The week of May 25 saw several rookies make strong impressions during OTAs as they finally took the field alongside veteran teammates. Among the standouts: Chargers wide receiver Tre Harris, who gives Los Angeles another big, physical target, and San Francisco 49ers linebacker Nick Martin, who looks like he’s back to 2023 form. This week’s Rookie Report breaks down those names and more.
Latest rookie news and notes
Tre Harris impressing
Los Angeles Chargers second-round pick Tre Harris is already turning heads in OTAs. He’s made multiple contested catches and flashed the ability to stretch the field with a few big plays. When healthy last season, Harris was one of the nation’s most productive receivers, hauling in 60 passes in just eight games. He’s expected to pair with Mike Williams and Ladd McConkey to form one of the strongest receiver groups the Chargers have had in recent years.
Travis Hunter is already seeing time on both sides
One of the biggest reasons Travis Hunter won the Heisman Trophy at Colorado was his rare ability to play both sides of the ball — and he’s already doing the same with the Jacksonville Jaguars. While Hunter has primarily worked at wide receiver, he’s also getting limited reps at cornerback. His goal is to become the NFL’s first true two-way starter in over sixty years.
First since Archie Manning
Rookie second-round pick Tyler Shough has a real shot to become the first quarterback to start Week 1 for the Saints as a rookie since Archie Manning did it back in 1971. He’s currently competing with Spencer Rattler, who struggled as a rookie, and Jake Haener, who’s sidelined for the next few weeks with an injury. Regardless of who ends up under center, expectations should be low—this Saints team doesn’t look built to win more than a handful of games this season.
Ravens have the best young safety tandem in the NFL
Baltimore’s safety duo is shaping up to be the best young tandem in the league. With Ar'Darius Washington likely out for the season after tearing his Achilles in May, rookie Malaki Starks is expected to step into a starting role from day one. He’ll line up next to Kyle Hamilton, who is only 24 and already one of the top safeties in football. Starks brings elite coverage skills with the versatility to play nickel when needed, and he holds his own against the run. The Ravens may have found their long-term answer on the back end.
"The top safety in the 2025 NFL Draft is Malaki Starks of Georgia, who excels against both the pass and the run. In pass coverage, he displays cornerback-like skills and outstanding ball instincts, consistently making highlight-reel plays throughout his career with the Bulldogs. Against the run, he plays with impressive aggression and is a reliable tackler who rarely misses. "My NFL Draft scouting report on Starks
Will the Giants wait until week 10?
Connor Hughes of SNY predicted that Giants first-round pick Jaxson Dart likely won’t start until at least Week 10. That feels unlikely. If New York struggles early and with their brutal opening schedule, that’s a strong possibility, Brian Daboll will be under pressure to inject some hope into the season. Starting Dart sooner than later might be the only move to keep fans and the locker room engaged. One notable side story: Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin revealed on the This Past Weekend podcast with Theo Von that Dart applied for an extra year of eligibility after 2024, but the NCAA denied it.
NFL Draft review: Quay Walker
In this week’s NFL Draft review, we take a look at Green Bay linebacker Quay Walker, who the Packers selected with the 22nd pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. Going into that draft, I had a third-round grade on him due to his average production, never making the All-SEC team, and only being a one-year starter. However, he did impress with his raw athletic traits, including running the 40-yard dash in 4.52 seconds. So far in his career, Walker has been up and down, starting 43 games and recording 341 tackles but never earning a grade above 58.5 from Pro Football Focus or receiving a Pro Bowl nod. This offseason, Green Bay declined his fifth-year option but still plans to work on a long-term deal.
49ers rookie looking like his old self
Former Oklahoma State linebacker Nick Martin had a breakout 2023 season, leading the Big 12 with 140 tackles—the most in the conference since 2018—and earning first-team All-Big 12 honors. His momentum was halted by a knee injury that cut short his 2024 season, but early signs in OTAs suggest he's back to form. The San Francisco 49ers' third-round pick has shown impressive closing speed and is already building strong chemistry with All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner. Martin is on track to open the season as the starting outside linebacker for San Francisco.