Chiefs’ Braden Wilson, Mike Catapano Talk Rookie Camp
Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
The Kansas City Chiefs held a three-day rookie minicamp over the weekend. While a majority of the players were in town only on a tryout basis and aren’t likely to be brought back, drafted rookies Braden Wilson and Mike Catapano will at least be given the chance to go to training camp.
Both Wilson and Catapano will likely have to fight for a roster spot, as both were taken in the late rounds of the draft.
Wilson was selected in the sixth round but shortly after the draft, the Chiefs traded Javier Arenas to the Arizona Cardinals for FB Anthony Sherman.
“I just know I’m going to approach the situation the same as I would have regardless,” said Wilson when asked about the Sherman trade. “I just have to do the work and do everything I can to earn myself a spot if I can.”
Wilson, who grew up in Kansas, is excited to have the chance to play for favorite team.
“Yeah, like you just said, I grew up a Kansas kid, this is the team I cheered for when I was growing up. I just need to capitalize on this situation and make a dream come true.”
As for Catapano, he is also facing long odds. A seventh-round pick out of Princeton, Catapano hopes to be one of the few Ivy League players in recent memory to make a splash at the NFL level.
“I wouldn’t say surprised, but I was definitely hopeful,” said Catapano hen asked if he was surprised he was drafted. “You control the controllable. I tried to take advantage of every opportunity whether it was my pro day, I wasn’t really concerned. I just knew whatever was going to happen was going to happen, and I’d roll with it and play to the best of my ability with whatever team I ended up with.”
Catapano played DE in college but will transition to OLB for the Chiefs. The rookie said he is up to the challenge of learning a new position at the highest level.
“It’s a mental battle right now” said Catapano. “When you stand up, your eyes open up. You’re used to just putting your head to the ground and going forward, so now there is a whole new world out here. I think for me most of all, it’s the mental battle because physically I feel good. I feel quick at this weight. I think the biggest transition is learning the coverages and the mental battle.”