When you get drafted into the NFL, it's hard to really get the proper offseason down because it all happens so quickly. Not only that, but you are learning how to be a pro and how to do certain things. This applies to the Las Vegas Raiders' new rookies, too.
These kids are all used to doing what they did during the offseason in college, and they are all used to the college lifestyle of going to class, going to practice, maybe even going to work, and all sorts of other things. So, this is very different for these guys. Adjusting can take time.
Sometimes, players take a full season to adjust. But, slowing down and taking everything in, going step by step, and knowing what you could do differently in that moment, is sometimes the best thing. That's what's crucial in an offseason as a pro, especially a young pro. Two of the Raiders' rookies are learning that.
"I think this rookie class all around, they come in with a sense of maturity," offensive tackle Kolton Miller said of his new rookies. "They're listening, they're looking for ways to improve every day. Yeah, Charles [Grant] and Caleb [Rogers], they're great examples. They're taking a step each day, and you can see the focus and the work after practice. They're doing it the right way."
The fact that their rookies are already learning how to do some of those things, and they are so mature that their veterans, like Miller, are saying that, is huge for the Raiders. They needed to draft good football players, yes, but they also needed to draft guys who could be pros, be smart, and fit their culture.
Sure, it's still extremely early for the Raiders and their rookies -- they haven't even played a snap in the NFL yet. But things like this mean it's a sign of good things to come.
