Risen Star
Likes Collector
- Messages
- 89,449
- Reaction score
- 212,377
http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/stor..._cid=InsiderTwitter_Kiper_ImpactRookieClasses
Here I'll be quicker to the point as I rank the NFL's top 10 rookie classes in terms of winning contributions:
1. Green Bay Packers
They obviously won a lot of football games, and were nothing less than extraordinarily unlucky to not be in the Super Bowl. And rookies played a huge role all the way to the end. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix was good, and got better, and is a potential MVP of the NFC Championship Game if the Packers don't collapse. Pass-catchers Davante Adams and Richard Rodgers played winning roles. Corey Linsley started all year and was a borderline Pro Bowl center. That's getting a lot and winning, too.
2. San Francisco 49ers
The winning dropped some, but they won more than some on this list, and the rookies helped. Chris Borland was a stud in relief at linebacker, running back Carlos Hyde was good and could become great, and Aaron Lynch is a major get. (Really, to get a pass-rusher in Round 5 after other teams didn't get much production from pass-rushers taken in Round 1 seems like stealing.) Defensive back Jimmie Ward definitely had his struggles but was going through a position switch, too. He'll be better, and he played a lot. Those guys helped. They also have future value in Marcus Martin, Brandon Thomas and Bruce Ellington.
3. New York Giants
They didn't win as much as you want, but they get major points for production to push them slightly ahead of the Panthers (who only won a single game more despite the playoff berth). Wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. had a borderline legendary rookie season, and was in the Pro Bowl. Weston Richburg started at guard, Andre Williams started to play a bigger and bigger role at running back, and linebacker Devon Kennard looks like a steal in Round 5.
4. Baltimore Ravens
They are obviously ahead of the Giants on winning -- four more wins plus a playoff berth -- but I grade them slightly behind the Giants in production, because so far this class is mainly about two players. C.J. Mosley was one of the best linebackers in football, period, so he pushes them up. Timmy Jernigan was the best 3-4 DE among rookies, and DB Terrence Brooks, TE Crockett Gillmore and OL John Urschel played some and could start soon.
5. Carolina Panthers
The rookies played a big part in getting them to the playoffs, though only seven regular-season wins did the trick. Kelvin Benjamin was among the top four rookie wide receivers (that's a big compliment in this class) and Cam Newton's No. 1 target. Philly Brownadded receiving depth, Tre Boston started at safety and O-lineman Trai Turner is coming along well. Then there's CB Bene Benwikere, arguably one of the top three steals of the draft so far, whom they got in Round 5. It's been a nice start for this class.
6. Oakland Raiders
OK, so they get docked major points for lack of wins. If they had won, say, 7-8 games, however, this might look like a runaway for best class so far, because the rookies didn't just play, a couple of them were Oakland's best players. Khalil Mack was the best player on the team, and one of the best LBs in the NFL last year. Derek Carr held down the starting QB job and got better, Justin Ellis was their best DT, Gabe Jackson started at guard, cornerbacks Keith McGilland T.J. Carrie played and showed flashes. There were very productive; now they just need to win.
7. St. Louis Rams
Aaron Donald alone should have them in the top 10, because he was one of the best DTs in football. But the offense never got going and they struggled to six wins, which pushes them down. (And remember, all those extra draft picks that have never been able to fix this offense factor into this draft class and grade.) Elsewhere, Greg Robinson shows glimpses that he'll be the left tackle of the future, cornerback E.J. Gaines is a total steal and Tre Mason is the future at running back. This is a nice class, and there are a few others who will gain bigger roles in the future.
8. Minnesota Vikings
They made a two-win jump from 2013 and the rookies certainly played a role. Teddy Bridgewater was my first-team all-rookie QB (just ahead of Carr) and figures to make Cleveland regret taking Johnny Manziel if the current trend lines for each young QB hold. Pass-rusher Anthony Barr made a nice adjustment playing off the line and was really good until he got hurt. I'm a big Jerick McKinnon fan, and he could have a big future at running back if he gets the touches. The rookies helped this team improve, so they definitely belong here.
9. Cleveland Browns
The Browns had a three-win jump from 2013, and despite a total "incomplete" grade for first-round draft picks Justin Gilbert and Johnny Manziel, they got a ton out of this class. Joel Bitonio was a Pro Bowl-level guard, Isaiah Crowell and Terrance West are the backfield of the future (and present), K'Waun Williams was solid at CB, and LB Chris Kirksey and CB Pierre Desir are on the rise. You can make a pretty good case the Browns won more games this season because they got a lot of help from rookies. Hopefully the first-rounders become a benefit, too.
10. (Tie) Jacksonville Jaguars
They got a ton of production from the rookie class. Unfortunately, it just didn't add up to wins, so it's hard to rank them higher because you don't know how much these guys produce elsewhere, and nobody was a star (like Mack in Oakland). Wide receivers Allen Robinson, Marqise Lee and Allen Hurns, linebacker Telvin Smith, guard Brandon Linder and center Luke Bowanko all saw major reps and starts, and cornerback Aaron Colvin is on the way. The knock is that Blake Bortles didn't look ready to start even as he was asked to, and the Jags probably win more if they have a league-average QB taking the snaps in 2014.
10. (Tie) Dallas Cowboys
I wanted to have Dallas in here, because while the Cowboys had only one major contributor from the rookie class, they won 12 games and you felt like Zack Martin and that solidified offensive line was a big reason. DeMarcus Lawrence also showed flashes late as a pass-rusher, and linebacker Anthony Hitchens looks like he'll develop. I had to reward a great rookie and a winning team here.
Here I'll be quicker to the point as I rank the NFL's top 10 rookie classes in terms of winning contributions:
1. Green Bay Packers
They obviously won a lot of football games, and were nothing less than extraordinarily unlucky to not be in the Super Bowl. And rookies played a huge role all the way to the end. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix was good, and got better, and is a potential MVP of the NFC Championship Game if the Packers don't collapse. Pass-catchers Davante Adams and Richard Rodgers played winning roles. Corey Linsley started all year and was a borderline Pro Bowl center. That's getting a lot and winning, too.
2. San Francisco 49ers
The winning dropped some, but they won more than some on this list, and the rookies helped. Chris Borland was a stud in relief at linebacker, running back Carlos Hyde was good and could become great, and Aaron Lynch is a major get. (Really, to get a pass-rusher in Round 5 after other teams didn't get much production from pass-rushers taken in Round 1 seems like stealing.) Defensive back Jimmie Ward definitely had his struggles but was going through a position switch, too. He'll be better, and he played a lot. Those guys helped. They also have future value in Marcus Martin, Brandon Thomas and Bruce Ellington.
3. New York Giants
They didn't win as much as you want, but they get major points for production to push them slightly ahead of the Panthers (who only won a single game more despite the playoff berth). Wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. had a borderline legendary rookie season, and was in the Pro Bowl. Weston Richburg started at guard, Andre Williams started to play a bigger and bigger role at running back, and linebacker Devon Kennard looks like a steal in Round 5.
4. Baltimore Ravens
They are obviously ahead of the Giants on winning -- four more wins plus a playoff berth -- but I grade them slightly behind the Giants in production, because so far this class is mainly about two players. C.J. Mosley was one of the best linebackers in football, period, so he pushes them up. Timmy Jernigan was the best 3-4 DE among rookies, and DB Terrence Brooks, TE Crockett Gillmore and OL John Urschel played some and could start soon.
5. Carolina Panthers
The rookies played a big part in getting them to the playoffs, though only seven regular-season wins did the trick. Kelvin Benjamin was among the top four rookie wide receivers (that's a big compliment in this class) and Cam Newton's No. 1 target. Philly Brownadded receiving depth, Tre Boston started at safety and O-lineman Trai Turner is coming along well. Then there's CB Bene Benwikere, arguably one of the top three steals of the draft so far, whom they got in Round 5. It's been a nice start for this class.
6. Oakland Raiders
OK, so they get docked major points for lack of wins. If they had won, say, 7-8 games, however, this might look like a runaway for best class so far, because the rookies didn't just play, a couple of them were Oakland's best players. Khalil Mack was the best player on the team, and one of the best LBs in the NFL last year. Derek Carr held down the starting QB job and got better, Justin Ellis was their best DT, Gabe Jackson started at guard, cornerbacks Keith McGilland T.J. Carrie played and showed flashes. There were very productive; now they just need to win.
7. St. Louis Rams
Aaron Donald alone should have them in the top 10, because he was one of the best DTs in football. But the offense never got going and they struggled to six wins, which pushes them down. (And remember, all those extra draft picks that have never been able to fix this offense factor into this draft class and grade.) Elsewhere, Greg Robinson shows glimpses that he'll be the left tackle of the future, cornerback E.J. Gaines is a total steal and Tre Mason is the future at running back. This is a nice class, and there are a few others who will gain bigger roles in the future.
8. Minnesota Vikings
They made a two-win jump from 2013 and the rookies certainly played a role. Teddy Bridgewater was my first-team all-rookie QB (just ahead of Carr) and figures to make Cleveland regret taking Johnny Manziel if the current trend lines for each young QB hold. Pass-rusher Anthony Barr made a nice adjustment playing off the line and was really good until he got hurt. I'm a big Jerick McKinnon fan, and he could have a big future at running back if he gets the touches. The rookies helped this team improve, so they definitely belong here.
9. Cleveland Browns
The Browns had a three-win jump from 2013, and despite a total "incomplete" grade for first-round draft picks Justin Gilbert and Johnny Manziel, they got a ton out of this class. Joel Bitonio was a Pro Bowl-level guard, Isaiah Crowell and Terrance West are the backfield of the future (and present), K'Waun Williams was solid at CB, and LB Chris Kirksey and CB Pierre Desir are on the rise. You can make a pretty good case the Browns won more games this season because they got a lot of help from rookies. Hopefully the first-rounders become a benefit, too.
10. (Tie) Jacksonville Jaguars
They got a ton of production from the rookie class. Unfortunately, it just didn't add up to wins, so it's hard to rank them higher because you don't know how much these guys produce elsewhere, and nobody was a star (like Mack in Oakland). Wide receivers Allen Robinson, Marqise Lee and Allen Hurns, linebacker Telvin Smith, guard Brandon Linder and center Luke Bowanko all saw major reps and starts, and cornerback Aaron Colvin is on the way. The knock is that Blake Bortles didn't look ready to start even as he was asked to, and the Jags probably win more if they have a league-average QB taking the snaps in 2014.
10. (Tie) Dallas Cowboys
I wanted to have Dallas in here, because while the Cowboys had only one major contributor from the rookie class, they won 12 games and you felt like Zack Martin and that solidified offensive line was a big reason. DeMarcus Lawrence also showed flashes late as a pass-rusher, and linebacker Anthony Hitchens looks like he'll develop. I had to reward a great rookie and a winning team here.
