Top NFL Impact Rookies: Ranking From 1 To 100

9) Darren McFadden, RB, Oakland
McFadden is not the top running back on this list because, with a similar back in Justin Fargas and a complement to both of them in Michael Bush on the roster, he likely will not be utilized as much as others. In terms of big-play potential and yards-per-touch, McFadden should still produce well in year one.

8) James Hardy, WR, Buffalo
Is this guy who only catches touchdowns the next Cris Carter? Probably not. But, at 6’5”, and with great hands and decent speed, Hardy is exactly the type of player that Buffalo needs opposite Lee Evans.

7) Malcolm Kelly, WR, Washington
Devin Thomas may have been taken by Washington before Kelly, but his greatest asset in year one will probably be more as a return man, while Kelly should get an opportunity to start. This is with slight reservation though, as a slow 40-yard dash time hurt his draft status, but no one can question his productivity in three years at Oklahoma. Kelly’s head and his attitude will determine whether he’s the next Dwayne Jarrett or James Jones.

6) Sedrick Ellis, DT, New Orleans
Ellis, the ridiculously productive All-American from USC, is the biggest piece to New Orleans’ improving defense. Amobi Okoye-like numbers should be expected.

5) Jake Long, OL, Miami
He may have been the first-overall player drafted, but Long’s impact for the Dolphins will fall just below last year’s third-overall choice and second-ranked rookie, Joe Thomas.

4) Glenn Dorsey, DT, Kansas City
Rarely can any defensive tackle make an instant impact as a rookie in the NFL, let alone two. Ellis’ team is closer to contention, yet Dorsey pretty much is the Chiefs’ defense right now.

3) Keith Rivers, LB, Cincinnati
Anyone who watched the Bengals last year knows they need help at linebacker. Then, the team let its top tackler, Landon Johnson, go in free agency. Whether the previously injured Ahmad Brooks and Rashad Jeanty return to form or not, Rivers will be given every opportunity to help this defense this season—and he will.

2) Jerod Mayo, LB, New England
Insert obligatory comment about the “rich getting richer” here. Mayo, the 242-pound linebacker with 4.54 speed and 140 tackles in the SEC last season, is the perfect player for the Patriots. As any of the linebacker spots in the 3-4, he may be NFL-ready now. If he is not, he will have a slew of experienced veterans alongside him to show him the ropes. Obviously, improving on 16-0 will not be possible, but the biggest question mark, the age of their defense, gets a resounding answer with this pick (and potentially with Shawn Crable and Bo Ruud).

1) Jonathan Stewart, RB, Carolina
Durability was a concern, until Carolina, whose team doctor performed Stewart’s latest surgery, made him its first choice. Alongside DeAngelo Williams, the Panthers should finally have the ideal dual-running back situation that they have been pursuing for many years. Stewart is the most likely rookie back to top 1,000 yards. There are no Adrian Peterson’s or Patrick Willis’ in this draft, but the rookie class is very deep, and Stewart and Mayo are the best of the bunch.

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100. Larry Grant, LB, San Francisco

99. Chad Rinehart, OL, Washington

98. Oniel Cousins, OL, Baltimore

97. Marcus Henry, WR, New York Jets

96. Kory Lichtensteiger, C, Denver

95. Antwaun Molden, CB, Houston

94. Chevis Jackson, CB, Atlanta

93. DaJuan Morgan, S, Kansas City

92. Mike Jenkins, CB, Dallas

91. Corey Lynch, S, Cincinnati

90. Bruce Davis, LB, Pittsburgh

89. Geno Hayes, LB, Tampa Bay

88. Stanford Keglar, LB, Tennessee

87. Alvin Bowen, LB, Buffalo

86. Brian Johnston, DE, Kansas City

85. Paul Hubbard, WR, Cleveland

84. Chris Ellis, DE, Buffalo

83. Steve Slaton, RB, Houston

82. Thomas DeCoud, S, Atlanta

81. Jalen Parmele, RB, Miami

80. Carlton Powell, DT, Denver

79. Cliff Avril, DE, Detroit

78. Jonathan Goff, LB, New York Giants

77. Justin King, CB, St. Louis

76. William Franklin, WR, Kansas City

75. Duane Brown, OL, Houston

74. Eddie Royal, WR, Denver

73. Leodis McKelvin, CB, Buffalo

72. Angelo Craig, LB, Cincinnati

71. Dustin Keller, TE, New York Jets

70. Tom Zbikowski, S, Baltimore

69. Frank Okam, DT, Houston

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