Cam Newton and the 10 Most Anticipated Rookies of the Last 5 Drafts

Prior to any given draft, the prospects are basically open for any team. As fans, when we watch the combine or other workouts, we have no idea if the player we're watching is a future member of our team, or perhaps a future player for one of our rivals. 

Since we don't know who they will play for, there haven't been any biases established. We don't hate the player yet, but we don't adore him either. 

So as a result, it doesn't matter which teams some players end up playing for. We are all equally curious how their NFL careers will unfold. 

Some players never had a shot at being drafted by our team, but they are such athletic freaks that we can't help it—we have to check on them and see what they're doing with their careers. 

So here are 10 players who fit that bill, in no particular ranking or order. They're players we may or may not like, but we have to watch them play nonetheless. 

Cam Newton, Quarterback (Auburn, Carolina Panthers)

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GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 10: Darron Thomas #1 of the Oregon Ducks shakes hands with Cameron Newton #2 of the Auburn Tigers after the Tigers defeated the Ducks 22 to 19 in the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game at University of Phoenix Stadium on Janua

Cam Newton is a little different, as his anticipation comes from several factors. 

It's not a simple "Will he boom or bust?" with Newton, like it is with most drafted players. But on top of that, people are also wondering how his style of play will translate into the pro level.

So, not only are people going to watch Newton to see if he's doing good or bad, but they also want to watch him to see what he's trying to do on the field.

He also just won a National Championship with Auburn, so that certainly raises his popularity.

There is no doubt that people will follow Newton, but the best thing he can do is ignore it all.

He has already obtained a superstar status. The last two No.1 overall pick quarterbacks, Sam Bradford and Matthew Stafford, did not have Newton's popularity so early in their careers.

Newton's celebrity status could certainly be going to his head. NFL fans have short memories, so how will he respond after a stretch of bad games? Can he handle criticism? Can he keep his head on straight when all this love and stardom he's been swimming in disappears?

A big ego is usually a recipe for disaster when it comes to quarterbacks so, for Newton's sake, he better be completely dedicated and he better not take the advice he gets from veterans lightly.

Carolina drafted him and the country is watching him, so now it's his move.  

Ndamukong Suh, Defensive Tackle (Nebraska, Detroit Lions)

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TAMPA, FL - DECEMBER 19: Defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh #90 of the Detroit Lions warms up prior to the start of the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on December 19, 2010 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images)

It's pretty rare when the career of a defensive tackle is highly anticipated, but people can't look away when it comes to Ndamukong Suh. 

Suh had a phenomenal senior season for Nebraska that brought him 12 total sacks, but the real eye-opener was his performance against the Texas Longhorns during the Big 12 Championship. 

During that game he sacked Texas quarterback Colt McCoy four times, and he was constantly in the backfield. He single-handedly disrupted the entire Texas offense, and he nearly won the game for Nebraska on his own. 

He is a rare talent, and he did not disappoint during his rookie season for Detroit in 2010. He had 10 sacks, he was elected to attend the Pro Bowl, and he was also voted as an All-Pro.

Sam Bradford, Quarterback (Oklahoma Sooners, St. Louis Rams)

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GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 05: Quarterback Sam Bradford #8 of the St. Louis Rams scrambles with the football during the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on December 5, 2010 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christia

Sam Bradford had an incredible career for the Oklahoma Sooners. 

He set the NCAA record for passing touchdowns by a freshman with 36 in 2007. He continued his success as a sophomore by throwing for 50 touchdown passes, which led to him winning a Heisman Trophy. His team also made an appearance in the National Championship game that season, but they lost to Tim Tebow and the Florida Gators.

Many quarterbacks who played in high-powered spread offenses in college were not impressive NFL prospects.

Graham Harrell (Texas Tech), Chase Daniel (Missouri), Colt McCoy (Texas) and Tim Tebow certainly did not make NFL scouts salivate, but they could certainly end up proving the scouts wrong. 

Bradford, on the other hand, played in an offense that was based on the spread and had a potent passing attack, but he was actually a promising NFL prospect, unlike the others. 

So, naturally, people wanted to see if the offense made Bradford or if his physical gifts made the offense. 

Bradford had a great rookie season for the Rams. He had 3,512 yards and 18 touchdowns, and he was named the Offensive Rookie of the Year by the Associated Press. 

Ryan Mathews, Running Back (Fresno State, San Diego Chargers)

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DENVER - JANUARY 02: Running back Ryan Mathews #24 of the San Diego Chargers rushes against the Denver Broncos at INVESCO Field at Mile High on January 2, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. Mathews rushed for three touchdowns and 120 yards as the Chargers defeate

Ryan Mathews had an unbelievable 2009 season for the Fresno State Bulldogs, where he rushed for 1,808 yards and 19 touchdowns.

He was drafted 12th overall by the San Diego Chargers, and was expected to immediately carry the load at running back.

For whatever odd reason, even as a rookie, fantasy football team owners were using high draft picks on Mathews. This led to a highly anticipated rookie season because everyone wanted to see if the hype was legitimate.

He was a disappointment for fantasy owners, since he only started nine games and missed four games completely due to injury, but he actually had a promising rookie season.

He had a 4.3 yards per carry average, and rushed for seven touchdowns and 678 yards.

If Mathews can avoid injuries in 2011, he is expected to have a breakout season.   

A.J. Green, Wide Receiver (Georgia Bulldogs, Cincinnati Bengals)

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NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 28: A.J. Green, #4 overall pick by the Cincinnati Bengals, holds up a jersey after he was drafted during the 2011 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall on April 28, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images)

It's hard to not get excited over a receiver who is widely regarded as the next Calvin Johnson or Larry Fitzgerald. 

A.J. Green was the prized possession of the Georgia Bulldogs during his college career. He had 848 yards and nine touchdowns last season, despite missing four games due to a NCAA suspension. 

His college career resulted in 2,619 yards and 23 touchdowns in three seasons. 

Green will have the chance to do some great things for the Bengals, who drafted him with the No.5 overall pick in 2011. 

He might even be good enough to interest quarterback Carson Palmer in returning to the team, since Palmer threatened to retire if the team does not trade him, but that's not likely. 

Green must be careful, because the Bengals are running a circus show. If luck does not go his way, he will be consumed by the madness. 

Regardless, people are anxious for his career to begin. 

Darren McFadden, Running Back (Arkansas Razorbacks, Oakland Raiders)

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OAKLAND, CA - DECEMBER 19: Darren McFadden #20 of the Oakland Raiders runs with the ball during their game against the Denver Broncos at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on December 19, 2010 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

During his college career with Arkansas, Darren McFadden was arguably the most electric player in all of college football. 

He rushed for over 1,000 yards during all three of his college seasons, and he scored 41 career touchdowns. 

In the months leading up to the 2008 NFL Draft, he was considered to be the most explosive offensive talent entering the draft that year, which was made evident after the Oakland Raiders invested the No.4 overall pick to obtain him. 

McFadden has been living under the shadow of Chris Johnson, who was selected with the No.24 overall pick that same year by the Tennessee Titans. 

Johnson experienced much more success much sooner than McFadden. 

McFadden's first two seasons in the NFL were highly disappointing, with only a combined 856 yards between the two seasons. 

However, he has finally legitimized himself as a professional player. He broke free in 2011 with 1,157 yards and seven touchdowns, and he is finally beginning to live up to his draft status. 

JaMarcus Russell, Quarterback (LSU, Oakland Raiders)

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OAKLAND, CA - JANUARY 03: JaMarcus Russell #2 of the Oakland Raiders walks off the field against the Baltimore Ravens during an NFL game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on January 3, 2010 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

Rightfully so, there were many people who were skeptical towards JaMarcus Russell and whether he would be worthy of the No.1 overall pick of the 2007 NFL Draft. 

As a junior at LSU, he led to the Tigers to a 10-2 record as well as an appearance in the BCS Sugar Bowl. That season he threw for 3,129 yards and 28 touchdowns, and he was frequently able to beat teams with his legs as well. 

Some questioned if his talents would translate into the NFL, but everyone was at least curious as to how his career would pan out.

Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis is not known for sharp draft day decisions, and he's usually swept away by sideshows that are unrelated to football, such as 40-yard dash times and the fact that Russell could throw a football over 60 yards on his knees.

Because Davis is easily amused, he drafted Russell with the No.1 overall pick of the 2007 draft, and it was a catastrophic disaster.

Russell held out during his first season due to a contract dispute, and he didn't even join the team until September 12th.

Russell was named the starter at the beginning of the 2008 season. He had showed some flashes, but he had a 77.1 quarterback rating, and he was not very productive with only 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

He was again named the starter for the 2009 season, but he was benched half way through.

He was cut prior to the 2010 season, and he has not been signed by another team as of yet. Although, he did work out for the Washington Redskins and the Miami Dolphins, but neither team signed him. 

Mark Sanchez, Quarterback (USC, New York Jets)

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PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 23: Quarterback Mark Sanchez #6 of the New York Jets looks to pass against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the 2011 AFC Championship game at Heinz Field on January 23, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Steelers won 24-19. (Ph

Mark Sanchez only played one year as a college starter before declaring for the 2009 NFL Draft, so some questioned whether he would be immediately ready for the NFL.

However, his one college season as a starter was nothing short of impressive.

He led the USC Trojans to a 12-1 overall record, and he was named the Offensive MVP for the Rose Bowl game.

That season he passed for 3,207 yards and 34 touchdowns.

During the 2009 draft, the New York Jets traded up to No.5 overall in order to draft Sanchez.

Given the general popularity of both the Jets and the Trojans, fans all around had no choice but to have Sanchez's name shoved in their faces, which led to a lot of curiosity regarding how his career would play out. 

Though his passing stats at the professional level have not been overwhelming, with quarterback ratings of 63.0 (2009) and 75.3 (2010), he has been a success overall.

In both 2009 and 2010 he has not been a game changer, but he's been able to manage the offense and he's made appearances in the AFC Championship game both seasons—although the team has lost both times.

If he develops his skill and becomes an effective passer, he certainly has the playoff experience necessary to eventually win a Super Bowl.   

Michael Crabtree, Wide Receiver (Texas Tech, San Francisco 49ers)

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GLENDALE, AZ - NOVEMBER 29: Wide receiver Michael Crabtree #15 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after scoring a 38 yard touchdown reception against the Arizona Cardinals during the first quarter of the NFL game at the University of Phoenix Stadium on No

Michael Crabtree was an insanely dangerous weapon in college for Texas Tech. 

As a receiver he was able to get open and catch the ball, but after he had the ball he was able to run with it more like a running back than a receiver. 

He had 3,127 yards and 41 touchdowns during his career with the Red Raiders, but he really gained national attention when his team played the No.1 ranked Texas Longhorns on national television. 

Texas had a 39-33 lead in the fourth quarter, but the Red Raiders began to march the ball downfield in the final seconds of the game. The game ended when Crabtree caught a pass near the sidelines inside the 10-yard line, and he was able to muscle his way into the end zone with only one second left on the clock, which resulted in his team upsetting the Longhorns. 

The look on Colt McCoy's face following the touchdown was priceless.

Crabtree was considered the top receiving prospect of the 2009 draft, and the San Francisco 49ers made him the No.10 overall pick.

Crabtree received even more national attention during his well publicized contract holdout that lasted until October 7th. It was the longest contract holdout ever by a rookie.

When he eventually returned, he put up decent numbers for a rookie. In 11 games he had 625 yards and two touchdowns.

Last season he still failed to fulfill the hype. He had 741 yards and six touchdowns, and he was pretty inconsistent overall.

It's hard to really gauge how good Crabtree is, especially since he doesn't have a quality quarterback throwing to him. But if his quarterback situation gets worked out, he could develop into a solid playmaker—although he certainly has not done that yet.  

Jake Locker, Quarterback (Washington, Tennessee Titans)

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SEATTLE - OCTOBER 30: Quarterback Jake Locker #10 of the Washington Huskies scrambles against the Stanford Cardinal on October 30, 2010 at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Washington. Stanford won 41-0. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

Many thought that if Jake Locker entered the 2010 draft that he could possibly become the No.1 overall pick. 

His weaknesses would've eventually been exposed, and there's no way St. Louis would've drafted Locker over Sam Bradford (or even Ndamukong Suh), so that was never really a possibility. 

Regardless, Locker was regarded as a highly touted college athlete after his 2009 college season, which brought him 2,800 yards and 21 touchdown passes. 

That season Locker became famous for leading the Washington Huskies to a victory over the USC Trojans, who were ranked No.3 at the time. 

USC is a popular team, but they are also a very hated team by people who are not fans, so Locker gained recognition as a hero of sorts. 

Regardless of Locker's height in popularity, he elected to return to college for the 2010 season. 

Some people felt that he lost a lot of money by waiting a year, but the result would've been the same really, as his stock would've eventually slipped prior to the 2010 draft. 

After an unimpressive 2010 season for Washington, which led to Locker passing for only 2,265 yards and 17 touchdowns, it was thought that his draft stock would take a nose dive compared to what it was after the 2009 season. 

Locker was though to be a second- or third-round prospect for the majority of the pre-draft season, but he began to build momentum as the 2011 draft neared, and the Tennessee Titans shocked everyone by drafting Locker with the No.8 overall pick. 

Locker's roller coaster career has kept everyone interested. People will almost feel obligated to check in on him and see how his career is unfolding.