The Athletic Football Show: A show about the NFL Monday Mailbag: Player/team personality fits, Justin Jefferson's unique traits, the outlook for an all-rookie team, and more
May 26, 2025
Dive into the intriguing challenges of building an all-rookie NFL team and how inexperienced players might fare. The conversation reveals what makes Justin Jefferson a standout talent and how coaching significantly impacts a player's development. Discover bold trading strategies that shake up traditional approaches and the risks teams face in making innovative hires. Additionally, explore how team personality shapes player fit and speculate on how stars would perform in different environments.
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Rookies Struggle in NFL Year One
- A team made entirely of rookies, even if all first-round picks, would win very few games due to lack of experience and development curves.
- Rookie positions like quarterback, offensive line, and cornerback are especially hard to play well immediately.
Sam Bradford’s Lost Potential
- Sam Bradford was a highly talented QB whose career was hindered by injuries and poor team infrastructure.
- In a better situation, Bradford’s pure throwing ability and athleticism could have led to a much longer, successful career.
Drafting vs Developing Challenge
- It's impossible to fully disentangle drafting talent from player development due to their intertwined nature.
- Certain teams excel due to coaching stability and clear development plans, while others succeed through draft capital maneuvering.