North Charlotte Today

CHARLOTTE — The Carolina Panthers' seven-man rookie draft class has experienced a whirlwind over the past two months. Since NFL draft weekend, rookies have moved to Charlotte, gone through rookie minicamp, and started organized team activities (OTAs). Mandatory minicamp is wrapping up this week and training camp will arrive quickly in July.

As the rookie draft class works through their first offseason, each will take time to reflect on their journey to this point and their time in the league thus far. Three rookies will share their experiences through the end of OTAs and mandatory minicamp, while the rest will continue through training camp.

Next up is defensive tackle Jaden Crumedy. The Mississippi State alum was drafted by the Panthers in the sixth round (No. 200 overall).

"Draft day, I had my family, my wife, my mom, my brother and my sister-in-law and my nephew and my sister, my other two sisters-in-law as well and my wife's dad and his daughter, and we were all just sitting in the living room, just talking and eating and enjoying each other's time and watching the draft," Crumedy said.

"As soon as I got the call, I told everybody just be quiet. I just had chills in my body as soon as I started talking. They said they were the Carolina Panthers and I honestly had a couple of tears come out. It was a great moment and I loved everything about it and I'm just glad to be here."

"I felt like I was arriving at college (coming here). It's the first time you've been somewhere new; you're meeting different people, you'll be around some of the best players in the league. You just have to come here ready for whatever comes your way."

The playbook can become a rookie's Bible during that first year. Learning it inside out can be crucial for early contributions or risk getting lost in league dynamics.

"Two weeks before I came—even before we came in—they sent us the playbook," Crumedy explained. "I dived into it right away. Some of it was similar to what we did at Mississippi State so that helped."

"It comes with philosophy on how defense or offense runs... circles indicating positions like tackle or linebacker... stunts or slants," he added.

Study groups also played an essential role: "(Study groups) really were anybody in the lobby or sometimes going to each player's room... especially if it's your own position group."

For Crumedy, adapting quickly due to coaching changes at Mississippi State helped him transition smoothly into professional football.

"For some that haven't been playing a lot, they probably will say it's a lot but it's all part of what we do every day," he noted.

Once veterans returned for OTAs, rookies integrated with those from whom they could learn: "I knew Derrick Brown already—I didn't know him personally but knew who he was... But everybody's family-oriented; they show real brotherhood."

"(Watching Derrick proves) it's there for anybody—all you have to do is take your opportunity," Crumedy emphasized.

Crummy’s welcome-to-the-NFL moment came not from one particular play but from observing his peers: "Rookie minicamp and OTAs—I realized these guys are real deal professionals."

"Everybody has their own drills but our D-line goes at it hard—especially on pass rush days," he concluded.