This past weekend in Los Angeles, the 30th annual NFL Players Association’s Rookie Premiere was attended by six first-round selections in the 2024 NFL Draft, who made a side trip.
On Sunday, at the residence of Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin, the rookies had a meeting with rapper and record producer Jay-Z, as well as the seventh quarterback selected in the 2000 NFL Draft.
When this year’s No. 1 pick, Southern Cal quarterback Caleb Williams, was born on November 18, 2001, Tom Brady was playing in what ended up being a Super Bowl XXXVI preview, having been selected as the 199th overall pick in the NFL Draft on April 16, 2000. Brady and the New England Patriots were defeated 24-17 by the St. Louis Rams on that particular date. As an example, during the NFL championship game,
“When I got to the Super Bowl, it was just another day for me because I treated a preseason game and a regular-season game like it was a Super Bowl,” Brady said to the rookies.
Brady also won the NFL Most Valuable Player Award three times and the Super Bowl MVP Award five times before he announced his retirement on February 1, 2023.
During the luncheon, Brady gave advice to the rookies, who included Brock Bowers, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, Malik Nabers, and Bo Nix in addition to Williams.
“When you think it’s about you and you have 53 guys on the team, it’s really about us,” Brady remarked. The main issue I have with many of today’s young players is that, thanks to social media, branding, and other factors, you guys are making it too much about me and my needs. It’s alright. You will not prevail. ..
“Being a champion meant something different than being a star.”
After two seasons at Oregon, Nix, a former standout from Auburn and Pinson Valley High School, was selected by the Denver Broncos with the 12th pick on April 25.
Williams went to the Bears at No. 1. Quarterback Maye of North Carolina was selected by the Patriots at No. 3, while quarterback Daniels of LSU was selected by the Washington Commanders at No. 2. Bowers, a tight end from Georgia, went to the Las Vegas Raiders at No. 13, and Nabers, an LSU wide receiver, went to the New York Giants at No. 6.
