The NFL's Exceptional Rookie Class: 2010 ... (
Just based on my observations and research)
AFC
East
New York Jets -
no notable instances
Miami Dolphins - OFF.
no notable instances ; DEF. Koa Misi, LB (#) ; ST Nolan Carroll, KR/CB (#)
Buffalo Bills - OFF. David Nelson, WR (##) ; ST/OFF. C.J. Spiller, KR/RB (##) ; DEF.
no notable instances
New England Patriots - OFF. Rob Gronkowski, TE ; OFF. Aaron Hernandez, TE ; DEF. Devin McCourty, CB ; DEF. Brandon Spikes, LB ; ST/OFF. Brandon Tate, KR/WR
West
Denver Broncos - OFF. J.D. Walton, C ; DEF. Perrish Cox, CB ; OFF./ST Demaryius Thomas, WR/KR (##) ; OFF. Zane Beadles, OT (#)
Kansas City Chiefs - OFF. Tony Moeaki, TE ; DEF. Eric Berry, S ; DEF./ST Javier Arenas, CB/KR (#) ; ST/OFF. Dexter McCluster, KR/RB/WR (##) ; OFF. Jon Asamoah, OG (#)
Oakland Raiders - OFF./ST Jacoby Ford, KR/WR (#) ; DEF. Rolando McClain, LB ; DEF. Lamarr Houston, DE ; OFF. Jared Veldheer, OT
San Diego Chargers - OFF. Ryan Mathews (##) ; DEF.
no notable instances
North
Baltimore Ravens -
no notable instances
Cincinnati Bengals - OFF. Jermaine Gresham, TE ; OFF. Jordan Shipley, WR ; DEF. Carlos Dunlap, DE (##)
Cleveland Browns - OFF. Colt McCoy, QB ; DEF. T.J. Ward, S ; DEF.
Joe Haden, CB
Pittsburgh Steelers - OFF. Maurkice Pouncey, C ; ST/OFF. Emmanuel Sanders, KR/WR ; DEF.
no notable instances
South
Houston Texans - OFF. Arian Foster, RB (*) [
the only second-year NFLer. He joined the Texans starting roster after the mid-point of last season, so in my opinion, he still has less than 1 year of NFL experience]
Indianapolis Colts - OFF. Blair White, WR (##) ; DEF. Pat Angerer, LB
Tennessee Titans - DEF. Alterraun Verner, CB ; ST Marc Mariani, KR/WR
Jacksonville Jaguars - OFF.
no notable instances ; DEF. Tyson Alualu, DT ; ST Deji Karim, KR/RB
NFC
East
Washington Redskins - OFF. Anthony Armstrong, WR (#) ; OFF. Trent Williams, OT ; ST/OFF. Brandon Banks, KR/WR ; OFF. Keiland Williams, RB (##)
New York Giants - DEF. Jason Pierre-Paul, DE ; ST Matt Dodge P
Philadelphia Eagles - OFF.
no notable instances ; DEF. Nate Allen, S
Dallas Cowboys - OFF./ST Dez Bryant, WR/KR ; DEF./ST Bryan McCann, CB/KR ; ST/DEF. Akwasi Owusu-Ansah, DB
West
Arizona Cardinals - OFF.
no notable instances ; DEF. Daryl Washington, LB (#)
San Francisco 49ers - OFF. Anthony Davis, OT ; OFF. Mike Iupati, OT (#) ; DEF. Taylor Mays, S (#)
St. Louis Rams - OFF. Sam Bradford, QB ; OFF. Rodger Saffold, OT ; OFF. Michael Hoomanawanui, TE (#) ; DEF.
no notable instances
Seattle Seahawks - OFF.
no notable instances ; DEF. Earl Thomas, S
North
Minnesota Vikings -
no notable instances
Detriot Lions - OFF. Jahvid Best, RB (#) ; DEF. Ndamukong Suh, DT ; DEF. Amari Spievey, S
Green Bay Packers - OFF. Bryan Bulaga, OT (#) ; DEF. Morgan Burnett, S (##)
Chicago Bears - OFF. J’Marcus Webb, OT (#) ;
no notable instances
South
Tampa Bay Buccaneers - OFF. Mike Williams, WR ; DEF. Cody Grimm, S ; DEF. Gerald McCoy, DT (#) ; OFF. LeGarrette Blount, RB (*) ; OFF. Arrelious Benn, WR (#)
Carolina Panthers - OFF. Jimmy Clausen, QB (##) ; OFF. David Gettis, WR (##) ; DEF. Greg Hardy, DE (#)
Atlanta Falcons - OFF.
no notable instances ; DEF. Corey Peters, DT ; DEF. Sean Weatherspoon, LB
New Orleans Saints - OFF. Christopher Ivory, RB (*) ; OFF. Jimmy Graham, TE (#) ; DEF. Patrick Robinson, CB (#)
-- (
to note: I have tried to list this year's rookie crop in order of impact in their respective divisions, by level of production on the field, and the importance to which their individual role factors into the team as a playmaker.
A subjective listing - feel free to add any commentary.)
- - - - -
additional(s):
(*) UDFA (
undrafted free agent) Rookie Acquisition AND/OR [half-]second-year player.
(#) unespecially notables, either due to: sporadic team production, sub-par starter's performance (i.e., not very good, save for one or two instances all season) and/or lingering injuries. Two [##] means so long as the rookie started maybe two games, and an okay outing in one of them, they qualify. Basically, they're
The Replacements.
Note: I tried to figure at least one offensive and defensive player on each team, yet some are just shown with a
caveat (they may have had 1 average game and 1 great, promising day, but have been inconsistent in all others). With some teams (like the NE Patriots) I decided to showcase only the 5most prominent rookie contributors. That team is DEEP with young talent. All teams are capped at a maximum of five bright rookies to watch for, but not all teams met the minimum requirements of two (1 OFF., 1 DEF.).
--
The above listing was aided by the following resources: 1, 2, & 3.