5 NFL Teams That Could Surprise You in 2011 and Years to Come

If you watch the NFL, you know surprises.

You've seen Arizona fly under the radar. Dallas fall off their horse. San Francisco come up empty. Tampa Bay climb into the playoffs and fall to the cellar.

The draft has had an impact. Where was New England going before Tom Brady came? Indianapolis before Peyton Manning? Nowhere.

Trades have made impacts and the same goes with free agency. You see teams go from the bottom of the NFL to the playoffs. It's football. It happens through offseason transactions and with young teams.

Here are five teams that will surprise you this year or very soon.

1. Minnesota Vikings

Every Vikings fan has that memory in their heads. The one, painful memory.

They were so close to winning the NFC Championship in 2009. So many blown chances. But now, the future brings hope.

The Vikings drafted talented quarterback Christian Ponder out of Florida State, after an unsuccessful season in 2010 and the retirement of Brett Favre. However, Minnesota did trade for Donovan McNabb.

Ponder is accurate, he is mobile, he has good arm strength, and he is a leader. Once McNabb is finished in Minnesota, Ponder will take over, and he will thrive.

If Ponder isn't ready, Joe Webb will be. He led the Vikings to a win over Michael Vick and the Eagles with some big plays last year. With Percy Harvin, Michael Jenkins, and many receiving threats, and Adrian Peterson and Toby Gerhart in the backfield, this team will be dangerous for years to come.

2. Arizona Cardinals

Arizona went under the radar in 2008, stunned the Falcons, Panthers and Eagles, and almost stunned the Steelers as they made it to Super Bowl XLIII.

The Cardinals were the team to beat in the NFC West. And then, Kurt Warner retired. Derek Anderson was a bust. And now, it's Kevin Kolb at the helm.

In games Kolb started, the Eagles were 2-2. He led them to key, back-to-back wins against San Francisco and Atlanta. Now, with a top target in Larry Fitzgerald around him, and two solid, dynamic receivers in Andre Roberts and Early Doucet, Kolb has a chance to shine.

Ryan Williams is making his case as a running back for the future, Beanie Wells is a good power back, and Todd Heap is a good tight end.

Add a solid, young defense, and you have a franchise for the future.

3. Tennessee Titans

Everyone said Jake Locker was crazy for not entering the NFL. It crushed the Rams and the NFL for a year.

The Tennessee Titans couldn't be happier.

Although Locker struggled in his senior year, the Titans gambled on him, taking him with the eighth-overall pick. Add Matt Hasselback to the picture, a top running back in Chris Johnson, and you have a team.

Locker threw a touchdown in his preseason debut, and he excelled. Locker will be able to adjust to the NFL, but until he does, the Titans have Matt Hasselback. He is likely a rental, while Locker is the future.

Locker has a young but talented receiving core highlighted by Lavelle Hawkins, Damian Williams and Marc Mariani. Tennesse is a young team.

This team is young and only going up.

4. Denver Broncos

It surprised everyone when the Broncos drafted Tim Tebow. It surprised people more when Josh McDaniels didn't use Tim Tebow.

Now, with trade rumors swirling about Kyle Orton, it is clear Tim Tebow is the quarterback of the future. Although Orton will not be traded this year, Tebow will play soon.

Denver has two talented running backs in Knowshon Moreno and Willis McGahee. McGahee will excel with limited carries, and Moreno can carry a load. On defense, Champ Bailey, Brian Dawkins and a young secondary should succeed in the future, even without Bailey and Dawkins at full strength.

The Broncos defense is young, and in a few years, with Moreno, Tebow and a young receiving core, will be anchoring a solid team. Kyle Orton started his Denver career well but it isn't going well now.

Tebow and Moreno are definitely the players of the future, and with them and a talented defense at the helm, this team only will go uphill.

5. Cleveland Browns

Before the 2010 season got underway, Mike Holmgren said Colt McCoy will definitely not play in 2010. Now, he's the Browns clear, confident starter.

McCoy struggled in 2010, but showed improvement in the preseason. He is accurate, confident, and the Browns quarterback of the future. They also have Peyton Hillis.

Hillis, who is on the Madden 12 cover, is a power running back who made a statement in 2010 and wants to do more in the future. With a talented quarterback in Colt McCoy as a compliment, it should fit well.

Josh Cribbs is a speedy receiver and kick returner who can turn a fair catch into a special teams touchdown, and young receiver Brian Robiskie has talent. However, the defense needs some improvement.

While the Browns are currently in a tough AFC North division, and it looks like Joe Flacco and Ben Roethlisberger will be at it for a while, don't be surprised if Cleveland cracks the playoffs in a matter of time.