NFLPA Rookie Premiere

The NFLPA is holding their 24th Annual Rookie Premiere this weekend. It's presented by Panini America so the trading card company gets exclusive access to the invited rookies. It also gives more than 30 NFLPA business partners an opportunity to engage with and make deals with these rookies. It's a tremendous business/endorsement opportunity for these new football players. Here's the roster of rookies that took part in the 24th Annual Rookie Premiere Presented by Panini Ammerica.

Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bills
Kalen Ballage, RB, Miami Dolphins
Saquon Barkley, RB, New York Giants
D.J. Chark, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Bradley Chubb, DE, Denver Broncos
Nick Chubb, RB, Cleveland Browns
Keke Coutee, WR, Houston Texans
Sam Darnold, QB, New York Jets
Daurice Fountain, WR, Indianapolis Colts
Royce Freeman, RB, Denver Broncos
Micahel Gallup, WR, Dallas Cowboys
Mike Gesicki, TE, Miami Dolphins
Derrius Guice, RB, Washington Redskins
DaeSean Hamilton, WR, Denver Broncos
Hayden Hurst, TE, Baltimore Ravens
Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens
Kerryon Johnson, RB, Detroit Lions
Ronald Jones, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Christian Kirk, WR, Arizona Cardinals
Kyle Lauletta, QB, New York Giants
Baker Mayfield, QB, Cleveland Browns
Sony Michel, RB, New England Patriots
Anthony Miller, WR, Chicago Bears
Nyheim Hines, RB, Indianapolis Colts
D.J. Moore, WR, Carolina Panthers
J'Mon Moore, WR, Green Bay Packers
Rashaad Penny, RB, Seattle Seahawks
Dante Pettis, WR, San Francisco 49ers
Calvin Ridley, WR, Atlanta Falcons
Josh Rosen, QB, Arizona Cardinals
Mason Rudolph, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Jaylen Samuels, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Jaleel Scott, WR, Baltimore Ravens
Tre'Quan Smith, WR, New Orleans Saints
Ito Smith, RB, Atlanta Falcons
Courtland Smith, WR, Denver Broncos
Marquez Valdes-Scantling, WR, Green Bay Packers
Mark Walton, RB, Cincinnati Bengals
James Washington, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
Mike White, QB, Dallas Cowboys

What do 39 of the 40 rookies invited to this exclusive event have in common? They are quarterbacks, running backs, receivers, or tight ends. Bradley Chubb is the only non-quarterback, running back, pass catcher privileged enough to be invited to the NFLPA Rookie Premiere. The NFLPA props up this event as something great for the rookies:

NFLPA Rookie Premiere is one of the most valuable opportunities, exclusively available to NFLPA partners, because it’s the first time for these partners to connect directly with professional football’s most promising and marketable young stars--all in one place—and build content and relationships that extend into the season and beyond.

The event is great for the rookies but only a few rookies. The rookies that might need it the most aren't invited. No offensive linemen, no defensive linemen (other than Chubb), no linebackers, no defensive backs. Kickers? Punters? Absolutely not!  Only "the most promising and marketable young stars" get this "meet and greet." Is a fifth-round quarterback really more promising than a franchise-changing, top-10 offensive lineman? An earth-moving defensive tackle? A supremely gifted corner? Quarterbacks can step outside their home and walk into an endorsement deal. Running backs and pass catchers just have to avoid a major crime. The NFLPA is supposed to be there for all of the players. Even the kickers and punters.