NFL Power Rankings: Cam Newton and Top 10 Rookies to Watch in 2011

The 2011 rookie class has plenty of names and talents that are exciting and the lockout did not seem to take that big of a toll on many of their Week 1 performances.

As with every draft class, there are many rookies to really keep your eye one to see how well they do.

These rookies no longer get massive pay days starting day one after the new CBA restructured the amount of money rookies can get.

So rookies must prove their worth if they want to get paid. 

Here are 10 rookies that you should watch out for.

10. Adrian Clayborn

Adrian Clayborn was the 20th selection by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2011 NFL draft. He leads a young group of defensive linemen in Tampa Bay. 

This team also features Da'Quan Bowers out of Clemson, Gerald McCoy, and Brian Price. This puts Clayborn is a very good situation to succeed. The depth of players around him can only help his success and frees up space for him to operate.

Now offensive lines can not just focus on him or Bowers.

Clayborn was a top-10 talent before he had an underachieving senior year.

Despite that, many believe Clayborn has the physical tools to be a top pass rusher in the NFL.

He also has the ability to get off blocks to get his hands on the ball carrier.

This Tampa Bay defensive line is young, raw and good, and if Clayborn realizes his potential alongside Bowers, this defense can be scary good. 

9. A.J. Green

A.J. Green officially made his first NFL impression with his game-winning 41-yard TD reception against the Cleveland Browns.

He burned the secondary on the play and was able to help his team win the game.

A.J. Green is a very athletic WR that can really make an immediate impact for Cincinnati.

He had a 4.5 40-time at the NFL Combine which makes him a huge down-field threat. 

He is going to have to play well to aid the progress of his fellow rookie QB Andy Dalton.

The Bengals are in full fledged rebuilding mode and are going to give every young player a chance to shine and A.J. Green is the top WR coming right out the gate.

8. Mike Pouncey

Center Mike Pouncey was the 15th pick by the Miami Dolphins in the 2011 NFL draft.

Pouncey is a 6'5", 303-pound monster of a center and will be thrown to the wolves and be a starter for the Dolphins.

Pouncey was a major part of the Florida Gators offense. He made 28 consecutive starts on the offensive line for the Gators blocking SEC defenses. Blocking SEC defenses can only help Pouncey be NFL ready and able to be a productive member of the offensive line in Miami.

He has strong and long arms to keep his blocking assignments under control and has above average athleticism for a man his size and position.

More importantly for Miami and their running game featuring Reggie Bush, he has the ability to drive defensive players back and open up holes for the running game.

7. Mark Ingram

With the departure of Reggie Bush, Mark Ingram looks to play a big part of a New Orleans Saints offensive plans this year.

Bush is part of a backfield that has Darren Sproles and Pierre Thomas. 

The Saints are a playoff team this year and are looking for Ingram to play a key role as a rookie.

I am very interested in seeing if Ingram can use his talents to take over and be a special RB in the league.

He had 40 yards on 13 rushes in Week one1 for New Orleans.

He got 13 of New Orleans' 21 rushing attempts.

He has the ability to burst through any hole created and has great acceleration into the secondary.

If he realizes his full potential, he can really add another facet to the Saints offense, on top of the air raid by QB Drew Brees.

6. Marcell Dareus

Marcell Dareus is a 340-pound DT and had a very good game in the opener against the Kansas City Chiefs. 

Dareus was very good at clogging up rushing lanes and helped hold Kansas City RB Jamaal Charles to 56 yards rushing.

He uses his size and leverage to really charge at the point of attack. He is so powerful and quick that he really can charge into the backfield and cause a lot of trouble. 

For Buffalo, this is huge. They are clearly rebuilding and look to build up their interior play as a building block for the future.

Dareus has all the tools to be a very good player in the NFL.

And he is only 21 years old. This means he has plenty of time to grow and develop.

5. Patrick Peterson

Patrick Peterson got tore up week one as a NFL CB against star WR Steve Smith.

However, it was his skill at punt returning that ended up helping his team get the win.

He took a punt 86 yards to the house in order to secure a victory for his Arizona Cardinals.

It is to be expected that Peterson would have problems guarding talented veteran WR Smith.

However, his overall skill set makes him an exciting talent. He has excellent closing speed and a good overall physical skill set to jam receivers at the line.

Peterson is going to be called upon to be the No. 1 CB on the depth chart this year, and he will have his chance.

It will be fun to see what kind of year the former LSU Tiger will have.

4. Von Miller

Von Miller busted on to the scene in his first week as an NFL player.

He forced a fumble in the first quarter against Oakland in their Monday night opener. That led to a FG and an early lead.

Miller is an excellent talent.

While he is still kind of raw at stopping the run and is getting used to formations and a more structured NFL defense, Miller has amazing upside.

He has good athleticism and quickness to just get after the QB and can wreak havoc in the backfield.

His skills makes him hard to elude beyond the defensive line and he is an aggressive tackler.

Miller looked very good in his NFL debut and only looks to get better.

3. Cam Newton

Cam Newton's performance to open up his rookie campaign was nothing short of spectacular.

He had 422 yards passing and two passing TD.

Most surprising for me was he had a very respectable completion percentage at 64.9 percent.

He had a throw or two that were super easy and those padded his stats, to be fair.

However, he had some throws that absolutely shocked me. I was not sold on Cam Newton, and I was not too intrigued by his season prior to Week 1.

Now, he has successfully caught my eye and I am intrigued.

I, obviously, do not expect he will throw for 420-plus yards again this year. He does not have to do that to have a good year.

I want to see if he can keep his completion percentage up and his interceptions down. Those two stats show me he is making good decisions and is taking care of the football.

2. J.J. Watt

J.J. Watt is going to be a huge factor in the Texans' new look 3-4 defense.

The DE out of Wisconsin will be asked to get after the QB and make his presence known.

In a defense now run by Wade Phillips, pressuring the QB is the up most importance.

Watt has an underrated skill set. I do not think too many people give him credit for what he brings to this Texans defense.

He has a high motor. Whoever has to block Watt is in for a full day's work because there will be no play off. Watt just keeps coming and coming.

He has strong hands to help shed his blocks. He has quick feet and has big time, overall strength as a 6'5", 288-pound DE. 

I have predicted Watt will win the Defensive Rookie of the Year, and I feel excellent about that pick. 

Watt is going to play an instrumental role in a playoff contender's defense and this makes his season amongst the most intriguing to watch.

1. Julio Jones

WR Julio Jones was a huge pick up for the Atlanta Falcons.

QB Matt Ryan has a number one WR in Roddy White, but he desperately needed help.

TE Tony Gonzalez is another year older and can no longer be counted on to be the second best receiver in an offense.

Julio Jones brings another threat to help spread the defense for Matt Ryan and White.

Jones has a rare combination of size, strength, and speed to make him a huge offensive weapon.

The 6'3", 230-pound WR had a very good 4.39 40-yard dash time, but do not let that fool you into thinking he is a finesse deep threat wide out.

He is strong and can easily catch a ball in traffic and is physical in a crowd.

Jones was the sixth overall pick in the draft and the Falcons traded up to get him. This puts Jones on a very good Falcons squad that was 13-3 last season.

This situation to play a big role on an elite squad makes Julio Jones the most intriguing rookie to watch.