The 15 Best Day 1 Rookie Starters in NFL History

Recent rookies like Cam Newton and Ndamukong Suh quickly made an impact in the NFL. However, they have yet to prove they can sustain long term success. In order to make this list, a player must have been an immediate starter and dominated throughout his career. Newton and Suh may eventually make this list, but they have a long way to go to reach the level of a Joe Greene or Peyton Manning.

I uses sources like NFL.com, ESPN.com and Pro-Football Reference.com to verify that each member on this list in fact began their career as a starter. You'll notice players like Jerry Rice, Brett Favre and Joe Montana are not on this list. This is because it took time for them to eventually crack the starting lineup.  

If I missed someone or incorrectly added someone on the list, feel free to chime in. I'll admit it wasn't easy finding reliable sources to confirm who started games back in the 1960's.

No. 15 Fran Tarkenton

Today there's a lot of talk about the height of NFL quarterbacks. This is especially true when evaluating quarterback prospects. However, Fran Tarkenton is one of the best quarterbacks of all time and played at 6'0".

Tarkenton used his athletic ability and accuracy to find success in the NFL. He made his NFL debut in the first game possible, and led the underdog Minnesota Vikings to a win versus the Chicago Bears.

Jason Whitlock of Fox Sports had this to say about Fran Tarkenton:

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He could scramble. He was an accurate passer, completing 60 percent of his passes five of his final six seasons. This was long before a 60-precent completion rate was common place. We often overlook Tarkenton's sustained greatness.

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No. 14 Marcus Allen

The Oakland Raiders selected Marcus Allen 10th overall in the 1982 NFL Draft, and he quickly became their feature back. Allen excelled at picking up the tough yards between the tackles, but also had enough speed to break off long runs. During his time with the Raiders, Allen won the 1982 Rookie of the Year, 1985 MVP and a Super Bowl in 1983.

Allen wasn't a one-dimensional running back, as he also contributed in the passing game. During his MVP season, he tallied 67 receptions and 555 receiving yards. Allen finished his career at the age of 37 with the Kansas City Chiefs. At that age, his 505 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns was a very impressive accomplishment.

No. 13 Jack Ham

The Pittsburgh Steelers used the eighth pick in the second round in 1971 to land one of the best linebackers of all time. Jack Ham played at Penn State University, and was one of the linebackers that helped earn Penn State the nickname "Linebacker U".

Ham's toughness helped him immediately earn a starting role with the Steelers. During his career, he won a total of four Super Bowls. An ESPN Page 2 list named the 1976 Steelers defense the best unit of all time, a defense that featured Jack Ham.

The fact that held a starting job his entire career on such a dominate unit is very impressive. Even at the end of his career, Ham played with a ton of effort and quickness.

No. 12 Eric Dickerson

Eric Dickerson was one of the more electric and productive running backs in NFL history. He still holds the record for the most rushing yards in a single season with 2,105 in 1984. Jackie Slater talked about his speed in Dickerson's Hall of Fame induction speech:

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I could see was two defensive backs with an angle on him.  All they had to do was keep running.  Close right in on him.  But, you know, speed judges speed better than people who don’t have it, and they adjusted those angles, and they tried to head him off at the pass.  But they couldn’t head him off at the pass.  Forty-two yards later, he went into the end zone untouched.

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Dickerson made an immediate mark on the NFL, rushing for 1,808 yards and 18 touchdowns during his rookie season. The St. Louis Rams franchise made the playoffs that season thanks to the legs of Eric Dickerson.

No. 11 Bruce Smith

Bruce Smith sits atop the NFL's all-time sack leader list. His play helped the Buffalo Bills become one of the most successful franchises in the 1990's. Buffalo used the first overall pick in the 1985 draft to make Smith the cornerstone of their defense.

The beginning of Smith's bio on the Hall of Fame page is as follows

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Bruce Smith was a dominant player during his 19 playing seasons with the Buffalo Bills (1985-1999) and the Washington Redskins (2000-03). His speed and strength made him one of the most feared defensive ends in the modern game. Teams routinely double, if not triple-teamed the former Outland Trophy winner and Virginia Tech All-America.

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This is one of the simplest but best descriptions of Smith's impact in the NFL. Franchises today are continuously looking for the next Bruce Smith.

No. 10 Emmitt Smith

The Dallas Cowboys selected Emmitt Smith in the first round of the 1990 NFL Draft. It didn't take him long to become one of the best running backs in the league. During his rookie season, Smith rushed for 937 yards and 11 touchdowns. After his rookie season, he put together 11 straight 1,000 yard seasons.

Jeremy Kaufman of Bleacher Report accurately described Emmitt Smith in a 2008 article:

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Emmitt Smith is a symbol of durability and consistency at a position that has lacked just that over the years. Even with a relatively small frame at 5'9" and 216 pounds, Smith pounded his way to a record-breaking number of yards. He may not have been the flashiest player ever, but he was a workhorse unlike any the game has ever seen.

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Towards the end of his career, Smith passed Walter Payton for the lead on the NFL's top rushing yard list.

No. 9 Ray Lewis

Ray Lewis' leadership and tenacity is legendary. His fiery pregame entrances can be seen all over, and can raise the intensity level of an entire stadium. However, Lewis isn't just a motivator he also consistently makes game-changing plays. It's because of his play on the field that his leadership has such an impact.

Lewis' motivational skills aren't limited to the football field, he also has made an impact on other athletes like Michael Phelps. Phelps leaned on Lewis when he was feeling worn out, stating “his words are so powerful."

The Baltimore Ravens franchise wouldn't be nearly as successful if it wasn't for Lewis. Since being drafted in 1996, the Ravens have made a total of eight playoff appearances and even won the Super Bowl in 2000.

No. 8 Barry Sanders

Barry Sanders might have been the most entertaining running back in NFL history. His lighting quick cuts and elusiveness made defenders look silly. He was so fun to watch because you never knew what to expect. It was also nice to watch such a talented player play with such respect for the game.

Former college teammate Thurman Thomas said this about Barry Sanders, "He didn't take a big hit. Guys were off-balance playing against him. Barry's was in a Michael Jordan-like zone. He was electrifying." The fact that other NFL players notices his talents only increases the reputation of Sanders.

The Detroit Lions franchise changed forever when they selected Sanders with the third overall pick in the 1989 NFL Draft.

No. 7 Joe Greene

The Pittsburgh Steelers teamed Joe Greene with other Hall of Famers like Jack Ham to field some of the best defenses in NFL history. Greene's career was filled with awards and Super Bowl appearances, finishing with a total of championships. His presence in the middle of the "Steel Curtain" defense is what propelled those teams to success.

A 2008 USA Today article broke down some of the NFL's best defensive tackles, and had this to say about Joe Greene:

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A unique blend of size, strength and quickness, "Mean Joe" earned his nickname with his on-field ferocity. His demeanor helped transform the Steelers from perennial laughingstocks into the team that won an unprecedented four Super Bowls in six years in the 1970s

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Greene wasn't only effective, he was also durable which really helped him become such a polarizing figure.

No. 6 Anthony Munoz

If you're looking for a mold to develop the perfect offensive tackle it would come in the shape of Anthony Munoz. The Cincinnati Bengals knew they had a star when they added Munoz with the third overall pick in the 1980 NFL Draft.

Kofi Bofah of Yahoo Sports had this to say about Anthony Munoz:

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Muñoz was the total package of size, strength, athleticism, and technique. In the passing game, Muñoz routinely shut down the game's best defensive ends and outside linebackers.

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The increased media coverage in the NFL gives offensive linemen a chance to find their way into the spotlight. However, back in Munoz's day the coverage limited his ability to be come a star.

No. 5 Ronnie Lott

Ronnie Lott doesn't rank far behind Joe Montana as one of the greatest players to wear a San Francisco 49ers' uniform. The 49ers selected him eight overall in the 1981 draft, and immediately inserted him into the starting lineup. Lott brought both athleticism and toughness to the field.

One of the most famous football stories is the one about Lott having the tip of his pinky cutoff so he could continue playing. Surgery was an option, but that would have required Lott to miss games which was something he wasn't willing to do.

During his run with the 49ers, Lott won a total of four Super Bowls and made 10 Pro Bowl appearances. Coach Tom Landry said this about Lott, “He’s like a middle linebacker playing safety. He’s devastating. He may dominate the secondary better than anyone I’ve seen."

No. 4 Peyton Manning

Peyton Manning's rookie season wasn't a statistical success, but he used that first year as a learning experience. The lessons learn are what helped him become one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history. His consistently play and durability made the Indianapolis Colts franchise one of the most winning teams of the 2000's.

CBSSports Clark Judge had the following to say about Peyton Manning:

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I like virtually everything about Manning: His knowledge and appreciation of the game's history, his ability to call his own plays, his decorum on and off the field, his uncanny accuracy with a football, his 11 seasons with 4,000 yards passing, his four perfect passer ratings, his seven straight seasons with 12 or more wins as a starter ... OK, I think you get it. The guy is and has been extraordinary.

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Manning's career isn't over, but most will remember him for the time he spent with the Colts and not these next couple years with the Denver Broncos.

No. 3 Reggie White

Most of the football-loving world has heard of Reggie White, and are aware of his excellent NFL career. The younger generation is more familiar with this time with the Green Bay Packers, but White played his best football with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Jason Whitlock had this to say in an article he wrote for ESPN:

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Reggie couldn't be blocked. You could get in his way. You could cut his legs out from underneath him. As a backside tackle, you could jump on his legs. You could pray. But blocking Reggie White was a near impossibility.

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White started his career in the USFL, but he quickly be came a dominate force in the NFL when the USFL collapsed. The Eagles defensive line that featured Reggie White and Jerome Brown is seen as one of the best units of all time.

No. 2 Lawrence Taylor

It's hard to argue that any one player changed the landscape of the NFL more than Lawrence Taylor. His ability to rush the quarterback for the linebacker position opened the door for many players. Taylor's production is only part of his legacy, he also is known for his tenacity and non-stop motor.

John Madden had this to say about Lawrence Taylor:

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Lawrence Taylor, defensively, has had as big an impact as any player I've ever seen. He changed the way defense is played, the way pass-rushing is played, the way linebackers play and the way offenses block linebackers

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The New York Giants expected Taylor to be a difference maker when they selected him second overall in the 1981 NFL Draft. However, it's hard to imagine they expected him to have the type of career he had.

No. 1 Jim Brown

Even though Jim Brown only played 10 seasons, he left a lasting mark on the NFL. He's widely regarded as one of the top NFL running backs in history. He had a rare combination of size, quickness and agility that allowed him to dominate the league.

Sports writer Red Smith stated this about Jim Brown, "For mercurial speed, airy nimbleness, and explosive violence in one package of undistilled evil, there is no other like Mr. Brown,". Even Barry Sanders' father felt that Jim Brown was by far the best running back ever to take the field.

Looking back on his season-by-season production, Brown's epic 1963 season always catches my eye. He rushed for 1,863 years and 12 touchdowns in only 14 games.