The Most Promising Rookie on Every NFL Team

When discussing the most promising rookies on every NFL roster this season, a few players have made their cases very clear.

Those are Cam Newton, Von Miller, A.J. Green and Aldon Smith.  However, a number of rookies have been making impacts on rosters this season, playing pretty large roles.

While not all teams had overly successful rookie classes, here are the most promising rookies for each team.

St. Louis Rams: Robert Quinn

Selected as the 14th overall pick in the 2011 draft, Rams rookie defensive end Robert Quinn has had a good year with flashes of greatness sprinkled in.

Having not played a ton of downs this season, Quinn hasn't been the dominant pass-rusher that the Rams are expecting him to be just yet, but he has recorded one forced fumble and five sacks, which ranks eighth among rookies.  

Also, Quinn has made a couple of impressive plays on special teams, blocking two punts already—one against the Saints and one against the Seahawks.

Quinn's future for the Rams is sure to be a bright one.

Other Notable Rookies

TE Lance Kendricks and WR Greg Salas have also had nice years as rookies, adding to the offenses' weapons, but both have battled injury this season.

Arizona Cardinals: Patrick Peterson

The Arizona Cardinals made the right decision when they drafted LSU's Patrick Peterson as the fifth pick in the first round of the NFL draft.  

Peterson has a ton of talent and is already making an impact as a starter for Arizona.

Doing a good job at cornerback for Arizona, Peterson has recorded two interceptions this season.

Additionally, Peterson has been a special teams standout.  Just 12 games into his career, Peterson has tied the NFL's single-season record for punt-return touchdowns with four, accumulating 559 yards.

Peterson's most impressive play of the year was also one of the most exciting plays of the NFL season.

In an overtime game with St. Louis, Peterson fielded a punt, dodged numerous tackles and returned it 99 yards for an Arizona victory.

Peterson is a game-changer that will be a staple on Arizona's defense for years to come. 

Other Notable Rookies

Fourth-round draft pick Sam Acho has been doing a great job at outside linebacker ever since taking over the starting role from the injured Joey Porter.  Acho has recorded five sacks, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.

His best game came against the Rams in Week 12 when he recorded two sacks, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.

Seattle Seahawks: Doug Baldwin

Not highly regarded going into the 2011 NFL draft, Seattle Seahawks rookie wide receiver Doug Baldwin went undrafted out of Stanford, but he has definitely proven to be a steal this season.

Baldwin has been the Seahawks' top receiving threat this season, accumulating 625 yards and two touchdowns.  

Those 625 receiving yards rank him third among rookie receivers, behind first-rounders Julio Jones and A.J. Green.

Not only can Baldwin create after the catch, but he has already established himself as an effective route runner, which is the key to being a successful NFL receiver.  That's why this season is just the tip of the iceberg for Baldwin.

Other Notable Rookies

CB Richard Sherman has also been making significant contributions for the Seahawks this season on the defensive side of the ball.  Also hailing from Stanford, Sherman was a fifth-round draft selection who has recorded 39 tackles, two interceptions and a forced fumble.

Taking the place of Aaron Curry, fourth-round draft pick K.J. Wright has found a home as the starting strong-side linebacker for Seattle. 

San Francisco 49ers: Aldon Smith

Playing the role of outside linebacker/defensive end, Aldon Smith has shown all season why the 49ers decided to take him with the seventh overall pick.

Arguably one of the top three defensive rookies, Smith has been a machine this season, recording 9.5 sacks, ranking second among rookies behind Denver's Von Miller.

Smith's versatility has allowed him to move around the field as a weapon in different positions, and San Francisco appreciates the rookie's hard work and willingness.

Named Rookie of the Month for the month of October, Smith recorded Smith 6.5 sacks, a safety and a forced fumble.

Other Notable Rookies

49ers rookie running back Kendall Hunter has not receiver a ton of touches behind Frank Gore, but when he has gotten the ball he's been effective.  

Hunter is a versatile running back that has the ability to both rush and catch the ball.  With 302 yards on 74 carries, Hunter averages more than four yards a carry.  He has two rushing touchdowns on the season as well as nine receptions for 130 yards.

Cornerback Chris Culliver seems to be developing into a nice member of the secondary as well.  Quiet to start the season, Culliver has been pretty solid in limited time.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Adrian Clayborn

Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie defensive end Adrian Clayborn was selected 20th overall in the 2011 NFL draft and seems to be worth the pick.

Currently leading the Buccaneers in sacks with 5.5, Clayborn ranks sixth among all rookies.  

With decent stats so far this season, Clayborn has a lot of potential to build on, and his future looks promising.

Other Notable Rookies

Rookie defensive end Da'Quan Bowers was selected in the second round by Tampa Bay, but up until a couple of weeks ago he hadn't seen a ton of action.  However, after being named a starter in Week 12, Bowers put on an impressive showing in his second start during Week 13.  

Against the Panthers, Bowers recorded eight tackles, four for a loss, and 1.5 sacks.

Mason Foster is the starting linebacker for the Bucs and has been responsible for calling and changing the defense on numerous occasions.  Foster has recorded 58 tackles this season.

Carolina Panthers: Cam Newton

This one is kind of a no-brainer.  

What hasn't already been said about this guy?

Taken as the first overall pick in the 2011 draft by the Carolina Panthers, Cam Newton has not disappointed—, in fact he has probably exceeded expectations. 

Ever since Newton stepped on the field in Week 1 for Carolina, he has been smashing records.  Just this week, Newton set his most recent record when he rushed for his 13th touchdown, breaking the NFL's single-season record for rushing TDs by a quarterback.

Newton's numbers so far this season are 3,297 passing yards and 13 touchdowns to go along with 518 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. 

Newton is, without question, the most versatile quarterback in the NFL. 

Atlanta Falcons: Julio Jones

Even after missing a few games with a hamstring injury, the Falcons' top draft pick from 2011, wide receiver Julio Jones, still ranks fourth among other rookies in receiving yards.

With big-play ability, Jones is a deep-ball threat to opposing defenses every time he steps on the field.

Not only is Jones bigger and strong than almost every defensive player he goes against, but he is explosive.

In three games this season, Jones has caught for more than 100 yards.  Jones adds another weapon to quarterback Matt Ryan's arsenal to go along with Roddy White, Tony Gonzalez and Michael Turner.

New Orleans Saints: Mark Ingram

Selected as the 28th pick in the 2011 draft, the only thing stopping Saints rookie running back Mark Ingram from being unstoppable is the Saints incredible depth at his position.

Splitting time between Pierre Thomas (413 yards, 3 TDs) and Darren Sproles (430 rushing yards, 2 TDs, 533 receiving yards, 2 TDs), Ingram has still managed to do pretty well for himself.

Ingram leads the team in carries with 122 and has accumulated 474 yards and five touchdowns, averaging 3.9 yards per carry.

Ingram is going to be a great back for years to come for the Saints.

Other Notable Rookies

Also selected in the first round by the New Orleans Saints as the 24th pick, defensive end Cam Jordan has played in all 12 games for the team, recording 25 tackles.

Jordan has not recorded a sack but has put good pressure on opposing teams' quarterbacks. This is a stat that he will improve on. 

Minnesota Vikings: Christian Ponder

The Vikings' firs- round draft pick, quarterback Christian Ponder, did not get a chance to show his stuff until right around Week 7, when he was officially named the team's starter.

Selected as the 12th pick overall, Ponder has not put up spectacular statistics, but he has shown promise at times, as well as improvement.

Ponder played his best game during Week 13, recording three touchdowns on 29-of-47 passing and 381 yards.  

However, Ponder did throw two interceptions, one of them on the team's final drive of the game with a chance to win.

In Ponder's defense, his offensive line is terrible, his receiving options consist of Percy Harvin and he played the past two weeks without Adrian Peterson.

Ponder shows the potential to improve and be a decent starter for Minnesota.

Other Notable Rookies

Tight end Kyle Rudolph was a second-round selection for the Vikings and has had some really nice grabs this season.  

Rudolph is guy with a lot of potential who will only get better.  As of late, Rudolph seems to be coming alive, recording a touchdown in each of the Vikings' last two games.

Detroit Lions: Nick Fairley

Selected as the 13th overall pick, Lions defensive tackle Nick Fairley had a slow start to his rookie debut after suffering a foot injury that caused him to miss the first four games of the year.

However, Fairley is still the most promising rookie on the Lions' roster.

Since returning in Week 5, the Lions have gradually increased the rookie's load, but when Ndamukong Suh was suspended during Week 12, Fairley filled in for much of the void.  

During the game, Fairley showed the strength and rushing ability he was so highly touted for.  

Recording three tackles and a sack, Fairley did so in a very short amount of time.  The rookie re-aggravated his foot injury during the first quarter and played just six snaps after that.   

Chicago Bears: Gabe Carimi

The Bears' first-round draft choice, right tackle Gabe Carimi, was able to play in just two games before injuring his knee and being placed on injured reserve for the rest of the season.

However, Carimi is still the most highly anticipated and promising rookie of the class.  

Arguably the Bears' top tackle, Carimi will be a great addition to the line when he returns.

Other Notable Rookies

Undrafted free agent wide receiver Dane Sanzenbacher has made some noise for the Bears this season.  

After fighting for a roster spot, Sanzenbacher has played in a  limited role, but he caught three touchdown passes this season.

Safety Chris Conte has moved into a starting role recently and played pretty well so far.  A consistent player, Conte has 26 tackles and one interception in limited playing time this season.

Green Bay Packers: Randall Cobb

Packers' rookie wide receiver Randall Cobb has been a great dynamic addition to the Packers' roster this season.  

Not only has Cobb stepped in and been a factor on offense in the slot and wideout position, but Cobb has exceeded expectations in the special teams return game.

Cobb began his NFL career in Week 1 with a 108-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, tying the NFL record.  Cobb followed that up with a receiving touchdown in the same game.

Cobb also has a punt-return touchdown under his belt as well.  Cobb's 772 kickoff return yards rank fourth overall in the NFL, and his 261 punt return yards rank 13th. 

Cobb's ability to play multiple positions combined with his speed and playmaking ability make him a diverse weapon for Green Bay.

Washington Redskins: Ryan Kerrigan

Rookie outside linebacker Ryan Kerrigan has been all over the field for the Redskins making plays this season. 

Kerrigan has been a game-changer in a few games, landing himself Rookie of the Week nominations multiple times.

An aggressive and smart player, Kerrigan has a knack for getting to the quarterback, recording 6.5 sacks on the season and numerous more hits.

To go along with the sacks, Kerrigan has 55 tackles, four forced fumbles and an interception—not a bad season for a rookie.

Other Notable Rookies

The Washington Redskins have been holding running back tryouts all season, just waiting for someone to step up and take the job. In the past two weeks, fourth-round pick Roy Helu may have secured the position.  

The current starter, Helu has been very productive as of late, rushing for back-to-back 100-yard games in the past two weeks.  During Week 12, Helu rushed for 108 yards, meanwhile catching for 54, for a grand total of 162 total yards and one touchdown.  

During Week 13, Helu rushed for 100 yards and 42 receiving, totaling 142.

With performances like that, Helu is a dynamic running back who is proving he is the man for the job in Washington.

Philadelphia Eagles: Brian Rolle

Linebacker Brian Rolle was not selected until the sixth round, but working his way into the line-up, he may be the most promising rookie the Eagles have.

Rolle is athletic and seems to have good knowledge of the game, which has really helped him with the rookie learning curve.

Rolle has 41 tackles on the season, four for a loss, three pass deflections, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. 

Other notable rookies:

Eagles first-round draft pick guard Danny Watkins hasn't been spectacular just yet, but he is a strong and necessary addition to the Eagles offensive line and possesses great potential. 

Watkins was benched to start the season after his holdout seemed to affect his performance, but he worked to earn the starting spot back.  

Watkins is huge at 6'3", 310 lbs has done and okay job run blocking for running back LeSean McCoy as well as quarterback Mike Vick.

Watkins' pass-blocking could use improvement, but his athleticism and strength provide him with the tools to learn and adapt.

New York Giants: Prince Amukamara

Rookie cornerback Prince Amukamara was selected by the Giants with the 19th overall pick and projected to be a starter.

Unfortunately for Amukamara and the Giants, the rookie fractured his foot during training camp, causing him to miss the first nine games of the season.

In his debut against the Eagles during Week 11, Amukamara played exceptionally well in the teams' loss, recording five tackles and interception. 

Since then, Amukamara has been quiet, but his abilities give him the potential to be one of the premier cornerbacks in the NFL.

Other notable rookies:

A sixth rounder, linebacker Jacquian Williams has found himself a spot in the Giants rotation.  Williams has gotten a few starts and recorded 57 tackles on the season.

Dallas Cowboys: DeMarco Murray

Dallas Cowboys rookie running back DeMarco Murray was a beast waiting to be released early on in the Cowboys' season. 

Murray first broke out in Week 7 against St. Louis when, despite not being the starter, he ran for record-setting numbers.

Rushing for 253 yards and a touchdown, Murray set the Cowboys' franchise rushing record, beating out none other than Emmitt Smith.

Murray's 253 yards in the game were the most by anyone this season and his 91-yard touchdown was the second-longest in team history.

Since that game, Murray has also rushed for a 139-yard outing and a 135-yard outing.

Murray is averaging 5.5 yards per carry and is leading all rookies in rushing yards by more than 300 with 872.

With stats like that, Murray may be the Cowboys' running back for years to come. 

Other notable rookies:

This was tough choice between Murray and offensive lineman Tyron Smith, who the Cowboys took in the first round.  Smith has quite a bit of promise of his own and will probably be on the Cowboys' line for years to come, but Murray was the bigger surprise of the two.

Smith has been impressive and consistent at tackle and gets better every day.

San Diego Chargers: Corey Liuget

Selected as the 18th overall pick by the Chargers, defensive end Corey Liuget has been a good addition to San Diego's line.

Liuget has not been consistently great this season, but he has shown glimpses of his ability and what he can do.

Liuget is big, powerful, explosive and versatile, and he will only improve with time.

Other notable rookies:

Rookie wide receiver Vincent Brown has really started to come alive in the last five weeks for the Chargers. 

Quiet most of the season, Brown has accumulated 234 yards since Week 9, including a 97 yard, one touchdown performance against the Raiders. Brown recorded another touchdown this week and the way he is developing, he could be a bright offensive threat for quarterback Philip Rivers in the future.

Kansas City Chiefs: Justin Houston

Chiefs' third round rookie linebacker Justin Houston has had a nice season and been especially impressive as of late.

Houston's best game came this week against the Bears when he recorded seven tackles to go along with his incredible three sacks. The performance has the rookie nominated for rookie of the week.

A sack machine in college, Houston seems to be coming around and has the potential to do a lot of damage to opposing teams' offenses.

Other notable rookies:

Injured for the first five games of the season, the Kansas City Chiefs' first-round draft pick Jon Baldwin got a slow start to the season and has yet to really break out.

However, it's the flashes of brightness that display the potential which Jon Baldwin possesses to be great. 

Baldwin's athleticism is certainly not what's limiting him, but rather consistency and discipline in his route running.

Baldwin's athleticism will allow him to develop into a strong receiver.

Oakland Raiders: Stefen Wisniewski

The Raiders' second-round pick guard, Stefen Wisniewski, has proven to be a great addition to the Raiders offensive line.

Wisniewski has not only been impressive for Oakland this season, but he's also versatile.  

Starting the year as left guard, Wisniewski made a move to center following an injury to Samson Steele and could remain there from now on.

A smart player, Wisniewski has the ability to adapt easily. 

Other notable rookies:

Fifth round draft pick Denarius Moore has turned out to be a steal for the Raiders this season.  Incredibly athletic and fast, Moore has big playmaking ability and has done so on numerous occasions this season.

Moore has displayed good hands snagging tough grabs left and right.

Before a foot injury kept him out of last game, Moore seemed to have developed into the favorite target of quarterback Carson Palmer.

On the season Moore has averaged 17.1 yards per catch with 24 receptions and  410 yards, as well as grabbing four touchdowns.

Denver Broncos: Von Miller

As things stand right now, the 2011 NFL draft second overall pick, Denver's Von Miller, is definitely the favorite to win defensive rookie of the year.

Playing linebacker, the Broncos' rookie has played incredible all season.

Miller is a playmaker who has been making plays since day one, recording 10.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, 57 tackles and seven for a loss. 

If Miller does not walk away with NFL Defensive Player of the Year, it will be a surprise.

Indianapolis Colts: Anthony Castonzo

Colts first-round draft pick, left tackle Anthony Castonzo, has been a bright spot in the Indianapolis Colts' dark season this year.

Castanzo has missed four games this season with an ankle injury, but when he has played he's been effective.

The Colts rank 15th in the league for sacks allowed this season, and Castanzo is one of the reasons why. 

Castanzo can not only block for the passer, but he is a good run-blocker as well.

As a guy who has progressed with the season, Castanzo will only get better, and in the event that Manning returns, he will be a great protector to him.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Blaine Gabbert

Even though this list is "most promising rookies" and Jaguars quarterback Blaine Gabbert is not, he is still first on this list for Jacksonville.  

The reason for this being that the team selected Gabbert as the 10th overall pick in the 2011 draft—therefore they virtually have no choice but to try to develop this guy into something since the money has already been invested.

Gabbert has been nothing short of bad this season and has not shown a lot of potential, but the Jaguars better try to make something out of nothing, or their franchise could be in trouble for years more to come.

Tennessee Titans: Akeem Ayers

The Tennessee Titans made a good decision when they drafted linebacker Akeem Ayers early in the second round.  

Finding himself a spot in the lineup from the get-go, Ayers has overachieved in the eyes of many within the Titans organization.

As Ayers continues to learn the system, his reps have increased and he's been able to be in the game more.

Ayers has recorded two sacks and 53 tackles, ranking fifth among all rookies for tackles.

Other notable rookies:

Another rooking linebacker who has stood out for the Titans this season is Colin McCarthy. A fourth round pick, McCarthy has 42 tackles, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and an interception on the season.

This week against the Bills, McCarthy recorded nine tackles, a forced fumble and a pass deflection, a performance which has warranted him a rookie of the week nomination.

Houston Texans: J.J. Watt

Selected as the 11th pick overall, J.J. Watt has been making an impact for the Texans ever since he stepped on the field.

Watt has not only been good against the run, but he has been disruptive in the passing game as well, flooding quarterbacks' passing lanes and deflecting passes.

Watt is not a guy who has necessarily stood out, but he's been very steady and consistent.

Watt possesses a lot of athletic ability, which will help him the more he grows comfortable with his position.

His stats this season include 39 tackles and 4.5 sacks. 

Other notable rookies:

Another notable rookie for the Texans this season is the other guy in this picture, linebacker Brooks Reed.  Selected in the second round, Reed took the first few games to get warmed up, but he has not turned back since.

Since Week 6, Reed has recorded six sacks, a number which ranks fourth amongst rookies.

Cleveland Browns: Phil Taylor

The Browns have added a few notable defensive rookies this season.

One of those players is first-round draft pick defensive tackle Phil Taylor, who has played great for their defense this season.

Taylor has 48 tackles on the season and four sacks, which rank second on the team behind fellow rookie Jabaal Sheard.  

Taylor's four sacks also rank first among all rookie defensive tackles.

For a team that has been rebuilding for some time, the Browns have to be happy with these selections.

Other notable rookies:

Wide receiver Greg Little, who was selected in the second round by the Browns, has been the teams leading receiver all season and Colt McCoy's favorite target. Little averages 10.3 yards per catch with 513 yards on 50 catches and is one of the top five targeted receivers in NFL.

Brown is tied for first with A.J. Green for most receptions as a rookie with 50, and ranks fifth amongst rookies in receiving yards.  Green has playmaking ability that will be beneficial for the Colts' offense for quite awhile.

As mentioned earlier, defensive end Jabaal Sheard is having a nice season as well. Selected in the second round, Sheard has lived up to his billing.

Sheard ranks first on the team in sacks with 5.5, with 33 tackles he ranks second on the team for tackles for a loss with 7, and first for forced fumbles with five. 

Cincinatti Bengals: A.J. Green/Andy Dalton

The Bengals offense definitely has something to build around with the newest additions of their dynamic WR/QB duo, A.J. Green and Andy Dalton.

The reason that these two players rank equally on the list is because it's hard to rate one without the other.

Green, the team's first-round draft pick and fourth overall, has been Dalton's favorite target all season, and the two have had great success. 

A.J. Green leads all rookie receivers in yards with 832 and touchdowns with seven. Meanwhile, Dalton leads all rookie quarterbacks in passing touchdowns with 17.

Taken in the second round as the fifth overall quarterback, Dalton was definitely the steal of the two.  The young quarterback has definitely exceeded expectations.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Marcus Gilbert

Marcus Gilbert was drafted by the Steelers in the second round of the 2011 draft and has since started 10 games for the team.

Initially projected to be the team's left tackle, Gilbert has displayed his versatility playing right tackle all season.

Gilbert is a talented player who has shown good ability in both the run-block and pass-block.

This is a player who the Steelers hope to build on for the future and keep for awhile.

Baltimore Ravens: Torrey Smith

The Baltimore Ravens rookie wide receiver, Torrey Smith, has been a playmaker this season as quarterback Joe Flacco's second-favorite target.

Second on the team in receiving yards with 645 behind Anquan Boldin, Smith is first for receivers for touchdowns with five.

Selected in the second round, Smith has definitely lived up to his billing. He ranks second among rookies, behind A.J. Green, for both receiving yards and touchdowns.

A giant presence on the field, Smith has great speed, which makes him a deep-ball threat quite often.

Miami Dolphins: Mike Pouncey

When selected as the 15th pick in the first round, Dolphins center Mike Pouncey was not necessarily a favorable one among fans.

However, the rookie has done a pretty decent job in his starting role as center for Miami.  

Pouncey's pass- and run-blocking is improving with every game, and he seems to be learning more and more with each passing day.  

Physically, Pouncey looks good and should be able to hold his spot on the Dolphins line for some time.

Other notable rookies:

As far as rookie running backs go, Dolphins' second rounder Daniel Thomas has been the second most productive behind DeMarco Murray. Thomas has 504 yards and is averaging 3.8 yards per carry.

Starting a few games for Miami this season, Thomas has been hampered by a hamstring injury which has definitely effected his playing time and performance.

Healthy, Thomas seems to have a bright future.

Buffalo Bills: Marcell Dareus

Bills first-round draft pick Marcell Dareus has had a great year as the newest addition to the Bills defensive line.

When it comes to the rookie defensive tackle, the stats do not tell the entire story.

Not only has Dareus been double-teamed almost every game this season, but he is the team's primary run-stuffer.

Although Dareus has recorded 30 tackles and 3.5 sacks on the season, getting to the quarterback is really not even in Dareus' job description, but his ability and athleticism has allowed him to get to the quarterback on more than a few occasions.

Dareus will be a giant force on the Bills line that opposing teams will have to deal with for a long time.

New York Jets: Muhammed Wilkerson

Jets first-round draft pick defensive lineman Muhammed Wilkerson has done well on the Jets line this season and has shown tons of potential for growth.

Wilkerson is 6'4", 315 lbs with incredible athleticism, which is probably his greatest asset.

Wilkerson, who has started the whole season for the Jets, has 30 tackles and one sack so far.

Wilkerson's stats are not staggering, but each week he seems to understand his role a little better and improve that much more.

With athleticism like his, Wilkerson will be a beast once he gets it all figured out.

New England Patriots: Nate Solder

An enormous 6'8", 319 lbs, it is no wonder that the New England Patriots selected offensive tackle Nate Solder in the first round of the draft.

Extremely athletic, Solder is still very raw but also versatile.  

Solder has moved all over the Patriots offensive line this season, including spending some time at tight end.

Solder is a focus player who comes to games prepared, and his good technique will take him a long way.