NFL Lockout: 5 Rookies Hurt Most by NFL Lockout

The NFL lockout has gone on too long. It ruined spring, and now it is trying to destroy the summer months. 

Teams can't make trades, sign free agents or even sign the rookies they just drafted, which prevents several clubs from getting better.

This is huge problem for some teams because they will heavily rely on the players the rookies they recently acquired. Granted, some are working out with their new teammates, but it's not the routine they need to have before they begin their first season in the NFL. 

The lengthy lockout has all rookies starting behind the eight ball, but which ones will be hurt most after being locked out? 

5. Jake Locker

Jake Locker was unexpectedly drafted in the top 10 of the 2011 NFL Draft as the Tennessee Titans took the former Washington quarterback with the No. 8 pick. 

Locker has some big shoes to fill after the team cut ties with the guy they thought would be their franchise quarterback. Vince Young is no longer the man in Tennessee, and the Titans believe Locker is their savior. 

The NFL lockout has hurt his chances of earning the starting role. The Titans don't have a quarterback on the roster, but they are expected to re-sign Kerry Collins. The veteran has the experience to handle the early part of the season while Locker continues to develop. 

Had this been a normal summer for Locker, he may have earned the starting job, but unfortunately he will have to continue to wait for a chance to prove himself. 

4. Christian Ponder

The Minnesota Vikings shocked everyone by drafting Christian Ponder with the No. 12 overall pick. They knew they needed a quarterback because Brett Favre wasn't returning. 

Many thought the Vikings would just trade for one or wait until free agency, but the lockout forced them to wait on making those moves...which made them reach for a quarterback in the draft. 

Ponder is under a lot of pressure to show he deserved to be drafted in the first round. He falls victim to the lockout because he is stuck waiting to truly work with this new team. The Vikings have several weapons for Ponder, but he can't really do much until the lockout ends. 

3. Cam Newton

Any No. 1 pick has to deal with pressure, but few feel pressure as extreme as that which has been placed on Cam Newton. 

Many people questioned the Carolina Panthers' choice to draft of Newton, especially since they drafted a quarterback last year, and the NFL lockout is thwarting Newton from competing with Jimmy Clausen for the starting job.

Newton needs to prove himself worthy of being selected No. 1 overall. If this were a regular off season then Newton would be growing as a quarterback. However, the NFL lockout is stunting Newton's growth.    

2. Rookie Coaches

Multiple teams hired new head coaches, and even though all NFL coaches are suffering because of this lockout, the rookie coaches are hurting more. 

Jim Harbaugh, Ron Rivera, Mike Munchak, Hue Jackson and Pat Shurmur are NFL head coaches for the first time ever, and the NFL lockout is ruining their plans because they cannot meet with their new teams. 

These coaches need to take command of their teams, but the lockout means they have to wait. All of them take over struggling teams, and at this rate, none of them will get any better next year. 

1. Undrafted Rookie Free Agents

The players hurt most by the lockout are the undrafted prospects as normally we'd see the majority of these guys signed right now.

However, the NFL lockout has forced all of them to find other jobs because even though the hours after the NFL draft are usually spent on searching for the undrafted rookies to sign, that didn't happen this year.

There are a number of successful players in the NFL that weren't drafted, but they joined a team that summer and proved that they belonged. Sadly, the players that didn't hear their names on draft night haven't been given this opportunity.

Hopefully the lockout ends soon so these players can find NFL homes.