10 Bold Predictions for NFL Rookies

Remember Randy Moss? How about Gale Sayers or Eric Dickerson?

All of these players introduced themselves to the NFL with huge rookie seasons.

Moss set a rookie record with 17 touchdown receptions, while also registering over 1,300 yards of offense.

Sayers scored 22 total touchdowns in his rookie season and went for 2,272 all-purpose yards, 1,374 of which were yards from scrimmage.

Eric Dickerson had what was arguably the best rookie season of all-time when he finished with over 2,200 yards from scrimmage with 18 touchdowns.

The fact of the matter is that any rookie has the chance of exploding if they are in the right offensive or defensive situation.

Here are some bold predictions to get you your NFL fix before the season begins.

Cam Newton Will Lead Carolina Panthers to Six Wins

Now this is how you get some bold predictions started. Most experts seem to think the Carolina Panthers are going to be awful this year and will have a chance at winning the No. 1 overall pick again.

However, this is a team on the rise. The team went out and acquired two tight ends that should be quality weapons for Newton in Greg Olsen and Jeremy Shockey. They also added plenty of role players including Omar Gaither and Legedu Naanee.

Cam Newton may not be the most NFL-ready quarterback, but he is one of the most talented quarterbacks the league has seen. He is a multi-dimensional quarterback that has a winning spirit. Remember, he is coming off an NCAA National Championship, as well as Junior College Championship the year before.

I'm going out on a limb here, but the Panthers will pull off six wins this season.

Delone Carter Will Become Indianapolis Colts Starting Running Back

Joseph Addai has had his chances to become the featured back with the Indianapolis Colts but he has either not produced or been setback by an injury.

Don't worry Colts fans, Delone Carter is here to save the team's porous run game.

The Colts invested a fourth-round pick in Carter after he rushed for over 1,200 yards and recorded nine touchdowns on a terrible Syracuse football team.

Carter looked solid in the team's first three preseason games, but has yet to get the opportunity to carry the ball on a consistent basis.

Once Addai goes down or begins to struggle again, Carter will be there to pick up the slack for the Colts.

Julio Jones Will Have a Better Year Than A.J. Green

A.J. Green was drafted ahead of Julio Jones, he was considered the better overall prospect, he is being taken on average eight picks higher in fantasy football drafts according to ESPN, but that doesn't mean he will have the better season.

Green is stuck on a terrible offense, with a terrible quarterback, and a team that couldn't run the ball last year.

The Cincinnati Bengals are going to go through plenty of bumps in the road this year, the Falcons on the other hand could be Super Bowl bound.

Jones is playing in an explosive offense, which has an outstanding running game. He will also be playing across from an elite receiver in Roddy White, and a premier tight end in Tony Gonzalez that will help stretch the field for the offense.

Jones landed in a dream scenario, while A.J. Green landed in the worst scenario possible.

It would be surprising if A.J. Green topped 1,000 yards, while Julio Jones has a chance to eclipse 1,300 in Atlanta en route to Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Andy Dalton Will Start All 16 Games

The Cincinnati Bengals are going to be horrible this year. In fact, 0-16 is not out of the question for the Bengals.

Andy Dalton is going to struggle this year. He is not NFL-ready, and he doesn't have the personnel around him that he needs to be successful.

However, this team is going to grow with Dalton at the helm. They may not go 0-16, but they won't be in playoff contention.

Dalton has a relatively proven backup quarterback behind him on the depth chart him in Bruce Gradkowski, but don't expect him to hit the field.

The Bengals need to play Dalton all year to see if they think he is the future of this team. If they determine he is not, they will have every opportunity to select Andrew Luck with the No. 1 overall pick in next year's draft.

DeMarco Murray Will Take over Starting Running Back Job for Dallas Cowboys

Felix Jones is the starting running back for the Dallas Cowboys as of right now, and he should be. He has earned the opportunity to represent the Cowboys as the feature back.

However, Jones has only played in all 16 games once in his career. His health is not the only concern, Jones' yards per carry has decreased nearly every year in his career as his carries have increased.

Jones might be best suited as a third down back, and not a featured back. At some point in the season, I expect Jones to get injured and DeMarco Murray to fill in better than expected.

Murray's stock is through the roof right now after a solid performance in his last preseason game. He had ten carries for 32 yards and added four catches for 64 yards.

He will eventually take over Tashard Choice's backup role and rise from the bottom to the top of the depth chart.

Patrick Peterson Will Win Defensive Rookie of the Year

Von Miller is the favorite to win Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2011, but I'm not buying that. Miller is certainly extremely talented, but he is not as much of a playmaker as Patrick Peterson.

Peterson is one of the best cover corners to come out of the college game in quite some time, and should have no problem adapting to the NFL game.

He is playing in a much weaker division than Miller is and will be playing against inferior quarterbacks such as Alex Smith and Tarvaris Jackson. Peterson will have plenty of opportunities to come away with interceptions, which he will then have the opportunity to turn into points.

Peterson's biggest strength may be his ability to take the ball to the house once he has it in his hands. Look for Peterson to pick up at least two or three touchdowns off of interceptions this year.

Jake Locker Will Take over for Matt Hasselbeck as Titans QB

When was the last time Matt Hasselbeck started all 16 games? He hasn't stayed healthy for an entire season since 2007 and only four times since he landed in Seattle.

With that in mind, Jake Locker will certainly get the opportunity to take over for Matt Hasselbeck. Whether it is because of a season ending injury or because Locker impresses while Hasselbeck is out, expect Locker to end the season as the starting quarterback of the Tennessee Titans.

The Titans invested the No. 8 overall pick in Locker, surprising many who thought Blaine Gabbert would be the second quarterback taken this year.

The Titans believe that Locker has all the intangibles necessary to be a successful quarterback. He is smart, mobile, and has a strong arm, which should be enough to help him succeed with Chris Johnson in the backfield.

Hasselbeck was the flashy free agent signing, but Locker will shine by season's end.

Ryan Kerrigan Will Lead Rookies in Sacks

The Washington Redskins opted to pass on Blaine Gabbert with the No. 10 overall pick by trading down with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

They then used the 16th overall pick on Purdue defensive end Ryan Kerrigan. The former Purdue standout led the nation in tackles for loss last year, and will look to impress with the Redskins this year.

Kerrigan is being forced to switch positions with the Redskins, as he is in the process on transitioning to the 3-4 outside linebacker. However, he is in the perfect situation to be successful.

He is lining up across from one of the best pass rushers in the game in Brian Orakpo, so opposing defenses will be focusing on the former Texas standout, not Kerrigan.

He will have the opportunity to beat his defender one-on-one and get to the quarterback early and often. Don't be surprised if Kerrigan reaches double digit sacks this year.

Christian Ponder Will End Season as Minnesota Vikings Quarterback

The Minnesota Vikings acquired Donovan McNabb via trade from the Washington Redskins this offseason, and they fully expect him to lead this team to the playoffs.

Don't get too excited Vikings fans. McNabb is past his prime and looked very inconsistent last season. You could blame the Redskins offensive line, or the scheme, or a number of factors, but either way you look at it, McNabb did not look sharp.

He will not lead this team to the playoffs this year, and once they are removed from the playoff chase, Christian Ponder will be inserted into the offense.

Their division is just too tough with the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears already considered playoff teams, and don't rule out the Detroit Lions.

The Vikings will use the last few games of the season to evaluate the future face of the franchise, and see what they have at the quarterback position.

On the bright side, the Vikings will like what they see out of Ponder.

Daniel Thomas Will Take Starting Job from Reggie Bush

The Miami Dolphins went out and acquired Reggie Bush from the New Orleans Saints to be their starting running back after drafting Daniel Thomas, and letting Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams both walk away from the team.

Bush is one of the most explosive players in the NFL, but he is not an every-down back.

Thomas has disappointed thus far in the preseason, but that should be expected because of the lockout. Thomas never had a chance to go pick up a playbook before the lockout ended, and is being forced to learn a whole new offense in just a matter of weeks.

Right now, Thomas is thinking too much about where to run, or who to block, or which route to run that he can't focus on picking up yards when he touches the ball.

Thomas will figure it out by Week Six and will take over as the starting running back, while Bush is demoted to third down back.