NFL 2010 Season Preview: Top 15 Rookies Destined To Fail

The 2010 NFL rookie draft class is a group of many talented players, but there will also be more failures than success stories too.

You may or may not have seen that "top 15 rookies destined for greatness" that was recently posted, but that was an easy list compared to this one.

Picking success stories is easy but very opinionated.

That is nothing compared to the opinion and backlash that I will receive for this articles that focuses on the top 15 rookies who will fail from this year's rookie class.

Let the bashing begin.

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15. Ben Tate, RB, Houston Texans

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GLENDALE, AZ - AUGUST 14: Runningback Ben Tate #43 of the Houston Texans rushes the ball against the Arizona Cardinals during preseason NFL game at the University of Phoenix Stadium on August 14, 2010 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the Texa

Tate is down for the season and that hurts both his stock and the Texans' stock to reach that level of getting into the playoffs for the first time in franchise history this season.

Also, starting a rookie season by going down for the count with an injury is never a a good way to start a professional football career especially at the running back position.

14. Rolando McClain, ILB, Oakland Raiders

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

NAPA, CA - AUGUST 01: Rolando McClain #55 of the Oakland Raiders works out during the Raiders training camp at their Napa Valley Training Complex on August 1, 2010 in Napa, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

There is just something off when I see and think about McClain, but being a Cleveland Browns fan, I also feel for the Raiders fans since both teams have been on hard times as of late.

McClain could prove me wrong, but that is why I have him so far down this list because I am a bit on the fence with him.

13. Aaron Hernandez, TE, New England Patriots

Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images

ATLANTA - AUGUST 19: Tight end Aaron Hernandez #85 of the New England Patriots jogs off of the field during halftime during the preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome on August 19, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Zarrill

Hernandez landed with a great team to learn and adapt to the pro game, but I just do not see it.

Especially when Rob Gronkowski "gets it" quicker, and takes a firm grasp of the starting tight end spot.

12. Ed Dickson, TE, Baltimore Ravens

Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: Tight end Ed Dickson #83 of the Oregon Ducks attempts to make a catch against Anderson Russell #21 of the Ohio State Buckeyes in the second half at the 96th Rose Bowl game on January 1, 2010 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by

Dickson is very raw with great potential, but the Ravens may not even use him as much as another rookie tight end they picked later in the draft.

Dennis Pitta had a huge positive impact on the Ravens' offense in their second preseason game he takes a firm step ahead of where the Ravens would like Dickson to be.

Getting beat by a later round pick is not another way to start an NFL career.

11. Javier Arenas, CB Kansas City Chiefs

J. Meric/Getty Images

TAMPA, FL - AUGUST 21: Defensive back Javier Arenas #30 of the Kansas City Chiefs takes the opening kickoff against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during a preseason game at Raymond James Stadium on August 21, 2010 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by J. Meric/Getty

Arenas got picked by a team that already has to good and developing cornerbacks with the Brandons.

Brandon Carr and Brandon Flowers are both entering their third seasons, and have both improved in each of their first two years.

Arenas will really have to bring his A-game as a rookie in order to even have a chance to break through the depth chart, and even have a shot at starting anytime soon.

10. Armanti Edwards, WR, Carolina Panthers

Mary Ann Chastain/Getty Images

CHARLOTTE,NC- AUGUST 21: Armanti Edwards #10 of the Carolina Panthers fumbles the ball as David Clowney #87 and Marquice Cole #34 of the New York Jets recover the ball during a preseason game at Bank of America Stadium on August 21, 2010 in Charlotte, No

Edwards is a transition player who is trying to go from being a college quarterback to an NFL wide receiver.

As if a regular college receiver doesn't have a hard enough of a time transitioning after playing the position, Edwards has an even bigger mountain in front of him learning a brand new position altogether.

A slim few have been successful at this type of change and the first one that comes to mind is Josh Cribbs.

Good luck Edwards because you will definitely need it.

9. Sergio Kindle, LB, Baltimore Ravens

Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images

COLLEGE STATION, TX - NOVEMBER 26: Right tackle Lee Grimes #74 of the Texas A&M Aggies confronts defensive end Sergio Kindle #2 of the Texas Longhorns in the first half at Kyle Field on November 26, 2009 in College Station, Texas. The Longhorns defeated

Kindle may have had a mishap with a sleeping disorder and some stairs, but that does not absolve him from this list.

He did drop from the first round where he was projected by many draft experts up until a day or two before the draft, which shows that many teams were worried about him too.

8. Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, NY Giants

Scott Boehm/Getty Images

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 1: Defensive lineman Jason Pierre-Paul of South Florida runs in drills during the NFL Scouting Combine presented by Under Armour at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 1, 2010 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Scott Boehm/Getty Images)

Pierre-Paul is widely known as a raw talent who needs great coaching to unlock his full potential.

He landed with a team that somehow is able to consistently produce high-impact pass rusher too.

I do not see his potential getting unlocked though due to the fact that he is indeed on a team that is able to produce so many defensive ends, and he could get buried in the chart if another end can stand out more than Pierre-Paul.

7. Sam Bradford, QB, St. Louis Rams

Matt Sullivan/Getty Images

CLEVELAND - AUGUST 21: Sam Bradford #8 of the St. Louis Rams warms up before a preseason game against the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium on August 21, 2010 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images)

If Bradford would have landed on a team that had a quality veteran to start for a year while Bradford learned from the bench, then he would not be on this list at all.

But he did not, and he will be thrown to the wolves with a patchwork offensive line that is merely decent and minimal offensive weapons besides running back Steven Jackson.

This all leads to trouble and as I have said in the past, the Rams should have traded for Jason Campbell instead and then they could have landed Ndamukong Suh who would have helped their defense immensely.

6. Tyson Alualu, DL, Jacksonville Jaguars

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

BERKELEY, CA - SEPTEMBER 05: Tyson Alualu #44 of the California Golden Bears warms up before their game against the Maryland Terrapins at California Memorial Stadium on September 5, 2009 in Berkeley, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

This has nothing to do with Alualu's talent, but from how high he was picked in the top half of the first round.

He will never be able to match the talent level of a first round pick that high, and he will disappoint from that aspect alone.

Maybe in the future he gets traded to another team and breaks out, but I cannot predict these things and even if that happened, he would have still failed the Jaguars front office who drafted him.

5. DeMaryius Thomas, WR, Denver Broncos

Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images

NEW YORK - APRIL 22: Demaryius Thomas from the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets holds up a Denver Broncos jersey after he was drafted by the Broncos number 22 overall during the the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall on April 22, 2010

Another rookie, another injury right when he gets into the NFL.

He also is supposed to fill the shoes left by Brandon Marshall, and that is an uphill battle that he may not win.

4. Jonathan Dwyer, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers

Scott Boehm/Getty Images

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 28: Running back Jonathan Dwyer of Georgia Tech runs during the NFL Scouting Combine presented by Under Armour at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 28, 2010 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Scott Boehm/Getty Images)

Dwyer was once a first round projection in some of the earliest mock drafts.

He dropped all the way to the sixth round, when the Steelers grabbed him in hopes of grabbing a steal of a player to add to their running back depth chart.

Dwyer has been outplayed by the unknown Isaac Redman at running back, and that does not bode well to ever get outplayed by an undrafted player.

3. Mike Williams, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

J. Meric/Getty Images

TAMPA, FL - AUGUST 21: Receiver Mike Williams #19 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers runs after a reception against the Kansas City Chiefs during a preseason game at Raymond James Stadium on August 21, 2010 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images)

Williams has character flaws that have been talked about in the media causing him to fall in the draft to the fourth round.

Talent aside, it has been proven in the past that sometimes talent does not outweigh the issues.

Look at Plaxico Burress, Maurice Clarette, and Adam "Pacman" Jones.

2. Terrence Cody, DT, Baltimore Ravens

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

AUBURN, AL - NOVEMBER 27: Terrence Cody #62 of the Alabama Crimson Tide against the Auburn Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium on November 27, 2009 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

It is just a coincidence that there are so many Ravens this list, but I truly feel that they made some really bad decisions, which is not like General Manager Ozzie Newsome at all.

The 2010 NFL Draft is the exception and it shows, that even Newsome is not perfect when picked players.

Cody has weight issues and that is a huge concern especially for a rookie coming into the league.

He has a lot to prove and a lot to lose if he cannot control his weight.

1. Jimmy Clausen, QB, Carolina Panthers

Mary Ann Chastain/Getty Images

CHARLOTTE, NC - AUGUST 21: Quarterback Jimmy Clausen #2 of the Carolina Panthers throws during a preseason game against the New York Jets at Bank of America Stadium on August 21, 2010 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Mary Ann Chastain/Getty Image

This is a big gut felling on Clausen and I have had this gut feeling for quite some time now, and it got more intense when I saw the ESPN QB video with Jon Gruden.

Clausen did not impress me with his demeanor or his responses to Gruden's questions and observations.

He has a great chance to steal the starting spot away from Matt Moore this preseason, but if he cannot, then I do not see him being more than a backup quarterback in the NFL.

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