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Chiefs Promising Rookie Reveals Toughest Camp Test

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Adam Schultz | Last updated May 5, 2025 9:30 PM ET

The life of an NFL rookie is a whirlwind, particularly when they first begin their journey at rookie mini-camp, and for Kansas City Chiefs running back Brashard Smith, it's a steep learning curve.

Coming to a franchise with perhaps the best offensive mind in football in Andy Reid, the playbook isn't exactly going to be easy to learn early on. But that is what all of these mini-camps are about.

With the Chiefs now concluding their rookie mini-camp, Smith has detailed the one thing that might be considered hard about the transition from college to the NFL.

"I wouldn't say harder, it's more just you have to learn a lot," Smith said. "It's a lot you have to learn, I'll say as far as playbook, so getting everything down as far as the playbook, then I feel like it'll come natural for sure."

We often hear about players wanting to play fast and be out of their heads, but that can only come when you have every facet of the playbook down, which won't be the case for rookies yet.

But there will be a time at training camp when it all clicks, but until then, it is all about studying the playbook so that when they do set foot on the field, they can make the coaching staff take notice, and that can then lead to a potential roster spot.

So, once Smith learns the playbook, he will be able to show what he is truly made of in his first NFL offseason.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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