The NFL Draft is underway, and that means that rookie minicamps are around the corner. This is an exciting process for a number of players throughout the league and the first step in their NFL careers. Here’s more on rookie minicamps.
When Are the 2024 NFL Rookie Minicamps?
According to the NFL Operations page, the 2024 NFL rookie minicamp dates are between May 3-6 or May 10-13. All NFL teams can choose either dates to select their three-day camp following the 2024 NFL Draft from Friday-Sunday or Saturday through Monday.
The specific dates for each team to host their rookie minicamps are to be announced.
Who Will Be Attending NFL Rookie Minicamps?
Newly drafted rookies and undrafted free agents get the opportunity to showcase their talent and learn the team’s playbook. This allows players to get acclimated to the league and build chemistry with their new teammates.
Players will go through a number of drills, practices, and occasionally meet and learn from veteran players.
Where Are the 2024 Rookie Minicamps Being Held?
Teams typically hold rookie minicamps at their facilities. Players will have an opportunity to ingratiate themselves with their team environments, including the weight room, indoor and outdoor fields, the medical team, and other parts of having camp at their own facilities.
Other teams, meanwhile, choose to hold training camp outside of the team facilities.
What Should Be Expected From Minicamps?
Typically, players arrive at the team facilities and begin with a team meeting. Following this, players will have position-specific and special- teams meetings.
Players will wear team-issued gear while practicing the base offense and defense, position drills, and other portions before the OTAs and actual minicamp with veterans.
Most practices are to evaluate players and to see how they process and carry out information. Practices aren’t full-padded, typically taking the form of players wearing t-shirts and shorts. Players get the opportunity to meet with the media and go over film with their position coaches.
All players are on a similar level at rookie minicamp, even two-time MVP Lamar Jackson. In May 2018, Jackson attended the Baltimore Ravens minicamp and got to know some of his future teammates.
“I’ve always been a team player, I’ve always put my team first before anything,” Jackson said via Louisville Courier Journal’s Jake Lourim. “I don’t treat myself different, and I don’t want to be treated different. I’m just here to play football, be a Raven and win games.”
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It’s still a system with drafted players versus undrafted players. Typically, undrafted players are fighting for roster spots, while drafted players are looking to make a strong impression for playing time.