PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Eagles completed their two-day rookie minicamp last weekend, an event that’s like the NFL’s version of freshman orientation. You get a taste of the student body, but it doesn’t quite feel like school’s in session. It’s nonetheless a first impression — for the coaches and anyone observing practices. The period open to reporters was limited, preventing any sweeping evaluations.

Here’s what we learned about the top five rookies from the open viewing period and their rookie camp interviews:

Makai Lemon

The last time there was as much intrigue about a wide receiver at rookie minicamp was five years ago in the first practice under Nick Siranni, when DeVonta Smith was the Eagles’ first-round pick expected to take on a big role in the offense. Observers could tell from that first practice in May 2021 how smooth Smith ran his route and how natural his hands were at the catch point. The exposure to Makai Lemon was limited, but one could come away with the same impression. He’s quick, smooth and keeps low to the ground. Get used to the discussion of Smith and Lemon as a combination for years to come. Assuming A.J. Brown is traded next month, Smith and Lemon will become the top two receivers.

Neither of the two Biletnikoff Award winners is imposing — both are sub-200 pounds — yet both were wildly productive in college and jumped out on Philadelphia’s board to the point that the Eagles traded up to land them (with the Dallas Cowboys, coincidentally). Lemon said he shares a similar playing mentality to Smith.

“He’s definitely not the biggest guy, not the tallest guy on the field, but having that heart makes him such an impact player. That’s what sticks out to me,” said Lemon, who’s wired the same way. “Once you have a guy like that lined up right next to you, that’s only going to make you better.”

The two also might have the same all-business approach off the field. Lemon and Smith spent time with each other last week at the Philadelphia 76ers’ playoff game. It wasn’t a deep, get-to-know-you session. It was enough exposure for Lemon to feel like he had found common ground.

“Super humble guy, super chill, super calm,” Lemon said. “My kind of vibe. I feel like me and him clicked on those things.”

When Smith joined the Eagles, the other first-round pick in the room was Jalen Reagor. At the time, Smith was essentially drafted over Reagor. In this case, Smith is the clear No. 1 receiver and could be a resource for Lemon. He vows to do that — in a way that befits his personality.

“Whatever he needs, he can ask me. I’m not going to try to get in his way,” Smith said Saturday at his celebrity softball game. “If he needs me, I’m there for him.”

Tight end Eli Stowers will be working on developing his blocking. (Bill Streicher / Imagn Images)

Eli Stowers

Eli Stowers went through blocking drills at practice under the watchful eye of tight ends coach Ryan Mahaffey. There was a particular focus on positioning and technique. This will be a major development to track for Stowers, who was the Mackey Award winner at Vanderbilt as the nation’s top tight end because of his prolific receiving ability, but he’s underdeveloped as a blocker.

Stowers, a converted quarterback, only played tight end for three years. He explained that it’s not a matter of inability — it’s just a skill he still must develop because he was never asked to block until he made the conversion.

“You just have to learn the technique,” said Stowers, the Eagles’ second-round pick. “I think that was not necessarily a hurdle, but the thing you have to learn the most. You have to get the technique down. A lot of it is reps and so you get the muscle memory down. And the other side of it is just the will to want to block. And I have that, and I want to be the best blocker I can be from that point.”

There had been reports that teams viewed Stowers as a big slot rather than a tight end. He’s a tight end for the Eagles — he’s listed as such, he practices with the tight ends. Even if he’s not a traditional in-line tight end, he still must improve his blocking, just as some blocking tight ends must improve their pass-catching.

“I view myself as a tight end, but I think I can be a really good weapon in the passing game as well,” Stowers said. “I’m thankful that I’m viewed that way because it shows that people think I’m explosive enough to view me as a receiver. But the fact is that I’m a tight end, and I want to be used that way in the offense.”

Markel Bell

Pull up to offensive line drills, and Markel Bell stands out. The sheer size of Bell is like watching Jordan Mailata on the practice field. Bell is actually taller, and he’s every bit 6-foot-9. (He actually measured 6-foot-9 1/4 at the combine, and that’s without shoes.) There was a drill in which he was working with 6-foot-8 guard Hollin Pierce and Bell cast a shadow.

By the way, Bell said he must still be growing.

Mailata and Lane Johnson have both reached out to Bell. He watched both of them while he played at Miami. Bell’s size is more comparable to Mailata’s; he’s built almost like a power forward, wearing the weight well. (Bell is listed at 346 pounds.) What did he take from Mailata?

“He’s a big guy, he’s his own player, he’s a big freak, and one thing I admire about him is the way he moves, the way he anchors on power, plays his own game,” Bell said.

Bell, who did not allow a sack last year at Miami, stopped playing basketball in the 10th grade to focus on football. That’s when he added weight. The Eagles targeted him in the draft, calling him a “passion player” after bringing Bell to Philadelphia for a visit and meeting with him in Miami during the pre-draft process. He’ll have time to develop this season behind Mailata and Johnson, but it’s clear why the Eagles did not trade out of the No. 68 pick in the third round. Players with this size, length and coordination are hard to find. When he was in the range for the Eagles’ pick, they pounced. And unlike Mailata, he arrives with a clear baseline from playing the position at a high level in college. It’s hard to develop into the player that Mailata has become, but Bell won’t require the same runway.

Cole Payton

Cole Payton was the only quarterback at the rookie minicamp, so he received considerable attention from offensive coordinator Sean Mannion and quarterbacks coach Parks Frazier. There was not much to interpret from Payton’s practice session (with a camera affixed to his helmet), although it looked different seeing a left-handed quarterback. Payton might be the first lefty quarterback at an Eagles practice since Tim Tebow. Michael Vick was the last one in a game. Payton didn’t think his left-handedness required any adjustments for the offense — it can change the side for which the quarterback is apt to roll out, which is a part of Payton’s game — and Sirianni said the only difference is it can be difficult for coaches to demonstrate drills.

When Payton practices next, he’ll be fourth in the quarterback rotation behind Jalen Hurts, Tanner McKee and Andy Dalton. Howie Roseman said he’s not opposed to keeping four quarterbacks. That would break convention for the Eagles; it would need to be a situation in which Payton demonstrates clear down-the-road potential and the Eagles do not draw a strong trade offer for McKee or Dalton. (And if they believe Dalton provides value as the No. 3 quarterback.)

There had been speculation that the Eagles might not only keep Payton, but also find an offensive role for him, given his size and athletic ability. Payton is 6-foot-3, 232 pounds and ran a 4.56-second 40-yard dash with a 40-inch vertical jump.

“If that’s what the team wants, if that’s what the team needs, I’m all for it,” said Payton, with a Tayson Hill-type role the root of the question.

This seems unlikely. Even if Payton makes the roster, the Eagles would need to dress more than two quarterbacks. They seldom do that, especially when they can designate an emergency quarterback. If that were the case, Payton would likely need to present special teams value. Unlike most quarterbacks, Payton actually has special teams experience.

“In college, I got a couple reps at running back, tight end, even in the game, so we played with that a little bit,” Payton said. “In practice, I was doing special teams drills. As a junior, I also started on punt even as the backup quarterback, so I’ve done a little bit of it. I just love the game of football.”

Micah Morris

Micah Morris, the Eagles’ sixth-round pick, was greeted at the team facility last week by familiar faces. His former Georgia teammates wanted to see the newest member of the Athens-to-Eagles pipeline.

When Morris arrived at Georgia as a 17-year-old offensive lineman in 2021, he needed to block Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter in practice. Morris’ “Welcome to the NFL” moment might be the same as his “Welcome to Georgia” moment.

“The first time I tried to sit down a Jordan Davis bull rush,” Morris said. “That’s when I realized this isn’t high school.”

He also mentioned Carter’s “endless” array of pass rush moves.

“I was going against Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis, so I know I’m prepared,” Morris said.

Carter, Davis and Nolan Smith all reached out to Morris when the Eagles drafted him. When they greeted him at the facility, they saw how much Morris had changed since he was 17. He didn’t have facial hair then, and he was fresh out of high school. They’re teammates now with a 6-foot-5, 334-pound lineman who was at Georgia for five seasons.

They also didn’t know Morris as a starter. He needed to wait until his fifth season to become a full-time starter in college. If Morris makes the Eagles’ roster, it’ll require waiting for a turn to play. Morris understands as much; in fact, the need for patience in college has shaped his perspective entering the NFL.

“Prepared me not only for the NFL, Morris said, “but life in general.”