This has been the year of the rookie. The 2018 draft cla s already looks potentially transformational and generational. Week after week we have seen novice player after novice player make game-changing plays and create season-defining moments.As we headed toward the playoff push, it was clear that there were going to be a handful of rookies altering the course of their franchises and quickly making a name for themselves among the best in the . I chronicled it a few weeks ago, and it's hardly lost on NFL executives around the league. And, as one would expect with four quarterbacks selected within the first 10 picks and with attention usually hottest on the top half of the first-round, it's easy to forget about some of the players selected later in that round who are paying big dividends. More on the NFL And now many of them are about to take part in something unlike anything they have ever experienced before. They are about to have all eyes Amine Jersey on them at the highest level this game is played, with the playoffs upon us. Some will become instant household names and experience a degree of fame and marketing opportunities unlike anything they have seen before should they continue on the path they have already charted. I expect many of them to take full advantage of this expanded platform.We already know plenty about , who should be the Rookie of the Year and who has helped turn the into a team suddenly feared after years of being a laughingstock. And we know that Browns rookies and have been stars also. Seth Curry Jersey was what the hoped he would be, has flashed Pro Bowl potential, is already one of the best pa s rushers in the NFL, and is living up to the potential Hall of Fame billing for the , in the top 10 alone. But of that group, Nelson is the only one with a chance to go to the postseason, and stud rookie linebacker is the only top-10 rookie selection who already knows a post-season berth awaits. On just that group alone, this draft cla s would deserve accolades. But consider the kids selected from picks 14-40 who have an opportunity to make big things happen in the playoffs: , , 14th overallSean Payton made one of the biggest splashes in the draft, grabbing the best pa s rusher not named Chubb, and my, has it worked out. Davenport was becoming a beast off the edge before his injury, and he is back to menacing quarterbacks again. Now with e sentially a chance to get fully healthy before New Orleans plays its first playoff game, Davenport is positioned to become one of the faces of this postseason should the Saints maintain this form into January. The trade was made with 2018 in mind, to say nothing of what could be a long career, and to put this defense over the top. He just might do it. , , 17thHe is a do-everything safety who has lifted every aspect of the Los Angeles defense. There seems to be nothing he can't do, including get to the quarterback and force turnovers. He will be showcased in the postseason as the Chargers have to face the po sibility of running a gauntlet of QBs that could include , and . He may be the Defensive Rookie of the Year already. , , 19thAll he has done is replace Cowboys leader and linebacking force on the fly as a rookie and become a do-everything player for Dallas in the proce s. He has strengthened and solidified what can be an elite front seven any given week, and with the Cowboys' pa sing game still limited and this not a quick-strike team, his emergence has been absolutely vital. , , 27thHe had a very slow start and gets lost in the mix of a Seahawks' running game that is overflowing with options but he has the ability to be sudden and electric and I suspect there are a Carmelo Anthony Jersey few tricks with him involved in the postseason. One play can make the difference and with him and lined up ion the pistol, there are some matchups that could be exploited. A few big gains in the playoffs could color the way his rookie season is remembered. , , 31stWhat an impact he has made from the moment he was finally healthy enough to hit the field. And with Brady looking mortal and with looking done and with suspended indefinitely, again, Michel is the key fulcrum in the New England offense. They will go as far as his young legs can take them, and they need a ball-control approach to limit how long their shaky defense is on the field. If New England has one more long playoff run, this kid will have to be a big reason why. , , 32ndAll he has done is totally transform a 4-5 team, that was ranked 31st in yards per carry and almost dead last in yards per attempt as well, into one of the most interesting and unique offenses in football. His ability to dictate in the run game has overcome the lack of playmakers on Caleb Swanigan Jersey the rest of the offense and has Baltimore with a chance to win the AFC North. One of the more dynamic athletes in the league, he continues to make just enough big pa ses to win games. Baltimore could be a tough out in the playoffs and having to a sume starting duties midseason with virtually every week feeling like a playoff game hasn't been too big for him. , Colts, 36thHe has become the face of this upstart defense and someone who always shows up around the ball. He is a tackling machine for a unit that most expected to be among the worst in football, and huge part in why the Colts, shockingly, stand one win away from reaching the postseason. In most years he would be getting tons of talk about Defensive Rookie of the Year, but, as noted, this particular cla s is ridiculously deep and talented. That doesn't mean Mario Hezonja Jersey he won't get some of that attention should Indianapolis knock off a team or two in the postseason, which is hardly out of the question. , Bears, 39thThe least heralded of this group and one who has had a limited spotlight due in part to the position he plays and the fact that Nelson is a guard as well. But Daniels was thrust into a starting role midway through the season and he looked the part in an offensive line that has incubated . Daniels, from Iowa, just turned 21 in season and has had to take on the likes of already, and has held his own. His PFF numbers are quite strong and if he can hold up like that in the playoffs he'd be an unsung hero on this team that has already exceeded expectations.
This has been the year of the rookie. The 2018 draft cla s already looks potentially transformational and generational. Week after week we have seen novice player after novice player make game-changing plays and create season-defining moments.As we headed toward the playoff push, it was clear that there were going to be a handful of rookies altering the course of their franchises and quickly making a name for themselves among the best in the . I chronicled it a few weeks ago, and it's hardly lost on NFL executives around the league. And, as one would expect with four quarterbacks selected within the first 10 picks and with attention usually hottest on the top half of the first-round, it's easy to forget about some of the players selected later in that round who are paying big dividends. More on the NFL And now many of them are about to take part in something unlike anything they have ever experienced before. They are about to have all eyes Amine Jersey on them at the highest level this game is played, with the playoffs upon us. Some will become instant household names and experience a degree of fame and marketing opportunities unlike anything they have seen before should they continue on the path they have already charted. I expect many of them to take full advantage of this expanded platform.We already know plenty about , who should be the Rookie of the Year and who has helped turn the into a team suddenly feared after years of being a laughingstock. And we know that Browns rookies and have been stars also. Seth Curry Jersey was what the hoped he would be, has flashed Pro Bowl potential, is already one of the best pa s rushers in the NFL, and is living up to the potential Hall of Fame billing for the , in the top 10 alone. But of that group, Nelson is the only one with a chance to go to the postseason, and stud rookie linebacker is the only top-10 rookie selection who already knows a post-season berth awaits. On just that group alone, this draft cla s would deserve accolades. But consider the kids selected from picks 14-40 who have an opportunity to make big things happen in the playoffs: , , 14th overallSean Payton made one of the biggest splashes in the draft, grabbing the best pa s rusher not named Chubb, and my, has it worked out. Davenport was becoming a beast off the edge before his injury, and he is back to menacing quarterbacks again. Now with e sentially a chance to get fully healthy before New Orleans plays its first playoff game, Davenport is positioned to become one of the faces of this postseason should the Saints maintain this form into January. The trade was made with 2018 in mind, to say nothing of what could be a long career, and to put this defense over the top. He just might do it. , , 17thHe is a do-everything safety who has lifted every aspect of the Los Angeles defense. There seems to be nothing he can't do, including get to the quarterback and force turnovers. He will be showcased in the postseason as the Chargers have to face the po sibility of running a gauntlet of QBs that could include , and . He may be the Defensive Rookie of the Year already. , , 19thAll he has done is replace Cowboys leader and linebacking force on the fly as a rookie and become a do-everything player for Dallas in the proce s. He has strengthened and solidified what can be an elite front seven any given week, and with the Cowboys' pa sing game still limited and this not a quick-strike team, his emergence has been absolutely vital. , , 27thHe had a very slow start and gets lost in the mix of a Seahawks' running game that is overflowing with options but he has the ability to be sudden and electric and I suspect there are a Carmelo Anthony Jersey few tricks with him involved in the postseason. One play can make the difference and with him and lined up ion the pistol, there are some matchups that could be exploited. A few big gains in the playoffs could color the way his rookie season is remembered. , , 31stWhat an impact he has made from the moment he was finally healthy enough to hit the field. And with Brady looking mortal and with looking done and with suspended indefinitely, again, Michel is the key fulcrum in the New England offense. They will go as far as his young legs can take them, and they need a ball-control approach to limit how long their shaky defense is on the field. If New England has one more long playoff run, this kid will have to be a big reason why. , , 32ndAll he has done is totally transform a 4-5 team, that was ranked 31st in yards per carry and almost dead last in yards per attempt as well, into one of the most interesting and unique offenses in football. His ability to dictate in the run game has overcome the lack of playmakers on Caleb Swanigan Jersey the rest of the offense and has Baltimore with a chance to win the AFC North. One of the more dynamic athletes in the league, he continues to make just enough big pa ses to win games. Baltimore could be a tough out in the playoffs and having to a sume starting duties midseason with virtually every week feeling like a playoff game hasn't been too big for him. , Colts, 36thHe has become the face of this upstart defense and someone who always shows up around the ball. He is a tackling machine for a unit that most expected to be among the worst in football, and huge part in why the Colts, shockingly, stand one win away from reaching the postseason. In most years he would be getting tons of talk about Defensive Rookie of the Year, but, as noted, this particular cla s is ridiculously deep and talented. That doesn't mean Mario Hezonja Jersey he won't get some of that attention should Indianapolis knock off a team or two in the postseason, which is hardly out of the question. , Bears, 39thThe least heralded of this group and one who has had a limited spotlight due in part to the position he plays and the fact that Nelson is a guard as well. But Daniels was thrust into a starting role midway through the season and he looked the part in an offensive line that has incubated . Daniels, from Iowa, just turned 21 in season and has had to take on the likes of already, and has held his own. His PFF numbers are quite strong and if he can hold up like that in the playoffs he'd be an unsung hero on this team that has already exceeded expectations.
