Under-the-Radar NFL Rookie of the Year Candidates

With the 2016 NFL draft now in the rearview mirror, all eyes are now trained on rookie minicamps, roster projections and regular-season predictions.

When it comes to Rookie of the Year honors, one doesn't have to look far to see the easy favorites on both sides of the ball. Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott is the early bet to take home the award on offense, while other first-rounders like Jacksonville Jaguars defensive back Jalen Ramsey will likely lead the charge on defense.

But between injuries, hitting the "rookie wall" and loads of other variables, things don't always go as planned for the NFL's first-year phenoms.

Looking for a few dark-horse candidates in this year's Rookie of the Year race on both sides of the ball? Remember these names.

Seahawks RB C.J. Prosise

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Marshawn Lynch has officially hung up his cleats, but don't think Thomas Rawls—last year's pleasant surprise for Seattle fans and fantasy owners alike—will monopolize the touches for the Seahawks in 2016.

The team's third-round pick, Notre Dame's C.J. Prosise, has head coach Pete Carroll excited. Per John Boyle of Seahawks.com, Carroll plans to take full advantage of Prosise's athleticism and versatility:

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He has a tremendous range of ability. Going into this draft I was hoping we were going to get this guy so that we can do the things that we can do with him. I don’t mind saying this because it’s not going to take us very long to show it—he is a guy that you can line up out of the backfield as a wide receiver, and he can line up in the backfield and run the football and beat you there too.

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The Seahawks also spent a fifth-round pick on another talented runner in Arkansas' Alex Collins, so Prosise will have plenty of competition in his rookie season. But Carroll and the rest of Seattle's decision-makers preferred Prosise two rounds earlier for a reason.

Rawls had an impressive few games in relief of Lynch last season, though his year ended early with an ankle fracture. If Prosise is able to have success early in multiple ways, he could end up putting together a solid rookie campaign with plenty of yards on the ground and through the air.

Buccaneers DE Noah Spence

Chris O'Meara/Associated Press

It's no secret the Bucs have been desperate for an impact edge-rusher for years—the team's last player with double-digit sacks in a season was Simeon Rice in 2005—and the team feels like it has addressed the need with second-round pick Noah Spence.

The Ohio State and Eastern Kentucky product was a highly touted recruit and promising underclassman performer for the Buckeyes, but multiple failed drug tests got him declared permanently ineligible by the Big Ten. After being forced to watch his teammates win the national title without him, Spence decided to turn his life around and devote himself fully to being a successful football player.

He dominated at EKU in 2015, racking up 11.5 sacks and 22.5 tackles for loss.

With NFL teams trying to decide whether to take a chance on him, Spence sent the results of his last 20 drug tests to all 32 teams during the predraft process. Tampa Bay's decision-makers felt comfortable with him after extensive research, as head coach Dirk Koetter told PewterReport.com's Zach Shapiro:

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Definitely a guy who had some immaturity in his life and, by his own admission, made mistakes. But in the end, with all the research done, we felt like this was the best way to go. And when we talked to him on the phone tonight, the emotion in his voice—that was very real. But time will tell. We have high expectations and hopefully they’ll be met.

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Spence may not be a full-time starter right away, but he'll get plenty of action on passing downs, with an opportunity to do what he does best: get after the quarterback. With opposing offenses focused on stopping Pro Bowl defensive tackle Gerald McCoy and avoiding All-Pro linebacker Lavonte David, Spence should end up with plenty of opportunities to take his crack at the 10-sack mark.

Saints WR Michael Thomas

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If there's any quarterback in the NFL who knows how to make a receiver look good, it's the Saints' Drew Brees.

With Marques Colston and Jimmy Graham now both gone, the future Hall of Famer needs a well-rounded target with the size, athleticism and overall physical tools to be a true No. 1 receiver. Thomas, the nephew of former NFL star receiver Keyshawn Johnson, fits the bill.

Even with the presence of an explosive playmaker like Brandin Cooks and a big, physical option like Brandon Coleman, Thomas should bring something to the Saints' passing attack didn't have prior to the draft.

For his part, Thomas has plenty of respect for Colston and believes he brings a similar skill set to the table, per Mike Triplett of ESPN.com:

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He’s a big, physical receiver, just like I would consider myself. When they let him go, someone has to fill that role, it’s football. He was a tremendous part of their success. And just watching him as a kid I remember watching Monday Night Football and him making a ton of plays with Drew Brees. It’s still just shocking for me to be in this situation.

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It's hard to imagine a better situation for Thomas, and with defenses focused first on stopping a big-play machine like Cooks, the rookie could put up quality numbers in the Saints' high-powered passing attack.

Raiders DE Shilique Calhoun

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The Raiders have built one of the most impressive young rosters in the NFL, with plenty of promising playmakers on both sides of the ball. They may have stolen another one when they grabbed Michigan State's Shilique Calhoun in the third round of this year's draft.

Oakland spent its first two picks on defensive players as well—safety Karl Joseph and defensive lineman Jihad Ward—but Calhoun may end up being the most productive as a rookie. With the chance to line up across from one of the NFL's most dominant edge-rushers in Khalil Mack, Calhoun could benefit from teams not paying enough attention to him.

The former Spartan is looking forward to learning a thing or two from his new teammate and contributing in any way he can, as he told Haberman & Middlehauff on 95.7 The Game (h/t Eddie Paskal of Raiders.com):

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I want to be the best, and that’s what I’m training for, and that’s what I strive for. Of course I want to go out there and produce in any way that I can. I just want to see the Raiders win, and I want to be a part of that organization as well.

I look forward to talking with those guys, just trying to pick their brains. They have a lot of knowledge. Khalil has done some great things in the league and he’s still young. I’m definitely going to reach out [to] those guys whenever I get a chance.

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Calhoun is a versatile defender who can put his hand in the dirt, rush the passer and set the edge, while also possessing the athleticism and flexibility to drop into coverage and make plays in space. With opposing offenses focused on containing Mack, Calhoun could end up making a ton of plays in multiple ways as a rookie.

Dolphins RB Kenyan Drake

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Some may dismiss him as just a gimmick player, third-down back or special-teamer, but after making him the third running back off the board in this year's draft, it's clear the Dolphins have higher expectations for Kenyan Drake.

An explosive playmaker, Drake believes his experience playing for the Crimson Tide will help him succeed at the pro level for multiple reasons, per Brandon Howard of Sports Talk Florida:

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The process of being in a pro-style offense, I come in with a good understanding of not necessarily the terminology because terminology will be different, but every basic pro-style offense is going to be the same. So that gives me an edge over whoever else who didn't have that opportunity.

At the same time just going to Alabama and being under that winning culture, I expect nothing less out of my teammates and out of myself and that's why I'm going to come here and help this team win a Super Bowl in any way possible.

"

At 6'1", 210 pounds, Drake was used as the lightning to Derrick Henry's thunder at Alabama, but he has the skills to be a complete back in the NFL.

With Lamar Miller gone via free agency and no clear-cut favorite to beat him out for the starting job, Drake should see plenty of touches as both a runner and receiver in 2016. His explosiveness and knack for making big plays in key moments could allow him to make plenty of noise in his rookie season.