#rookie-development

#rookie-development

Coming into the regular season, expectations were high for second-round pick Donovan Ezeiruaku. After the Cowboys traded Micah Parsons away a little over a week before their first game, many believed Ezeiruaku would step into a more significant role in Dallas' defense. The Boston College product totaled 16.5 sacks during his senior year at BC, the most in college football, so the hope was that he could replicate some of that production in a Parsons-less Cowboys defense.

Despite being led by a rookie quarterback in Jayden Daniels, the Commanders in fact possessed one of the NFL's oldest rosters. Then, over the offseason, they got even older. It's what they had to do after four straight years of Ron Rivera's disastrous draft classes. Washington was left with very few pieces to build around beyond Daniels. Adam Peters was left to fill in the holes with stopgap veterans while playing the long game in waiting for his own projects to develop.

Catcher Edgar Quero has surprised the White Sox with his offensive performance, holding a .278 batting average, .725 OPS, three home runs, and 26 RBI in 70 games. His development behind the plate has impressed teammates, particularly due to improved game awareness and pitch management, as noted by right-hander Jonathan Cannon. This contrast from his early career highlights significant growth and adaptation necessary for navigating the complexities of big-league catching, which includes mastering pitching strategies and adapting quickly to the demands of fast-paced gameplay.

Being in the playoff locker room and part of meetings with legends like Steph Curry and Draymond Green provided invaluable experiences and insights for Taran Armstrong.