Predicting Which Rookies Will Have the Biggest Impact for Each NFL Team in 2012

It definitely isn’t going to be easy for the 2012 NFL rookie class to live up to the type of sensational performances we saw from last year’s first-year players.

Young playmakers such as QB Cam Newton, LB Von Miller, CB Patrick Peterson, LB Aldon Smith, WR A.J. Green, QB Andy Dalton and WR Julio Jones set the bar pretty darn high last season. However, the 2012 class may just have the kind of star power it takes to match last year’s group and possibly even surpass it.

With a record number of underclassmen entries this year, the 2012 draft class was one of the strongest and deepest classes in years, and there are plenty of rookies who will be capable of coming in and immediately making a name for themselves around the league this season.

We know all about highly publicized players such as quarterbacks Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III, running back Trent Richardson, wide receiver Justin Blackmon and cornerback Morris Claiborne, but who are some of the other rookies who will be must-watch players in 2012?

Here’s a look at the one rookie on each NFL team who will have the biggest impact this season.

Arizona Cardinals: WR Michael Floyd

The Cardinals may not have a topflight quarterback who they can rely on, but they do happen to have the best wide receiver in the game, Larry Fitzgerald. 

Fitzgerald is good enough to carry a passing attack on his shoulders; however, giving him a proper complement to take some of the pressure off would certainly help him out. That is why Arizona selected Notre Dame WR Micheal Floyd with the 13th overall pick in this year's draft. 

Floyd is a big, athletic physical specimen who has terrific hands. He proved during his time in South Bend that if you throw the ball anywhere in his general direction, he'll almost always come down with it. 

The 6'3'', 220-pound receiver caught 100 passes in his senior season, and he showed that he's the type of productive and reliable weapon who should flourish on the other side of Fitzgerald in Arizona. 

Other Arizona Rookies to Watch: OT Bobby Massie, CB Jamell Fleming and CB Justin Bethel

Atlanta Falcons: DE Jonathan Massaquoi

Some of the best pass-rushers in the NFL (Jared Allen, Trent Cole, Elvis Dumervil, Robert Mathis, Jeremy Mincey) weren't selected until the third day of the draft, so there's proven evidence that you can find a difference-making defensive end late in the draft. 

One of this year's Day 3 pass-rushers who could make an immediate impact in the pros is Atlanta's Jonathan Massaquoi. 

It was surprising to see Massaquoi last until the fifth round, given the fact that he's got obvious starter potential. 

The 6'2'', 264-pound end dominated Sun Belt competition when he was at Troy, racking up 19.5 sacks and 31 tackles for loss in just two years of action. 

The Falcons are going to eventually need a young pass-rusher to replace 34-year-old John Abraham, and it looks like they may have found a worthy successor in Massaquoi. 

Other Atlanta Rookies to Watch: OG Peter Konz and S Charles Mitchell

Baltimore Ravens: LB Courtney Upshaw

As far as pure talent goes, Courtney Upshaw was one of the top 15 prospects in this year's draft class, but because teams couldn't decipher whether he was a 4-3 defensive end or a 3-4 rush linebacker, he dropped into Round 2. 

While Upshaw was clearly bummed about falling to the second day, in the long run, Baltimore is probably the best possible home for him. 

The 6'2'', 272-pound edge-rusher should fit in perfectly on the outside of the Ravens' 3-4 defense, and he should be able to come in and make up for the loss of Jarret Johnson right away. 

Upshaw was a true terror over the last two years Alabama, racking up 16 sacks and 32 tackles for loss during that time. 

With defending Defensive Player of the Year Terrell Suggs' status for 2012 still uncertain due to a torn Achilles, Upshaw will be counted on to be a major contributor as a rookie, and he should certainly be up for the challenge. 

Other Baltimore Rookies to Watch: RB Bernard Pierce, OG Kelechi Osemele and WR Tommy Streeter

Buffalo Bills: CB Stephon Gilmore

In my final mock draft, I predicted that Buffalo would select CB Stephon Gilmore at No. 10.

My reasoning is that if the Bills have any hope of ever catching the Patriots in the AFC East, they’re going to need to stock up on premium pieces in the secondary, and the current cornerback crop of Terrence McGee, Leodis McKelvin and Drayton Florence just isn't enough to get the job done.

Gilmore should come in and instantly provide some more stability to a secondary that gave up 232 yards through the air per game last season. 

The former South Carolina Gamecock is one of the best overall athletes in the 2012 draft class, and after starting for three years against SEC competition, he's seasoned enough to come in and make an instant impact as a rookie this season. 

Now that the Bills have cut ties with Florence, the door is wide open for Gilmore to earn the starting job opposite McGee. 

Gilmore was one of the most skilled defenders available in this year's draft. It wouldn't be surprising if he ultimately ends up having a pro career that's just as good, if not better, than Morris Claiborne, who was the first cornerback selected in the 2012 draft. 

Other Buffalo Rookies to Watch: OT Cordy Glenn, LB Nigel Bradham and WR T.J. Graham 

Carolina Panthers: LB Luke Kuechly

If you're looking for an early front-runner for this year's NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award, look no further than Carolina's new linebacker, Luke Kuechly. 

The Panthers knew that they needed to bolster their defense with their first-round pick this year, and they did just that, choosing Kuechly at No. 9. 

The 6'3'', 242-pound 'backer was a tackling machine during his three years at Boston College, racking up 532 total stops in his college career. 

Kuechly played middle linebacker in the Eagles' 4-3 defense, but he'll likely start off on the weak side in Carolina, which will give the Panthers a terrific 1-2 comprised of him and middle 'backer Jon Beason. 

This is a team that ranked 28th in the NFL in total defense last season, so obviously Kuechly will provide a much-needed boost, and he should immediately become one of Carolina's key defensive leaders as a rookie this season. 

Other Carolina Rookies to Watch: WR Joe Adams, OG Amini Silatolu and CB Josh Norman

Chicago Bears: WR Alshon Jeffery

With the exception of DE Quinton Coples, you could make the case that WR Alshon Jeffery was the most disappointing prospect of the 2011 season.

After coming into the year widely projected as a Top-15 pick, Jeffery failed to match his enormous hype last year, and his production—just 49 catches for 762 yards—left many wondering if he was truly as good as he was built up to be. 

Jeffery endured a lot of criticism in the months leading up to the 2012 draft, and in the end, he wasn't able to crack the first round. Ultimately, however, I think he ended up in an ideal situation in Chicago, and he should have the chance to flourish in the Bears' offense. 

It's no secret that QB Jay Cutler has been clamoring for quality receivers, and with the addition of both Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery, he's now got two legitimate weapons that he can play around with. 

Defenses will likely be focusing a lot of their attention on Marshall this season, which should open up space for the big 6'3'', 216-pound rookie receiver to make plenty of plays. 

Jeffery may not have the true explosive speed that you look for in a top NFL receiver, but with his size, hands and leaping ability, he's going to present a lot of matchup problems in the pros. 

Other Chicago Rookies to Watch: S Brandon Hardin and DE Shea McClellin 

Cincinnati Bengals: WR Marvin Jones

Most fifth-round picks usually don't make much noise in their rookie seasons, but I think Cincinnati WR Marvin Jones is the type of Day-3 pick that can buck that trend. 

It's no secret that the Bengals are looking for a capable secondary receiver to complement budding young star A.J. Green, and Jones definitely seems capable of stepping in and filling that type of role early in his career. 

In his final two seasons at Cal, the 6'1'', 199-pound receiver caught 112 passes for 1,611 yards, and he proved to be a reliable and consistent weapon in the Golden Bears' passing attack. 

Personally, I thought Jones had the kind of talent to go as high as the third round in this year's draft, and I definitely believe the Bengals got a major steal landing him where they did. 

Jones, along with fellow rookie receiver Mohamed Sanu, should be able to step up and defer the attention of defenses away from A.J. Green in 2012. 

Other Cincinnati Rookies to Watch: OG Kevin Zeitler, WR Mohamed Sanu, CB Dre Kirkpatrick, TE Orson Charles, DT Brandon Thompson and S George Iloka

Cleveland Browns: RB Trent Richardson

After watching his team finish 29th in the NFL in total offense last season, Cleveland Browns GM Tom Heckert knew that he had to go out and find a premier offensive playmaker in this year's draft. Heckert did just that when he traded up to land Alabama RB Trent Richardson.

Richardson is one of the most physically gifted running back prospects to emerge from the college ranks since the turn of the millennium, and he has the chance to develop into an instant star for the Browns offense. 

The 5'9'', 228-pound powerhouse possesses an almost unreal combination of size, strength, speed, balance, vision and running instincts. 

Richardson was absolutely dominant in his only year as a full-time starter at Alabama, rushing for over 1,600 yards and scoring 24 total touchdowns as he helped the Tide win a BCS championship this past season. 

With the addition of Richardson and new starting quarterback Brandon Weeden, Cleveland's offense should be much more explosive this season than it has been in years past. 

At this time next year, I wouldn't be surprised at all if we're talking about Trent Richardson as one of the five best running backs in the NFL. 

Other Cleveland Rookes to Watch: QB Brandon Weeden, DT John Hughes, DT Billy Winn, OT Mitchell Schwartz and WR Travis Benjamin

Dallas Cowboys: CB Morris Claiborne

I thought that the Cowboys were going to try to make a move up into the Top 10 for Alabama safety Mark Barron; however, once they saw that LSU CB Morris Claiborne was still available, they decided he was worth trading up from 14 all the way to six. 

Claiborne is a better overall prospect than his former LSU teammate Patrick Peterson, the No. 5 pick in last year's draft, and he has all the skills to develop into an elite lock-down corner in the NFL. 

If you watched any Dallas game last season, you know that the secondary was one of the biggest weaknesses on the team, and adding a playmaker like Claiborne to the mix should work wonders for the defensive backfield. 

The 5'11'', 188-pound former LSU Tiger is a long, super-athletic and instinctive cover corner who has the type of top-notch skills to go toe-to-toe with any receiver he goes up against. 

After picking up safety Brodney Pool and cornerback Brandon Carr through free agency, and adding Claiborne in the draft, Dallas' secondary should be much stronger in 2012 than it was last season. 

Other Dallas Rookies to Watch: LB Kyle Wilber, DE Tyrone Crawford and WR Danny Coale

Denver Broncos: RB Ronnie Hillman

Don't listen to some of the critics who have said that Denver shouldn't have spent a third-round pick on San Diego State RB Ronnie Hillman. 

The 5'9'', 200-pound Hillman may not have the size to be an every down feature back, but he was certainly one of the most talented backs available in this year's draft. He's capable of making his presence felt right away as a rookie in 2012. 

Since he didn't play for a big BCS school, Hillman wasn't ever mentioned in the conversation with some of the best backs in college football, but his productivity spoke for itself. 

In his two seasons at San Diego State, Hillman totaled over 3,500 yards of total offense and scored 38 touchdowns, and he was consistently one of the top offensive producers in the country. 

Soon-to-be 31-year-old Willis McGahee and inconsistent Knowshon Moreno aren't exactly a dynamic rushing duo, which means Hillman should be able to garner his fair share of carries this season. 

Other Denver Rookies to Watch: CB Omar Bolden, DT Derek Wolfe, LB Danny Trevathan and C Philip Blake

Detroit Lions: CB Dwight Bentley

Detroit needed to find a starting caliber cornerback in this year's draft, and it looks like the Lions accomplished that by selecting Louisiana-Lafayette's Dwight Bentley in the third round. 

Because he played in the Sun Belt conference his entire college career, Bentley never received much attention until he opened eyes at the Senior Bowl back in January.

The four-year starter is going to have to adjust to the big jump in competition in the pros, but he's got the type of athleticism, confidence and coverage skills it takes to come in and start right away across from Chris Houston.

The 5'10'', 182-pound corner will hopefully help solve some of Detroit's major secondary problems, as the Lions aren't going to be able to compete for an NFC championship if they give up 239 passing yards per game this season. 

Bentley may never be an elite No. 1 corner in Detroit, but he's got the ability to be a solid and dependable starter for years to come. 

Other Detroit Rookies to Watch: WR Ryan Broyles, OT Riley Reiff, CB Chris Greenwood and DE Ronnell Lewis

Green Bay Packers: CB Casey Hayward

To say that Green Bay's pass defense wasn't the team's strong suit last season would certainly be an understatement, as the Packers ranked dead last in the NFL in pass defense in 2011, giving up nearly 300 yards through the air per game. 

Adding an outside edge-rusher like Nick Perry to complement Pro Bowl linebacker Clay Matthews should help cause some more trouble for quarterbacks, but a player like Casey Hayward should really remedy the team's coverage woes. 

The former Vanderbilt corner was tested against some of the best competition that college football has to offer in the SEC during his college career. He's the type of tough, fearless and battle-tested cover man who won't back down from going up against any NFL receiver. 

The 5'11'', 185-pound Hayward will challenge for immediate playing time as a rookie. While he'll likely start off as just a nickel corner, if he plays up to his potential, Hayward's role in the defensive backfield should steadily increase as the season wears on. 

Other Green Bay Rookies to Watch: DE Jerel Worthy, LB Nick Perry, S Jeron McMillan, LB Terrell Manning and LB Dezman Moses 

Houston Texans: LB Whitney Mercilus

The Houston Texans had one of the strongest defenses in the NFL last season, even though one of the team's top defenders, Mario Williams, only played in five games. 

Williams left town this offseason, lured away by a rich contract in Buffalo. That meant the Texans needed to find a young stud pass-rusher in this year's draft that they could groom behind Connor Barwin and Brooks Reed. 

Houston was lucky enough to find that player in the first-round when Illinois' Whitney Mercilus fell to the 26th pick. Mercilus was the most disruptive defensive end in college football last season, racking up 16 sacks, 22.5 tackles for loss and nine forced fumbles during his 2011 All-American campaign.

The 6'3'', 261-pound one-year wonder may have only one season of serious college production on his resume; however, he proved in 2011 that he has the type of burst off the edge, radar for the quarterback and pass-rushing prowess to be a defensive difference-maker in the NFL. 

Mercilus should have no trouble adjusting to his new role as a rush linebacker in Houston's 3-4 defense, and he should give the team another nightmare edge-rusher who can intimidate quarterbacks.

Other Houston Rookies to Watch: DE Jared Crick, K Randy Bullock, OG Brandon Brooks and WR DeVier Posey

Indianapolis Colts: QB Andrew Luck

Andrew Luck is a great kid and a great quarterback, but it's a shame that he has to go to Indianapolis to play his pro ball. 

After purging the organization of Bill Polian and Jim Caldwell, the Colts now have a first-year head coach who has no prior head-coaching experience, a first-year GM who is new to the role and leading the way is owner Jim Irsay, who isn't exactly the most stable personality you'll ever come across.

The Colts are simply a mess of an organization without Peyton Manning, and they have one of the least talented rosters in the league right now. 

The good news is that Luck was able to lift the Stanford program to some pretty amazing heights during his college career, and he should be able to do the same thing in Indianapolis. 

While Luck may have to endure a few rough rebuilding seasons early on, eventually his rare talent will shine through, and he should be able to lift the franchise back up to prominence. 

Robert Griffin III may eventually turn out to be the more dynamic and electric NFL quarterback, but Luck should develop into one of the most consistent, efficient and successful quarterbacks in the NFL in the years to come. 

Other Indianapolis Rookies to Watch: TE Coby Fleener, WR TY Hilton, TE Dwayne Allen, LB Tim Fugger and DT Josh Chapman

Jacksonville Jaguars: WR Justin Blackmon

After watching their supposed franchise quarterback of the future Blaine Gabbert struggle mightily in his first season under center, the Jacksonville Jaguars knew that they had to find Gabbert a true go-to No. 1 receiving target to aid in his development. 

The team chose to move up two spots from No. 7 to No. 5 in order to land this year's top receiver prospect Justin Blackmon.

Don't be fooled by the critics who try to disparage Blackmon for his lack of deep speed. The 6'1'', 207-pound former Oklahoma State Cowboy is one of the top playmaking receivers to emerge from the college ranks in years, and he's on par with other elite recent receiver prospects such as Julio Jones, A.J. Green, Calvin Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald. 

If you want proof, just go ask one of the many defensive backs who Blackmon embarrassed during his two-year rampage through the Big 12, in which he hauled in 232 passes for over 3,300 yards and scored 39 touchdowns. 

Blackmon is a rare receiving talent, and he should immediately help out Jacksonville's young struggling starting quarterback. 

If Gabbert can step his game up, Blackmon should develop into one of the most productive and effective receivers in the NFL early on in his career. 

Other Jacksonville Rookies to Watch: P Bryan Anger, DE Andre Branch and LB Brandon Marshall

Kansas City Chiefs: DT Dontari Poe

Kansas City's defense has a lot of quality pieces to build around for the future, but one thing the Chiefs were lacking was a big, dominant run-stuffing nose tackle to stick in the middle of the unit. 

That's why the team pounced on Memphis' physical freak Dontari Poe with the eleventh pick in this year's draft. 

Poe became one of the draft's fastest risers after he took the NFL combine by storm back in February, when he ran a sub-five second 40-yard-dash and put up an insane 44 reps in the bench press. 

The 6'3'', 346-pound nose tackle is still a raw talent that's waiting to be molded, but with the proper coaching, Poe has the chance to develop into a frightening force in the NFL. 

Other Kansas City Rookies to Watch: OG Jeff Allen, WR Devon Wylie, S DeQuan Menzie and RB Cyrus Gray

Miami Dolphins: DE Olivier Vernon

The Miami Dolphins took a big risk selecting Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill with the No. 8 overall pick in this year's draft, and we'll probably have to wait a few more years to see if that gamble will actually pay off. 

Tannehill will likely be reduced to clipboard-carrying duty in his first year with the team, but there are a few other Dolphins' rookies who should be able to get out onto the field and show their stuff this season. 

One of the key rookies to watch will be a homegrown talent, DE Olivier Vernon, who played his college ball down the road at the University of Miami. 

Vernon was limited to just six games of action as a junior in 2011, but it was what he did as a sophomore in 2010 when he notched six sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss that was really intriguing. 

The athletic 6'2'', 261-pound former Hurricane should fit in well on the outside of Miami's new hybrid 4-3 defense, and he has the potential to grow into a valuable complement to star pass-rusher Cameron Wake. 

Other Miami Rookies to Watch: OT Jonathan Martin, RB Lamar Miller, TE Michael Egnew, DE Derrick Shelby and WR Keshawn Martin

Minnesota Vikings: S Harrison Smith

Minnesota found its franchise left tackle of the future in No. 4 overall pick Matt Kalil out of USC. However, it's the player who the Vikings took later on in the first round, safety Harrison Smith, who I think will have the biggest impact for the team right away as a rookie. 

It's no secret that the Vikings' secondary had its fair share of holes last season, as the team finished 26th in the league in pass defense in 2011. 

Smith is the type of intelligent, experienced and football savvy safety who's capable of stepping in and immediately becoming the leader of the secondary this season. 

The big, athletic 6'2'', 213-pound safety was a four-year starter at Notre Dame, and during his time in South Bend, he proved to be a valuable playmaker and key leader for the Irish defense. 

If the Vikings' defense wants to improve this season, Minnesota is going to need a stabilizing force in the defensive backfield, and Smith should be able to provide that in 2012. 

Other Minnesota Rookies to Watch: OT Matt Kalil, WR Jarius Wright, CB Josh Robinson, K Blair Walsh and DT Trevor Guyton

New England Patriots: DE Chandler Jones

I didn't think that there was any way that Syracuse's Chandler Jones would get by the Jets at No. 16, and I was shocked to see him fall all the way down to No. 21.

I'm sure New England was pleasantly surprised as well, as the Patriots went flying up to get him. 

Jones could very well be the top pass-rusher in this year's class, and he has the type of physical makeup to be an instant factor for New England's defense this season.

The 6'5'', 266-pound Syracuse alum is the same type of lengthy, naturally strong athlete as his brother, UFC fighter Jon "Bones" Jones, and he has the potential to develop into a disruptive defensive force in the NFL. 

I feel bad for Jets fans who are going to have to watch Jones, the player that New York should have taken at No. 16, turn into a monster pass-rusher in New England over the next few years.

Other New England Rookies to Watch: S Tavon Wilson, DE Jake Bequette, LB Dont'a Hightower and CB Alfonzo Dennard

New Orleans Saints: WR Nick Toon

It seems like the reaction to the New Orleans Saints' 2012 draft class wasn't overwhelmingly positive. 

Admittedly, the Saints didn't have a whole lot to work with after trading their first-round pick away for RB Mark Ingram in last year's draft and then having their second-round selection taken away as part of the Bounty program punishment.

Still, I actually think the team did a quality job of filling some needs and finding future contributors with the five picks they did have. 

One player, who looks like he could come in and contribute early in his career, is fourth-round pick WR Nick Toon out of Wisconsin. 

The 6'3'', 218-pound Toon is the son of former Jets receiver Al Toon, and he's got the type of intriguing size-speed combination that would lead you to believe that he should fit in well in the Saints' offense. 

With Robert Meachem gone, there's room in New Orleans' receiver corps for a young receiver to make a name for himself, and it will be interesting to see how Toon will fit into the offensive equation as a rookie in 2012. 

Other New Orleans Rookies to Watch: CB Corey White and DT Akiem Hicks

New York Giants: RB David Wilson

New York Giants general manager Jerry Reese might just be the best front office executive in the NFL, and he once again showed off his scouting skills this year by bringing in another impressive draft class. 

This offseason, the Giants lost some key offensive pieces such as RB Brandon Jacobs and WR Mario Manningham, but Reese was able to find replacements for both of them with the team's first two draft picks—RB David Wilson and WR Rueben Randle. 

Wilson and RB Ahmad Bradshaw should quickly develop into a strong backfield tandem, and it wouldn't be surprising if the former Virginia Tech back steals some of Bradshaw's thunder this season.  

Last year, the 5'10'', 206-pound former Hokie led the ACC with over 1,700 rushing yards, and he showed incredible explosiveness and raw physical ability during his one season as a full-time starter. 

Wilson and Randle should both be able to make a considerable contribution to the Giants offense this season, and they could end up being immediate upgrades over their predecessors, Jacobs and Manningham. 

Other Giants Rookies to Watch: WR Rueben Randle, DT Markus Kuhn and CB Jayron Hosley

New York Jets: WR Stephen Hill

I certainly didn't love the Jets' first pick, DE Quinton Coples. However, I think the team made up for that mistake by landing WR Stephen Hill in the second round. 

Hill is one of the most intriguing prospects in the entire 2012 draft class. 

Although he was unable to produce at a high level playing in Paul Johnson's run-heavy triple-option offense at Georgia Tech; when Hill did get the ball thrown his way, he made the most of it, averaging a whopping 29.3 yards per catch as a junior in 2011. 

The 6'4'', 215-pound speedster is an incredible athlete for his size, and he went flying up draft boards after dominating at the NFL combine, putting up a 4.36 40-yard-dash time and a 39.5 vertical leap. 

Hill may still be a raw and unrefined product, but with his type of natural ability, he could end up being a godsend for struggling starting quarterback Mark Sanchez. 

Other Jets Rookies to Watch: LB Demario Davis, S Josh Bush, DE Quinton Coples, RB Terrance Ganaway and S Antonio Allen

Oakland Raiders: WR Juron Criner

The Oakland Raiders may not have had a first or a second-round pick in this year's draft, but they still managed to do a pretty solid job of finding players that could be down-the-road contributors with the six selections they did make in 2012. 

One player who could make an early impact in Oakland is fifth-round pick WR Juron Criner.

The Raiders already have some intriguing young receivers, such as Jacoby Ford, Denarius Moore, Darrius Heyward-Bey and Louis Murphy, but Criner has the type of talent to break his way into the receiving rotation as a rookie in 2012. 

During his final two seasons at Arizona, Criner combined to catch 157 passes for 2,189 yards and 22 touchdowns. 

The 6'3'', 224-pound receiver doesn't possess elite deep speed, but Criner's got the type of size, hands and route-running ability to present matchup problems for opposing defenses if used properly.

Other Oakland Rookies to Watch: LB Miles Burris and OG Tony Bergstrom 

Philadelphia Eagles: DT Fletcher Cox

The Eagles hit the jackpot when Mississippi State DT Fletcher Cox slid all the way out of the Top 10 down to No. 12. Cox was the player Philadelphia was heavily rumored to be coveting. There were even a few rumblings right before the draft that they could move all the way up to No. 7 to take him, so to get him at No. 12 is a gigantic steal. 

With Cullen Jenkins and Mike Patterson already entrenched at the position, the Eagles can slowly ween Cox into the mix, and he won't be forced or pressured to be a big-time producer right away. 

Cox may just be too good to keep off the field though, and he should be able to make a big impact as a situational pass-rusher in his rookie season. 

The athletic 6'4'', 298-pound tackle racked up five sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss during his junior season at Mississippi State, and he displayed the kind of flashes which seem to indicate that he's going to develop into a dominant interior force in the NFL. 

Other Philadelphia Rookies to Watch: RB Bryce Brown, CB Brandon Boykin, LB Mychal Kendricks and DE Vinny Curry 

Pittsburgh Steelers: OG David DeCastro

I'll admit, I was shocked that Stanford OG David DeCastro dropped all the way down to the No. 24 pick, and I have a feeling the Steelers were surprised as well. It took them about 1.2 seconds to get the card into Roger Goodell once they learned they had a shot at him. 

Even though he plays a position that isn't exactly valued very highly, DeCastro is still one of the most talented prospects in this year's draft class, and he has the potential to develop into a Pro Bowl caliber player early in his career. 

The 6'5'', 316-pound mauler fits perfectly into Pittsburgh's offense, and he has the type of size, strength, technique and tenacity to be a monster in the trenches for the Steelers. 

When we look back on the 2012 draft a few years from now, we'll likely be calling Pittsburgh's selection of DeCastro the biggest steal of the first round. 

Other Pittsburgh Rookies to Watch: LB Sean Spence, OT Mike Adams, DT Alameda Ta'amu and CB Terrence Frederick

San Diego Chargers: LB Melvin Ingram

San Diego tried to strengthen its defense with the first three picks in this year's draft by selecting LB Melvin Ingram, DE Kendall Reyes and S Brandon Taylor. 

All three players will likely be asked to contribute immediately this season, but the one player that should have the best rookie campaign is Ingram. 

The versatile Ingram played all over the field at South Carolina last season, lining up at defensive tackle, defensive end and even standing up in certain situations.

The 6'1'', 264-pound former Gamecock displayed terrific explosion and instincts, racking up 10 sacks and 15 tackles for loss in 2011. 

Ingram should be able to make a seamless transition to rush linebacker in San Diego's 3-4 defense, and he's the type of disruptive pass-rusher who could definitely have a similar performance to what we saw from Aldon Smith in San Francisco last season. 

Other San Diego Rookies to Watch: S Brandon Taylor, DE Kendall Reyes and RB Edwin Baker

San Francisco 49ers: RB LaMichael James

San Franciso's defense may be one of the best units in the league. However, the 49ers clearly needed to find some help on the other side of the ball this offseason.

The team knew they needed to add some more offensive firepower if they truly wanted to contend for a Super Bowl in 2012, which is why they went shopping for offensive help in free agency and in the draft

This year, the 49ers drafted offensive players with their first three picks, but the one player who should have the biggest impact as a rookie is RB LaMichael James. 

San Francisco currently has two big, strong power backs, Frank Gore and Brandon Jacobs, to unleash in the ground game, but James should add some diversity to the backfield along with fellow back Kendall Hunter. 

The explosive 5'8'', 194-pound speedster put up insane numbers during his time at Oregon, including three straight seasons of rushing for over 1,500 yards.

James may not be a bell cow back like Gore or Jacobs, but he should add a dynamic and dangerous new element to San Francisco's offense, and he could end up being a key piece to the 49ers' offensive rejuvenation this season. 

Other San Francisco Rookies to Watch: WR A.J. Jenkins, OG Joe Looney and LB Cam Johnson

Seattle Seahawks: DE Bruce Irvin

Maybe I'm a bit biased because I'm a West Virginia graduate who got to see Bruce Irvin play in every game during his college career, but I just don't understand how people weren't valuing Irvin as a possible first-round pick going into this year's draft. 

Irvin is one of the most freakishly athletic and explosive defensive prospects in this year's class (he's a better overall athlete than last year's No. 7 overall pick Aldon Smith).

Plus, he isn't just some workout warrior either, as he had the actual on-field production—22.5 sacks and 29 tackles for loss—to back up his impressive workout numbers. 

Even though he's a bit undersized at 6'3'', 245-pounds, the fact is that Bruce Irvin is a rare physical specimen, and he should develop into a dominant nightmare pass-rusher in the NFL.

If Irvin reaches his full potential and turns into a double-digit-sacks-per-year type of defensive end, all the critics that initially trashed the Seahawks for taking him at No. 15 will be forced to eat their words.  

Other Seattle Rookies to Watch: S Winston Guy, RB Robert Turbin, LB Bobby Wagner and DT Jaye Howard

St. Louis Rams: WR Chris Givens

I absolutely loved what St. Louis did in this year's draft, and in my opinion, the team's draft class was probably the best overall group of 2012. 

There are a bunch of Rams' rookies who should make an impact this season, but I think the one player to really watch is WR Chris Givens. The fourth-round pick wasn't talked about with the other top receivers in this year's class, but as far as natural physical ability is concerned, he's as good as any of them.

Givens enjoyed a breakout junior season at Wake Forest in 2011, catching 83 passes for 1,330 yards and nine touchdowns. 

The super-athletic 5'11'', 198-pound receiver ran a 4.41 40-yard-dash at the NFL combine, which backed up the type of game-breaking speed that scouts saw from him on tape. 

It was clear last season that the Rams were going to need to find QB Sam Bradford some legitimate receiving weapons if they ever wanted him to reach his full potential. Now that Bradford has Givens, fellow rookie Brian Quick and free-agent pick-up Steve Smith, he's got the type of receivers he needs to really take a big leap in his third season. 

Other St. Louis Rookies to Watch: RB Isaiah Pead, CB Janoris Jenkins, WR Brian Quick, CB Trumaine Johnson, DT Michael Brockers and K Greg Zuerlein 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: S Mark Barron

As a Tampa Bay fan, I have to say that I was really impressed with what GM Mark Dominik and the team's front office was able to do in this year's draft.

The Bucs were able to reel in three potential future stars—S Mark Barron, RB Doug Martin and LB Lavonte David—with their first three picks, and the great news is, all three players fill key needs. 

Barron, the team's top overall pick, looks like he has what it takes to become the leader of Tampa Bay's young, developing defense. 

The 6'1'', 213-pound All-American was one of the key leaders for Alabama's defense during his three years as a starter in Tuscaloosa. 

Barron may not possess elite coverage skills, but he's the type of big, physical and rangy safety who will come in and immediately change the complexion of Tampa Bay's secondary. 

Other Tampa Bay Rookies to Watch: RB Doug Martin, LB Lavonte David and CB Keith Tandy

Tennessee Titans: WR Kendall Wright

Remember all the talk before the draft about Kendall Wright being out of shape, overrated and not worthy of being a first-round pick?

Well, those rumors sure proved to be bogus, as Wright ultimately claimed his rightful spot in the draft as a Top-20 pick. 

With Kenny Britt coming off ACL surgery, Tennessee was wise to look for a young explosive playmaker to add to its receiver corps, and the Titans got what they needed in Robert Griffin's former go-to target. 

Wright didn't exactly have the greatest offseason showing, but it's what he did on the field at Baylor that really counted, as he routinely flew by secondaries and made big play after big play all season long in 2011. 

The 5'10'', 196-pound speedster caught 108 passes for 1,663 yards and 14 touchdowns in his senior season, and he proved that he can be an extremely dangerous weapon in the passing game. 

Other Tennessee Rookies to Watch: DT Mike Martin, CB Coty Sensabaugh and LB Zach Brown

Washington Redskins: QB Robert Griffin III

I said back in December that Robert Griffin III was the best player available for the 2012 NFL draft. It wasn't a very popular opinion at the time, but in the months leading up to the draft, Griffin won over fans and analysts and proved that he's more than just your average dual-threat quarterback. 

RG3 is a truly special talent, and five years from now, we will likely be talking about him as the best player to come out of the 2012 draft. 

Griffin was the savior that the Baylor football program so desperately needed, and he's about to play the same type of role for the Redskins. 

What we saw from Carolina QB Cam Newton during his rookie season last year was simply incredible, and it's going to be hard for any other rookie quarterback to ever top that performance. However, I'll say it now: Robert Griffin III is capable of outshining Newton in 2012, and he should eventually develop into a truly transcendent superstar in the NFL. 

We've never seen a quarterback prospect quite like Robert Griffin III before, and it's almost impossible for any real football fan to not get excited about what he has to bring to the table as an NFL quarterback. 

Years from now, we'll be calling the Redskins lucky for being able to land Griffin with the second overall pick of the 2012 draft. 

Other Washington Rookies to Watch: LB Keenan Robinson and OG Josh LeRibeus