Bleacher Report's Midseason NFL All-Rookie Team
We may well look back on 2016 as the Year of the New Guy.
We've seen rookies across the NFL have immense success this season. Some, like Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz, were expected to make a big dent during their first NFL campaign. Others, like San Diego Chargers linebacker Jatavis Brown, were not.
That the Dallas Cowboys are off to a hot start due in large part to the hard running of top-five overall pick Ezekiel Elliott isn't a huge surprise.
That fourth-round quarterback, Dak Prescott, has helped him immensely is another story.
With the 2016 campaign halfway home, our NFL crew has put together a team featuring the best of the best of this year's rookie class.
Here's the squad they assembled.
Quarterback
1 of 14
Winner: Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys (8 votes)
To say Dak Prescott has taken the NFL by surprise is one lulu of an understatement.
Before the season, Prescott was a fourth-round flier as depth at quarterback behind Tony Romo in Dallas. If things worked out like the Cowboys hoped, maybe the former Mississippi State standout would develop into a decent backup.
Instead, Romo got hurt and Prescott started for the Cowboys in Week 1 after a stellar preseason. Dallas lost by a point to the New York Giants in Week 1...
And hasn't lost since.
In seven starts, Prescott has thrown for 1,773 yards. He's taken care of the football, with only two interceptions and two lost fumbles to go with 13 total touchdowns. His passer rating is 99.6.
Pro Football Focus ranks Prescott 12th among quarterbacks so far this season—ahead of Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers, San Diego's Philip Rivers and Arizona's Carson Palmer.
As Bleacher Report's Dan Pompei wrote, at least one NFC general manager has the hindsight blues after passing on Prescott only to watch him tear up the NFL this fall:
"I'm really mad at myself. I went to school and loved Prescott. There was the 'it' factor with him. We had some people in the building who didn't like him. Two of us were really on him, so it wasn't worth the battle. In retrospect, it would have been. I wish I had been more open-minded. I will look at some guys differently this year.
"
That general manager isn't alone (looking at you, Cleveland), but while teams all over the league are kicking themselves for passing over Prescott, the Cowboys are pinching themselves as they sit in first place in the NFC East at 6-1.
Sometimes a quarterback controversy isn't such a bad thing after all.
Others receiving votes: Carson Wentz, Philadelphia Eagles (4 votes)
Running Back
2 of 14
Winners: Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys (12 votes); and Jordan Howard, Chicago Bears (11 votes)
Dak Prescott's play may be one of the biggest surprises of the 2016 NFL season, but the same can't be said of Ezekiel Elliott.
He's been exactly what the Cowboys thought he would be when the team made him the fourth overall pick in the 2016 NFL draft.
OK, maybe that's not entirely true. Dallas expected Elliott to make an immediate impact. Pundits figured he would play well after an outstanding career at Ohio State.
But Elliott's gone further than that—the 21-year-old leads the NFL with 799 yards on the ground, and second-place back DeMarco Murray has played in one additional game (eight).
While speaking with Jonathan Jones of Sports Illustrated, Elliott downplayed his early success in the NFL:
"As a competitor we want to be the best at what we do. That’s what I think I’ve done a good job with kind of becoming a well-rounded player and kind of working on everything, not just focused on running the ball, catching it or being a third-down guy out of the backfield. Just being a guy that you don’t have to take out, who can do a little bit of everything.
"
Elliott's modesty aside, he's had quite the half-season. Historic, even. At his current pace, Elliott would set a new rookie rushing record, surpassing Eric Dickerson's 1,808 yards in 1983.
Jordan Howard hasn't quite experienced the same level of success for the Chicago Bears, but he hasn't been dog food either.
Howard leads the Bears with 505 rushing yards. He's put up three 100-yard rushing games, including 153 yards on 26 carries Monday night against a solid Minnesota Vikings defense. Howard is also averaging a robust 5.1 yards a carry.
As Adam L. Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times reported, Howard has a supporter in head coach John Fox.
“He has a bright future,” Fox said.
Others receiving votes: Andy Janovich, Denver Broncos (1 vote)
Fullback/Halfback/Tight End
3 of 14
Winners: Hunter Henry, San Diego Chargers (12 votes); and Austin Hooper, Atlanta Falcons (10 votes)
San Diego Chargers tight end Hunter Henry has benefited greatly over the first half of his rookie season from the NFL equivalent of an apprenticeship program.
Playing with the tutelage of future Hall of Famer Antonio Gates, Henry has shined. The former Arkansas star has reeled in 22 catches for 340 yards and three scores, including three consecutive games with at least 60 receiving yards and a score.
Henry admitted to Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com that learning the position from one of the best to ever play it has greatly eased his learning curve.
"It’s awesome to have that kind of guy on your side," Henry said. "He’s arguably the best ever playing this position, so being among his presence is an honor. And I’m happy to call him a good friend."
Quarterback Philip Rivers told Williams that Henry has wasted no time making a good impression on his new teammates:
"He’s awesome, and he’s going to be an awesome tight end. I’m very thankful. He has a long way to go, obviously, to even say this about him and Antonio, they’re different, but I’m thankful as we transition Antonio -- as long as he’s going to be here, hopefully a long time -- to have a guy like Hunter coming in.
I knew he was going to be good, but gosh, he’s a heck of a player. He understands the game and he’s a complete player. I would describe him as a football player -- that’s the ultimate compliment, my dad would say.
"
It's a bit more difficult to choose a second option, as there haven't been any rookie tight ends playing as much as Henry.
But Austin Hooper of the Atlanta Falcons has shown flashes, including a 42-yard touchdown catch against the Carolina Panthers that displayed his ability to stretch the field. He also had a five-catch effort against the Green Bay Packers with starter Jacob Tamme sidelined with an injured shoulder.
Given that performance and Tamme's injury, it's likely we'll see quite a bit more of Hooper over the season's second half.
Others receiving votes: Andy Janovich, FB, Denver Broncos (2 votes)
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Wide Receiver
4 of 14
Winners: Michael Thomas, New Orleans Saints (11 votes); and Will Fuller, Houston Texans (9 votes)
It's been a good season for the Ohio State Buckeyes...
In the NFL, at least.
Seven games into his inaugural season, Michael Thomas of the New Orleans Saints has 42 receptions for 500 yards and three touchdowns. The former Buckeye is on a pace that would break both Reggie Bush's franchise rookie record for catches (88) and Marques Colston's rookie mark for yardage (1,038).
Thomas has already emerged as arguably Drew Brees' top passing target in the Big Easy, but he soft-pedaled his early success while speaking with Josh Katzenstein of the Times-Picayune: "I kind of just bet on myself and believe in myself and take it from there. .... You want to always be proud of yourself for your accomplishments, but don't do it in a selfish way. Every time I make plays I try to help this team to be in a better position."
Meanwhile, Will Fuller of the Houston Texans has also fared well. Yes, dropped passes continue to be an issue for Fuller. And the 22-year-old has cooled off after a white-hot start. Still, neither of those issues can take away the fact that Fuller topped 100 receiving yards in each of his first two professional games.
As Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com wrote, that early ability to produce impressed Texans head coach Bill O'Brien:
"I’ll tell you, this is what we were hoping for him early on, was him to be able to be productive. Because in my experience it has been very difficult for rookie receivers to really come on and be productive right away. He’s a very bright guy, very hard-working guy, really understands football. He’s an instinctive player.
"
There may not be an Odell Beckham in this year's wideout class—a first-year receiver who takes the NFL by storm.
And there are dissenting voices among our writers, including NFL Analyst Brad Gagnon, who feels Sterling Shepard of the New York Giants deserves the nod over Fuller: "Their broad numbers are similar, but Shepard has caught a substantially higher percentage of the passes he's been targeted on (49.0 to 64.6). That's more valuable to the Giants than the extra few yards per catch Fuller has given the Texans (14.9 to 10.8)."
But as it turns out, the narrative that 2016 was a "down" year at the position may not have been accurate.
Thomas (and to a lesser extent Fuller, Shepard and others) is proof of that.
Others receiving votes: Sterling Shepard, New York Giants (4 votes)
Offensive Tackle
5 of 14
Winners: Jack Conklin, Tennessee Titans (11 votes); and Taylor Decker, Detroit Lions (8 votes)
Have I mentioned that 2016 has been a good year for rookies from The Ohio State University?
The Buckeyes had a record number of players selected over the first two days of the 2016 NFL draft (10), and many of those players have wasted no time making an impact.
That includes Taylor Decker of the Detroit Lions, who has already logged 512 snaps as the Day 1 starter at left tackle.
Decker acclimated to the pro game quickly. He ranks a respectable 19th among offensive tackles at Pro Football Focus, tops among rookies manning the line's left side.
Decker told David Mayo of MLive.com that he's trying to get better at keeping Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford upright, clean and happy: "I'm just trying to go out there and do my job, and a big part of that is protect him. We know, our group, if we give him time and we do our job, he can really make some stuff happen. So I'm just every week, every play, trying to get my job done."
Decker has played well, but he isn't PFF's highest-graded rookie tackle. Nor is he our leading vote-getter for the B/R midseason all-rookie team.
Those honors belong to Jack Conklin of the Titans, who has helped spur Tennessee's exotic smashmouth ground game.
In eight starts at right tackle for the Titans, Conklin has yet to allow a sack. Conklin isn't just the highest-graded rookie tackle—he ranks No. 1 among all right tackles.
Teammate Brian Schwenke raved about Conklin's play while speaking with John Glennon of the Tennessean.
“He’s a mauler,” Schwenke said. “His technique might not be perfect, but with him right now, it’s more about his style of play. You don’t want to overcoach a guy like that because he might play slower.”
It isn't a coincidence that both the Lions and Titans are 4-4 after disappointing 2015 seasons.
It's amazing what NFL offenses can accomplish when the quarterback isn't running for his life all afternoon. It's hard to throw an accurate pass when you're looking out of your ear hole.
Others receiving votes: Ronnie Stanley, Baltimore Ravens (5 votes)
Offensive Guard
6 of 14
Winners: Laremy Tunsil, Miami Dolphins (12 votes); and Joe Thuney, New England Patriots (12 votes)
Laremy Tunsil's NFL career didn't get off to the best start.
Once considered the 2016 draft's top overall prospect, Tunsil endured a draft slide after a video emerged that allegedly showed the Ole Miss star smoking marijuana through a gas mask.
Yes, you read that right.
That video cast a cloud over Tunsil's professional prospects, because I can't make it through an entire article without at least one brutally unfunny joke.
Metaphors are fun.
The grumbles heated up that much more when the Dolphins revealed their plans to move Tunsil to guard. Teams don't use high first-round picks on interior linemen.
Well, the only people grumbling now are Tunsil's opponents, as he's taken well to his new position.
In five starts at left guard, Tunsil ranks inside PFF's top 25 overall and in run blocking. And as Joe Schad of the Palm Beach Post wrote, Miami offensive coordinator Clyde Christensen thinks the 6'5", 316-pounder is getting better by the week:
"Tunsil, I think, is just improving in big strides. Big strides. I was teasing today, his first pull … if you watch his first pull in the (Buffalo) game, I think he could have played for Vince Lombardi and run the Green Bay sweep. We talked about him struggling pulling because he just hadn’t done it a bunch early and he goes tip-toeing through there and he’s agile and he locks him up. It was really impressive.
"
Of course, as a first-round pick, Tunsil was expected to make a dent as a rookie. The same can't be said for Joe Thuney of the New England Patriots, who was a third-round selection.
However, Thuney won the starting job at left guard in training camp and hasn't taken his foot off the gas.
Not only is Thuney the lone remaining player for the Patriots who has played every offensive snap for the team this season, but as ESPN.com's Mike Reiss reported, head coach Bill Belichick indicated he's taken well to some of the more complex duties associated with being an NFL lineman.
"Thuney really gets it going," Belichick said. "In man-to-man coverage, Thuney comes out and gets the cover linebackers—the linebacker that’s responsible for covering the running back (on a screen).”
The rich get richer.
Center
7 of 14
Winner: Cody Whitehair, Chicago Bears (9 votes)
There haven't been a lot of bright spots for the 2-6 Chicago Bears. However, it bodes well for the team's future that it placed two offensive players on our all-rookie squad.
Joining tailback Jordan Howard is center Cody Whitehair, who is showing a great deal of versatility. A tackle at Kansas State, Whitehair was viewed as a guard prospect in the NFL draft. Now he's starting at center, and as PFF's Sam Monson wrote, Whitehair is more than holding his own:
"Whitehair isn’t just starting at center as a rookie – an unusual and tough proposition on its own – but is doing so making the switch from playing left tackle last season for Kansas State. To be keeping his head above water would be an achievement, but (in Week 5) he dominated the Colts’ defensive front in Chicago’s loss, allowing no pressure at all in pass protection and moving D-linemen around in the run game.
"
Granted, Whitehair has allowed a couple of sacks, but for a rookie who has never played center at a high level to make the line calls, snap the football and perform fairly well is pretty remarkable.
And Whitehair has done more than just play "fairly well." He ranks inside the top 20 at his position so far this year at Pro Football Focus.
Others receiving votes: Ryan Kelly, Indianapolis Colts (3 votes)
Defensive End
8 of 14
Winners: Yannick Ngakoue, Jacksonville Jaguars (9 votes); and Joey Bosa, San Diego Chargers (9 votes)
My, what could have been.
It's fair to wonder what sort of first half-season Joey Bosa could have put up had the No. 3 overall pick actually played a half-season.
A contract holdout and a hamstring injury led to the former Ohio State All-American's not seeing the field for the Chargers until Week 5. Even now, Bosa is playing limited snaps for the Bolts.
He's making the most of those snaps, though.
Bosa has four sacks in as many games, and he told Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune that playing less is helping him make more of an impact: "I look back at Ohio State, and I see I wasn't flying around as much as I should have been. But it has partly to do with the fact that I was playing 80 plays (per game) almost. ... During the game, I think, I definitely have better wind, and I'm giving 100 percent more on every single play."
When it comes to rookie impact, though, no defensive end has done more in 2016 than Yannick Ngakoue of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
In fact, in notching four sacks and an interception in his first five NFL games, Ngakoue became only the second player in NFL history (joining Terrell Suggs of the Baltimore Ravens) to accomplish that feat.
As Ryan O'Halloran of the Florida Times-Union reported, it's no surprise given that accomplishment that Ngakoue has impressed veteran Jaguars leaders, such as inside linebacker Paul Posluszny: "He's doing such a great job. He's so willing to learn and work hard and listen—it's been awesome to see a rookie perform at a high level, get better and better and say, 'I want to be great. I will do anything I have to.'"
It's also no surprise that it's Ngakoue who joins Bosa as the Bleacher Report All-Rookie defensive ends at the season's halfway point.
Others receiving votes: Noah Spence, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3 votes); Emmanuel Ogbah, Cleveland Browns (2 votes); and Carl Nassib, Cleveland Browns (1 vote)
Defensive Tackle
9 of 14
Winners: Michael Pierce, Baltimore Ravens (10 votes); and DeForest Buckner, San Francisco 49ers (7 votes)
Right now, unless you're a hardcore NFL fan or a supporter of the Baltimore Ravens, you're probably wondering: Who is Michael Pierce?
It's a fair question. It's not as if Pierce was drafted high. Heck, he wasn't drafted at all. And Pierce's 16 tackles and two sacks aren't eye-popping stats...
Except they are when you consider that the big man from tiny Samford University plays nose tackle in a three-man front—a role that doesn't lend itself to statistical production.
Even Pierce admitted to Ryan Mink of the team's official website that he's been surprised by his ability to get after the quarterback.
“Woooow,” Pierce said. “I was just expecting to get a few reps here and there, just to get adjusted. … I think I kind of surprised everybody with my pass-rush ability.”
Pierce may have been a surprise star, but for DeForest Buckner of the San Francisco 49ers, it's just been about performing as advertised.
The first-round pick has been a bright spot for an awful 49ers team, tallying 36 tackles, chipping in two sacks and grading 16th at his position, per Pro Football Focus.
Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee has been impressed by the athleticism that led many draftniks, such as NFL.com's Mike Mayock, to compare Buckner to Calais Campbell of the Arizona Cardinals:
"Buckner is incredibly lithe and athletic for someone his size, and he makes tackles all over the field. In fact, he might be better when the play is run away from him, enabling him to use his skills to run down the ballcarrier. When the play is in Buckner’s direction, his 6-foot-7 frame can be used against him and he can be moved. Still, his athleticism, smarts and doggedness all point to Buckner becoming an excellent all-around player for the 49ers.
"
Some might nitpick this selection, given that Buckner is in essence more 3-4 defensive end than tackle.
Give us a break. We were trying to find something nice to say about the 49ers.
That ain't easy.
Others receiving votes: Chris Jones, Kansas City Chiefs (4 votes); and Adolphus Washington, Buffalo Bills (3 votes)
Outside Linebacker
10 of 14
Winners: Emmanuel Ogbah, Cleveland Browns (8 votes); and Darron Lee, New York Jets (7 votes)
Speaking of having a hard time finding something nice to say, how about those Cleveland Browns?
The 0-8 Browns are the NFL's lone winless team. Whether their beleaguered fans want to admit it or not, 0-16 is a possibility.
But it isn't all been bad. The Browns have gotten good contributions from a number of young players, including outside linebacker Emmanuel Ogbah.
Ogbah has improved steadily. He's been especially hot of late, with 15 tackles and all three of his sacks over the last three games.
If the Browns are ever going to get better, they'll have to hit on early draft picks, and Ogbah is promising.
He is joined on our all-rookie team by—wait for it—another Buckeye!
Just like Ogbah, Darron Lee has gotten better for the New York Jets as the season's progressed. At least, that is, until Lee sprained his ankle.
However, even with Lee's sitting the past two games, he's still among the Jets leaders in total tackles. There have been bumps in the road (in a game against the Seattle Seahawks, tight end Jimmy Graham got the better of Lee).
But he told Gary Phillips of USA Today he'll continue working hard and getting better: "We definitely need to communicate better, and that’s something we’re going to need to continue to work on. That’s going to come with chemistry. We have to improve on that fast or we will continue to lose games. Communicating, execution and game plan is definitely what it comes down to."
We aren't about to bet against him.
Others receiving votes: Kyler Fackrell, Green Bay Packers (4 votes); Leonard Floyd, Chicago Bears (3 votes); and Joey Bosa, San Diego Chargers (2 votes)
Inside Linebacker
11 of 14
Winners: Deion Jones, Atlanta Falcons (9 votes); and Blake Martinez, Green Bay Packers (9 votes)
I'll confess I have a bone to pick here.
I'm of the mind that Jatavis Brown of the San Diego Chargers deserves inclusion. Since taking over for an injured Manti Te'o in Week 4, Brown has been an every-down force for the Bolts. In five starts, he has piled up 39 total tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble.
But here at Bleacher Report, we are a democracy. No voter fraud going on in these parts. And Brown came in third in our tally.
It's hard to argue with the pair who garnered the most votes, though. Deion Jones stepped into a three-down role as the defensive signal-caller for the Atlanta Falcons. Not only has the 21-year-old piled up 47 tackles, but he's also picked off a pair of passes, returning one for a score.
Like Jones, Blake Martinez of the Green Bay Packers wears the "green dot" helmet communicator. Martinez leaves the field in some sub-packages, but that hasn't stopped him from opening eyes around the league, including the peepers of our own Doug Farrar:
"Those who missed the boat on Martinez, whom Green Bay drafted in the fourth round, may have also missed the memo on the league’s current paradigm for inside linebackers, regardless of scheme: Almost unilaterally, they’re a good 20-30 pounds lighter than they were 10 years ago.
In today’s NFL, inside linebackers must be quick enough to diagnose and cover screens and seam routes, because they’re the only inside linebackers on the field in a lot of base schemes. Then they must develop adaptive techniques to offset their size limitations when crashing down on the run.
"
There may not have been a slam-dunk inside prospect in 2016, but that doesn't mean it wasn't a good year to get great value at the position.
All three of those linebackers are proof of that.
Others receiving votes: Jatavis Brown, San Diego Chargers (6 votes)
Cornerback
12 of 14
Winners: Jalen Ramsey, Jacksonville Jaguars (11 votes); and Brian Poole, Atlanta Falcons (7 votes)
It's been an up-and-down year for Jalen Ramsey.
The No. 5 pick in the 2016 NFL draft, Ramsey shined in the Jaguars' Week 6 win over the Chicago Bears, shutting down Alshon Jeffery. One week later, Ramsey was tossed from a loss to the Oakland Raiders for fighting.
The mercurial Florida State star told Jacksonville.com's Phillip Heilman (via CBSSports.com) that he wasn't about to apologize for the latter: "They probably don't want me to say this, but I'm just going to keep it real with [you]. If I was out there nine more times, I would do the same exact thing. I don't think I should have been thrown out of the game for it. I'm not going to be disrespected. I'm pretty sure [you] know that about me by now."
Ramsey still has a lot to learn. He's still searching for his first interception as a pro as well.
But the fact is, rookie cornerbacks often struggle. Especially rookie cornerbacks thrust into an immediate role covering the NFL's best receivers.
Ramsey was a top-five pick for a reason, and talent is going to win out.
At the opposite end of the draft-day spectrum we have Brian Poole, who saw all three days of the NFL draft come and go without hearing his name called.
The Atlanta Falcons eventually came calling, though, and Poole has worked his way into a prominent role as a slot corner.
Head coach Dan Quinn told Alan Dell of the Bradenton Herald that Poole hasn't played like a UDFA for the first-place Falcons:
"He just keeps getting better and we’re going to continue to push him and find all the different things he can do, but he has a real clear understanding of how to play that inside spot. That part of our game when we are playing our zone and tackling, that’s when I think Brian is at this best. (We are going) to find all the different things he can do.
"
The folks at Pro Football Focus also like his performance, grading Poole inside the top 20 at his position through eight weeks.
Others receiving votes: Tavon Young, Baltimore Ravens (3 votes); Vernon Hargreaves, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2 votes); and Rashard Robinson, San Francisco 49ers (1 vote)
Safety
13 of 14
Winners: Keanu Neal, Atlanta Falcons (12 votes); and Karl Joseph, Oakland Raiders (11 votes)
So far, we've seen everything from top-five draft picks to undrafted free agents. Draft slot is not a guarantee of NFL success.
At the safety position, though, the word of the day is chalk. The first two players drafted at the position in 2016 made our all-rookie team.
Karl Joseph was the first true safety drafted in 2016, at No. 14 by the Oakland Raiders. It took the former West Virginia star a little while to work his way into the starting lineup, but as he told ESPN.com's Paul Gutierrez, with each passing week he gets more at ease at the back end of the Oakland defense.
"Every week I go out there, I get a little more comfortable. I’m just trusting the process. Still battling with the knee a little bit, so I’ve just got to keep trusting the process and keep growing and keep getting better every week."
Three picks after Joseph was selected, the Atlanta Falcons drafted Florida's Keanu Neal. Preseason knee surgery slowed Neal's path to playing time, but of late he's become a key defensive component for the NFC South leaders.
Neal spent time in the offseason training with Seattle's Kam Chancellor, who told John Boyle of the Seahawks' website that he was impressed with what he saw from his rookie protege: "Anytime I see guys that’s compared to me or guys that say they model themselves after my game I reach out to them. Just to give them little tidbits, little insights on the things that I’ve experienced through my seven years now. Just anything to give him an edge."
Neal, for his part, said he learned X's and O's aren't necessarily the key to greatness in the NFL: "It’s all about having willpower. There’s a lot of talent in the NFL, but what separates the good from the great is their willpower. Having that grit and that want no matter what. That’s definitely one thing I am going to carry with me for the rest of my career."
Having the next Chancellor wouldn't be a bad thing for the Falcons.
And having a talented pair of versatile first-year safeties isn't a bad thing for our squad.
Others receiving votes: Vonn Bell, New Orleans Saints (1 vote)
Kick/Punt Returner
14 of 14
Winner: Jakeem Grant, WR, Miami Dolphins (6 votes)
Given the stout defense of this all-rookie squad, were this team ever to play a game, it'd force its share of punts.
Especially against Cleveland. Or Chicago. Or San Francisco. Or Jacksonville.
I wonder how good this team would be? Tennessee good? Atlanta good?
Alas, I digress.
Jakeem Grant of the Miami Dolphins has already shown he can make teams pay, taking a punt back 74 yards for a score against the Titans.
The diminutive sixth-round pick told Adam H. Beasley of the Miami Herald he was trying to provide a spark: "Once I got to the second level and I knew I was matched up with the kicker and another guy, I just knew I was going all the way. We went like three-and-out like two series in a row, and I was just trying to [make] a move, do anything I can to get the momentum on our side."
Grant can provide that spark given his blazing speed and ability to make people miss.
He also gives the Bleacher Report All-Rookie team some moxie.
Because at only 5'7" if he didn't have heart, he'd have no shot in the NFL.
Others receiving votes: Tyreek Hill, WR, Kansas City Chiefs (5 votes); and Jalen Richard, RB, Oakland Raiders (1 vote)
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