The majority of the NFL held rookie minicamps over the weekend. These practices essentially are teaching sessions for new players, but we still can learn a thing or 10 from them. After three days in the books, here's what you need to know:
- With Branden Albertcoming to camp on Monday for the Kansas City Chiefs, No. 1 overall pick Eric Fisher will play right tackle as a rookie. It's crazy that Fisher, No. 2 overall pick Luke Joeckel (Jacksonville Jaguars) and No. 4 overall pick Lane Johnson (Philadelphia Eagles) all will play right tackle this season.
- The New York Giantswill develop third-round pick DaMontre Moore as a hybrid outside-linebacker and defensive end. This is similar to the role Mathias Kiwanuka played in recent years.
- Comcast SportsNet Bay Area believed wide receiver Quinton Patton looked "nowhere close to ready" to take snaps as the team's No. 3 receiver. We'll check back in August because the San Francisco 49ers need a young receiver to step up.
- 49ers running back Marcus Lattimore (torn anterior cruciate ligament) said that he'd be fine sitting out the 2013 season if that's what the team wants. Don't be surprised if the 49ers take him up on the offer. They didn't draft him with 2013 in mind.
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- Oakland Raiders coach Dennis Allen says his team is not converting to a 3-4 defense despite the addition of a lot of linebackers. Allen does say the team will be more flexible to throw more 3-4 looks this year.
- The Raiders are looking at Latavius Murray as a third-down back. The sixth-round pick had a nice weekend and a clear path to the role as a rookie.
- Houston Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkinswon the weekend award for most praise received. It would be a shocker if Hopkins doesn't start as a rookie for Houston.
(Runner up for praise: Tyler Wilson in Oakland. Could he start?)
- The Chicago Bears say linebacker Jon Bostic is in an "open competition" for the middle linebacker job with D.J. Williams. It's more likely that Bostic will end up on the strong side as a rookie.
- The return of offensive line guru Alex Gibbs to the Denver Broncos coaching staff is a significant development for second-round pick Montee Ball. Gibbs' presence alone should be worth a round bump in fantasy football leagues for Broncos backs.
- The Cincinnati Bengals see new tight end Tyler Eifert as a movable chess piece. He's going to line up all over the formation from traditional tight end spots to the slot and occasionally on the outside.
- While New York Jets coach Rex Ryanpublicly criticized second-year pro Quinton Coples, Ryan couldn't say enough nice things about No. 13 overall pick Sheldon Richardson. The team surprisingly used him at nose tackle over the weekend, in addition to basically every other position on the defensive line. Richardson is going to make the Jets' defense more flexible.
- The Dallas Cowboys were hoping to groom running back Joseph Randle for the team's backup job. But thumb surgery will limit him until training camp.
- Cowboys defensive backs coach Jerome Henderson said third-round pick J.J. Wilcox out of Georgia Southern is "light years" away from helping the team, which is too bad because the Cowboys need safety help by September.
- Bears coach Marc Trestmanput a camera on his quarterbacks' helmet during practice sessions so he could see where the player was looking. It will be interesting to see if this catches on around the league.
Follow Gregg Rosenthal on Twitter @greggrosenthal.
