10 NFL Rookies Who Will Produce Right Away

The 2012 NFL draft was peppered with potential future stars, but only a select few will produce for their teams next season.

While some players selected in the draft will play integral parts for the future of NFL franchises, they may not produce a plethora of statistic in their rookie seasons.

However, there is a minority in the 2012 draft class that will light up the league statistically next season, and that shouldn’t come as a surprise. It happened in 2011 as well-think players like Cam Newton, Andy Dalton, A.J. Green, Aldon Smith and J.J. Watt to name a few.

This year there are 10 rookies that will put up eye-popping stats immediately. Let’s take a look these special players:

10. Stephon Gilmore, Cornerback, Buffalo Bills

Stephon Gilmore saw his stock hit a massive upswing the week before the draft as scouts and drafniks alike finally realized what an elite prospect he truly was.

Gilmore landed with the Buffalo Bills in the first round, and that is a decision the front office will never regret. Gilmore is a complete cornerback that will not have any trouble making the transition to the NFL.

Being a rookie, teams will naturally attempt to attack Gilmore early on in the season, and they will pay the price for doing so. Add in the fact Gilmore is extremely aggressive in run defense and it looks as if Gilmore will be one of the more statistically impressive defensive rookies next season. 

9. Rueben Randle, Wide Receiver, New York Giants

Rueben Randle was a hard player to gauge leading up to the draft. He is an explosive player at 6’4 and 210 lbs that has the ability to stretch the field.

With the New York Giants allowing Mario Manningham to walk via free agency, Randle was the natural selection in the second round.

Randle will be the third option on the offense behind receivers Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz. Thanks to quarterback Eli Manning’s ability to spread the ball around to all his targets Randle will put up bigger numbers than most are expecting next season. 

8. Courtney Upshaw, Linebacker, Baltimore Ravens

Courtney Upshaw miraculously lasted 35 picks into the 2012 NFL draft. He subsequently landed in a picture-perfect situation with the Baltimore Ravens.

Not only does Upshaw perfectly fit the Ravens schematically, he now has an opportunity to start right away thanks to an injury to Terrell Suggs and the departure of Jarrett Johnson.

Upshaw has the athleticism to get to opposing quarterbacks in a hurry on any down. As one part of an elite defensive unit, Upshaw will do just that right away. 

7. Nick Perry, Linebacker, Green Bay Packers

Nick Perry took a tumble in the first round because he was considered such a raw prospect. The Green Bay Packers were more than happy to scoop him up at the end of the first round.

Perry is a pass-rushing specialist with freakish athletic ability. His ceiling is ridiculously high thanks to this, but he will find himself with plenty of opportunities to put hits on opposing quarterbacks as the pass-rusher opposite of Clay Matthews.

In a lot of other situations, Perry likely wouldn’t put up huge numbers. In Green Bay as one half of a duo with Matthews, he’ll wreak havoc on the league as he continues to evolve as a player. 

6. Justin Blackmon, Wide Receiver, Jacksonville Jaguars

Justin Blackmon was considered by many to be the No. 1 receiver entering the draft. That happened to be exactly what the Jacksonville Jaguars needed to fix their offensive woes from a year ago, so he was the ideal selection with the fifth overall pick.

Blackmon will see the majority of passes thrown his was next season as second-year quarterback Blaine Gabbert needs a reliable target to help further his progression. If there is one thing Blackmon excels at, it is the fact that he has sure hands.

Blackmon and Gabbert will likely develop good chemistry this offseason as they work together. This will lead to Blackmon compiling an impressive stat-line over the course of the season. 

5. Doug Martin, Running Back, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Doug Martin was considered by most to be the second-best running back in the draft. He also happens to be the only complete, every-down back in the class besides Trent Richardson.

It was no secret leading up to the draft that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers wanted to upgrade the running game, and they did just that with the selection of Martin.

There are many in Tampa Bay that believe Martin will be the starting back from day one after stealing the job from last year’s starter, LeGarrette Blount.

Martin will perfectly fill what the Bucs need thanks to his great all-around game. He is an effective runner in any situation and has sure hands that make him a threat in the passing game as well. Martin will be a pleasant surprise in 2012. 

4. Bruce Irvin, Linebacker, Seattle Seahawks

Bruce Irvin was easily the most controversial selection in the 2012 NFL draft when the Seattle Seahawks made him the fifteenth overall selection.

There was considered to be better pass-rushing prospects in the draft class, but the Seahawks seemed exceptionally high on Irvin, and it makes a lot of sense.

Irvin compiled 22.5 sacks in two years at West Virginia before making the leap to the NFL. He now finds himself on what was quietly one of the best defensive units in the entire NFL last season, a unit that finished ranked at No. 7 overall.

Irvin will likely be a rotation pass-rusher only. Surrounded by so much talent and not having to play every down will likely allow Irvin to shock the NFL and its fans with a the highest sack-count among rookies in 2012. 

3. Andrew Luck, Quarterback, Indianapolis Colts

The hype around Andrew Luck has been at a fever pitch for a few years now. Luckily for him and the Indianapolis Colts organization he has the skill set and tools around him to succeed from day one in the NFL.

Living up to the hype won’t be an issue because Luck is deadly accurate when throwing the ball and reads defenses well before the snap. He is also a threat to pull the ball down and run when he needs to elude pressure or pick up a first down.

Luck has several weapons around him that will allow him to put up big number next season including receiver Reggie Wayne and tight ends Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen.

He won’t put up the best numbers of all rookies next season, but Luck will come very close.

2. Trent Richardson, Running Back, Cleveland Browns

Trent Richardson was billed as the closest thing the NFL has seen to Adrian Peterson, so the Cleveland Browns elected to trade up to the No. 3 spot in the 2012 NFL draft to scoop him up.

That gamble will pay off in a big way, right away. Richardson is a work-horse back that can do it all. He can grind out the tough yards in the middle, or break open a huge run to the outside. Richardson is a back that seeks out contact and rarely goes down on the first hit.

With the Browns likely to attempt to break in yet another rookie quarterback, a lot of the offensive success will hinge on Richardson’s ability to produce right away, and consistently.

Richardson will respond by doing even better than anyone could have hoped. 

1. Robert Griffin III, Quarterback, Washington Redskins

The Washington Redskins traded up to the No. 2 overall selection in the 2012 NFL draft for a reason. That reason would be the production quarterback Robert Griffin III will give the team from day one next season.

Griffin was an electric player in college with the Baylor Bears. He flashed the ability to beat opponents not only with his arm, but with his feet as well. Griffin has elite straight-line speed that makes him a running threat on every down.

Griffin has already been named the starting quarterback in Washington. He is a breath of fresh air for the franchise and will easily be the most productive rookie in 2012. 

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