The NFL offseason is officially coming to a close Thursday night, when the Arizona Cardinals and Carolina Panthers face off in this year's Hall of Fame Game, the league's preseason opener.
Both of these teams added some promising young talent in the 2026 NFL Draft, and preseason action will give them their first opportunity to show off their talents against pro competition in a real-game situation.
Here are four rookies to keep an eye on when the Cards face off against the Panthers in Canton on Thursday night:
RB Jeremiyah Love, Cardinals
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Despite more pressing needs elsewhere on the roster, the Cardinals thought enough of Love to make him the No. 3 overall pick in this year's draft. He'll be the headliner Thursday night, even if Arizona gives him a light workload in hopes of keeping him fresh and healthy for the regular season. Even with limited snaps, though, anytime Love touches the ball will be must-see TV, as he shows off the playmaking ability that made him a superstar at Notre Dame.
QB Carson Beck, Cardinals
Love may not see the field much Thursday night, but Beck will be getting the start under center, and it won't be surprising if he spends much of the night there. A third-round pick out of Miami, Beck was a puzzling Day 2 pick for a team that might end up with the No. 1 overall pick next year, but now that he's in the building, Arizona would be wise to give him as many reps as possible to see what he's capable of against NFL competition.
S Zakee Wheatley, Panthers
A versatile defender who can line up at multiple spots, Wheatley was the No. 68 overall player on my board, but he Panthers managed to steal him in the fifth round with the 151st overall pick. He created big plays against both the run and pass at Penn State, and he should quickly make the same kind of impact for Carolina. Not many Day 3 picks earn starting roles as rookies, but Wheatley could be one of this year's exceptions.
WR Reggie Virgil, Cardinals
A fifth-round pick out of Texas Tech, Virgil impressed at the Senior Bowl, and he's doing the same thing at training camp for Arizona. With his size and catch radius, Virgil is able to to forgive errant throws and turn them into highlights of his own. While he's likely to be used more on special teams in the regular season, Virgil should get plenty of opportunities to shine on offense throughout the preseason.
