3 NFL Rookies Looking to Silence the Doubters in 2012

Every year, NFL pundits hand out draft grades, and every year, the same pundits will lament why draft grades are so meaningless. To fully understand a draft class' impact, three or more years need to pass before each player has a real chance to acclimate to the NFL.

Still, draft grades are a composite of how teams met their needs—at least, "needs" as interpreted by the media—and how the players they selected match up with other players in the class at their same position.

So, the media hands a couple of dozen rookies a big chip to carry around on their shoulders in their first year. Maybe it's the late-round pick who "shouldn't have been drafted." It could be the first-round pick that "won't see the field." Whatever the situation, there are always critics.

To prove critics wrong, one can't just be good, he has to be good in spite of the negatives. Or, he has to prove that the negatives were never really negatives at all.

Last year, no rookie silenced more doubters than Cam Newton. Although Newton was drafted first overall, plenty of people thought he had a high bust potential. Idiotic comparisons to JaMarcus Russell were made even though a strong arm and black skin is all that those two have in common.

Newton showed he could come in and beat NFL talent. Who will be that guy in 2012?

Bruce Irvin (DE Seattle Seahawks)

Irvin was considered a mid-round pick before the draft and was consistently knocked for his up-and-down play at West Virginia. It wasn't that Irvin wasn't good. Rather, the biggest concern was that bigger NFL offensive linemen would wear him down over the course of a game, or even a series.

Almost everyone agreed that Irvin could have an impact at the next level, but he would need to be considered a one-dimensional player—at least early on.

When the Seahawks took Irvin in the first round, people went nuts. Forget, for a moment, the fact that draft experts had him going rounds later; most casual fans didn't even know who he was! Pick graders started handing out F's, and words like "reach" started making the rounds. I was right there with them.

However, the Seahawks didn't draft Irvin to play every down. He'll be a nickel rusher for a team that struggled to get pressure opposite Chris Clemons in nickel situations in 2011. While it's a "niche" spot to fill in the first round, the Seahawks have put together a talented young defense, and Irvin should be a solid addition.

How Irvin Can Silence His Doubters: Irvin doesn't need to become someone he's not; he just needs to be in position to do what he does best. If Irvin leads or is near the top of rookies in sacks, critics should come around.

Alshon Jeffery (WR Chicago Bears)

A favorite of Bleacher Report's Matt Miller, Jeffery had a senior season marred by weight gain and sloppy play.

This picture started going around the web. No, that isn't a tubby linebacker, and it isn't Sebastian Janikowski's life coach (well, not that I know of). It's Jeffery looking about 20 pounds (or more) overweight.

Then, before the draft, an erroneous rumor started going around that Jeffery was running a 4.88 40-yard dash and weighing upwards of 250 lbs. That's big for some pass-catching tight ends in today's NFL and far too slow to be a weapon. The rumor was debunked, but that didn't stop it from being fodder for critics.

Jeffery fell to the Bears in the second round, and things couldn't have worked out better for the former Gamecock.

Opposite Brandon Marshall and catching passes from Jay Cutler is a pretty nice place to be, and Jeffery has settled in nicely. Reports out of Bears camp have been positive, and CBS Sports reported Jeffery has even "earned more playing time."

How Jeffery Can Silence His Doubters: Jeffery's always been "the guy" in the South Carolina offense, but he'll need to play second-fiddle to Marshall in the NFL. As long as Jeffery draws coverage and catches some easy fades in the end zone, he has a shot at being the best rookie wide receiver.

Zach Brown (LB Tennessee Titans)

Like a lot of football players out of North Carolina not named Julius Peppers, Brown's scouting report read that he is a fantastic athlete, just not a great football player. Mike Mayock even went so far as to call Brown "allergic to contact."

It's not that Brown didn't make plays in college; he just didn't make the hard plays. He was rarely seen fighting through blocks or blowing up the ball-carrier. To succeed in the NFL, Brown would need a situation where he could chase and tackle all day long and not have to worry about shedding blockers or spending a ton of time in coverage.

At weak-side (Will) linebacker for the Titans, Brown will get to do just that, and he's getting lots of extra reps during camp thanks to a season-long injury to Gerald McRath. Brown isn't the starter yet, but he's looked awfully good throughout the preseason, and coaches are already impressed.

How Brown Can Silence His Doubters: Brown will likely be the first linebacker called upon if either Will Witherspoon or Akeem Ayers goes down. He'll also get plenty of playing time as the Titans look to keep their defense fresh. When Brown is in, he needs to constantly be around the ball and show off some of that "love of contact" he's gained this offseason.

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Michael Schottey is the NFL national lead writer for Bleacher Report and an award-winning member of the Pro Football Writers of America. Find more of his stuff alongside other great writers at "The Go Route."