The first few months of an NFL rookie's career are a whirlwind as they progress from the draft to the regular season, and the 2026 class just completed one of the biggest steps along the way. Rookie minicamps were held over the last two weekends and offered first-year players an opportunity to work with their new coaches and teammates on the practice field for the first time.
Newcomers for every team but one participated in the two- to three-day minicamps. The Detroit Lions canceled their minicamp and were the only team to use their time differently. First impressions of their rookies, including No. 17 pick Blake Miller, will have to wait until OTAs start on May 27.
Reports from throughout the league, plus comments from coaches and players, offered insight into how this year's draftees will settle in with their respective squads. From position changes to role projections, and from measurements to football IQ, there are plenty of new data points to digest.
Here's what we learned, with assistance from CBS Sports Research's Kyle Ngo, about every team's first-year players in their practice debuts.
Arizona Cardinals | May 8-10
Carson Beck's demeanor stood out to Mike LaFleur, who called him "a 24-year-old adult." LaFleur also placed value in the fact that Beck gained ample experience with NFL philosophies during his runs at Georgia and Miami.
Still, he is an older rookie with an elbow injury history, so even if his transition to the NFL is speedy, the Cardinals might still be in the market for a first-round quarterback in next year's draft.
Atlanta Falcons | May 8-10
Several rookies, led by Zachariah Branch, roomed in the dorms behind the team's practice facility and staged their own walkthrough on May 7 to prepare for minicamp.
Jayden George, the son of former Falcons signal-caller Jeff George, tried out at quarterback and battled with undrafted free agent Jack Strand.
Avieon Terrell sat out of practices due to injuries that Kevin Stefanski said were "normal stuff."
Terrell dealt with a hamstring injury throughout the pre-draft process and aggravated the issue during his first run at his private pro day on March 30. He was long projected as a first-round pick, but the hamstring concerns might have factored into him remaining on the board when Atlanta went on the clock at pick No. 48.
Baltimore Ravens | May 1-2
Vega Ioane took reps primarily at right guard. Widely considered the best guard in the draft, Ioane fills a significant need on the interior offensive line for the Ravens.
The question is where he will settle in. Ioane was primarily a left guard at Penn State but has experience on the right side of the line and at center. Baltimore has a spot to fill at center after Tyler Linderbaum left in free agency, but guard is the more natural fit for their No. 14 pick.
Buffalo Bills | May 8-9
Skyler Bell dropped a few passes, leading Joe Brady to pull him aside.
"He was just telling me just to be myself and stop overthinking," the fourth-round receiver said. "I was just in my head a little bit and getting jitters and things like that. And he was just telling me just be yourself and once you're here, you're here for a reason."
Bell was a consensus All-American last season at UConn and was responsible for four drops on 141 targets, per PFF, so he is typically sure-handed.
Carolina Panthers | May 8-9
Chris Brazzell, a lifelong Panthers fan, impressed his coaches and teammates.
Monroe Freeling entered minicamp around 325 pounds after playing last year at Georgia around 310-315.
While he started just one full season in college, Freeling showed enough potential as a junior to warrant a first-round selection. He remains a developmental prospect.