NFL 2011 Preview: The Top 25 Rookies

NFL training camps are officially in full swing, and as we speak, there are hundreds of rookie players around the league who are trying to prove their worth to their new teams.

Because of the record number of underclassmen who opted to leave school early, this year’s rookie class is packed with talented young players who have the chance to come in and make an immediate impact for their respective ball clubs. 

Big names like A.J. Green, Von Miller and Patrick Peterson are already being hailed as the next wave of NFL stars, but there are plenty of other players who will be counted on to be integral pieces to their team’s success.

Last year, we saw rookies like Ndamukong Suh, Sam Bradford and Eric Berry come in and make a difference right away, and now, it should be interesting to see which new players emerge and become breakout stars this season.

Here’s a look at the 25 rookies who will have the biggest impact in 2011.

1. WR Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons

All you have to do is take one look at WR Julio Jones and the term ‘physical freak’ quickly comes to mind.

The 6’3’’, 220-pound Jones is one of the most naturally gifted athletes of this year’s rookie class and his size-speed-strength combination will be put to good use by QB Matt Ryan this season.

The former No. 1 overall prospect of the 2008 recruiting class finally lived up to his immense high school hype in his junior year at Alabama, catching 78 passes for over 1,100 yards and seven TDs.

Jones is already drawing rave reviews at Atlanta’s training camp and he should be the perfect complement to perennial Pro Bowler Roddy White.

2. LB Aldon Smith, San Francisco 49ers

Time and time again, we’ve witnessed super-athletic college defensive ends make the successful transition to 3-4 outside linebackers in the pros and flourish as stand up edge rushers.

Now, that’s not to say that things always work out (See Vernon Gholston), but when they do, you get players like DeMarcus Ware, LaMarr Woodley and Terrell Suggs.

San Francisco’s Aldon Smith, the No. 7 overall pick in this year's draft, could be the next to join that group.

Smith, who tallied 17 sacks in just 23 games at Missouri, might turn out to be the quarterback pressuring pass-rusher that the 49ers have been searching for.

3. QB Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers

Cam Newton, this year’s No. 1 overall pick, was undoubtedly the most scrutinized and debated about prospect in the 2011 draft class.

Newton, who put together one of the greatest single seasons we've ever seen from a collegiate player last year, seems to be one of those athletes who you either love or you hate and it’s clear that he's certainly acquired his fair share of doubters recently.

Although he’s going to take some time to adapt to NFL defenses, the 2010 Heisman winner has all the natural tools to come in and revitalize the Carolina offense this season.

Newton’s personality may rub some analysts and self-appointed experts the wrong way, but if he can win over his teammates, he has a great shot to make his critics look like fools.

4. LB Von Miller, Denver Broncos

Going into this year’s draft, LB Von Miller was the No. 1 rated prospect on most people’s big boards.

It may take some time adapting to his new role as a 4-3 outside linebacker, but when Miller finally figures it all out, he’s going to be scary good for the Broncos.

It’s true, Miller’s strengths would have been better suited for a 3-4 defense, but when you’ve got the type of talent that Miller possesses, you’re going to make an impact regardless of where you line up.

Miller will find his name on the short list for Defensive Rookie of the Year favorites.

5. WR A.J. Green, Cincinnati Bengals

The term playmaker gets thrown around an awful lot these days, yet even though it’s become a bit watered down, every now and then you just see a certain player and you have to say, ‘Yup, that guy is definitely a playmaker.’

A.J. Green is one of those players who you just watch and marvel at how easy it is for him to come up with exciting big plays.

Green is a rare receiver prospect who has the complete arsenal of elite tools.

Even though Green sadly has to go play for the Bengals, the toilet bowl franchise of the NFL, he should still find a way to make fans say, ‘Yup, that guy’s a playmaker.’

6. RB Ryan Williams, Arizona Cardinals

Workhorse.

That’s the first word that comes to mind when I think about Ryan Williams.

Back in 2009, Williams burst onto the scene as a redshirt freshman at Virginia Tech, rushing for over 1,600 yards and 21 TDs.

Injuries may have slowed him down as a sophomore last season, but now that he’s fully healthy, Williams will have a great chance to pound his way through NFL defenses in 2011.

Arizona coach Ken Wisenhunt wants to establish a consistent ground game and now that Williams is in the fold, the Cardinals will no doubt be able to improve on their putrid rushing totals from last year.

7. DE Marcell Dareus, Buffalo Bills

The Buffalo Bills already have one of the top secondaries in the NFL in place but there was no question that the Bills needed to add some talent to their defensive front seven in order to take some pressure off of their defensive backs.

The Bills made the smart decision to take DE Marcell Dareus out of Alabama with the third overall pick in this year's draft.

Dareus is the perfect 3-4 defensive end prospect and he’s the type of lineman who can be an equal force against both the pass and the run.

8. WR Titus Young, Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions have been in need of a true complement to WR Calvin Johnson basically since the day they drafted him back in 2007.

Well, they’ve finally found their man with WR Titus Young.

Young, who has already heard his name mentioned with the likes of DeSean Jackson, has field-stretching speed, and he should become a favorite second option for QB Matt Stafford this season.

The Lions had one of the best drafts this year, and with the continued influx of young talent, they seem poised to make a run at an NFC North crown sooner rather than later.

9. DE J.J. Watt, Houston Texans

Sometimes it just seems like some defensive linemen have been built by the football gods to play 3-4 defensive end and J.J. Watt is one them.

Watt has the prototypical size, strength and build to excel in Wade Phillips’ defense and he should come in and make an early impact as a rookie.

What Watt, a former walk-on at Wisconsin, lacks in speed and natural athleticism, he makes up for with his tenacity and never-give-up motor.

There is nobody on the field who is going to be playing as hard as J.J. Watt this season and his heart and desire should rub off on his new Houston teammates.

10. RB Daniel Thomas, Miami Dolphins

Because there isn’t much depth left in the Dolphins backfield, Daniel Thomas will likely be one of the top rookie rushers by default. But even if Thomas had to compete for carries, he would still likely find a way to be an effective producer.

The 6’0’’, 230-pound Thomas is one of the biggest backs in the rookie class and during his time at Kansas State, he proved to be too much for Big 12 defenses to handle, rushing for 2,800 yards in just two seasons.

Even though opposing defenses knew he was getting the ball, they still couldn’t find a way to stop him.

Expect it to be the same story in the NFL.

11. CB Patrick Peterson, Arizona Cardinals

Patrick Peterson was one of the most hyped prospects of the 2011 class and it was with good reason.

Peterson is a remarkable athlete that has the type of rare talent to change the entire complexion of a defense.

With Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie now in Philadelphia, Peterson will be asked to be the team’s top corner and it’s a role he should thrive in.

Although he may not be the flawless cornerback that some built him up to be, when it comes to matching up with NFL receivers, it’s hard not to like what Peterson brings to the table from a size and speed standpoint.

12. WR Randall Cobb, Green Bay Packers

There aren’t many players in this year’s rookie class that can match the explosiveness that Randall Cobb possesses.

Cobb perfectly fits the profile of the new breed of NFL receiver.

He's a smaller slot receiver with devastating quickness and speed, and he’s the type of player who has to be accounted for on every snap.

With the exception of Greg Jennings, Green Bay’s receiving corps was plagued by inconsistent play last season, so Cobb has a great shot to come in and become an offensive factor right away.

13. DE Muhammad Wilkerson, New York Jets

Mike DeVito was the starting defensive end for the New York Jets last season.

Yes, Mike DeVito.

Obviously, the Jets knew they had to upgrade their defensive end position and they made the smart decision to bring in New Jersey native Muhammad Wilkerson to help solidify their three man line.

Wilkerson, who absolutely dominated against weaker competition when he played at Temple, is a powerful player who possesses great strength and he should come in and instantly make the Jets run defense even better.

14. LB Akeem Ayers, Tennessee Titans

Akeem Ayers saw his draft stock drop a bit due to a poor 40 time, but even though Ayers wasn’t selected in the first round like most had initially expected, he still has a chance to come in and become a solid starter in his first season.

Ayers has the look of a prototypical NFL 4-3 outside linebacker and if he can make good on his potential, he’ll have fans wondering how he could have possibly slipped into the second round.

He may still be a little raw and rough around the edges, but with proper coaching, Ayers has a chance to turn into a valuable defensive stalwart for Tennessee for years to come.

15. DT Marvin Austin, New York Giants

I went into last season fully expecting Marvin Austin to come up with a breakout performance in his senior year but it was not to be.

Austin was one of the Tar Heels who was forced to sit out the entire 2010 season and it obviously had a major effect on his draft stock.

Austin, who was once thought to be a potential top 10 pick, dropped all the way to the 52nd pick where the Giants wisely snatched him up.

If Austin can shake off the rust and play like the potential top ten pick many, like myself, thought he would turn into, he has a chance to be a truly dominant force for the Giants defensive line this year.

16. CB Jimmy Smith, Baltimore Ravens

We hear that same saying every draft.

So-and-so is a Top Ten pick with late round character.

This year, it was Jimmy Smith who was the unlucky prospect who received that dreaded label.

Smith, who has as much physical talent and upside as any other corner in this class, was dragged down because of his perceived lack of consistency and heart.

It’s a good thing that he’s going to a Ravens team that has strong defensive veteran leaders like Ray Lewis and Ed Reed who will keep on top of Smith and make sure he plays up to his potential.

17. DE Jarvis Jenkins, Washington Redskins

Smooth probably isn’t the proper way to describe Washington’s switch to a 3-4 defense last season. The Redskins finished 31st in the league in total defense and 26th against the run.

It was obvious that the team needed reinforcements up front, so Washington wisely selected Jarvis Jenkins out of Clemson in the second round.

Jenkins seemingly got lost in the defensive line shuffle and he failed to receive much pre-draft publicity but he could turn out to be one of this year's best value picks.

The 6’4’’, 310-pound Jenkins played defensive tackle for the Tigers but he should make a seamless transition to 3-4 defensive end.

18. CB Ras-I Dowling, New England Patriots

The Patriots had already found a starting caliber cornerback with their 2010 first round pick Devin McCourty, however, they just couldn’t pass up the opportunity to take such an intriguing specimen like Ras-I Dowling in the second round this year.

Although Dowling battled through injuries late in his career at Virginia, the 6’2’’, 200-pound corner was still able to show that he’s the type of smart, fundamentally sound football player that coach Bill Belichick loves.

It also doesn’t hurt that Dowling can go toe-to-toe with pretty much any receiver you put in front of him.

Dowling has some work to do if he wants to climb the depth chart but he might just be too talented to keep off the field.

19. OT Tyron Smith, Dallas Cowboys

In the weeks leading up to the draft, it was no secret that the Dallas Cowboys coveted OT Tyron Smith, who shot up draft boards after showing scouts his tremendous athleticism and footwork in postseason workouts.

The Cowboys knew they needed to replace aging right tackle Marc Colombo, who had a sub par 2010 season, and they managed to get their hands on this year’s top tackle prospect to fill the void.

If Smith can put on a few pounds of good weight, he should be able to anchor the right side of Dallas’ offensive line for the next decade.   

20. S Rahim Moore, Denver Broncos

This year’s safety class was one of the weakest we’ve seen in years but there was one standout among the rather thin group.

Rahim Moore out of UCLA was the clear-cut leader of the pack and the Broncos made the wise decision to snatch him up to help bolster their aging secondary.

The ball-hawking Moore will have the opportunity to learn from one of the best ever, Brian Dawkins, and he should develop into an instant impact player in Denver's defensive backfield.

21. WR Austin Pettis, St. Louis Rams

The Rams knew they had to find their franchise quarterback Sam Bradford some weapons, so the St. Louis front office drafted two intriguing receivers, Austin Pettis and Greg Salas, to make their budding star slinger happy.

While both should make their presence known this season, it’s Pettis who really has the most upside.

Though he was unfairly labeled with the ‘possession receiver’ tag by some evaluators, Pettis displayed a knack for making crucial big plays during his career at Boise State.

With the addition of free agent pickup Mike Sims-Walker, Pettis won’t be pressured to be the go-to No. 1 option and he should have a chance to develop a solid rapport with Bradford.

22. DT Jurrell Casey, Tennessee Titans

Jurrell Casey is one of many USC players who just never quite lived up their enormous potential.

While there were certainly times when Casey showed flashes of dominance, he would often leave Trojan fans wanting more.

The athletic 6’1’’, 300-pound tackle had his best season as a junior, and although he probably could have used another year in school to fix some flaws, he’s the type of first round talent that could eventually turn into a huge bargain for the Titans, who picked him up in the third round.

If Casey plays with passion and stays consistent, he should turn into the perfect solution for Tennessee’s interior defensive line problems.

23. RB Stevan Ridley, New England Patriots

The Patriots took nearly every one by surprise when they selected two running backs, Shane Vereen out of Cal and Stevan Ridley out of LSU, on Day 2 of the draft. But it could be Ridley, who was considered the bigger reach of the two, who turns out to be the most productive.

The former Tiger was criticized for leaving school early, as most expected him to be a late round pick due to his lack of long speed, but the powerful 5’11’’, 225-pound bruiser is the perfect type of in-between-the-tackles runner that New England needs.

Ridley, who has already impressed coaches and onlookers with his running style, will be a welcomed addition to the New England offense this season.

24. LB Mason Foster, Tampa Bay Bucs

It takes a certain type of linebacker to properly fit into the Tampa 2 defensive scheme but former Washington ‘backer Mason Foster is one of the few who perfectly fits the mold.

Foster, who finished second in the country with 163 tackles as a senior last season, has the type of range and athleticism to be a difference-maker for the Bucs defense right from the get go.

The tackling machine is already the favorite to be the team’s starting middle linebacker as a rookie and he’s got the type of makeup that would lead you to believe he can develop into a defensive leader early in his career.

25. WR Greg Little, Cleveland Browns

Greg Little was one of the casualties of last summer’s North Carolina NCAA scandal.

Little, who was one of the top-rated receiver prospects going into the 2010 season, was forced to sit out his entire senior year because he lied to investigators. However, that didn’t stop the Cleveland Browns from selecting him with their second round pick.

The Browns must have loved Little’s eye-popping athleticism and they’ll be counting on him to be an immediate contributor next to Mohamed Massaquoi and Brian Robiskie, two receivers who have yet to reach their potential and develop into truly trusted targets.

Honorable Mention: Offense

WR Leonard Hankerson, Washington Redskins

OT Nate Solder, New England Patriots

QB Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals

OT Gabe Carimi, Chicago Bears

WR Denarius Moore, Oakland Raiders

RB Mikel Leshoure, Detroit Lions

OG Danny Watkins, Philadelphia Eagles

TE Rob Housler, Arizona Cardinals

OG Mike Pouncey, Miami Dolphins

OT Derek Sherrod, Green Bay Packers

WR Torrey Smith, Baltimore Ravens

Honorable Mention: Defense

DE Cameron Heyward, Pittsburgh Steelers

CB Marcus Gilchrist, San Diego Chargers

DE Jabaal Sheard, Cleveland Browns

LB Martez Wilson, New Orleans Saints

DT Phil Taylor, Cleveland Browns

S Jaiquawn Jarrett, Philadelphia Eagles

DE Adrian Clayborn, Tampa Bay Bucs

DT Terrell McClain, Carolina Panthers

LB Ryan Kerrigan, Washington Redskins

DT Nick Fairley, Detroit Lions

DE Cameron Jordan, New Orleans Saints