There are a ton of incoming NFL rookies who are coming into the league with a ton of current or past legal problems.
The NFL having players who cannot stay on the right side of the law is nothing new, as we see guys getting arrested every single year during the season or the offseason.
Most of the time, NFL rookies tend to stay on their best behavior until they sign their deal, but this incoming crop of guys has tons of issues.
Former LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers, who will be an NFL rookie with the New York Giants, was arrested in New Orleans on a count of carrying an illegal weapon in February 2023. Naber’s misdemeanor charge was dismissed because he was a college student and did not have a prior criminal record.
Former Texas A&M wide receiver Ainias Smith, who will play for the Philadelphia Eagles, was arrested in 2022 and faced a DWI charge after he was stopped for going 51 mph in a 35 mph zone. Police found a “rolled joint of marijuana” and a gun with a full magazine during a search of Smith’s car after executing a probable cause warrant. His charges were dropped.
Former Texas defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat, the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year last season, was arrested last month for suspicion of DWI just weeks before the 2024 NFL draft. He was expected to fall from the second-round projection, but the Tennessee Titans took him early on in the second round.
Former Rutgers defensive back Max Melton, who will be playing his NFL rookie season with the Arizona Cardinals, was charged with three counts of aggravated assault and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose in 2022 for his involvement in a drive-by shooting with a paintball gun.
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Incoming NFL rookie Payton Wilson faced multiple charges related to drinking and fleeing from police back in 2019. He was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round.
Former Mississippi State linebacker Nathaniel Watson, who will play his NFL rookie campaign with the Cleveland Browns, was arrested in 2023 for suspicion of driving under the influence. He was also arrested in 2018 after an alleged drag race caused injuries to a passenger and damage to public property.
Ex-Alabama wide receiver Jermaine Burton was caught on video assaulting a female fan following a loss to the Tennesee Volunteers. The Clevland Browns rookie did not face punishment because he said he was ‘scared.’
In 2021, former Texas A&M defensive lineman McKinnley Jackson was suspended after he was arrested on two drug charges, including possession of a controlled substance, a second-degree felony, per ESPN.com. He will be playing his NFL rookies season with the Bengals.
NFL Rookies Can Have Significant Impact In First Campaign
Which teams’ 2024 NFL Draft class will have the most significant impact this upcoming season?
Since rookies are the cheapest players in the NFL, a team can drastically improve in a single season if they can produce essential contributions from several of them.
Most fans think the top-selected players are the easiest decisions, but much of the time, lesser-known players end up making a name for themselves in their first year and make many teams regret passing them up.
