NFL Rankings: Top 5 Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year Candidates

Mean Joe Green, Lawrence Taylor, Marshall Faulk, Randy Moss, and Barry Sanders are just some of the many Rookie of the Year award winners who have gone on to become NFL legends.

The 2011 NFL Draft class puts forth some fierce competition for the award, especially on the defensive side of the ball.

As you know, there are two Rookies of the Year each year (one from each side of the ball). Let's take a look at five candidates from offense and defense.

5. Cam Newton (Offense)

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WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 08: President Barack Obama (R) holds an Auburn Tigers helmet given to him by members of the 2011 BCS National Champion Auburn University football team including Heisman Trophy winner Cameron 'Cam' Newton in the East Room at the White

Cam Newton is going to start from day one. He's taking over the worst team in the league, but any sort of turnaround will make him a serious contender for Rookie of the Year.

The Panthers brought him in to be a game changer. With the limited weapons he has at his disposal, excelling under center in Carolina would be nothing short of incredible.

Sam Bradford took the Rams to a "respectable" 7-9, to win the award. Newton will have an opportunity to take the Panthers from terrible to sub-par, which could land him the award as well.

5. Aldon Smith (Defense)

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KANSAS CITY, MO - NOVEMBER 27: Quarterback Jordan Webb #2 of the Kansas Jayhawks is sacked by Aldon Smith #85 of the Missouri Tigers during the game on November 27, 2010 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Aldon Smith is coming into Vic Fangio's 3-4 system as a sack specialist. The Niners haven't had a double digit sack player since Andre Carter in 2002.

3-4 outside linebackers are a regular winner of ROY honors. If Von Miller had gone to a team that runs a 3-4 scheme, he would almost be a lock for the top spot. As it stands, Smith was the highest drafted linebacker to enter a 3-4 scheme.

He joins Patrick Willis and Takeo Spikes in a fierce linebacker group. If he can manage to rack up 8-10 sacks, he could have this in the bag.

4. Mark Ingram (Offense)

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ORLANDO, FL - JANUARY 01: Mark Ingram #22 of the Alabama Crimson Tide scores a touchdown during the Capitol One Bowl against the Michigan State Spartans at the Florida Citrus Bowl on January 1, 2011 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Image

Mark Ingram enters a lethal Saints offense. We saw even Chris Ivory excel in the offense when Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas went down.

The pass-happy offense is going to clear a huge path for the former Heisman Trophy winner. Assuming he assumes the Pierre Thomas role, no rookie back is going to be as productive.

Ryan Williams, Mikel LeShoure and Shane Vereen are second round backs who could have an impact, but Ingram has a chance to be a 1,000 yard back from the get-go.

4. Marcel Dareus (Defense)

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NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 28: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell poses for a photo with Marcell Dareus, #3 overall pick by the Buffalo Bills, as Dareus holds up a jersey during the 2011 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall on April 28, 2011 in New York City. (Phot

It's very possible to have a stellar career as a defensive tackle and go virtually unnoticed. Marcel Dareus is sure to upgrade the Bills run defense, but to lock up the ROY award, he's got to get to the quarterback.

Ndamukong Suh brought down the quarterback 10 times last season, picked off a pass and even took a fumble to the house. Dareus doesn't have to jump off the stat sheet quite as much, but the award often comes down to a numbers game.

Simply having an impact isn't enough. It's the reason why offensive lineman don't win the award.

3. A.J. Green (Offense)

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NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 28: NFL Commissioner ROger Goodell poses for a photo with A.J. Green, #4 overall pick by the Cincinnati Bengals, as Green holds up a jersey during the 2011 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall on April 28, 2011 in New York City. (Phot

A.J. Green could be No. 1 if Carson Palmer were to return. Andy Dalton could be the quarterback of the future, but there isn't a quarterback on roster in Cincy who can make Green a front-runner for this award.

He's going to have to perform at a high level with little help from his quarterback. He's gifted enough to be a play maker on his own accord, but most receivers who take this award home tend to be late first round picks with a solid quarterback.

The award eluded Larry Fitzgerald, Calvin Johnson and Andre Johnson. Poor quarterback play played a big role in that.

3. Von Miller (Defense)

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ENGLEWOOD, CO - APRIL 29: Von Miller of the Denver Broncos adjusts his glasses while speaking to the media at Dove Valley on April 29, 2011 in Englewood, Colorado. Miller, a projected outside linebacker in head coach John Fox's new 4-3 scheme, was select

It came as somewhat as a surprise to me that Von Miller went to a John Fox led 4-3 team. The idea of him playing opposite Elvis Dumervil has to scare opposing offenses.

Even so, rush ends in a 3-4 rush the quarterback up to 85 percent of the time. Every time he drops into coverage, it's taking away from what makes him so appealing.

Aldon Smith isn't a better linebacker, but he's in a better position to accumulate sack numbers. Miller could be the best defensive player in this class, and still fall short of the award.

2. Christian Ponder (Offense)

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MOBILE, AL - JANUARY 29: Quarterback Christian Ponder #7 of the South Team passes over defensive lineman Pierre Allen #95 North Team during the fourth quarter of the Under Armour Senior Bowl on January 29, 2011 at Ladd-Pebbles Stadium in Mobile, Alabama.

Christian Ponder is entering an offense that already has an array of weapons, including the best back in the entire league.

Joe Webb came in and showed just how effective a quarterback can be in the Vikings offense. Even if Sydney Rice doesn't return, Ponder still has guys to get the ball to.

The Vikings obviously have big plans for Ponder, as they drafted him with the 12th overall pick. He's going to start from day one and face defenses that load up eight and nine in the box. He comes into a much better situation than Blaine Gabbert.

Jake Locker has an elite back in Tennessee as well, but with the Kenny Britt questions, he doesn't have the same amount of weapons.

2. Nick Fairley (Defense)

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GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 10: Nick Fairley #90 of the Auburn Tigers celebrates the Tigers 22-19 victory against the Oregon Ducks during the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game at University of Phoenix Stadium on January 10, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. (

Jim Schwartz had to chuckle a bit as the Lions turned in their card. The rest of the NFC North probably cringed.

How are teams supposed to block Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley? Suh already proved to be unblockable, even when teams double teamed him. Fairley is going to see a lot of one on one looks.

Like Suh, one of his best attributes is his ability to rush the passer from the defensive tackle position. The tandem is going to be a nightmare to block, and Fairley could easily be the best statistical defensive lineman in the class.

1. Julio Jones (Offense)

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TUSCALOOSA, AL - NOVEMBER 26: Julio Jones #8 of the Alabama Crimson Tide is tackled by Neiko Thorpe #15 and Eltoro Freeman #21 of the Auburn Tigers at Bryant-Denny Stadium on November 26, 2010 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Woah woah woah. Julio Jones? Over A.J. Green and all of the quarterbacks that went in the first two rounds?

Absolutely. The Falcons traded a slew of picks to trade up for Jones. He is playing in the most complete offense in the entire NFL and opposite Roddy White. Unlike Green, he has a great quarterback throwing him the ball.

Jones has an opportunity to really dominate. He's not going to be seeing the defense's top corner most of the time, and Michael Turner forces teams to account for the run. Jones comes into a situation that is eerily similar to the one Randy Moss saw his rookie season, and we all know how that turned out.

1. Patrick Peterson (Defense)

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ATLANTA - DECEMBER 31: Cornerback Patrick Peterson #7 of the LSU Tigers reacts after forcing a fumble and turnover by the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets during the Chick-fil-A Bowl on December 31, 2008 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kev

Patrick Peterson may be the most polished player in the entire class. He's a true plug and play corner who has big play making abilities.

We've seen teams try to pick on talented rookies in the past. Teams didn't shy away from throwing at Jairus Byrd, Devin McCourty, Earl Thomas, Eric Berry, etc., and they paid dearly for it.

Peterson should be able to stand out as a corner his rookie season, but like Percy Harvin, his return abilities will likely put it over the top. At this point, he seems like the frontrunner for the award.