Many incoming rookies are stepping into major roster voids that require immediate contributions. Others, however, landed in situations where established veterans already occupy prominent roles on the depth chart.
The rookies highlighted below will have opportunities to develop behind some of the NFL’s most established players. In many cases, they will not be expected to contribute heavily right away.
While they may lack the immediate rookie-of-the-year upside of some of their peers, these players possess some of the strongest long-term outlooks in the class because of the environments they entered.
RBs Christian McCaffrey & Kaelon Black, San Francisco 49ers
There may not be a mid-round rookie who landed in a better long-term situation than Kaelon Black. The national championship-winning running back will need to earn the No. 2 role on the 49ers’ depth chart over 2025 fifth-round pick Jordan James, but Black’s top-100 draft capital suggests San Francisco has significant plans for him.