2011 NFL Predictions: 25 Late-Round Rookies Who Will Surprise

It's usually the players selected in the higher rounds of the National Football League draft who play the most in their rookie season. After all, their team invested a lot in them, and they want to see how the player performs on the football field.

But either by injuries, sheer talent during training camp or luck, a number of late-round draft picks get an opportunity to showcase their talents each season.

The following 25 slides highlight the late-round draft picks who could surprise in the 2011 season. In the slide titles, I have listed the overall number at which the player was selected in the draft.

Clint Boling, G (Cincinnati Bengals, No. 101)

Boling is considered to be a steal for a fourth-round draft pick, and he brings the versatility to play both tackle and guard to the Cincinnati Bengals in 2011.

The Bengals ranked 27th in rushing last season, and factoring in the injuries to Andre Smith as well as the ineffectiveness of Bobbie Williams and Nate Livings, Boling could be a starter for the Bengals in 2011. 

Sam Acho, DE (Arizona Cardinals, No. 103)

The Cardinals had a pretty poor pass-rush last season, collecting just 33 sacks and no more than six from either defensive end position.

Sam Acho, selected in the fourth round, should receive a significant amount of playing time. Look for him to tally 5-6 sacks of his own.

Roy Helu, RB (Washington Redskins, No. 105)

Helu was selected in the fourth round of the 2011 draft, and is expected to compete for the starting job with Ryan Torain, Tim Hightower and sixth-round pick Evan Royster.

The Redskins will likely be one of the worst teams in the NFC this season, and Helu should receive a solid portion of the carries, especially late in the season.

Christian Ballard, DE (Minnesota Vikings, No. 106)

A fourth-round draft pick in 2011, Ballard will receive a lot of playing time this season, especially with the departure of Ray Edwards and the likely departure of half of the Williams combination at defensive tackle.

I could see Ballard notching 6-8 sacks as a rookie. 

Kris Durham, WR (Seattle Seahawks, No. 107)

Injuries hurt Durham's value in his college career, as a torn labrum in his left shoulder caused him to miss all of the 2009 season.

Durham was picked in the fourth round by the Seattle Seahawks and will compete for playing time with Sidney Rice, Mike Williams and Golden Tate. I expect the 6'5" rookie receiver to finish the 2011 season with close to 40 receptions and more than 500 yards.

Quinton Carter, S (Denver Broncos, No. 108)

The current starting safeties on the Denver Broncos are Brian Dawkins and Rahim Moore.

Dawkins, who turns 38 in October, will probably either be released before the start of the season or lose his starting job midway through the season.

Carter, a fourth-round draft pick in 2011, will compete with Kyle McCarthy and Darcel McBath for playing time. Carter had good ball skills and solid tackling ability in college, so I expect him to start a few games and collect two interceptions in 2011.

Colin McCarthy, LB (Tennessee Titans, No. 109)

McCarthy will have the difficult task of replacing middle linebacker Stephen Tulloch for the Tennessee Titans in 2011.

A fourth-round pick, McCarthy is a tackling machine and collected 120 in his senior year at Miami. 

Edmond Gates, WR (Miami Dolphins, No. 111)

Leading the way for the 2011 Miami Dolphins' receiving corps will be Brandon Marshall, with Davone Bess as the second receiver.

I expect Gates to beat out Roberto Wallace (six career receptions) and Brooks Foster (zero catches) for the third receiver spot.

Even though Miami will likely be one of the worst passing teams in the NFL this season, Gates should catch 30 passes and flash his talent.

Greg Salas, WR (St. Louis Rams, No. 112)

Although rookie quarterback Sam Bradford turned in a fairly impressive rookie campaign in 2010, he had nowhere near the talent to throw to that a lot of quarterbacks have.

However, one thing the Rams do have is a ton of decent wide receivers, including Donnie Avery (injured in 2010), Mike Sims-Walker (FA signing), Danny Amendola (85 catches in 2010), Brandon Gibson (53 catches in 2010), Danario Alexander and Mardy Gilyard, as well as rookie third-round pick Austin Pettis.

Not all of these players will make the team, but Salas is a lock, considering he was drafted in the fourth round. Seeing how much the Rams spread the ball around in 2010, I think it's safe to say that the rookie receiver will collect 25-30 catches in the 2011 season.  

Chimdi Chekwa, CB (Oakland Raiders, No. 113)

The Oakland Raiders cornerback will receive a lot of playing time now that superstar Nnamdi Asomugha left to join the Philadelphia Eagles. 

Chekwa has good size and won't be a starter, but he could receive time off the bench, especially if someone is injured. 

Kendall Hunter, RB (San Francisco 49ers, No. 115)

Hunter will probably be asked to be the backup running back for Frank Gore. Hunter will have the opportunity to learn not only from Gore, but also from veteran Brian Westbrook, a former two-time Pro Bowler with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Hunter is small, very quick and is a more than capable receiver. He should succeed in San Francisco. 

Casey Matthews, LB (Philadelphia Eagles, No. 116)

The sixth member of the Matthews clan to reach the NFL, Casey Matthews was handed the starting middle linebacker job the moment he walked into training camp a few weeks ago.

Casey may not be Clay Matthews, but I expect the fourth-round pick to start 12-14 games and collect 50-70 tackles this season. He should do a solid job as the "quarterback" for the defense. 

Delone Carter, RB (Indianapolis Colts, No. 119)

Carter is currently listed as the fourth running back on the team's depth chart. I expect him to improve to second or third by the end of the season.

Even if they stay healthy, Joseph Addai and Donald Brown are not a scary running game. Plus Peyton Manning is battling a neck injury that will likely force him to miss all of the preseason.

It might be a good idea for the Colts to run the ball a lot this season. 

Alex Henery, K (Philadelphia Eagles, No. 120)

Two reasons why I expect Henery to succeed as a rookie in 2011:

1. The Eagles score. A lot. Even if it's just extra points, Henery will collect a lot of points. I think he'll eclipse 100 points easily for the season.

2. He was the most accurate kicker in the history of college football. That's got to translate into something in the National Football League. 

Tandon Doss, WR (Baltimore Ravens, No. 123)

Even though the Ravens just signed veteran Lee Evans a few days ago, they lost Derrick Mason and Todd Heap in the offseason. 

Doss, a fourth-round draft choice, figures into the mix at wide receiver as the Ravens look to overtake the Steelers in the AFC North. 

Owen Marecic, FB (Cleveland Browns, No. 124)

Marecic was a two-way player in college, tough enough to play both fullback and linebacker at Stanford.

Even if he doesn't receive playing time at either position, Marecic should be a standout special teams player in 2011. 

Rashad Carmichael, CB (Houston Texans, No. 127)

Last season, the Houston Texans allowed 33 passing touchdowns and had one of the worst defenses in the National Football League. They did sign cornerback Johnathan Joseph via free agency, but they still lack depth at the cornerback position.

Rookie Brandon Harris, as well as Kareem Jackson and Jason Allen, will earn significant playing time, but if Carmichael plays well in his limited opportunities, his playing time will increase as the season goes on. 

Kealoha Pilares, WR (Carolina Panthers, No. 132)

Pilares is buried at the bottom of the depth chart for the Carolina Panthers, but as the team plays worse and worse in 2011, I expect him to receive more and more opportunities. 

I also wouldn't be surprised if injuries or lack of production to the other Panthers' receivers vaults Pilares higher on the depth chart. 

Johnny White, RB (Buffalo Bills, No. 133)

The Buffalo Bills aren't going anywhere this season and a big reason why is their running game. Fred Jackson is a decent starter, but C.J. Spiller showed absolutely nothing in 2010. 

If neither plays well, I would give White every opportunity to prove himself in 2011. 

Jacquizz Rodgers, RB (Atlanta Falcons, No. 145)

Michael Turner is the go-to guy in Atlanta, but more and more teams are using a two-back system these days.

Rodgers has a chance to be that guy for the Falcons in 2011.

He is ridiculously short, but was listed as the fifth-best running back at the 2011 NFL Draft by an NFL Network draft specialist. I think Rodgers will prove his doubters wrong in 2011 and emerge as a legitimate candidate for Offensive Rookie of the Year.  

Dion Lewis, RB (Philadelphia Eagles, No. 149)

Dion Lewis went to the same college as Eagles starting running back LeSean McCoy, and he was drafted in the fifth round because his playing style matches that of McCoy.

I think the pint-sized Lewis will receive about 30 carries and catch about 15 passes this season, with 2-3 touchdowns. He is a smaller, lesser-developed version of Shady McCoy. 

Niles Paul, WR (Washington Redskins, No. 155)

Paul is a big, physical wide receiver who has a chance to succeed for the Redskins in 2011.

Of course, it would help if he had a quarterback to throw him the ball, but someone's got to catch passes, and Santana Moss and Jabar Gaffney can't catch them all, right?

Evan Royster, RB (Washington Redskins, No. 177)

The second of two Washington Redskins running backs selected in the 2011 draft, Royster should receive his fair share of playing time in the upcoming season, especially since the two veteran backs—Tim Hightower and Ryan Torain—aren't that good.

I think Royster could receive 60-80 carries with a couple touchdowns next season. 

Tyrod Taylor, QB (Baltimore Ravens, No. 180)

Taylor will probably only receive playing time if starting quarterback Joe Flacco is injured this season, but if Flacco is hurt, I think Taylor—the 2010 ACC Player of the Year—will step in and play well. 

Jason Kelce, C (Philadelphia Eagles, No. 191)

Kelce was drafted because he fit the mold for new offensive line coach Howard Mudd: small, athletic and fast. 

So far Kelce's done a tremendous job in training camp. He's even been receiving a high portion of the first-team reps at center, despite the presence of Jamaal Jackson, a nine-year NFL veteran.

Kelce likely won't start in 2011, but Jackson has suffered a season-ending injury in each of the past two seasons, so it's not far-fetched at all to imagine Kelce receiving significant playing time in 2011.