The majority of the NFL held rookie minicamps over the weekend. These practices essentially are teaching sessions for new players, but we still can learn a thing or 10 from them. After three days in the books, here's what you need to know:
- With Branden Albert on Monday for the Kansas City Chiefs, No. 1 overall pick will play right tackle as a rookie. It's crazy that Fisher, No. 2 overall pick (Jacksonville Jaguars) and No. 4 overall pick (Philadelphia Eagles) all will play right tackle this season.
- The New York Giants third-round pick as a hybrid outside-linebacker and defensive end. This is similar to the role Mathias Kiwanuka played in recent years.
- Comcast SportsNet Bay Area believed wide receiver looked "" to take snaps as the team's No. 3 receiver. We'll check back in August because the San Francisco 49ers need a young receiver to step up.
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- Oakland Raiders coach Dennis Allen says his team is not converting to a 3-4 defense despite the addition of a lot of linebackers. Allen does say the team will be more flexible to throw more 3-4 looks this year.
- The Raiders are looking at as a third-down back. The sixth-round pick had a nice weekend and a clear path to the role as a rookie.
- Houston Texans wide receiver for most praise received. It would be a shocker if Hopkins doesn't start as a rookie for Houston.
(Runner up for praise: in Oakland. ?)
- The Chicago Bears say linebacker is in an "open competition" for the middle linebacker job with D.J. Williams. It's more likely that Bostic will end up on the strong side as a rookie.
- The return of offensive line guru Alex Gibbs to the Denver Broncos coaching staff is a significant development for second-round pick . Gibbs' presence alone should be worth a round bump in leagues for Broncos backs.
- The Cincinnati Bengals see new tight end as a movable chess piece. He's going to line up all over the formation from traditional tight end spots to the slot and occasionally on the outside.
- While New York Jets coach Rex Ryan second-year pro Quinton Coples, Ryan couldn't say enough nice things about No. 13 overall pick . The team surprisingly used him at nose tackle over the weekend, in addition to basically every other position on the defensive line. Richardson is going to make the Jets' defense more flexible.
- Bears first-round pick started out his NFL career at right guard. He could move to the left side, but he'll definitely be a guard as a rookie. Long was talked up as a "leader" among the rookies.
- The Dallas Cowboys were hoping to groom running back for the team's backup job. But thumb surgery will limit him until training camp.
- Bears coach Marc Trestman on his quarterbacks' helmet during practice sessions so he could see where the player was looking. It will be interesting to see if this catches on around the league.
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