns projecting which ones will do just that for all 32 teams. At least a handful of rookies will make a seamless transition to the NFL next season.
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