NFL Predictions: 7 Rookies Who Will Make an Impact in 2012

NFL training camps have just gotten underway, and some rookies are already showing the what they can do right out of the gate.

As we look towards 2012, some rookie contributors are pretty obvious. You don't have to be told that Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III are going to play big roles on their respective teams from Day 1. We can also be sure that Brandon Weeden and Luke Kuechly will start out of the gate, so you won't find them on this list, either.

Instead, let's take a look at seven rookies who are poised to produce in 2012, but who aren't getting the same hype as their high-profile peers.

Kendall Wright (Tennessee Titans, 20th Overall)

The Titans could not have known how much they'd need Kendall Wright.

At 5'10", Wright does not have prototypical size for a wide receiver, but he makes up for it with his speed and leaping ability. While he is still technically raw, the Titans had high hopes on draft day that Wright could develop into a Steve Smith-type player to pair alongside Kenny Britt.

However, there is no guarantee how much Britt will be on the field for the Titans. After running afoul of the law yet again last month, Britt will likely serve a suspension to begin the 2012 season. Combine that with the knee injuries he's been battling over the past year, and it remains to be seen how much the Titans will be able expect from their best receiving option.

Someone will have to run the sidelines with Nate Washington while Britt is out. Considering Tennessee's shallow receiving corps, that means Wright will likely get to display his explosiveness sooner than expected.

Chandler Jones (New England Patriots, 21st Overall)

If you're searching for the Jason Pierre-Paul of the 2012 draft class, look no further than Chandler Jones.

He certainly has the size to warrant the comparisons (6'5", 266 pounds, 35.5-inch arm length). While Jones cannot match JPP's elite athleticism, he makes up for it with a strong intangibles and a high motor.

Since he's come to Patriots camp, Jones has shown what kind of threat he can be to opposing quarterbacks. According to ESPN Boston, he has already earned himself first-team reps, with veteran Rob Ninkovich moving from right outside linebacker to left to make room for the talented newcomer.

Perhaps Jones is some time away from becoming an All-Pro-caliber sack artist, but it certainly appears he is ready to be a disruptor for the Pats right away.

Dont'a Hightower (New England Patriots, 24th Overall)

The way things are looking, New England might have nailed both of their late-first round picks.

Dont'a Hightower's strong first impression didn't come from his athletic ability, but from his intellect on the field.

“I feel like one of the biggest things I have is my football IQ,” Hightower told the Boston Herald. 

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“I feel like I’m able to grasp things a little bit faster than others. I feel like I’m doing a pretty good job of learning the playbook. I’m just trying to be a sponge to some of the older guys and cheat sheets and different hints that they know that I don’t know yet. I’m just trying to learn from some of the older guys.”

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Not only is Hightower learning from the older guys, he is surpassing them. There was little doubt about his smarts and his size, and he has responded well to the speed of camp thus far.

Hightower left Alabama a winner, and the Pats are hoping he will be one in the pros. Even though he has yet to test his skills in a game, it appears Hightower has the tools to live up to those expectations.

Doug Martin (Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 31st Overall)

Doug Martin has the potential to add a whole new dimension to the Tampa Bay offense.

Over the last two seasons, the Buccaneers handed the ball off to LeGarrette Blount 385 times, and they were rewarded with an occasionally reliable battering ram. As soon as Martin took the field, though, he inspired his offensive linemen to laud his versatility.

"He made some explosive runs where you really see why they drafted him so high," guard Davin Joseph told the Tampa Bay Times. "He reminds you of a Ray Rice or Maurice Jones-Drew. He's very crafty and he really understands the run game."

Though he's not on that All-Pro level yet, Martin does possess a similar skill set to those dynamic running backs. At 5'9", 223 pounds, he has the ability to run between the tackles, but Martin also bests Blount in terms of top-end speed, acceleration, and agility. Martin is also an adept receiver and competent pass blocker, allowing the Bucs more freedom in deploying him than Blount did.

After a 4-12 season with a disappoint offense, the Bucs were looking for some explosiveness on draft day. It looks like Martin is just the back for them.

Coby Fleener (Indianapolis Colts, 34th Overall)

Every young quarterback needs a safety valve as they adjust to the NFL. As Andrew Luck makes his transition, he is bringing his tight end along with him.

Back at Stanford, Coby Fleener was Luck's favorite target. In the two seasons Luck played at an All-American level, Fleener hauled in 62 receptions for 1,101 yards and a whopping 17 touchdowns. That rate of 3.65 receptions per touchdown is obviously not sustainable in the pros, but it indicates a connection between Luck and Fleener that is sure to carry over.

That's good news for Fleener, as Colts coaches believe it's his receiving ability that needs work. Facing off against the likes of Dwight Freeney across the line, the young tight end has impressed with his blocking ability.

“He’s solid,” Colts offensive coordinator Bruce Arians told the Herald-Bulletin. “He’s a really good blocker on the offensive line. We need to get him better as a receiver. But he’s making progress.”

Once he gets a better grasp of the playbook, Fleener should be able to exert himself more in the passing game. As long as he's running routes for Luck, though, Fleener should be a factor in the offense right away.

Mitchell Schwartz (Cleveland Browns, 37th Overall)

The Cleveland Browns hope Trent Richardson and Brandon Weeden will revitalize the offense. If they do, an unsung draft pick will deserve some credit, too.

According to the Cleveland Jewish News, Browns coach Pat Shurmur likes what he sees from Mitchell Schwartz and has already named him the starter at right tackle.

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"I think he’s very smart," Shurmur said. "He’s very good with his technique, and of course the better the player you go against in practice, the quicker you’ll develop. ... He came in as a guy that fundamentally was pretty right and offensive linemen who know how to use their feet and hands of course can play and perform well."

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If the Browns have a lineman they can trust, that's a big improvement from last year. Joe Thomas is great and Alex Mack is solid, but it's no wonder Peyton Hillis couldn't run behind an offensive line with just two strong links.

After four years as a starter at Cal, Schwartz is as ready to step in and start as anyone. If he just pulls his weight on the right side of the line, he could help Richardson and Weeden turn things around in Cleveland.

Marquis Maze (Pittsburgh Steelers, Undrafted)

We may not have been looking at the obvious names so far, but now let's really go out on a limb.

Marquis Maze wasn't selected at all at the NFL draft. Now that he's caught on with the Pittsburgh Steelers, he can make a splash in the return game.

The Steelers have a good returner on their roster in Antonio Brown, who created some great moments with the ball in his hands last season. However, Brown just received a long-term contract, and it's unlikely Pittsburgh wants one of its starting wideouts to get hurt returning kicks.

Enter Maze. The Alabama product was one of the most effective return men in his college career, averaging 12.5 yards on 57 punt returns and 25.0 yards on 22 kick returns.

If there's one knock on Maze as a return man in the pros, it's his speed.

He's a shifty runner with a strong motor to shake off tackles, but Maze's 4.51 40-time at the NFL Scouting Combine does not inspire confidence. On the other hand, Josh Cribbs ran a 4.61 back in 2004, effectively dispelling any notion that workout speed and game speed are synonymous.

Maze has a knack for getting his team good field position, and that's a skill that transitions to the NFL. When the Steelers give him a shot, he'll show just what kind of impact the least-heralded rookie can have.