20 Rookies Who Will Make an Immediate Impact

The NFL rookie class of 2011 will be remembered for a number of things, from dramatic trades, quarterback reaches and, of course, the labor lockout. However, we want to know which rookies will have the talent and conviction to make immediate impacts for their teams this year, overcoming the adversity of being locked out of OTAs and mini-camps in the process.

We want to establish the 20 rookies who will make quick impact, regardless of position or what round they were drafted in. Some situations may change due to unforeseen developments in free agency or an injury in training camp. There is also the possibility that some rookies may opt to hold out over the terms of the rookie salary structure in the new CBA.

Considering those limiting factors—the obstacles that will surely challenge the 2011 rookie class as few fledgling players have ever been challenged before—here is a look at 20 rookies sure to make a splash in their NFL debuts.

The Unique Rookie Class of 2011

This rookie class will be remembered for not having the benefit of any Organized Team Activities, mini-camps or a chance to sit down with coaches and truly understand their playbooks inside and out. If you think about that statement, you realize that the rookies will be playing "catch-up" for the rest of the season.

For those players who are going to be asked to start from Week 1, to those who are finally deemed ready to start in Week 5 or beyond, it will be a case of trying to find someone who can explain things in greater detail, sit down for some extra work in the film room and then go out for some extra time on the practice field to put that knowledge into practical application.

If all of that wasn't enough of an uphill battle to fight, then consider that out of 32 NFL teams, only 13 are bringing back the same top three coaches (head coach, offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator) they had on staff in 2010.

That means there are going to be 19 teams that are going to be scrambling with their abbreviated training camp schedule to focus on the starters and making sure that they understand the new schemes, plays and have the philosophies and signals down cold. For those rookies who are not starting, they will have to be observant, patient and hope that they are bright enough to eventually catch on.

Based on the team in question, and the head coach philosophy, it is not out of the question that some rookies who were originally drafted to be a starters may never start the whole year. That is a shame, but some teams will never be able to replace the valuable lessons that they missed due to the lockout. But for the best rookies, or those in more fortunate situations that face no real challengers for their job, they still have a chance to prevail and make an impact in 2011.

If they can rise above all of the obstacles, they will be remembered as special players. Like we said, this will go down as one unique rookie class. 

20) Daniel Thomas, RB Miami Dolphins

At 6'0" and 230 pounds, running back Daniel Thomas has the kind of a body that can withstand the pounding of being a starting running back in the NFL. He will need all of those 230 pounds, because the Miami Dolphins prefer to run the ball, and Thomas figures to lead the team in rushes in 2011.

The Miami Dolphins drafted Thomas because their prior running back committee of Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams was not very effective in 2010. While Thomas should see the ball primarily on first and second downs, according to NFL Network's Jason La Confora, the Dolphins are rumored to be heavily interested in Reggie Bush, who would likely become the third-down back in Miami.

Assuming that the Saints release Bush, Miami is prepared to shell out the highest contract offer to secure him. That would then provide the Dolphins with an effective combination at running back and help keep Thomas more fresh for his rookie season. Look for Thomas to lead the Dolphins in rushing in 2011.

19) Greg Little, WR Cleveland Browns

The NFL is known as a pass-happy league, but somehow the Cleveland Browns managed to go through the entire 2010 season as if they didn't have any wide receivers on their roster. The top two pass targets last season were tight end Ben Watson and running back Peyton Hillis. In the modern NFL, that is unheard of. In fact, the Browns did not have a single receiver that had at least 500 yards in receptions last year.

Enter Greg Little. The wide receiver out of North Carolina was forced to sit out the 2010 season due to a suspension by the NCAA. Little should be anxious to be back on a football field and be ready to prove that the Browns were smart to invest a second-round pick on him. At 6'2" and 231 pounds, Little has good size and is difficult to tackle.

All of those factors, combined with limited options, should equate to quarterback Colt McCoy looking for Little early and often in 2011. He should have a major impact role on the Cleveland Browns.

18) Aaron Williams, CB Buffalo Bills

The New England Patriots turned down all offers to trade down in the second round, and then teams started calling the Buffalo Bills to see if they would trade down with the 34th overall pick. But despite the need to address a need for a quarterback, tackle or help the pass rush, Bills General Manager Buddy Nix was delighted to see a player who was supposed to go in the first round still available for him at 34. That player was Texas cornerback Aaron Williams.

Most experts had Williams going to Pittsburgh in the first round. The Bills have a quandary of sorts at corner, because Terrence McGee is injured so often, Leodis McKelvin has proven to be inconsistent and Drayton Florence is a free agent who will probably be in demand in the open market.

Williams was a smart choice because he is versatile and a physically tough defender. He can help address the Bills' issues against the run. At 6'1" and 195 pounds, Williams is the biggest corner on the Bills roster.

In 2011, Williams will either start at corner or see plenty of action in nickel situations.  An article that appeared on the Buffalo Bills' website states that Williams will probably begin the season covering the slot receiver in nickel situations. He will need his quickness when asked to cover Wes Welker.

Either way, he will be on the field frequently and be in position to make an immediate impact on the Bills defense. As his career continues, he may eventually become a safety, but that is down the road.

17) Ras-I Dowling, CB New England Patriots

When it was time for Bill Belichick to either use the 33rd overall pick to draft his own player, or to accept one of the many offers to trade down in the second round, he opted to draft a player that he really wanted. Despite a glaring need to add a pass rusher, Belichick decided to select Virginia corner Ras-I Dowling, a big corner at 6'2" and 200 pounds.

You can't blame Belichick for wanting to address his secondary. In 2010, the Patriots were just nine yards a game shy of being tied for allowing the most passing yards per game in the NFL. As it was, they were ranked 30th, allowing roughly 259 yards per game.

Rowling is known as a physical corner and is strong in pass coverage. Due to the short training camp and lack of hands-on work with the Patriots' coaches, if Dowling doesn't start initially, he will be involved in the nickel defense and start taking on more responsibilities with each passing week. For Coach Belichick to ignore all of the trade offers that were pouring in, how can you not expect Dowling to have a major impact in 2011?

16) Mark Ingram, RB New Orleans Saints

If you watched the NFL Scouting Combines at Indianapolis on the NFL Network, you would know that Mark Ingram has strong work ethic, physical tools and high desire. While Ingram was not the fastest back at the combines, he was the quickest coming out of the blocks, and that is a great trait for a NFL running back.

Ingram just needed to find a home that would give him enough carries to make an impact. On draft day, things could not have worked out better for Ingram. He is now a member of the New Orleans Saints and can become a major contributor on a recent Super Bowl champion with a strong chance to advance to the playoffs.

At 5'9" and weighing 215 pounds, Ingram attacks defenders with a low center of gravity. He will look to punish defenders who come up to hit him, and he will be a force in wearing down the defense, provided that he sees 15-20 carries per game. Ingram was not a prolific receiver at Alabama, as he just caught 53 passes over his final two seasons there. His job was to primarily run the ball, and he will do the same thing with New Orleans.

Pierre Thomas is returning from an injury-plagued 2010. Reggie Bush is likely going to be released due to his excessive contract. Whether or not Bush is able to restructure a new deal and returns to New Orleans is very much up in the air. What is more certain is that Mark Ingram will be a featured back for the Saints.

15) Jonathan Baldwin, WR Kansas City Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs were hoping to find an impact player at the draft who would force defenses to stop focusing on Jamaal Charles and Dwayne Bowe. The Chiefs have an emerging force in tight end Tony Moeaki. Pro Football Weekly speculates that the Chiefs may make an offer for free agent receiver Steve Breaston, so this offense has an opportunity to become very dynamic.

The addition of Baldwin is important because he offers more a big-play threat to help stretch out defenses. At 6'4" and 228 pounds, Baldwin is a big specimen for a receiver. If defenses focus on stopping Bowe, then Matt Cassel will be looking Baldwin's way early and often. If defenses start to focus on Baldwin, then things open up for Bowe.

While at the University of Pittsburgh, Baldwin gained 1,111 yards in receptions in his sophomore year. For his three years as a Pitt Panther, Baldwin averaged an impressive 18.3 yards per catch. Some experts felt that Baldwin was a reach by Kansas City in the first round. Since the Chiefs averaged 22.9 points a game (compared to the 32 points a game that New England averages), you only have to look at how that average has changed in 2011 to see what kind of an immediate impact Baldwin makes this year.

14) Adrian Clayborn, DE Tampa Bay Buccaneers

For a team that went 10-6 in 2010, it is somewhat surprising to see that Tampa Bay was ranked 30th in sacks with just 26 for the year. In addition, the Bucs rush defense was ranked 28th, giving up 131.7 yards per game. So, Tampa Bay took advantage of the great defensive linemen depth in the 2011 draft class by selecting Adrian Clayborn and Da'Quan Bowers with their first two draft picks.

While the jury is going to be out for some time on Bowers and his knee condition, there are no reservations when it comes to Adrian Clayborn. The Bucs are going to let him start at right defensive end and let him apply his high motor and explosiveness to work. Clayborn will play next to Gerald McCoy, and the Bucs hope that the duo will be able to cause enough havoc to disrupt many plays throughout the year.

Fans of Clayborn may have been concerned about how his Erb's Palsy condition might limit his NFL career. But according to the Tampa Tribune, Bucs General Manager Mark Dominik claims it is not an issue. It is safe to say that Tampa Bay should see its defense rising up the charts in 2011. That in part would be due to the immediate impact provided by Clayborn.

13) Prince Amukamara, CB New York Giants

When the New York Giants were on the clock with the 19th overall pick, Nebraska corner Prince Amukamara was, somehow, still on their big board. The corner was widely thought to be gone around the 10th pick, but he slid down all the way to the Giants at 19. They are not complaining. In fact, according to the New York Daily News, the Giants were amazed that he was still there. At 6'0" and 206 pounds, Amukamara is the biggest corner on the Giants roster.

Even though the Giants are in the top 10 in the NFL in sacks (ranked fifth with 46, and only two away from tying for the lead in the NFL), the defense only managed 16 interceptions for the year. With that much pressure on quarterbacks, you would expect that to be a higher number. Look for Amukamara to help make an impact. Providing strong coverage and creating some turnovers might be the extra push the Giants need to return to the playoffs.

12) Ryan Kerrigan, LB Washington Redskins

When the Washington Redskins drafted Ryan Kerrigan, they made the selection with the belief that he would make tremendous sense as an outside linebacker to pair up with Brian Orakpo. If you have two strong talents like that available to rush the passer from either side, one of the two should be able to reach the quarterback or at least create enough pressure to disrupt the timing issues of pass plays.

Can Kerrigan make the transition from defensive end at Purdue to outside linebacker in the NFL? From an article on the Redskins' official website, head coach Mike Shanahan said that, "We think Ryan can make the conversion fairly quickly." Does that mean he is starting Week 1, or somewhere later in the season? It is hard to know that right now, but due to the missed work with Redskins coaches, the team seems set on his work ethic and learning skills to be able to grasp what is needed and be a starter in Week 1.

Ben Glicksman, in an SI.com article, called Kerrigan the "best-kept secret" in college football. Kerrigan made 26 tackles for a loss in 2010, which led the NCAA. He also forced 12 fumbles in the last two years at Purdue. Look for Kerrigan to make an impact on the Redskins defense and be a major contributor for years to come.

11) Robert Quinn, DE St. Louis Rams

The St. Louis Rams were pleasantly surprised to see a major talent like North Carolina defensive end Robert Quinn, who was projected by some to go in the top 10, available with the 14th overall pick. The Rams were just pleased that things worked out the way that they did.

With Chris Long occupying one side and Robert Quinn occupying the other, the end result should be a stronger and more intense pass rush from the Rams defensive line. In his rookie season, the Rams expect that Quinn will rotate with James Hall at defensive end and focus on rushing the passer on long distance scenarios. According to Pro Football Weekly, Hall will handle the majority of plays that call for rushing the ball.

But if that is the way that Quinn is utilized, it could keep him fresh all year. The upside could mean double digits in sacks, which would clearly be an immediate impact for the Rams.

10) Nick Fairley, DT Detroit Lions

There is little doubt that Nick Fairley will make an immediate impact on the Detroit Lions in his rookie campaign. Will it be because of Fairley's talents and skills, or the direct impact of the talented defensive linemen (Ndamukong Suh, Kyle Vanden Bosch, Cliff Avril, Lawrence Jackson) surrounding him?

Fairley is 6'3" and weighs 291 pounds. His power, quickness and explosiveness were evident at Auburn University, but he will find greater challenges at the NFL level. As long as offensive lines are focused on stopping Suh, Fairley should find it easier to get to the quarterback. If Fairley proves to have too much success very quickly out of the gate, it might force the Lions' opponents to go with short quick passes and eliminate longer patterns that were resulting in sacks.

With all of the success around him, if Fairley didn't approach at least seven or eight sacks for the year, you would have to consider that an upset.

9) Christian Ponder, QB Minnesota Vikings

Will the Minnesota Vikings start Christian Ponder in Week 1, or will they sign a veteran quarterback to initially start out the season and then hand over the reins to Ponder later in the year? Either way, it would not be a surprise to see Ponder gaining significant action in 2011. He will get his feet wet and learn on the job in the NFL. Many great quarterbacks have experienced their learning curve the hard way, and that appears to be what the Vikings had in mind when they drafted him with the 12th overall pick.

Whenever Ponder does see action, critics will want to know that he is up to the physical demands of the position, due to some of the injuries he suffered back in college at Florida State. The defense is bigger, stronger and faster, and they will hit you harder. Ponder will also need to demonstrate strong mobility, as anyone who watched the Vikings play over the past two seasons can attest to the pounding that Brett Favre took game in and game out.

The reason that Ponder can expect to play as much as he does in his rookie year is thanks to running back Adrian Peterson, whose presence will keep defenses honest. Since they have to honor the running game, it gives Ponder more than a fighting chance to be effective in the passing game. The Vikings will turn over the keys to the offense to Ponder when he shows that he has learned the playbook inside and out.

8) J.J. Watt, DE Houston Texans

The Houston Texans have a playoff-caliber team on offense. Until the defense rises up to play at the same level as the offense, the Texans will remain out of the playoffs. The Texans took a major step towards addressing some of their defensive shortcomings when they drafted J.J. Watt, the defensive lineman out of Wisconsin. Watt is a physical specimen at 6'5" and 290 pounds.

Watt will be teaming up with Mario Williams to provide the Texans with a strong pass rush. The plan for new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips is to make the quarterback unload the ball sooner in 2011, giving the secondary a better chance to make some plays on the ball.

Having Watt as a starting left end in the new 3-4 defensive look will afford him many chances to make plays and pick up some sacks along the way. Watt should be an immediate impact rookie in 2011.

7) Aldon Smith, LB San Francisco 49ers

According to a CSN Bay Area report, San Francisco 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith is expected to start in Week 1. He will assume the best pass rushing spot in their 3-4 defensive alignment, which is the weakside outside linebacker. This is going to be new territory for Smith, so expect some growing pains. But will he make an immediate impact? Absolutely.

Smith, the outstanding defensive pass rusher from Missouri, is a physical force at 6'4" and 263 pounds. His plus assets are his quickness, athleticism and flexibility. With some key veterans on defense possibly leaving due to free agency, it was important for the 49ers to land a player like Smith, who can use this talents to keep pressure on the quarterback.

Do not expect Smith to be a force in the running game, as that part of his skill set will need some further coaching and experience. But he should make a clear impact this year.

6) Julio Jones, WR Atlanta Falcons

Whenever the Cleveland Browns finish drafting the final draft pick that they received as compensation for trading down in the first round of the 2011 NFL draft, that collection of players will be compared to Julio Jones to see who got the better end of the deal. To say that Jones was the missing piece for the Atlanta Falcons remains to be seen, but he will clearly have an opportunity to shine this season.

Jones will give Matt Ryan another exciting option in the passing game. Jones will take some of the pressure off of Roddy White, which will certainly be a positive impact for the Falcons. However, will Jones be enough of a weapon to get the Falcons over the hump, or was the sacrifice of not drafting more key rookies to help out on defense going to come back and haunt the team?

At Alabama, Jones made 78 catches in his junior year and gained over 1,100 yards in receptions. His average of 14.5 yards per catch says that he will help Atlanta expand the field more on offense.

For those who have a short memory span, Jones was the talk of the NFL Scouting Combine, when he ran a 4.39 sprint in the 40 and then followed that up with a broad jump of over 11 feet. He did all of that with a broken bone in his foot. Jones will make an immediate impact on the Falcons in 2011.

5) Patrick Peterson, CB Arizona Cardinals

The most athletic player in the draft, Patrick Peterson was thought to go as high as No. 1, but could have also gone as low as No. 10. Teams usually don't draft a cornerback this high, but there is no doubt that Peterson will be a special player. Arizona didn't hesitate when it had the chance to add him to its defense with the fifth overall pick.

The only slight negative regarding Peterson is that he will not be able to make as great of an impact on special teams due to the NFL rule changes regarding kickoffs being moved up five yards in 2011. The rule change will result in more touchbacks and clearly fewer chances for a kickoff return that he can take to the house. The rule change has nothing to do with punt returns, and this is an area where he excels.

But Peterson will have plenty of chances to shine. As the newest entry into the "shutdown cornerback club," Peterson has a chance to dramatically improve the Cardinals pass defense. He has great skills on the ball and should come up with a high number of interceptions until NFL teams feel that he has earned enough respect that they stop passing to his side of the field. Expect Peterson to make a major impact in Arizona in 2011.

4) A.J. Green, WR Cincinnati Bengals

Say goodbye to Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco. Batman and Robin have left the building. Say hello instead to A.J. Green, who might be just as talented as the other two veteran receivers, but is much less of a diva. We may need to give him several years in Cincinnati to see if he has changed over the course of his career, but for now we expect him to be very professional, as well as very good.

Green was selected by the Bengals with the fourth overall pick to be an immediate impact player and weapon in the Bengals offense. New quarterback Andy Dalton will be grateful that the Bengals invested in this talented receiver. Green is a big target at 6'4" and 211 pounds. He brings great hands, runs strong routes, fights for the ball and is fearless. What more could you ask for from your wide receiver?

Maybe the addition of Green will signal the end of diva receivers for good in Cincinnati. The safe assumption to make is that Green will be a positive immediate impact player for Cincinnati in 2011.

3) Marcell Dareus, DE/DT Buffalo Bills

The Buffalo Bills didn't know what to expect on draft day. They might have had a shot at Cam Newton. Many thought they would take Von Miller. But the player that really made the most sense is the one they happily drafted after Newton and Miller were picked, Alabama defensive lineman Marcell Dareus.

Dareus is a physical presence at 6'3" and weighs 319 pounds. He will become a positive role model inside the locker room and the Buffalo community.

The gifted Dareus is flexible enough to play either defensive tackle or defensive end. Dareus will start at defensive end when the Bills are in their 3-4 look, and when they are in a hybrid look, he can bump down and play defensive tackle next to Kyle Williams. Either way, Dareus will be looking to cave in the offensive linemen directly ahead of him and to create as much havoc as possible.

Dareus is extremely strong. If you need further proof, check out this link to ESPN labs, where his strength was measured in an experiment. Due to his athletic prowess, the Bills will become a more physical team at the line of scrimmage. The days of being last in the NFL against the rush ended when Dareus was selected.

If there is one player who will have an immediate impact on how well he improves his unit, on top of making an entire city feel better about its team, Marcell Dareus would be that man.

2) Von Miller, LB Denver Broncos

John Elway selected Texas A&M linebacker Von Miller in his first draft with the Denver Broncos. It is hard to argue with Elway, because Miller is a very gifted athlete. Many experts thought that Denver would select Marcell Darues with their pick after all the defensive line woes they have suffered recently, but Miller turned out to be their man.

In a Bronco Talk article, new Head Coach John Fox emphasized that Miller was selected because he fit the Broncos best, when comparing Miller to Dareus and Patrick Peterson. National Football Post writer Dan Pompei spoke to John Elway about deciding between Miller and Dareus. Elway told him, "Dareus is a very solid, tough defensive tackle who will have a long career in this league. But the difference is Von’s ability to be a game changer. That’s what swung us to Von. Obviously we needed help inside, but we were looking for a game changer.”

The plan is for the Broncos to use Miller as a pass rusher in the new 4-3 defensive scheme as the starting strongside linebacker. Miller should have an immediate impact in Denver and create a number of sacks and negative yardage plays throughout the year.

1) Cam Newton, QB Carolina Panthers

Cam Newton will become the face of the Carolina Panthers franchise, for better or worse. It is unknown whether he will start the season opener, but he will start many games in his rookie season as he starts his journey into the NFL.

Coming off a magical season at Auburn University, Newton has done a good job since the draft at learning his craft and keeping his image clean and out of any negative situations. He appears ready to tackle the job ahead of him and apply himself to his craft.

What we are not sure about is what actual weapons will be at his disposal. Carolina is faced with the possible free agent defections of Steve Smith and DeAngelo Williams. That would leave the cupboard pretty bare for Newton. Then, it will be up to Panthers management to go out into free agency and bring in some veteran talent to surround Newton and help protect him.

The last thing you want to do to your franchise player is destroy his level of confidence. Somehow, Newton will survive his rookie ordeal and be better because of it. Newton will still be an impact player this year for the Panthers. He has to be, since there are no other proven options in house.