#rookie-development

#rookie-development

Drake Powell didn't arrive in Brooklyn with an offensive reputation. At North Carolina last season, the 6-5 wing was known almost exclusively for his defense, a high-motor stopper whose freshman minutes were tied to effort, not scoring. He knocked down the occasional mid-range jumper, hit 38.1% of his 3s on limited attempts, made simple reads and showed plenty of athletic juice as a cutter and transition finisher.

Considering how the Commanders' defense has been decimated by injuries this season, the fact that Washington's coaching staff hasn't gotten Kain Medrano on the field for anything more than 20 special teams snaps is a damning indictment of his development. The sixth-round rookie was extremely athletic and incredibly raw coming into the league. It seems as if the necessary progress hasn't arrived to inspire confidence as yet.

It didn't take long for the rookies to make their mark in Atlanta. On Sunday night in a daunting environment in Minnesota, all four rookies who are either starting or playing significant snaps made a notable impact. Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. earned their first sacks. Xavier Watts and Billy Bowman Jr. produced their first interceptions. It was a gratifying night for a front office that has endured its share of misses and losses.

"He has versatility, toughness on both ends of the floor," Brown said. "He can [make plays] for himself and others. Gets us organized. "He had a really good game defensively [Friday] night for the most part, and then during the first stretch, he was really good offensively. In the second half, he wasn't as good. But he's a young guy and he's going to learn and grow from any minutes that he gets."

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.

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.