NFC under-the-radar rookies, training camp reporting dates

The first round of the NFL Draft doesn't produce all the stars. Teams also mine gems beyond the first 32 picks.

Ahead of training camp in late July, Yardbarker NFL writers identify an under-the-radar rookie on each NFC team who could make a major impact this season. Plus, find training camp reporting dates for rookies and veterans and camp locations.

NFC East

DALLAS COWBOYS | LB Shemar James | The Cowboys need inside linebacker help and fifth-rounder James could start if he has a good preseason. Elite speed helps James, 21, who's one of the NFL's younger players. | Rookies report July 21 | Veterans: July 21 | Site: Oxnard, Calif.

NEW YORK GIANTS | DE Darius Alexander | The third-rounder will begin the season as a rotational player, but his pass-rushing skills (3.5 sacks for Toledo last season) may mean regular snaps by midseason. He's a good run defender, too. | Rookies report July 15 | Veterans: July 22 | East Rutherford, N.J.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES | OT Myles Hinton | The sixth-rounder from Michigan just needs a chance. He can play left or right tackle, though the latter is more likely. "I could not have landed in a better place," the former Michigan standout told Dave Spadaro of the Eagles' website. | Rookies report July 22 | Veterans: July 22 | Philadelphia |

WASHINGTON COMMANDERS | Return specialist Jaylin Lane | With the Commanders having a deep receiving corps, fourth-rounder Lane must win punt return duties to make the roster. But don’t sleep on the rookie as a receiver — he flashed speed in offseason camps. | Rookies report July 18 | Veterans: July 22 | Ashburn, Va. — Rick Snider

NFC West

ARIZONA CARDINALS | CB Denzel Burke | The Cardinals have tremendous depth at cornerback. Still, if second-round pick Will Johnson’s injury concerns remain, Burke could easily make a major impact. The fifth-rounder's 51 starts at Ohio State were the most by any defensive back in school history. He can be a weapon for HC Jonathan Gannon’s defense as a press coverage corner. | Rookies report July 22 | Veterans: July 22 | Site: Glendale, Ariz. |

LOS ANGELES RAMS | LB Chris Paul Jr. | Do not let his fifth-round draft status fool you. Paul Jr has the tools to start Day 1. He is an explosive athlete who can fly from sideline to sideline — something the Rams have been searching for practically the entire Sean McVay era. His short arms may mean missed tackles, but Paul has the motor to clean up most messes left by a stellar defensive line. | Rookies report July 22 | Veterans: July 22 | Site: Los Angeles

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS | RB Jordan James | Christian McCaffrey’s injury history opens the door for a heavy rotation featuring second-year player Isaac Guerendo and James. The fifth-round pick is the epitome of a finisher with all of his 15 touchdowns at Oregon last season coming inside the 20-yard line. Expect James to contribute as the inside-zone back to spell McCaffrey and to cap drives in the red zone. | Rookies report July 15 | Veterans: July 22 | Site: Santa Clara, Calif. |

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS | WR Tory Horton | After trading DK Metcalf and watching Tyler Lockett sign with the Titans, Seattle needs playmakers. Horton won't start before Jaxon Smith-Njigba or Cooper Kupp, but the fifth-round pick's combination of size (6-foot-2) and speed (4.41 40-yard time) should help the Seahawks fill the void left by Metcalf. Horton will need a strong training camp and preseason, but he should get early playing time, perhaps as a punt returner. | Rookies report July 15 | Veterans: July 22 | Site: Renton, Wash. — Sterling Bennett

NFC North

CHICAGO BEARS | OT Ozzy Trapilo | Tight end Colston Loveland and wide receiver Luther Burden III will be involved in the offense right away, but don’t be surprised if the second-round pick gets significant playing time, too. Trapilo, who's 6-foot-8 and 316 pounds, has experience at right and left tackle. He's a crucial depth piece in the room considering LT Braxton Jones has missed 11 games over the past two seasons. | Rookies report July 19 | Veterans: July 22 | Site: Lake Forest, Ill. 

DETROIT LIONS | DL Ahmed Hassanein | No one on the Lions besides Aidan Hutchinson had more than four sacks last season, so this defense is desperate for pass-rushing talent. Hassanein, a sixth-round pick from Boise State, had 22 sacks the past two seasons, so he’ll have an early opportunity to carve out a role. | Rookies report July 16 | Veterans: July 19 | Site: Allen Park, Mich.

GREEN BAY PACKERS | DL Collin Oliver | Oliver is a tantalizing talent who led the Big 12 in sacks (11.5) and tackles for loss (15.5) as a freshman in 2021, but he slipped to the fifth round because he missed most of his senior season with a foot injury. Defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley loves to rotate defensive linemen to keep them fresh, so Oliver could get playing time early this season and have a chance to rise on the depth chart. | Rookies report July 18 | Veterans: July 22 | Site: Green Bay, Wis.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS | WR Tai Felton | Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison are locks as a WR1 and WR2, but the third starting spot is up for grabs among fifth-rounder Felton, Jalen Nailor and Rondale Moore. Felton’s field-stretching ability and shiftiness in the open field could make him a productive weapon for QB J.J. McCarthy. | Rookies report July 20 | Veterans: July 22 | Site: Eagen, Minn. — Jack Dougherty

NFC South

ATLANTA FALCONS | Wide receiver Nick Nash | Drake London, Darnell Mooney and Ray-Ray McCloud III are the expected starters in three wide-receiver sets, but Nash could carve out a role in the second unit. The undrafted free agent from San Jose State was a 2024 consensus All-American, leading the FBS in receptions (104) and receiving yards (1,382). | Rookies report  July 23 | Veterans: July 23 | Site: Flowery Branch, Ga.

CAROLINA PANTHERS | Safety Lathan Ransom | Carolina’s fourth-round pick (No. 122 overall), Ransom could compete for considerable playing time with an impressive camp. In 2024, the fifth-year safety had 76 tackles (nine for loss), an interception and three forced fumbles for national champion Ohio State. | Rookies report July 21 | Veterans: July 22 | Site: Charlotte, N.C. 

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS |  Running back Marcus Yarns | Yarns, who played at FCS Delaware, has an uphill climb to crack the roster with Alvin Kamara, Kendre Miller and fellow rookie Devin Neal among the backs ahead of him. But the undrafted free agent is a tantalizing prospect with big-play ability; in 2024, he had 133 carries for 844 yards, 17 receptions for 297 yards (17.5 YPC) and scored 11 total touchdowns. | Rookies report July 22 | Veterans: July 22 | Site: Metairie, La.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS | Defensive lineman Desmond Watson | The 6-foot-5 nose tackle created waves when he signed with the Buccaneers in May as an undrafted free agent, becoming the heaviest player in NFL history by weighing 464 pounds at Florida's pro day on March 27. “I don’t want it to be my narrative, I want to be known as a football player,” Watson told Buccaneers.com after being signed. | Rookies report July 21 | Veterans: July 22 | Site: Tampa, Florida — Eric Smithling