6 Overlooked NFL Rookies Most Likely to Generate Major Training Camp Buzz

We are drawing ever closer to the new NFL season. Next stop, training camps, where everyone is on a level playing field and the men are separated from the boys.

As is the case every summer, some rookies can be overlooked or buried behind one or more veterans. But the newcomers have a chance to impress their coaching staffs and teammates to earn more time on the field at training camp.

Here, we're going to look at six overlooked NFL rookies to keep tabs on during training camp practices.

Ty Robinson, IDL, Philadelphia Eagles

AP Photo/Matt Rourke

Whenever a team wins the Super Bowl, the residual effects are losing players in free agency to bigger deals on the open market.

Once free agency began, the Philadelphia Eagles lost defensive lineman Milton Williams to the New England Patriots.

The defending Super Bowl champions have to prepare to be the hunted instead of the hunter. After losing a player like Williams, Philadelphia went to the trenches during the draft and recruited IDL Ty Robinson.

The fourth-round pick is a big, athletic defensive lineman with developmental upside. The Eagles still have a good rotation of talent on the defensive line, which will allow him to develop at his own pace.

He can shift momentum in his direction with a strong showing during training camp. If Robinson improves his pass-rush plan and process while being an unmovable object in the run game, his snap count will steadily increase.

Danny Stutsman, LB, New Orleans Saints

AP Photo/George Walker IV

The New Orleans Saints will want to move as far away from the top 10 of the draft order as possible and will be banking on key contributions from their 2025 rookie class.

Everyone knows about their top two picks, OT Kelvin Banks and QB Tyler Shough. But an overlooked pick is linebacker Danny Stutsman.

The Oklahoma product was selected with the 110th pick in the fourth round. His leadership on and off the field are the character traits teams look for when buying into the physical ability of a player.

As a prospect, Stutsman is an athletic, natural mover on the second level of the defense with great modern size and frame.

He has a three-down skill set and will be a heavily impactful defender as his instincts develop at the NFL level. Heading into training camp, he is expected to be a special teamer and a depth piece behind New Orleans' entrenched veteran linebackers, Demario Davis and Peter Werner, per Ross Jackson of Louisianasports.net.

Even if the Saints plan to rotate the rookie into defensive action, Stutsman's performance can force alterations to the plan. If he shows improvements with processing information and recognizing plays quicker, he will make the defensive coaches discuss how to fit him on the field outside of potential base three-linebacker sets.

Keep an eye out for Stutsman's presence for the Saints once the pads are on.

Kyle Monangai, RB, Chicago Bears

AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh

When the Chicago Bears ignored the running back position for almost the entire 2025 draft, fans were left with their jaws on the floor.

The shock stemmed from the history of starting running back D'Andre Swift with new head coach Ben Johnson during their time with the Detroit Lions.

The Lions drafted star running back Jahmyr Gibbs with the 12th overall pick in 2023 and traded Swift to the Philadelphia Eagles the following day.

So, many believed Johnson would try to find his RB of the future with an early-round pick. Instead, though, the Bears did not use a pick on a running back until the seventh round for Kyle Monangai.

The Rutgers product back brings elusiveness, downhill toughness, ball security and a low center of gravity to the Chicago offense.

Swift is now with the Bears and should be safe for now, but the RB2 position appears to be an open competition. Monangai's scheme versatility provides Johnson with a ball-carrier who can run both gap and zone concepts. He dialed up both concepts with Gibbs and David Montgomery with the Lions.

Monangai's low-pad level and contact balance makes him an effective downhill runner.

The Bears are not on the hook for a large sum of money with Swift's contract. They could save $12.8 million between 2025 and 2026 if they were to trade the 26-year-old this season, per Over The Cap. Not being handcuffed to him for this season or in the future could make this an interesting situation with Monangai and the other backs on the roster.

The 23-year-old is a devastating pass protector and will decleat free-running LBs to keep his quarterback clean in the pocket, but training camp is the place where he needs to stack days as a runner, receiver and blocker.

Monangai is a forgotten late-round pick who can carve out a significant role heading into the 2025 NFL season.

Azareye'h Thomas, CB, New York Jets

AP Photo/George Walker I

The New York Jets made wholesale changes to their front office and coaching staff this offseason, hiring new Darren Mougey as general manager and Aaron Glenn as head coach.

Glenn's impact on the Jets' secondary will be as easy to identify as the former NFL defensive back himself. He likes cornerbacks who have size, athleticism and man-coverage ability.

Insert Azareye'h Thomas into this newly formed cornerbacks room. Thomas joins established veterans Sauce Gardner, Brandon Stephens and Michael Carter on the depth chart.

The 21-year-old adds the youthful exuberance the room needs, and he is highly competitive. Do not expect him to lay down and not fight for a starting job.

Stephens was signed to a three-year $36 million contract this offseason after the Ravens did not bring him back. He allowed 858 yards, four receiving touchdowns, and a passer rating of 105.7 with zero interceptions last season, per NFL Pro.

Entering training camp, Thomas has everything to push the veterans for snaps alongside Gardner. Last month, Eric Allen of the Official Jets Podcast said Thomas looks the part and is starting to flash and make plays.

If Stephens continues to decline, the Jets will need to make a decision despite his new contract. Thomas is a physical press man cornerback who excels when aligned tight to the line of scrimmage to disrupt the wide receivers' timing with the QB.

The Florida State product will have the opportunities to prove he deserves more than being viewed as the CB4 of this group.

Watch out for any potential matchups against star receiver Garrett Wilson during Jets' training camp practices. Holding his own against an explosive and crafty route-runner will help propel him up the depth chart sooner than expected.

Quinn Ewers, QB, Miami

AP Photo/Lynne Sladky

Quinn Ewers went from potential QB1 of the 2025 draft to a seventh-round pick. He reportedly turned down an NIL deal worth $8 million to stay one more year in college football, albeit to transfer from Texas as it moves forward with Arch Manning as its starting quarterback.

Ewers decided to bet on himself as an NFL prospect.

The Miami Dolphins have their QB1 in Tua Tagovailoa, but they needed a viable backup. Ewers enters training camp vying for the QB2 position with 2021 second overall pick Zach Wilson.

Ewers is viewed as developmental quarterback and no direct threat to Tagovailoa's starting job, but Wilson should not be considered safe.

Ewers possesses NFL accuracy at all levels of the defense. He throws with touch and ball placement when well-protected. He is a functional athlete who can use his legs if given a straight-line path out of the pocket.

Wilson has proved to be only a backup quarterback throughout his career, but being more efficient with accuracy and the other throwing nuances means Ewers can leapfrog the veteran for the top backup spot.

Tagovailoa has played all 17 games once since being drafted in 2020. From entering the league after a severe hip injury to battling concussions since 2022, health has not been on his side.

He played in 11 games total in 2024 because of a concussion suffered during the Week 2 contest against the Buffalo Bills. Additionally, he missed the final two games of the season due to a hip injury sustained in a Week 15 loss to the Houston Texans.

Injuries have been a constant trend over Tagovailoa's career, which places more onus on having a capable backup. And with Mike McDaniel's creative mind, Ewers could find success if called into action.

Training camp isn't about trying to take Tagovailoa's job, it's about proving he is learning from the starter and improving day-to-day.

Wilson is not a long-term option, and the opportunity for significant playing time could be there for Ewers to take.

Xavier Watts, SAF, Atlanta Falcons

AP Photo/Brynn Anderson

The last time the Atlanta Falcons defense played a football game, they surrendered 44 points to a Bryce Young-led Carolina Panthers offense.

The Falcons couldn't pressure the quarterback, and he took full advantage for the best game of his career, accounting for five total touchdowns and over 250 yards passing.

Atlanta general manager Terry Fontenot sold out to improve his lackluster defense, with four of its five picks going to the defensive side of the ball. Pass-rushers Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. receive the fanfare. But Xavier Watts feels like the forgotten man heading into training camp.

The 23-year-old is an instinctive coverage defender and playmaker. He disguises his coverage responsibilities well in zone coverages, while showing the upside as a matchup man defender.

Watts is a good bait-and-take defender, fooling quarterbacks into risky throwing lanes. Since 2023, he reeled in 13 interceptions at Notre Dame.

The Falcons secondary is a competitive group and cracking the lineup for significant snaps will not be the easiest task. Watts has the ability in coverage to change the game as a lurking and robber defender.

Showing up with the pads on against the run and tackling in space will be pivotal for him. He can carve out a role as the team's third safety in three-safety sets.

Do not forget about Xavier Watts, he's too talented not to have an impact in the developing Falcons defense.