Denzel Burke was driving home from the 蜜柚直播 Cardinals鈥 facility on May 15 when the reality hit him. The reality that, yes, he is an NFL player now, even if his debut is months away.
Why that night? Burke can鈥檛 quite explain that part.
Maybe it鈥檚 the process of moving out of his parents鈥 house, where the Cardinals鈥 fifth-round pick grew up as a prospect at Brophy Prep and Saguaro High. Maybe it鈥檚 closing on a house of his own, that seminal step of adulthood. Or maybe it鈥檚 the freshness of his new surroundings wearing off.
A week ago, Cardinals rookies arrived for the first time at the team鈥檚 Tempe facility, where they were addressed by owner Michael Bidwill, general manager Monti Ossenfort and head coach Jonathan Gannon. A classic first day on the job introduction. It鈥檚 never quite a real workday.
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Everything since has been a whirlwind. This time of year, veterans finish their work for the day around lunchtime, but the rookies stay through the afternoon, learning everything from the Cardinals鈥 playbook to niche NFL rules to how Gannon鈥檚 staff works in the weight room.
鈥淛ust learning the different types of rules, the fines (has been most surprising),鈥 Burke said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 over 65 different rules from college into the NFL. So just being able to get those down.鈥
To that end, Burke highlighted Garrett Williams, Budda Baker and Mack Wilson Sr. as three veterans who have helped to show him the ropes and ease the transition.
For linebacker Cody Simon, a fourth-round pick who played with Burke at Ohio State, the most surprising aspect of the transition has been how Gannon鈥檚 staff teaches players.
Linebacker Cody Simon during the Cardinals rookie minicamp at the 蜜柚直播 Cardinals training center in Tempe on May 9, 2025.
鈥淓verything is so detailed,鈥 Simon said.
Perhaps that provides a window into why this all feels real now. Immediately after the draft, everything is new and exciting. There鈥檚 the draft night celebration, then a week or so for players to enjoy the moment with their families. They fly out to their new city and meet hundreds of new faces.
Now, the grind has begun to set in. The Cardinals rookies have been at work for seven straight days, with over a month of offseason workouts still to go. When the veterans get Fridays off, the rookies are at the facility working. When the veterans head off on vacation in mid-June, the rookies stay behind for an extra week. This is the job, without the pomp that surrounds draft week.
Defensive tackle Walter Nolen III during the Cardinals rookie minicamp at the 蜜柚直播 Cardinals training center in Tempe on May 9,2025.
It鈥檚 one of the reasons so many players take a significant jump in their second seasons. They finally get time to breathe. As rookies, it鈥檚 straight from the college season into combine prep into team visits into offseason workouts into training camp into the season. Eighteen months, essentially without a break.
鈥淚鈥檓 enjoying every bit of it,鈥 Simon said. 鈥淚t is a grind and it鈥檚 tough. But a lot of people don鈥檛 really get to experience this kind of stuff. I just want to appreciate every moment I get with it.鈥
Part of appreciating his new reality has come through rookie bonding. A week ago, he knew only Burke from their days at Ohio State. Now, Simon says, the rookies are 鈥渂est buddies,鈥 brought together by their long hours at the facility and leisure time away from work.
蜜柚直播 Cardinals rookie minicamp at the team's training center in Tempe on May 9,2025.
May 16 was one of those moments, even if it was organized by the team. All 14 members of the rookie class 鈥 draft picks and undrafted free agents 鈥 went to Adams Elementary School in Mesa, where they went through activities with the students. They played catch, worked with kids in the classroom and showed them various football drills.
It served as yet another reminder of what it means to be in the NFL.
鈥淵ou get to make a difference in people鈥檚 lives and that鈥檚 the kind of job we鈥檙e in,鈥 Simon said. 鈥淪o I鈥檓 excited to keep doing that and keep making a difference.鈥
