Top 15 NFL Rookies to Watch in Training Camp

The start of training camps in the NFL is an undoubtedly cheery time, mostly because football is back, the slates are wiped clean for all 32 teams, and everyone believes they have a chance at putting together a championship season. 

But at least part of the appeal of camp is the chance to get a first real look at each team's rookie class. 

While first-year players are now subjected to rookie camps and organized team activities in the spring and into summer, training camp is still the most important test for every rookie—from the team's first pick to the last undrafted free agent. 

In the following slides, we will look at the top rookies to watch during 2015 training camps. These are the rookies with either sky-high expectations or a unique opportunity during the month of August. 

Honorable Mentions

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DL Leonard Williams, New York Jets: Will the player whom many considered to be the best defensive prospect in the class win a big role along the Jets defensive line in camp?

ILB Denzel Perryman, San Diego Chargers: This thumper will be vying for a starting job at Chargers camp, where his aggressive, hard-hitting style could make a big impression. 

OT D.J. Humphries, Arizona Cardinals: Still only 21, he'll battle veteran Bobby Massie for Arizona's starting right tackle job at camp. 

OL La'el Collins, Dallas Cowboys: The undrafted free agent has first-round talent, but he'll still need to fight his way into the starting five of the most talented offensive line in football. 

WR Tyler Lockett, Seattle Seahawks: This small (5'10", 182 lbs) but electric rookie could well be Seattle's next Golden Tate.  

OLB Kwon Alexander, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Watch Lovie Smith take this athletic marvel and turn him into linebacking gold. 

OT T.J. Clemmings, Minnesota Vikings: He may eventually develop into a top-end offensive tackle, but Minnesota's fourth-rounder could use this camp to win a starting job at guard.

ILB Jake Ryan, Green Bay Packers: Minus A.J. Hawk and Brad Jones, Ryan will have a chance to play a big chunk of snaps if he proves in camp he's ready for the task. 

ILB Paul Dawson, Cincinnati Bengals: Camp will give us a good look at whether Dawson's poor combine measurables mean anything once the pads come on. 

TE Maxx Williams, Baltimore Ravens: The first tight end off the board has a difficult transition to the pro game, but a big camp could make him one of Joe Flacco's favorite targets in 2015.

CB Byron Jones, Dallas Cowboys: Workout warrior or legitimate player? Camp should give us a taste.

CB Marcus Peters, Kansas City Chiefs: Sean Smith's three-game suspension will force Kansas City to fast-track its rookie corner. 

RB Ameer Abdullah, Detroit Lions

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Camp will provide a good opportunity to familiarize yourself with the most electric back drafted outside the first round. Todd Gurley and Melvin Gordon are the obvious young guns in this rookie class, but Abdullah has a real chance in Detroit to be an instant impact player.

He can run and catch, and he'll likely contribute on special teams. And he's willing to learn something from everyone around him. 

"You can take a little bit here from Joique (Bell)," Abdullah said, via Jeff Seidel of the Detroit Free Press. "You can take a little bit here from Theo (Riddick). You can take a lot from Zach Zenner."

QB Jameis Winston, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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All eyes will be on the No. 1 overall pick in camp, where Winston will continue his development ahead of Tampa Bay's opener against Marcus Mariota and the Tennessee Titans on Sept. 13.

There's little question of whether or not Winston will be the starter. He will be. His goals in August should be mastering the playbook, toning down some of his over-aggressive tendencies from Florida State and simply learning how to play the position at the pro level. 

"It's the reads, the timing, the footwork, the eye progression that you have to have to play in the type of offense we're running," said offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter, via Alex Marvez of Fox Sports. 

CB Trae Waynes, Minnesota Vikings

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The talented but unrefined Waynes landed in a good situation in Minnesota, where the presence of defensive back guru Mike Zimmer and several veterans at the position (Terence Newman, Josh Robinson, Captain Munnerlyn) should allow the Michigan State product to grow into the pro game at a pace not afforded to some young defensive backs.

But camp still provides an opportunity for the rookie to force his way onto the field. While Xavier Rhodes has one starting spot locked down, Minnesota has openings on the outside and in the slot. Can Waynes win one of the two in Mankato?

QB Marcus Mariota, Tennessee Titans

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The second overall pick is finally signed, ensuring the Titans will have their franchise quarterback in attendance for his first training camp. That's good news for both parties.

"It's about getting in there with pads on now. It's about knowing that guys might hit you because we do have pads on," said tight end Delanie Walker, via Mike Organ of the Tennessean. "That's the kind of practice he needs, to see the game speed and how much different it is from college."

Mariota is facing an expectedly difficult transition in terms of offensive schemes, but he has the accuracy and movement skills to impress in a camp setting. Neither Mariota nor the Titans could afford for him to miss any time. 

DBs Quinten Rollins and Damarious Randall, Green Bay Packers

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The Packers have a secondary with two fascinating rookie stories to watch at camp. First-round pick Damarious Randall is a former college safety who is attempting to make the potentially tricky transition to perimeter cornerback, while second-round pick Quinten Rollins is a former star point guard at Miami (Ohio) with only one season of college football.

It will be interesting to see how each handles his first pro camp and how the Packers want to use the pair in the Green Bay secondary. 

RB T.J. Yeldon, Jacksonville Jaguars

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Alabama just keeps spitting out pro-ready backs. Yeldon, a second-round pick, looks to be the next instant impact runner from Tuscaloosa. While the Jaguars have veterans Toby Gerhart and Denard Robinson returning, Yeldon has emerged as the guy to beat in the battle to start.

Just don't tell him that.

"I got myself as last [on the depth chart], and I'm still trying to work my way up to the top," said Yeldon, via Kevin Patra of NFL.com. "I'm just out there to compete and work my way up to the top, see what I can do."

With a strong camp, Yeldon could put himself in position to see 300 or more touches as a rookie.

WR Nelson Agholor, Philadelphia Eagles

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Say hello to your dark-horse candidate to win Offensive Rookie of the Year. The shifty, versatile Agholor has all the tools necessary to blow up in Chip Kelly's system.

"He'll come in and produce right away," one NFL executive told Mark Eckel of NJ.com. "He has the right mentality and just a great approach to the game. He's going to help them. And in that offense, he'll put up numbers."

Keep in mind that Jeremy Maclin caught 85 passes for 1,318 yards and 10 scores in Philadelphia last season. Even 75 percent of that production would put Agholor in the ballpark for 1,000 yards. He could really get the hype train moving with a big camp. 

WR Devin Funchess, Carolina Panthers

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A second-round pick at a position desperately needed in Carolina, Funchess will certainly get a chance to play a big role right away in camp. He'll also have something to prove.

At 6'4" and over 230 pounds, Funchess certainly has the size. But can he separate from defensive backs? Will he be a factor after the catch? Training camp will give the rookie a chance to showcase his enticing but still developing skill set. 

DE Vic Beasley, Atlanta Falcons

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Beasley might be the favorite to win Defensive Rookie of the Year. He is both athletic and relentless as a pass-rusher, and the Falcons desperately need players capable of getting after the passer. But can he play all three downs?

"I think I'm an every-down player," Beasley said, via Kevin Patra of NFL.com. "I think that's just motivation for me to go out there and prove that I can be an every-down player."

Camp will be the setting for Beasley to prove it. Head coach Dan Quinn will need to see him hold his own against the run before unleashing his first-round pick as an every-down player. 

RB Todd Gurley, St. Louis Rams

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Gurley—the first running back taken in the 2015 draft—likely won't be available when the Rams begin camp. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Gurley is expected to start camp on the non-football injury list.

While St. Louis can take him off whenever when it wants, the club will likely exercise caution with its new and highly valuable asset. Still, expect Gurley to see some of the practice field before Week 1. He might not need much time to show why he's been compared to the likes of Adrian Peterson and Marshawn Lynch. 

RB Tevin Coleman, Atlanta Falcons

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One of the better position battles featuring a rookie will take place at Falcons camp, where veteran Devonta Freeman will attempt to hold off third-round pick Tevin Coleman. Freeman is an accomplished receiver out of the backfield, but Coleman's ability to hit a home run any time he touches the football might be too enticing for offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan to keep him on the bench.

The rookie can win a big share of touches with a strong camp. 

WR Dorial Green-Beckham, Tennessee Titans

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Few rookies are as boom-or-bust as Green-Beckham, a physically dominant receiver with a raw set of skills. He also hasn't played in an official game since the 2013 season. 

Expect some ups and downs during camp. Green-Beckham is likely going to wow observers one play and leave coaches scratching their heads the next. The upside to his talent is still too much to ignore, and the Titans have a clear need at receiver with Justin Hunter inching his way closer and closer to bust status. 

DE Randy Gregory, Dallas Cowboys

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Gregory wasn't drafted until the end of the second round, but it wouldn't be surprising if he's the most talked-about defensive rookie during training camp. The Cowboys handed him the No. 94 jersey, which has been worn in the past by the likes of Charles Haley and DeMarcus Ware—signaling just how highly the franchise thinks of his ability to get after the passer.

Now, he must prove why. With Greg Hardy set to miss the first month of the season, the Cowboys need to get Gregory up to speed in a hurry during camp. 

RB Duke Johnson, Cleveland Browns

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Johnson is entering a crowded group of underrated running backs in Cleveland. But for an offense devoid of true playmaking talent, an electric and versatile player like Johnson could make an immediate splash. He's a handful for defenses, both carrying the football and catching it out of the backfield. Johnson could look like Gio Bernard 2.0 during Browns camp. 

WR Phillip Dorsett, Indianapolis Colts

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Dorsett is not only a uniquely talented rookie (see: speed), but he's also entering camp in the midst of a competitive positional battle. The Colts' first-round pick can absolutely fly, and he'll need every step in his hunt for playing time. 

Indianapolis already has T.Y. Hilton, Andre Johnson, Donte Moncrief, Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen all fighting for Andrew Luck's targets. But Dorsett has a plan for winning his way onto the field during camp. 

"I want to be able to earn their trust and be a guy that they can look to to make a big play and make a play anytime," Dorsett said, via Kevin Patra of NFL.com. "I just want to earn their trust and that's it right now."