T.J. Yates and the 25 Best Late-Round Rookies from the 2011 NFL Draft

The 2011 NFL draft saw many rookies become stars overnight. Many early-round selections performed admirably, as they are expected to when being selected in Rounds 1-3.

For T.J. Yates and a few players selected between Rounds 4-7, or even undrafted, being selected late in the draft meant they were destined to hold the starters' helmets and occupy practice squads until their careers faded into obscurity.

However, T.J. Yates and 24 other rookies instead made various organizations around the league kick themselves for passing on them in earlier rounds.

From a third-string quarterback leading his team into the playoffs for the first time in franchise history, to a linebacker wreaking havoc on franchise quarterbacks league-wide, these 25 players turned heads and made veterans and fans alike pay attention.

While some may not have the most impressive stats, their play despite being such a low pick was an indicator that they will have long and successful careers.

Many of these players will outperform players picked before them for the rest of their respective careers.

Here's 25 of the best late-round rookies from the 2011 NFL draft...

25. Virgil Green, TE (Denver Broncos)

Virgil Green was the 204th overall pick in the 2011 NFL draft. As a seventh-round rookie, Green wasn't expected to contribute much. Green has three receptions for 24 yards on the season.

Green is a solid blocker who is expected to continue to develop into a pass-catching threat as well. Being a seventh-round rookie isn't easy, but Green has a chance to emerge as one of the few to make it big in the league in a few years.

24. Eric Hagg, DB (Cleveland Browns)

Being selected 248 picks into the NFL draft typically means a player won't sniff a starting gig in his short career, but Hagg is the exception.

Hagg doesn't have incredible stats with 11 tackles on the season, but what's impressive is he has made his way into a starting position and played well. Hagg is a solid starter on a lacking secondary.

His presence has helped to solidify the defense, and Hagg may just have a future in the league because of his performance this season.

23. Taiwan Jones, RB (Oakland Raiders)

Taiwan Jones is a 195-pound running back selected in the fourth round by Oakland. Entering college, Jones was a cornerback but changed his position.

During his limited playing time, Jones has 73 yards and a 4.6 average. Jones has shown flashes of an ability to have a long NFL career.

Jones' bid for more carries is undermined by fellow running backs Darren McFadden and Michael Bush. Expect the Raiders to keep Jones as a cheaper alternative to Bush soon. Jones has shown he can make a solid No. 2 option as a worst case scenario.

22. John Clay, RB (Pittsburgh Steelers)

John Clay scored a touchdown on his very first carry in the NFL. Not bad for an undrafted rookie in 2011. Clay has participated in two games and shown the NFL that he does indeed have the ability to play for a long time.

His 41 yards and one touchdown aren't amazing stats, but his limited playing time has to be taken into account. The Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year in 2009 rushed for over 1,000 yards in his 2010 campaign before failing to be selected in the 2011 draft.

It appears as if the Pittsburgh Steelers have more depth at the running back position than they anticipated.

21. Christian Ballard, DE (Minnesota Vikings)

Christian Ballard is an underrated force on the defensive line of the Minnesota Vikings. Taken in the fourth round, Ballard wasn't expected to do much just yet.

Ballard has been a bright spot on what is one of the worst teams in the NFL. He has accumulated 13 tackles, but more importantly he has contributed to a solid defensive line. Ballard is making a habit of causing havoc and opening up pass-rushing lanes for his teammates.

Look for Ballard to continue to develop and potentially become an every-down starter as his career progresses.

20. Dion Lewis, RB (Philadelphia Eagles)

Dion Lewis was selected by the Eagles in the fifth round of the 2011 draft because of his impressive numbers at the University of Pittsburgh. Lewis rushed for over 1,000 yards in his two seasons at Pittsburgh.

Lewis hasn't seen much action with the Eagles yet, but he made the most of his playing time rushing for 102 yards and a touchdown on a 4.4 average. The stats aren't horrible considering he is beneath LeSean McCoy, arguably the best running back in the NFL.

The Eagles appeared to draft Lewis based on his potential, and by the looks of it he hit the nail on the head. Now it's only a matter of time before Lewis sees the field on a regular basis.

19. Chris Neild, DT (Washington Redskins)

Chris Neild is a rare player. As a seventh-round pick, Neild has participated in the majority of the games the Redskins have played this season. What is more impressive is he has racked up 10 tackles and two sacks.

Sacks are hard to obtain from the defensive tackle position, and it would be fair to say it would be even harder for a seventh-round defensive tackle—but not Chris Neild.

The Redskins seem to have found the proverbial "needle in a haystack" with Neild. He has the size and ability to be an every-down starter in the league, so don't be surprised when that happens sooner rather than later.

18. Greg Salas, WR (St. Louis Rams)

Greg Salas was a receiver for the University of Hawaii before being selected in the fourth round of the 2011 NFL draft. At Hawaii, Salas amassed over 4,000 yards and 25 touchdowns.

Salas is a standout player on a miserable Rams squad. With 27 catches for 264 yards and a 9.8 average, it's unfathomable to think why Salas didn't have more balls thrown his way. Actually, that's not true with how bad the Rams have been in the past five years.

Hopefully for Salas' sake, the Rams begin to improve because he has a bright future in the league. Salas has the potential to be a main piece in an offensive unit if utilized properly.

17. Evan Royster, RB (Washington Redskins)

Evan Royster is one of the most interesting players to make this list. Royster was selected in the sixth round by the Washington Redskins, and later cut. The Redskins soon re-signed Royster and elevated him from the practice squad to the 53-man roster to back up another running back on this list.

Royster didn't play in the NFL until Week 12, but racked up 328 yards for an outstanding 5.9 average. His first career start came in Week 16, gaining 132 yards on 19 carries.

The Redskins have hit the jackpot at the running back position in the 2011 draft. Royster is a dynamic that will make a solid No. 2 option for years to come. The only thing holding Royster back is another rookie who is higher on the list.

16. Jacquizz Rodgers, RB (Atlanta Falcons)

The Atlanta Falcons selected Jacquizz Rodgers in the fifth round of the draft. Rodgers was a special player in college at Oregon State rushing for 3,887 yards and 46 touchdowns.

The Falcons were right to take a gamble on Rodgers. He participated in every game for the Falcons and gained 205 yards and a touchdown with a 3.6 average. He also had 188 receiving yards and a touchdown while catching passes from Matt Ryan.

As a fifth-round pick, Rodgers has a real chance to see serious playing time in the future. His small stature is certainly a draw back, but in a league that is becoming a predominantly two-back league, Rodgers has the right skill set to last a long time in the NFL.

15. Casey Matthews, LB (Philadelphia Eagles)

Casey Matthews was selected in the fourth round by the Eagles and was the starting inside linebacker at the beginning of the season. He was then moved to the outside, then benched. He is now currently the starting nickel linebacker.

Matthews had a tumultuous season with the Eagles, but he shown growth as the season went progressed. He recorded 37 tackles and one sack on the season.

Matthews may never develop into an every-down player, but he is a solid contributor who can play special teams and complete a solid rotation.

14. D.J. Smith, LB (Green Bay Packers)

D.J. Smith was a sixth-round selection by the defending Superbowl-champion Green Bay Packers. Smith is a great example of why the Packers are the best team in the league—a sixth-round pick is a solid contributor from day one.

Smith has 43 tackles and an interception despite being heavily criticized by draft analysts coming out of college. He is now part of a deep rotation and a great special teams contributor.

Smith will continue to develop into an even better player, but for now the Packers are just happy that he fell to them in the sixth round.

13. Matt Bosher, P (Atlanta Falcons)

The Atlanta Falcons did the unthinkable in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL draft and "wasted" a pick on a special teams player, a punter named Matt Bosher to be precise.

This waste of a pick has turned out to be a great player and is making teams reconsider the stigma of drafting punters. Bosher was a standout at the University of Miami before being selected by the Falcons.

Bosher has 70 punts on the season. He averages 42.7 yards per punt, and has a long of 59 and an impressive 27 downed inside the 20-yard line.

If Bosher can stay that consistent, he has a long and successful career for himself in the NFL.

12. Delone Carter, RB (Indianapolis Colts)

Delone Carter was selected in the fourth round of the draft by the Colts. Before that, Carter was a successful running back at the University of Syracuse where he ran for over 3,000 yards and rushed for 24 touchdowns.

In the NFL, Carter has 377 yards and two touchdowns on the worst team in the league. Carter has receiver carries in every game and has made the most of them. Teams typically looked to shut down the run against the Colts thanks to the absence of quarterback Peyton Manning.

Carter will likely be a starting running back someday in the NFL. He has all the measurables and potential to carry a team, as long as said team isn't as bad as the Colts of 2011.

11. Alex Henery, K (Philadelphia Eagles)

Alex Henery was a decorated kicker from the University of Nebraska before joining the Eagles via the fourth round of the 2011 draft. It was a surprising selection in the fourth round, but a necessary one with the Eagles trying to replace David Akers.

Henery has been an amazing addition to the team since the beginning of the season, going 24-of-27 for an 88.9 average with a long of 51. He also connected on all 46 of his extra-point attempts on the season.

Henery is the perfect example of smart drafting and drafting for need. Henery will be a starting kicker in the NFL for the next decade, and likely among the best the league has to offer.

10. Marcus Cannon, T (New England Patriots)

Marcus Cannon is an inspirational story after being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma while participating in the 2011 NFL combine. As a result of this diagnosis, Cannon fell to New England in the fifth round of the 2011 draft.

Cannon made a full recovery and participated in seven games for the Patriots at right tackle. Cannon is a massive offensive lineman weighing in at 358 pounds.

As long as Cannon stays healthy, he has all the potential to be a fixture on New England's offensive line for years to come.

9. Richard Sherman, CB (Seattle Seahawks)

Richard Sherman was selected in the fifth round of the 2011 draft and was projected to see much playing time. Due to injuries, Sherman was thrown to the wolves early in his career and responded in a big way.

At Stanford University, Sherman was a dual threat playing both wide receiver and cornerback. As only a corner for the Seahawks, Sherman recorded 55 tackles, one forced fumble and four interceptions in 2011.

Sherman is a versatile player and is abnormally tall for the cornerback position. He was an extremely good selection and one Seahawk that fans should be happy to have around for a long time.

8. Jason Kelce, C (Philadelphia Eagles)

Jason Kelce was selected 191 picks into the 2011 draft in the sixth round by the Eagles. He was slotted to be a back up to incumbent starter Jamaal Jackson before injuries struck the offensive line before the season even began.

Kelce proceeded to start all 16 games of the regular season and receive high praise around the league. His offensive line coach even went as far as to compare Kelce to five-time Pro Bowl center Jeff Saturday—not bad for a sixth-round selection.

Kelce is sure to take a few trips to the Pro Bowl himself before all is said and done.

7. Kendall Hunter, RB (San Francisco 49ers)

Kendall Hunter rushed for 4,181 yards and 37 touchdowns at Oklahoma State University before joining the 49ers in the fourth round of the 2011 draft.

The 49ers were looking for a solid backup to star running back Frank Gore, and they found one. Hunter rushed for 473 yards and two scores on a 4.2 average. Hunter is a smaller running back but makes up for it with speed and elusiveness.

Hunter appears to be the prototypical spell back in a two-back system. The duo of Gore and Hunter appears to be a formidable one for years to come on one of the best teams in the league.

6. Colin McCarthy, LB (Tennessee Titans)

Colin McCarthy entered the NFL from the University of Miami by being selected in the fourth round by the Tennessee Titans. McCarthy wasn't officially the starter until Week 10, but after that he never looked back.

2011 saw McCarthy tally 68 tackles, two forced fumbles and an interception. He was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week in Week 13 thanks to 13 tackles, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.

McCarthy quickly developed into a quality starting middle linebacker for the Titans, and now the sky is the limit. He is a strong presence in the core of the defense and has a long career in front of him barring injury.

5. Denarius Moore, WR (Oakland Raiders)

The Oakland Raiders needed a consistent performer at the wide receiver position entering the 2011 draft, and found one in the fifth round by the name of Denarius Moore.

Moore burst onto the scene in only his second week in the league to the tune of 146 yards and a 50-yard touchdown reception. In 2011, Moore caught 33 passes for 618 yards and five touchdowns.

Receivers taken in the fifth round don't typically find massive success in their first season in the league, but Moore did so in stride. Despite consistency at the quarterback position, Moore was able to shine.

Look for Moore to continue to shine and become even more of a threat as his career progresses.

4. Pernell McPhee, DE (Baltimore Ravens)

Pernell McPhee terrorized collegiate quarterbacks from his post at defensive end for Mississippi State University before joining the Baltimore Ravens in the fifth round of the 2011 draft.

McPhee didn't break his stride while taking his talents to the professional level on his way to 23 tackles, a forced fumble and six sacks on the season.

McPhee joins one of the best defensive units in the NFL and only makes them better. As a fifth-round pick, he was only supposed to come in and provide some decent depth, but now he is poised to continue to develop into a starter at some point down the road.

3. T.J. Yates, QB (Houston Texans)

T.J. Yates is the first quarterback from the University of North Carolina to ever start in an NFL game. Yates did so thanks to the Houston Texans selecting him in the fifth round of the draft.

Yates was supposed to come in and be a third-string option that would never see the field behind Matt Schaub and Matt Leinart. When injuries claimed both players, Yates stepped in and performed admirably.

Yates has passed for 949 yards and three touchdowns with a 80.7 average in six games. More importantly, Yates helped secure the first divisional win and playoff appearance in Texans history.

It's not clear if Yates has a future in the NFL as a starting quarterback, but he is sure making his case. He now has the chance to play in the playoffs as a rookie and further his chances of getting a starting shot with an NFL team.

Not bad for a fifth-round pick who was never supposed to do more than hold a clipboard.

2. Roy Helu, RB (Washington Redskins)

Roy Helu was the ninth running back selected in the 2011 draft. The Washington Redskins were simply looking for a backup running back in the fourth round, but found so much more.

Helu rushed for 640 yards and two touchdowns with an impressive 4.2 average in 2011. He also had three consecutive games of 100 rushing yards.

Helu was eased into the starting role in Washington by splitting time with other backs, but now Helu will likely never look back. He has a long career ahead of him, and NFL fans should be very excited to see what he can do when he has a chance to be the starter for a full season.

1. Sam Acho, LB (Arizona Cardinals)

Sam Acho was a star at the University of Texas before being selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the fourth round of the 2011 draft. Acho was known not only for his play on the field but his impressive academic standards as well.

Acho flawlessly transitioned in to the NFL better than anyone could have anticipated. Acho accumulated 40 tackles, seven sacks and four forced fumbles in 2011.

With numbers like these, it is hard to imagine how Acho fell all the way to the fourth round. The Arizona Cardinals have found a captain for the defensive unit for years to come.