Ranking the NFL's Top 25 Sophomores Heading into 2015
The 2014 NFL draft was billed as the start of the Jadeveon Clowney era. With his freakish athleticism, the defensive end from South Carolina was expected to take the NFL by storm after the Houston Texans selected him No. 1 overall.
Not everything works according to plan, and draft status means absolutely nothing once the pads are strapped on and games are officially played. Thus, an undrafted player can be counted among the top 25 "sophomores" entering the 2015 season over a player who was chosen with the first pick in the draft.
Clowney dealt with injuries throughout his rookie campaign, and he must now regain his status as the top prospect from the class.
This particular list doesn't include players who have yet to prove anything at the NFL level. It's comprised of last year's talented rookies who are ready to start their second seasons in the league after already proving they belonged in the professional ranks.
Talented players such as Clowney and even San Diego Chargers cornerback Jason Verrett certainly have the ability to prosper as professionals, but injuries held them back.
One aspect that held true from last year's class was its abundance of wide receiver talent that translated to the field. Last year's wide receiver class was regarded as the best in recent memory. Multiple young targets made a major impact during their first seasons, and seven different wide receivers are included in this particular countdown.
The No. 1 spot, though, went to the one player with the ability to have the most impact on his franchise. He was a prospect who was unfairly criticized prior to the draft and lived up to every expectation placed on him once he was asked to lead his team.
With each of these points in mind, here are the NFL's top sophomores as training camp looms.
25. Taylor Gabriel, WR Cleveland Browns
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A year after being completely overlooked during the NFL draft process due to his size (5'8" and 167 lbs), Cleveland Browns wide receiver Taylor Gabriel is one of the top sophomores entering the 2015 season.
The Browns didn't even sign him until he impressed the team during a post-draft workout.
The Abilene Christian product then went on to become a vital cog in the offense. Gabriel finished ninth among rookie receivers with 621 yards. His impact extended beyond traditional production, though.
The diminutive target averaged 17.3 yards per catch, which was the third-best effort of any wide receiver in the NFL last season. Gabriel is also dangerous after he makes a reception. According to Pro Football Focus, he finished fourth among all wide receivers and first among rookies in yards after the catch per reception with an average of 7.6 yards.
Because of the concerns surrounding Cleveland's wide receiver corps, Gabriel should have an expanded role this fall. Cleveland Browns Daily's Nathan Zegura said the second-year target "is currently the best wide receiver on the Cleveland Browns."
24. Justin Ellis, NT Oakland Raiders
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The ability to stuff the run remains a valuable asset in the NFL, and the Oakland Raiders' Justin Ellis was one of the league's best run defenders last season.
At 6'2" and 334 pounds, he is a mammoth man in the middle of the defensive line. Because of his immense girth, the Louisiana Tech product proved to be strong at the point of attack and difficult to move.
It didn't take long for the previous Raiders coaching staff to realize Ellis could contribute at a high level, particularly on early downs. The former fourth-round pick became a starter by the third week of the season.
By the end of the year, Ellis was rated as the 15th-best defensive tackle against the run by Pro Football Focus and the second-best rookie defensive lineman.
Ellis isn't an every-down player, but he helps set the tone for the Raiders on early downs. He'll pair with free-agent acquisition Dan Williams this fall to form one of the NFL's stoutest defensive tackle tandems.
23. Aaron Lynch, OLB San Francisco 49ers
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As the San Francisco 49ers organization remains in upheaval due to massive turnover during the offseason, young players will receive opportunities to increase their roles and potentially flourish.
Aaron Lynch is at the forefront of those ready to take the next step.
Last season, he primarily served as a situational pass-rusher. He eventually started two games in place of veteran Ahmad Brooks, who essentially benched himself for poor play, and the rookie performed well.
With Aldon Smith and Brooks returning for another season, though, Lynch may not become a starter this season, but he can fully expect to be on the field more, especially during obvious passing downs.
Only one rookie, the St. Louis Rams' Aaron Donald, applied more pressure on opposing quarterbacks than Lynch last year. The first-year player for the 49ers finished the season with 27 quarterback hurries and six sacks, according to Pro Football Focus.
With his ability to get after the quarterback, Lynch should prove to be a solid bookend opposite Smith. He is capable of filling some of the void left by Justin Smith upon his retirement.
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22. E.J. Gaines, CB St. Louis Rams
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Only one rookie cornerback played more than 900 snaps last year.
It wasn't Justin Gilbert, who was drafted eighth overall as the top cornerback in the class. Former first-rounders Kyle Fuller, Darqueze Dennard, Jason Verrett and Bradley Roby didn't receive that much playing time either.
The St. Louis Rams' E.J. Gaines led all rookie cornerbacks with 964 snaps, per Pro Football Focus, and 15 starts after 30 defensive backs were selected before him in the 2014 NFL draft.
Despite missing the final game of the season with a concussion, Gaines maintained momentum as a projected starter this offseason.
Rams head coach Jeff Fisher showered him with praise prior to mandatory minicamp, per ESPN.com's Nick Wagoner:
"E.J., I can’t say enough about what he did for us last year as a starter and as an inside player in the nickel. He can come out there and compete outside. Our expectation is that last year Lamarcus would be the inside third corner and that took a little longer and scheme was an issue. It was a good deal for our defense when you look at his production and what he did and his body of work. He made very few mistakes.
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A healthier Rams secondary will provide more competition for snaps during the upcoming season, but Gaines is already one of the most consistent performers within the position group.
21. Brandon Linder, OG Jacksonville Jaguars
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While the wide receivers garnered the most attention among the 2014 draft class, a spectacular group of interior blockers also made an impact on multiple teams.
Three of the league's top 10 guards last season as graded by Pro Football Focus were rookies. The Jacksonville Jaguars' Brandon Linder received the 10th-highest grade.
His transition to the professional ranks was relatively smooth since he benefited from playing under his former offensive coordinator with the Miami Hurricanes, Jedd Fisch, who served in the same capacity for the Jaguars during the last two seasons before being dismissed.
The rookie blocker graded positively in 11 of his 15 starts.
Bleacher Report's NFL Draft Lead Writer Matt Miller recently called Linder "one of the best young guards in the league" during an interview on XL PrimeTime in Jacksonville.
With the organization's added emphasis on the offensive line this offseason as seen by the acquisitions of Jermey Parnell, Stefen Wisniewski and third-round pick A.J. Cann, Linder should play at an even higher level this fall because of better and more consistent talent surrounding him.
20. Bene Benwikere, CB Carolina Panthers
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Last year's playoff push by the Carolina Panthers came courtesy of an in-season youth movement. One of the primary catalysts was cornerback Bene Benwikere.
The San Jose State product entered the starting lineup in Week 14 after primarily serving as the team's nickel corner.
Benwikere thrived opposite the emerging Josh Norman. In the team's final six games, including its two playoff appearances, the rookie cornerback received a positive grade from Pro Football Focus in all of them except for the team's loss in the divisional round of the playoffs.
The first-year player was also on the field for 341 of 351 possible snaps during that span.
While Benwikere isn't guaranteed a traditional starting spot entering this season, his comfort level continues to grow every day, per CarolinaPanthers.com's Max Henson:
"I feel more comfortable and I'll be able to play faster. When Luke (Kuechly) or TD (Thomas Davis) or Roman (Harper) communicate with me on the field, I understand what they are saying. I don't have to process it first and then go from there. It's becoming second nature. I'm talking and pointing something out sometimes before they are doing it.
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The former fifth-round pick provides flexibility as an outside cornerback who also excels inside against slot receivers. He'll be on the field more often than not this fall.
19. Jarvis Landry, WR Miami Dolphins
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Slot receivers are essentially considered starters in the NFL, and the Miami Dolphins' Jarvis Landry has already developed into one of the league's best inside receivers after only one season.
As veterans Mike Wallace and Brian Hartline continued to disappoint last season, Landry grew into quarterback Ryan Tannehill's favorite target. During the final eight games of the season, the LSU product averaged a team-high nine targets per game.
But Landry shouldn't be viewed strictly as a slot receiver. The Dolphins revamped their wide receiver corps during the offseason, and he's now the most experienced target in Bill Lazor's system after the departures of Wallace, Hartline and Brandon Gibson, as well as the additions of DeVante Parker, Greg Jennings and Kenny Stills.
As a result, Landry expects his role to be expanded this fall, per the South Florida Sun-Sentinel's Omar Kelly:
"For me, I don't want to be limited to being a slot player. I want to have the opportunity to do a lot of different things. Whether it's in the slot or the outside, I just want to be a threat, have the opportunities to make plays.
The whole vibe of touching the ball a little bit more has picked up, and I like where it's headed. [I want to] continue to separate myself. Continue to make the routine plays, and make the plays when the team's counting on me to make them.
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If Landry improves upon last year's average of nine yards per catch, he'll legitimately enter the conversation as an elite receiver from this class. But he has plenty of competition for that title.
18. Preston Brown, LB Buffalo Bills
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Preston Brown wasn't expected to start during his rookie season. After all, the Buffalo Bills already had veterans Brandon Spikes and Keith Rivers in place. Kiko Alonso was also coming off a sensational first year with the organization.
Alonso then tore an ACL during an offseason workout, and Nigel Bradham was slapped with a one-game suspension.
Brown was forced to step into the starting lineup and didn't disappoint.
The Louisville product started the first three games of the season and didn't miss a snap. In fact, he led the entire Bills defense with 1,057 snaps played last year.
During his 14 starts, the former third-round pick graded positively in eight games, according to Pro Football Focus, and excelled in pass coverage compared to his rookie counterparts.
Due, in part, to Brown's level of play, Alonso became expendable, and the organization was able to trade the injured linebacker to the Philadelphia Eagles for a workhorse back in LeSean McCoy.
Brown and Bradham are projected as the starting inside linebackers in Rex Ryan's base 3-4 defense.
17. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S Green Bay Packers
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Ha Ha Clinton-Dix not only owns one of the NFL's best names, but he's already one of the league's best coverage safeties.
It's a bold statement, but it holds up when viewing his individual play.
Pro Football Focus created a statistic called coverage snaps per reception. It's an indication of how many times a defensive back surrenders a reception compared to how many times he's actually in coverage.
Clinton-Dix finished third among safeties with an average of 42.4 coverage snaps per reception. Earl Thomas, Devin McCourty and Eric Weddle all finished with lower averages than the Alabama product.
The Packers safety also finished among the league's top 10 performers in coverage snaps per target and yards per coverage snap.
The safety position is changing. It's no longer about simply not being a liability in coverage. Safeties who are capable of erasing mistakes by legitimately covering wide receivers against spread offenses are more valuable than ever.
It's why Clinton-Dix became a first-round selection and an instant impact rookie, while former Alabama teammate Landon Collins, who is generally considered a box safety, fell out of the opening frame in this year's draft class.
The second-year pro needs to improve on his run defense, but his coverage skill makes him a valuable asset in the Packers secondary.
16. Jordan Matthews, WR Philadelphia Eagles
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Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly discarded his top wide receiver for the second straight season. In Kelly's mind, it's all about the system and not the production of DeSean Jackson or Jeremy Maclin.
Jordan Matthews is the next man up to become the team's No. 1 target.
The Vanderbilt product finished second on the Eagles last year in targets (105), receptions (67), yards (872) and touchdowns (eight).
"Matthews was one of seven WRs in the last 10 years to have 65-plus catches, 850-plus yards and eight-plus TDs as a rookie," PhillyMag.com's Sheil Kapadia tweeted.
Unfortunately, three other receivers from Matthews' class—Mike Evans, Odell Beckham Jr. and Kelvin Benjamin—eclipsed those numbers as well, which overshadowed the Eagles wide receiver to a degree.
Unlike those previously mentioned rookies, Matthews wasn't the primary target in the offense last season and operated out of the slot.
While the second-year wide receiver can be expected to shoulder a bigger burden this fall, even after the inclusion of first-round pick Nelson Agholor, Matthews isn't expected to move to outside receiver.
"Nothing I saw throughout camp leads me to believe Jordan Matthews will see significant time outside. He’s still the slot receiver in most three-wide formations," CSNPhilly.com's Geoff Mosher reported. "I’ve seen him on the outside in red-zone drills, which makes sense given his height, but Josh Huff and Riley Cooper were your first-team outside receivers for seven-on-sevens and 11-on-11s."
Matthews is a dangerous target out of the slot, though. He averaged six yards after the catch per reception, according to Pro Football Focus, which was tied for fourth-best among wide receivers with 60 or more receptions last season.
15. Timmy Jernigan, DE Baltimore Ravens
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Timmy Jernigan is the only player on this list to play less than 400 snaps last season. His ranking is a testament to how well he played during his limited opportunities.
At a meager 312 snaps, he still played at a high enough level to finish among the top 15 best performers as a 3-4 defensive end, according to Pro Football Focus.
After Jernigan's high level of play as a rookie, he will fill the shoes of a legend this fall, which is no small feat.
The Florida State product made it easier on Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome to trade Haloti Ngata to the Detroit Lions after the organization and former All-Pro performer couldn't reach an agreement on a restructured contract.
Expectations are high for Jernigan, but he's already living up to them during offseason activities. In fact, one teammate believes the team saw exactly what it expected of Jernigan as he attempts to replace Ngata.
“Same thing we expected to see—him stepping up, him making plays and doing what he does best, and that’s be in the backfield and fight every play,” nose tackle Brandon Williams told Scout.com's Jason Butt.
14. Sammy Watkins, WR Buffalo Bills
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The Buffalo Bills paid a hefty price to trade up and select Sammy Watkins with the fourth overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft.
There were points during Watkins' first season, particularly the first month, when the price appeared to be too steep.
Through the first five games, he posted only one 100-yard game and averaged 27.5 yards in the other four contests.
Watkins exploded, though, at the start of October with 122 yards against the Minnesota Vikings and 157 yards against the New York Jets.
The rest of the season remained hit-or-miss with only one more 100-yard effort over the final eight weeks.
However, it's the Clemson product's ability to explode at any point that defenses must account for on a weekly basis.
When it was all said and done, Watkins proved to be reliable by playing more snaps than any other rookie wide receiver. He finished his first campaign with 65 receptions for 982 yards and six touchdowns.
Whichever quarterback emerges as the Bills starter will look for Watkins early and often as the team's top target. The inclusion of Percy Harvin into the offense should also help take coverage away from the second-year wide receiver.
"Not only is he a great kid and a great player, his upside is so upside it's upside," Bills coaching intern and Hall of Fame wide receiver Andre Reed told ESPN.com's Mike Rodak. "We just got to give him the ball, that's just the bottom line.
13. Kelvin Benjamin, WR Carolina Panthers
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When the Carolina Panthers spent the 28th overall pick on Florida State's Kelvin Benjamin, there were already concerns about the wide receiver's consistency as a route-runner and pass-catcher.
At the time, though, the Panthers desperately needed an answer at the position after deciding not to retain the team's top four wide receivers after the 2013 campaign. Benjamin answered the call.
The 6'5" receiver proved to be the perfect target for quarterback Cam Newton.
Benjamin became Newton's security blanket and led all rookie wide receivers with 146 targets. He snagged 73 receptions for 1,008 yards and nine touchdowns. However, concerns over mishandled passes didn't diminish after he dropped 11 passes—tied for second worst in the league, according to Pro Football Focus (via NFL.com).
The massive target also suffered a pair of hamstring injuries during offseason workouts after he showed up weighing over 250 pounds, according to the Charlotte Observer's Jonathan Jones.
Despite these concerns, Benjamin remains a major mismatch because of his size and catch radius. The opportunities might not be as prevalent for the second-year target this fall because of the acquisitions of Devin Funchess, Jarrett Boykin and Ted Ginn Jr., but last year's first-round pick remains Carolina's No. 1 wide receiver.
12. Corey Linsley, C Green Bay Packers
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An injury to J.C. Tretter during the third preseason game set the stage for rookie center Corey Linsley.
A recent fifth-round pick with no game experience snapping to Aaron Rodgers until the season opener shouldn't be expected to play well after being thrust into the starting lineup.
Not only did Linsley play well, but he developed into one of the league's best centers over the course of his rookie season.
Pro Football Focus ranked the Ohio State product as the fifth-best center during the 2014 season.
All the while, Linsley was simply trying to keep his head from spinning at all of the things being thrown his way. This season will be different than his rookie campaign, though.
"More detail-oriented," the center told the Green Bay Press-Gazette's Ryan Wood. "It's no longer, Which way is the play going? It's now, what's the best call?"
A higher level of understanding for Linsley as well as the second consecutive year for the same five starting offensive linemen in Green Bay should make an already dangerous offense even more so.
11. Derek Carr, QB Oakland Raiders
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A quarterback's value is always artificially inflated because of the importance of the position at the NFL level.
The Oakland Raiders' Derek Carr sits just outside the top 10 of the top sophomores because he provides stability and hope to one of the NFL's worst-run franchises.
Since Rich Gannon led the Raiders to Super Bowl XXXVII and prior to Carr's arrival, a motley crew of quarterbacks that included Rick Mirer, Kerry Collins, Andrew Walter, Aaron Brooks, Daunte Culpepper, Josh McCown, JaMarcus Russell, Jason Campbell, Bruce Gradkowski, Carson Palmer, Matt McGloin and Terrelle Pryor, who is now converting to wide receiver, took snaps from under center.
It's a depressing list of signal-callers that left the Raiders in a decade-plus cycle of ineptitude.
Carr, on the other hand, put together a solid, albeit unspectacular, rookie season. He led all first-year quarterbacks with 3,270 passing yards and 21 touchdown tosses.
At times, he was asked to carry the offense because of an inept running game and marginal talent at wide receiver. As a result, his completion percentage (58.1) and yards per attempt (5.46) were far below expectations.
But all of the physical tools and mental approach are there for Carr to become a viable long-term starter.
"Raiders QB coach Todd Downing impressed with Derek Carr's arm strength, sneaky athleticism and pocket presence," Fox Sports' Ross Jones tweeted.
Jones added, "Downing says of Carr he has veteran approach, but 'clay-like disposition and just wants to be molded into a good QB.'"
With the additions of first-round pick Amari Cooper, third-round selection Clive Walford, center Rodney Hudson and veteran wide receiver Michael Crabtree, Carr now has more talent around him to potentially blossom into a franchise quarterback.
10. Anthony Barr, LB Minnesota Vikings
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When the Minnesota Vikings hired Mike Zimmer as the latest head coach last offseason, the organization knew it would receive two things: brutal honesty and an improved defense.
Zimmer always speaks his mind, but his defense needed some help. General manager Rick Spielman selected Anthony Barr with the ninth overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft.
Barr only played linebacker for two seasons at UCLA after switching from running back. As such, his transition period to the professional ranks was expected to be longer than that of other prospects.
Nothing could have been further from the truth.
The UCLA product was a starter from Day 1 and showed tremendous athleticism, versatility and pass-rushing ability.
However, the strong-side linebacker missed the final three games of the season due to a knee injury that required surgery during the offseason. Barr finally returned to the practice field for the first time last week.
"I think it's important for him and for us," Zimmer told TwinCities.com's Chris Tomasson. "He's got to get back; he hasn't really done football in a long time. It's good for him to get back out here and start moving around and get with the calls. I don't anticipate any problems."
A fully healthy Barr provides the ability to get after the quarterback and drop into space. He boasts length off the edge and a nose for the football. These qualities along with his still untapped potential make the Vikings linebacker a key building block in Zimmer's defense.
9. C.J. Mosley, LB Baltimore Ravens
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Once Ray Lewis finally retired after the 2012 season, a massive void was left in the middle of the Baltimore Ravens defense. Daryl Smith, Jameel McClain and Arthur Brown valiantly tried to replace the legend to no avail.
While Lewis can never truly be replaced, the Ravens found a new defensive leader and playmaker during the first round of the 2014 NFL draft in C.J. Mosley.
In fact, he is only the fifth player other than Lewis to lead the Ravens in total tackles during the franchise's 19-year history. Unlike Ed Hartwell, Tommy Polley, Bernard Pollard and Smith, Mosley probably won't be a one-hit wonder on the Ravens' leading tackler plaque.
The Alabama product led all rookies last season with 133 total tackles. He also tied for fifth among linebackers with eight pass deflections.
Mosley is an instinctive and athletic linebacker who moves well in space and graded particularly well against the run during his first season. Pro Football Focus rated the Baltimore defender as the third-best inside linebacker against the run last year.
The only concern regarding Mosley as he enters his second season is a wrist injury that required offseason surgery.
"Yeah, I'll definitely be ready for camp," Mosley told the Baltimore Sun's Aaron Wilson. "I'm doing pretty good. I'm getting there."
Only an injury could hold back Mosley as the best inside linebacker from the 2014 class.
8. Mike Evans, WR Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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At one point last season, Mike Evans' production was near the pace Randy Moss set during his historic rookie campaign in 1998.
Any time a wide receiver invokes a comparison to Moss, he's already shown extraordinary natural ability. In Evans' particular case, the former seventh overall pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers can stretch any defense vertically.
His combination of size (6'5" and 231 lbs), 4.53-second 40-yard dash speed and physical style of play makes him nearly impossible to cover on a consistent basis, particularly when the Buccaneers decide to push the ball downfield.
"Mike Evans, the second highest graded rookie WR, gained 55 percent of his 1,051 yards on deep passes (20-plus yards)," Pro Football Focus tweeted.
Evans also finished tied for fourth among all wide receivers with 12 touchdown receptions.
The rookie produced at high level despite inconsistency at the quarterback position and uncertainty among the Buccaneers offensive coaching staff. With new offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter and No. 1 overall pick Jameis Winston now behind center, the wide receivers' play should continue to grow.
In order to take his game to another level, Evans is now learning from Moss.
“It was just me and him,” Evans told Buccaneers.com's Joe Kania. “I was up for there in North Carolina for about a week at the end of March. There’s a lot of knowledge there, man."
The young receiver added, "I think he’s the best to ever do it. Working with him, I think it will take my game to the next level."
Evans may never live up to Moss' standard, but he doesn't have to. He's already one of the NFL's best young targets.
7. Jeremy Hill, RB Cincinnati Bengals
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A year ago, Cincinnati Bengals running back Giovanni Bernard was one of the chic picks expected to have a breakout season.
Those who predicted a big season for him were half right. A running back from the Bengals would go on to become one of the NFL's leading rushers.
By the end of the last season, Jeremy Hill finally became the Bengals' full-time starter, but he was only on the field at the opening snap for eight games. He still finished eighth in the NFL with 1,124 rushing yards, and his average of 5.1 yards per carry was tried for second best among running backs with more than 200 carries.
Hill wasn't simply an injury fill-in for Bernard. The rookie provided the Bengals with an identity. His size (6'1" and 238 lbs) coupled with a downhill running style behind Cincinnati's physical offensive line made Hill into a battering ram.
Over the final three games of the regular season, he hit his stride and averaged 131.6 yards per game as the Bengals fought for a playoff spot.
The former second-round pick will continue to share the backfield with Bernard this fall, but he'll move into a starting role and can expect a heavier workload.
"Interesting to sit near RB drills. Jeremy Hill def isn't a rookie anymore. Was giving advice/direction and sounding like a vet," ESPN.com's Coley Harvey tweeted.
The Bengals offense is now being built around Hill. He's taking the opportunity and running with it.
6. Odell Beckham Jr., WR New York Giants
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One catch does not the top sophomore make. Granted, Odell Beckham Jr.'s one-handed grab against the Dallas Cowboys put him on the map, but it wasn't enough to place him among the top five sophomores for the 2015 season.
Beckham's rookie campaign, however, was tremendous, and his highlight-reel catches only accentuated his already stellar play. After all, the New York Giants wide receiver was named the Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year.
The LSU product finished last season tied for ninth with 91 receptions and 10th with 1,305 receiving yards. He also added 12 touchdowns for good measure.
What made Beckham's production so significant is he only played in 12 games. His 108.8 receiving yards per game was the league's best average.
Injuries could hold the Giants receiver back, though.
Beckham missed the first four games of last season with a hamstring issue. He's dealing with a similar issue this offseason too.
"Well, we approach it the same way (as last year)," Giants head coach Tom Coughlin told NJ.com's Jordan Raanan. "We don't have our head in the sand. We know the guy has an issue. So the training room is well-aware of that."
A fully healthy Beckham became one of the NFL's best wide receivers in a short amount of time. His availability this season will eventually determine his ultimate ranking in this list. With multiple healthy options who also provided dominant performances a year ago, New York's No. 1 target might be ranked slightly lower than his overall play dictates.
5. Joel Bitonio, OG Cleveland Browns
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Offensive linemen never receive enough attention, and guards garner even less than offensive tackles or centers. Last season wasn't a typical year, though.
As some of the rookies at the skill positions struggled to make an immediate impact, a pair of guards entered the conversation for rookie of the year.
One of those talented blockers was Cleveland Browns left guard Joel Bitonio. The conversation died down once the heralded wide receiver class began to establish itself; however, for a moment, a dominant young player like Bitonio was in the spotlight.
The athletic offensive tackle prospect, who was drafted in the second round from the University of Nevada, Reno, immediately transitioned to guard alongside future Hall of Fame left tackle Joe Thomas. Bitonio proved to be an ideal fit for the Browns' zone-running scheme and quickly became one of the NFL's best.
Pro Football Focus graded the rookie as the fifth-best guard in the NFL last year.
"I think he's going to be a great one," Hall of Fame guard Joe DeLamielleure, a member of the Browns from 1980 to 1984, told Cleveland.com's Tom Reed. "He plays hard, he's got good feet and technique and he's playing next to Joe Thomas, who makes everyone around him better."
Most rookies expect to improve during their second season, but Bitonio should expect a dramatic leap during his sophomore campaign for one reason: a healthy Alex Mack.
Mack, who is one of the game's best centers, broke his leg in Week 6 of the season. His absence created a negative ripple effect throughout the Browns offense.
With the starting center back, Cleveland can rebuild continuity, which allows linemen to operate more efficiently.
4. Zack Martin, OG Dallas Cowboys
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If Cleveland Browns guard Joel Bitonio was good last season, then the Dallas Cowboys' Zack Martin was slightly better.
Martin was recognized as a first-team All-Pro guard and earned a berth to the Pro Bowl as a rookie. The former was a rare accomplishment. The Notre Dame product became the first rookie offensive lineman to be named an All-Pro since Dick Huffman in 1947.
Accolades don't always tell the entire story, though, and it's basically splitting hairs between these two talented linemen. But Martin edged out Bitonio in three important categories.
The Cowboys blocker committed fewer penalties, didn't give up a sack and surrendered fewer quarterback pressures, according to Pro Football Focus.
Martin's addition to Dallas' offensive front after being the 16th overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft became the final piece of the puzzle. After playing left tackle at Notre Dame, he moved to right guard. His play helped elevate the team's offensive line to elite status.
The next step for the Cowboys' blockers is to lead the way for a potential Super Bowl run.
"I remember when he was first drafted by the Cowboys," Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly recalled in an interview with Fox Sports' Mark Lane. "I was on a radio show and I think a lot of the folks were disappointed that they didn't take Johnny Manziel at the time. And I told some of the people that I was on the show with: he's going to help you win a Super Bowl."
With Martin, Tyron Smith and Travis Frederick up front, Dallas owns arguably the NFL's best offensive line.
3. Aaron Donald, DT St. Louis Rams
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Aaron Donald broke the mold when it comes to playing defensive tackle.
The former Pitt Panther doesn't stand 6'2" or weigh 300 pounds. He's 6'1" and 285 pounds of pure backfield destruction.
Donald smashed his way through opponents' offensive lines, which simply couldn't handle his combination of first-step quickness and raw brute strength.
The reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year finished his initial campaign with nine sacks and a team-leading 11 tackles for loss. But it's his ability to be a consistently disruptive presence that makes him so special.
His play after one season is already invoking the highest of praise.
"Aaron Donald will be one of the all time great 3-techs that this game has ever seen when it is all said and done," former NFL scout/director of player personnel and current ESPN analyst Louis Riddick tweeted.
Such praise seems warranted after Donald received the highest overall grade of any interior defender last season from Pro Football Focus.
Riddick's proclamation relies on the second-year defensive tackle improving upon last year's effort. He's primed to do so.
"I'm just a lot more comfortable this year," Donald told the media earlier this month, per StLouisRams.com. "I expect to do big things this year."
With St. Louis adding Nick Fairley in free agency and getting back a healthy Chris Long, opposing offenses will have to pick their poison in regard to which defensive lineman they plan to double-team on a play-by-play basis. If it's not Donald, he'll make them pay.
2. Khalil Mack, LB Oakland Raiders
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Even as a rookie, Oakland Raiders linebacker Khalil Mack was one of the NFL's most dominant defenders.
No outside linebacker—not Terrell Suggs, Justin Houston or even Von Miller—was better at stopping the run last year, according to Pro Football Focus.
In fact, Mack's impressive grade against the run was better than any other defender in the NFL by a wide margin. The Houston Texans' J.J. Watt might be the league's best all-around player, but Mack still graded higher against ground attacks.
One word was all it took for teammate Curtis Lofton, who was signed during free agency, to describe Mack.
"Monster," Lofton told ESPN.com's Bill Williamson.
The veteran inside linebacker added, "He comes every day to work. He studies and goes out there and executes it on the football field. Some guys, if they have a good year that first year as rookies, they are Mr. Joe Cool and that’s not him. He comes to work every single day."
Mack's hard work in the weight room has paid off as he prepares for his second season. According to the Contra Costa Times' Daniel Brown, the linebacker now weighs close to 270 pounds after being listed at 252 pounds last year.
The scary part is Mack hasn't come close to reaching his full potential. New defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. told Williamson that he wants his outside linebacker to develop into a better pass-rusher:
"Everybody is saying how good he is and he got four sacks, I thought to myself, ‘How many great players have four sacks.' You have to get in double digits. So he has a lot of growth to make. If they're thinking he's this good and he's done so little, imagine when he actually does what he's supposed to do. He has the work ethic. He has a ridiculous, ridiculous work ethic. In my experience again, that turns into really good football players.
"
A double-digit-sack season to accompany Mack's ability to stop the run will place the Buffalo product among the NFL's elite players at any position.
1. Teddy Bridgewater, QB Minnesota Vikings
25 of 25
The NFL draft process was exposed by Teddy Bridgewater after the Minnesota Vikings selected him 32nd overall in 2014.
The Louisville product entered his junior season as the top quarterback prospect for the following year's draft. Bridgewater lived up to expectations during his final season with the Cardinals and his status as a top prospect.
But then the murmurs began:
- His slight frame won't hold up at the NFL level.
- He can't push the ball down the field accurately.
- His pro day was horrible.
- He can't grip the ball or accurately throw the ball without gloves.
It was all a bunch of nonsense that teams bought into instead of relying on what really mattered: the film.
After months of being poked, prodded and having his game torn apart after playing at a high level in college, Bridgewater tumbled in the draft.
None of it mattered once the Miami native got back on the field and just played.
By the end of last season, no quarterback in the league was playing better, according to Pro Football Focus.
"In the final five weeks of 2014, Vikings rookie Teddy Bridgewater had the highest overall grade of any QB in the NFL," the website tweeted.
Over that period, the Vikings played four of the NFL's top 12 defenses. The rookie quarterback took it all in stride and was never rattled.
Bridgewater's 75.2 accuracy percentage when facing pressure as compiled by Pro Football Focus was the league's best.
Team after team passed on Bridgewater. Many of them should be regretting the decision.
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