NFL Rookies Who Already Look Like Draft-Day Steals After 2025 OTAs

The first glimpse of something can be truly exciting, like watching the initial teaser trailer to a long-anticipated film. The end product may not be anywhere near as good as hoped, but those initial moments of anticipation and giddiness set expectations.

The NFL's organized team activities serve as those first glimpses of what incoming rookies can do in an actual team setting. Every fan and even the teams are looking for confirmation of what the incoming class can (and cannot) provide.

Clearly, what happens at OTAs should be contextualized since the coaching staffs are implementing their playbooks, some individuals are on the field together for the first time and contact isn't allowed. Mistakes are more than OK, because this is the time of year when individuals are learning and trying new things.

Even so, chatter begins. Excitement builds. Maybe the team has something in a rookie that wasn't quite expected based on where they fell during the NFL draft.

With that thought in mind, a handful of first-year professionals generated significant buzz during their first set of OTAs and already look like draft-day steals after being chosen outside of this year's first round. As long as they continue their upward trajectory, their respective teams may have hit the jackpot.

QB Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints

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Tyler Shough won't be handed the New Orleans Saints' starting quarterback job, but he's one step removed from that point.

With Derek Carr's retirement, Spencer Rattler's performance during his rookie season (under a different coaching staff) and a Jake Haener injury at the start of OTAs, this year's 40th overall draft pick is positioned well to be a Day 1 starter. His early returns certainly haven't hurt the rookie's standing.

"The rookie can absolutely spin it," Luke Johnson of NOLA.com wrote after attending the Saints' organized team activities.

"Given about 15 plays in a seven-on-seven period, Shough made several attention-grabbing throws that showed off a varied skillset as a thrower."

The 6'5", 219-pound signal-caller being able to make all of the throws shouldn't come as a surprise. He was a highly regarded recruit, who went on to start at three different Power Four programs. Multiple injuries and age, as a seventh-year senior, were the primary factors that held Shough back throughout the process.

His age can be viewed as a positive, at least in the Saints' situation.

"It's really, really cool to come in and operate," Shough said, per ESPN's Katherine Terrell. "I feel a lot more prepared being kind of an older rookie coming in, not being as nervous to develop those relationships [with teammates], but knowing that's my whole job is to continue to earn my role and do everything I can."

The next step for Shough to win the job outright will come in training camp where his post-snap decision-making will come under fire during live reps. If he operates within the system and plays efficient football, the start he provided at OTAs will snowball into starting status.

RB RJ Harvey, Denver Broncos

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One of the most difficult aspects for a rookie at the onset of his career, particularly those on the offensive side of the ball, is getting to know new teammates, while trying to build a rapport with them early in the process.

The Denver Broncos chose UCF running R.J. Harvey with this year's 60th overall pick. Harvey was the class' fifth ball-carrier of the board and heard his name called before Iowa's Kaleb Johnson, Arizona State's Cam Skattebo and Tennessee's Dylan Sampson despite being 24.

The Broncos seem to view the rookie as an instant contributor, though. Harvey's skill set already caught the attention of his quarterback.

"Well, he's done a really good job working," Bo Nix told reporters. "He does a good job out of the backfield. It's hard to tell with shorts and T-shirts what it's like running the ball with no pads, but that's obviously why we got him.

"So we know he can run the ball, but I think it's the other things he's showing, just the routes, the suddenness and quickness and hands. I think all that's really good to see, but he's a great guy. A great dude, first and foremost, and I think it's going to translate for him being a successful player."

At 5'8" and 208 pounds, Harvey isn't the biggest back. His shiftiness and top gear, along with contributions in the passing game, pairs well with the more physical, downhill running style of Audric Estimé. As long as Nix knows and likes what the rookie can do, Harvey will remain in good standing.

WR Arian Smith, New York Jets

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It doesn't matter what caliber of football player a prospect is, because speed always entices NFL teams.

Case in point, Arian Smith was one of the fastest players in this year's class. The 6'0", 176-pound wide receiver ran an official 4.36-second 40-yard dash at this year's NFL Scouting Combine.

"Arian has some juice, don't he? God," New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn said about the team's fourth-round wide receiver. "He can run and he's bouncy. He's a really good athlete. I thought the first day he went out there and was really focused on making sure that [he] sees through the ball to bring it in."

Smith's 817 yards did lead the Georgia Bulldogs last season. However, every pass thrown his way could be described as a 50-50 ball. It wasn't a 50-50 proposition whether the receiver or defense came down with it. Rather, it was a 50-50 chance that Smith caught or dropped the pass.

Consistency is the key. So far, Smith has shown improvement.

"It is clear, though, that the Jets may have something in the Georgia product," Nick Faria of Jets X-Factor wrote. "He has consistently gotten open during practices open to the media, and has looked far better at catching the football than in college."

Raw speed is so tantalizing, because it can be weaponized to tilt the field in the offense's favor. Defenses must take stock of a real speedster on every down and consistently defend all three levels.

Smith has that caliber of speed. He needs to show throughout the summer that he can make the plays available to him. If he does, the Jets will have the type of weapon that should play well with an athletic quarterback in Justin Fields since the defense must account for him running at all times.

WR Kyle Williams, New England Patriots

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The New England Patriots took a similar path to the Los Angeles Chargers from a year ago. While owning a top-five draft pick, both teams had the option to either A) invest in a No. 1 wide receiver or B) secure their offensive line and then take a talented target later in the process. They chose the latter scenario.

In the Chargers' case, Joe Alt immediately stepped in at right tackle spot and thrived, while the Day 2 selection of Ladd McConkey also worked in the squad's favor as he became a 1,000-yard receiver in his rookie season.

The Patriots hope the same applies to Will Campbell, albeit at left tackle, and Kyle Williams, whom New England chose with the 69th overall pick.

Williams didn't have the shine of other prospects last season while playing at Washington State after the Pac-12 conference (mostly) folded. He also didn't have Cam Ward throwing to him during his final year of campus. Though his release package and penchant for making difficult catches were hard not to notice. Both skills have already shown up at OTAS.

"The speed he has when getting in and out of his routes has looked exceptional," Jordy McElroy of Patriots Wire wrote. "That's something the Patriots have lacked in recent years at the wide receiver position.

"I don't want to go overboard with the expectations because Williams still needs to show it on the field consistently in pads. But it's hard not to get excited about his potential when seeing him in action."

NBC Sports' Phil Perry added, "He was on the field with Drake Maye, which, to me, as a rookie that's a good sign. I think the highlight of the day (Friday) for the offense was a deep ball down the right sideline from Josh Dobbs to Williams. He got both feet in bounds and beat Miles Battle."

Edge David Walker, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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Pass-rushers come in varied shapes and skill sizes.

Central Arkansas' David Walker was highly productive during his collegiate career. The 2024 Buck Buchanan Award winner as the FCS's best defensive player registered 63 tackles for loss and 31 sacks over the last three seasons. He understands how to get into the opposing backfield and make plays.

He's also just under 6'1" with sub-33-inch arms and a solid-but-not-stellar athletic profile. Ultimately, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers chose Walker in this year's fourth round.

The Bucs employ one of the game's most aggressive defenses. They have two viable edge defenders already on the roster in Haason Reddick and Yaya Diaby. However, Walker has a chance to immediately move up the depth chart if he's able to take what he's done during organized team activities into training camp when the pads are on and he faces Tampa's talented offensive tackles.

"Walker seemingly teleported into the backfield to make a would-be tackle for loss on one play in Tuesday’s practice and then did it again to record a would-be sack on the next one," Pewter Report's Scott Reynolds wrote. "This is not just me hyping up the Central Arkansas product, either. I've had multiple Bucs sources tell me the same thing about Walker. Even comparisons to James Harrison have been mentioned."

The comparison is unfair, because Harrison is a borderline Hall of Famer. Even so, those within the Buccaneers organization mentioning his name shouldn't go unnoticed.

DL Jay Toia, Dallas Cowboys

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The Dallas Cowboys' 2023 first-round draft pick, Mazi Smith, is entering an important season. He's now in Year 3 with the program. His first two seasons with the organization can and should be described as poor. After a former first-rounder's third campaign, the organization then has a decision to make whether to pick up the fifth-year option on his rookie contract.

Smith needs to live up to his awesome natural gifts and actually dominate in the middle of Dallas' defense. If he doesn't, legit competition is coming his way.

The Cowboys chose UCLA's Jay Toia in this year's seventh round. The 6'2", 342-pound rookie is a powerful, old-school nose tackle capable of eating up blocks, resetting the line of scrimmage and allowing those around him to make plays while he does the dirty work.

"Stop the run," Toia said about what he brings to the team, per Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "I feel like that’s one of the biggest reasons I was drafted and that’s exactly what I’m going to do is stop the run. That’s my biggest strength."

The Cowboys coaching staff has already taken notice of his effort and skills by giving him "repeated work" with the first-team defense, according to Tim Hamm of Athlon Sports.

Again, no team is running in full pads yet. Players are constantly being rotated into the mix. Where Toia actually stands won't be determined until live sessions during training camp. Yet the disappointment over Smith coupled with the Toia's potential and play-style makes everyone raise an eyebrow and go, "Hmmm."

LB Nick Martin, San Francisco 49ers

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Nick Martin wasn't viewed as a Day 2 prospect entering this year's draft. The San Francisco 49ers selected him in the third round anyway. Why? Well, they saw something in the Oklahoma State prospect that likens him to Dre Greenlaw, who left in free agency this offseason.

The 5'11", 221-pound linebacker is undersized by NFL standards and a knee injury limited him during the 2024 campaign after amassing 140 total tackles the previous year. But he presents similarities to Greenlaw to fit into San Francisco's defensive scheme.

"Body structure-wise, they’re a little different," director of player personnel Tariq Ahmad told reporters. "But the aggressiveness, physicality, play speed, the passion? There's a lot of ways to compare those two guys. Everyone’s different, but we’re hoping."

Martin, with his 4.53-second 40-yard-dash speed, will be a chase linebacker while possibly starting next to Fred Warner.

"And I've seen the athleticism flash already on the field in the way that he closes," Warner said. "He closes space really quickly and he already has the great mindset of wanting to learn."

The last point from the four-time first-team All-Pro is vitally important.

“But he’s come in and he’s asked me every single question known to man," Warner added. "'Fred, how are you doing this? What are you doing after practice? What are you doing after the lift?' And wanting to be a part of those things and not being afraid to ask those questions."

CB Trey Amos, Washington Commanders

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Trey Amos' inclusion to the Washington Commanders' lineup has the chance to serve two purposes in the team's secondary.

First, he can bookend last year's acquisition of Marshon Lattimore or outright serve as the team's top outside corner depending on whether the veteran stays healthy. This year's 61st overall pick doesn't look overwhelmed when facing Washington's top wide receivers during organized team activities.

"Amos, who the Commanders considered taking with their first-round pick, held his own against several of the team's veterans," Zach Selby of the team's official site wrote. "In one of his more impressive plays, he managed to stay upright after his feet got tangled with Michael Gallup and got under a tipped pass for an interception on the second play of the drill. He nearly got a second one later in the day while working against Luke McCaffrey and kept up with Deebo Samuel when lined up against him."

Second, Amos' presence should push Mike Sainristil to his more natural position of playing over the slot.

"Although general manager Adam Peters said Amos is an all-around cornerback, the Commanders primarily view him as a perimeter defender," Selby added. "As shown during his reps against Samuel, his large frame allows him to be physical at the line of scrimmage with bigger receivers. Amos still has months before he is ready to be a regular defensive contributor, but he's off to a good start."