Ranking the NFL's Top 10 Rookies After Preseason Week 2

The 2012 exhibition season in the National Football League has reached the halfway point, and among the numerous storylines that have emerged from this year's preseason is a strong start to the NFL careers of several rookies.

Sure, after only two games it's a little premature to be anointing any newcomers as superstars in the making, but here's a look at 10 rookies who certainly have gotten their professional careers off on the right foot.

10. Matt Kalil, OT, Minnesota Vikings

Minnesota Vikings first-round pick Matt Kalil gave his new team quite a scare when he had to get an MRI on his thumb last week, but it's been, if you'll pardon the pun, thumbs up otherwise for the Vikings' new starting left tackle.

As Simon Samano of USA Today reported last month, it didn't take Kalil long to get under the skin of All-Pro defensive end Jared Allen. If you can slow down Allen, you're doing something right.

9. Doug Martin, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers moved back into the first round of April's draft to select the Boise State star.

While Martin's 14 carries for 47 yards in preseason action isn't overly impressive, he has the inside track on being Tampa's opening-day starter at tailback.

8. Melvin Ingram, OLB, San Diego Chargers

Melvin Ingram of the San Diego Chargers doesn't appear to be having too much trouble making the adjustment from defensive end to outside linebacker, showing off the athleticism that was his hallmark at South Carolina.

Ingram has tallied five total tackles in two preseason contests and notched his first NFL sack (even if it doesn't really count) in the team's last game against the Dallas Cowboys.

7. Justin Blackmon, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Justin Blackmon was the last first-round pick to sign on the dotted line, but once the two-time Biletnikoff Award winner got on the field, it didn't take long for him to make his presence felt.

Blackmon made his Jaguars debut in the team's second preseason game against the New Orleans Saints and made an immediate impact, reeling in four passes for 48 yards and a touchdown.

6. Stephon Gilmore, CB, Buffalo Bills

There may not be a more difficult position in the National Football League for rookies to pick up than cornerback, especially in today's pass-happy NFL.

However, the Buffalo Bills are counting on first-round pick Stephon Gilmore to make an immediate impact in their re-tooled defense, and so far the rookie hasn't disappointed, drawing rave reviews throughout training camp.

5. Quinton Coples, DE, New York Jets

I'll confess I had reservations about how Quinton Coples would transition to the NFL, both due to questions about his work ethic and the transition to a 3-4 defense with the New York Jets.

Um, oops.

Coples has been lights-out in two preseason games for Gang Green, logging a sack in each game while pitching in eight tackles and a forced fumble.

4. Ryan Tannehill, QB, Miami Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins drafted Ryan Tannehill in the first round of the 2012 NFL draft in the hopes that he would be their quarterback of the future, and it appears that the future is now on South Beach.

After completing 25-of-44 passes for 267 yards and a touchdown over two games, head coach Joe Philbin apparently saw all he needed to. The Associated Press reported Monday via The New York Daily News that Philbin has named Tannehill the starting quarterback for Miami's season opener.

3. Luke Kuechly, LB, Carolina Panthers

Linebacker Luke Kuechly led college football with 191 tackles in 2011, and so far it appears that the All-American is going to have little trouble acclimating to the NFL.

In limited action in two preseason contests, Kuechly has notched seven total tackles and forced a fumble, displaying the same nose for the football that he showed off so often at Boston College.

2. Robert Griffin III, QB, Washington Redskins

After a very solid debut, Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin came back to earth a bit in his second preseason game—but the 2011 Heisman Trophy winner has still offered glimpses of the athleticism that spurred the Redskins to mortgage their future to move up in April's draft.

The bigger worry in Washington may well be the offensive front, because talented as he may be, Griffin can't complete passes from his backside.

1. Andrew Luck, QB, Indianapolis Colts

It should come as little surprise that the first overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft tops this list, but quarterback Andrew Luck of the Indianapolis Colts has played about as well as the team could have dared hope.

Granted, Luck threw a pair of interceptions against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Colts' second preseason game, but Luck has completed well over 60 percent of his passes and showed impressive command of the offense and poise in the pocket.