Emerging NFL Rookies Poised to Make a Postseason Impact

It’s a tough transition going from college to the pros. Trust me, I’ve been there personally, and the difference in competition between the two is literally terrifying. This is why it’s easy to respect rookies who can come into the NFL and have a positive impact for their teams in Year 1.

What’s even more amazing is having these rising stars make an impact when the competition and intensity rise for a shot at a Super Bowl. There’s really nothing like postseason NFL football. And these days, it’s tough to make it to the Big Dance without the help of a rookie or two along the way.

Here are some emerging youngsters who should play significant roles for their teams when the postseason rolls around just a few weeks from now.

Keep in mind, I tried to stick with names of players on teams that control their own playoff destiny.

The most important factors with regard to making this list are these: You have to either be the type of player most likely to make a game-changing play/performance, or you are so incredibly vital to your team’s success (maybe even for lack of a better option) that your absence would likely cost your team the playoff game.

Jeremy Hill, RB, Cincinnati Bengals

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When you get into the playoffs, as I’m assuming the Bengals will, generating a productive running game takes on a whole new level of importance. Ball control and a balanced attack are the envy of any NFL team, and this concept is never truer than once the temperature goes down, weather gets worse and turnovers are magnified significantly.

This is what Jeremy Hill brings to the Bengals offense and is one of the primary reasons offensive coordinator Hue Jackson has elected to start the rookie running back heading into Week 15 despite Gio Bernard being completely healthy.

Hill, who has been healthy all season, currently leads the Bengals in rushing with 729 yards compared to Bernard's 557. Hill also is averaging 4.8 yards per carry, while Bernard is at 3.9 yards per carry.

Bengals fans know that Dalton is a quarterback who can be incredibly streaky and has never won a playoff game. If this team is to have any chance at success in January, a healthy run game provided by Hill will be paramount.

Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S, Green Bay Packers

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Like any rookie, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix has had his struggles from time to time, especially early in the season.

Despite this, Clinton-Dix has excelled as the newest member of the Packers secondary, providing a playmaking mentality they haven’t seen since Charles Woodson was hunting down ball-carriers in the same jersey number. For a team that didn't have a safety interception in over a full year coming into the season, he's a blessing who's showing promise for the future of the franchise.

If he continues his progression, he should be a key cog on an underrated defense that has done a fantastic job in the first half of games—before the Packers go into a more prevent-style defense.

According to an article by Bleacher Report lead writer Mike Tanier, 30 percent of Green Bay’s total defensive yards allowed have come when teams are trailing by 17 points or more.

Clinton-Dix is currently third on the team in tackles, which tells you he is an active player. But he needs to do a better job with missed tackles heading into postseason action.

Jordan Matthews, WR, Philadelphia Eagles

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At 9-4 and tied for the division lead with the Dallas Cowboys, the Eagles control their own destiny and are in the driver’s season for a playoff berth, with or without Mark Sanchez at QB.

Keep in mind, this is a team that has made a living on big shots downfield in between read-option play action. Since parting ways with speedster DeSean Jackson at wide receiver this offseason, head coach Chip Kelly has relied heavily on the size and speed of rookie wideout Jordan Matthews.

Matthews seems to be gaining steam as the season goes on. It took him 10 weeks to record over 60 yards receiving. He has since recorded three games over that mark, including two 100-plus-yard receiving performances in the last four contests.

He currently has 709 receiving yards to go with seven TDs on the season, making him one of the most productive rookie receivers in the NFL.

The rookie has emerged as one of the primary receiving targets on the Eagles offense and will need to continue making big plays all the way into January.

Martavis Bryant, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

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There’s perhaps no hotter rookie wide receiver in the league than Martavis Bryant. Bryant has given the Steelers offense something it hasn’t had since letting Plaxico Burress go the first time.

The difference between the two is that Bryant is shorter than Burress, but he's also much faster. His speed and height combo helps to make him an ideal deep threat that provides the perfect complement to one of the most potent ground games in the NFL.

This guy has accumulated seven receiving TDs in the last seven games and seems to be getting better as the season goes on.

There’s little doubt that just having Bryant on the field will have a dramatic effect on the way teams defend this potent Steelers offense because of the way he forces coverage to play on top of him with safety reinforcements. This takes the box safety away from the line of scrimmage and gives running back Le’Veon Bell space to do what he does best.

If Pittsburgh can bring all of these young, emerging weapons on offense together to complement Ben Roethlisberger, this could be one of the most dangerous postseason teams in the NFL.

Corey Linsley, OC, Green Bay Packers

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In an article I wrote back in April about the value of an offensive lineman, former general manager of the Denver Broncos Ted Sundquist offered up some interesting insight into the value that the center position provides to an offense.

“Center is the most important offensive line position.” he said. “The best units are generally anchored by a son-of-a-gun at center. Without a good center, you’re not going to have a good offensive line.”

If this is true (and even if it isn’t), the Packers may have gotten one of the biggest steals of the 2014 draft when they selected center Corey Linsley in the fifth round with the 161st pick overall.

Coming out of Ohio State, Linsley could bench 500 pounds and run the 40-yard dash in less than five seconds, which he was able to do at his pro day. Those measurables make it difficult to imagine that this kid could ever last to the fifth round.

The Packers were heading into the season with the expectations of starting second-year player J.C. Tretter. But when he went down with a knee injury in the third preseason game, Green Bay had no choice but to turn to the unproven late-rounder who was undersized.

Pro Football Focus (subscription required) currently has Linsley rated as the third-best center in football, behind only Nick Mangold of the New York Jets and Seattle's Max Unger.

As the Packers position themselves for a promising playoff run, the most valuable player in the NFL will be putting his hands under this rookie on nearly every offensive snap. Keeping Aaron Rodgers safe and healthy is hard to quantify.

C.J. Mosley, ILB, Baltimore Ravens

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How good is C.J. Mosley? Well, to put this into perspective, let me start by pointing out he leads the entire team in defensive stops with 53, which Pro Football Focus (subscription required) defines as solo tackles that constitutes any offensive failure.

We’re only 13 games into the season, and no other Raven has amassed 53 stops in a 16-game season going all the way back to 2011, when Ray Lewis had 54 stops.

From a league-wide perspective, Mosley is ranked fifth among inside linebackers, according to PFF’s grading system.

The AFC North could be one of the toughest divisions in football. So, making the playoffs here is far from a sure thing. Baltimore has allowed the fewest points in the division, which is a great sign that it will be competing in the postseason. We can also attribute a big part of that defensive dominance to Mosley's exceptional play. 

Filling Lewis' shoes is no easy task, but Mosley has been solid so far. 

Zack Martin, OG, Dallas Cowboys

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It’s rare thing when a rookie offensive lineman can walk into the NFL as a starter and dominate grown men from Day 1. At this point, Zack Martin has already established himself as one of the best interior blockers in the league—the scary part is that he is just 24 years young.

The Cowboys have dominated in the trenches on offense this year after investing three first-round draft picks in just four years. Paying such a high price for dominance at the line is paying off for this team in a big way. According to advanced offensive line statistics by Football Outsiders, the Boys are ranked No. 1 in run blocking.

I wish I could say I saw this type of dominance coming when Martin was entering the league, but I must admit that I’m just as surprised as I am impressed.

Martin should be a key contributor if the Cowboys make it to the postseason, which I fully expect them to do. Playoff football is where the intensity is ratcheted up a notch, and dominating on the ground will be critical for success—especially if this team has to travel to the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field.

Ryan Riddle is a former NFL player and writes for Bleacher Report.

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