QBs
Vince Young
Stats: 122/267 (45.7%), 2,276 Passing Yards, 17 TDs, 14 INTs, 75.1 Rating
The Vikings drafted Vince Young with the 5th overall pick to be their QB of the future, but they had a dilemma. They wanted to both develop a young QB, as well as compete for a Super Bowl. They ended up doing a good job at checking both of those boxes during the season. They ended the season going 10-6, and losing in the wild card round to the Seahawks. Vince Young ended up playing in about half of those games, and put up good stats in the ones that he played. He lead all rookies in rating, and had he played the entire season, likely would've led in yards and TDs as well. It remains to be seen whether Steve McNair retires or not, but the Vikings seem to be committed to Vince Young being their full time starter in 2007. Vince Young is primed for a breakout year in his sophomore season, as he already had a great rookie season but now gets to start a full year. The Vikings have an elite offensive unit around him, even after trading WR Randy Moss in the offseason. They've got a great offensive line to help protect Young, and limit the sacks he takes. They've also got a great running game through HB Clinton Portis. With a strong offense, that also has a lot of youth, the Vikings will be able to heavily invest into their defense this offseason and go back to being Super Bowl contenders in 2007.
Jay Cutler
Stats: 196/414 (47.3%), 3,256 Passing Yards, 23 TDs, 23 INTs, 69.7 Rating
Jay Cutler was drafted 7th overall by the Jaguars. The Jaguars were eying fellow QB Vince Young, and even traded up to try to get him, but they were jumped by the Vikings. While Cutler was a consolation prize, he seems like he could end up being a great one. He put up a good season in his first year, and led the Jaguars to a .500 record. The Jaguars were 4-7 at one point, but Cutler led them to a 4-1 finish and a lot to look forward to in the future. The Jaguars will be able to build around Cutler this offseason, and look forward to him improving in year 2. Cutler led all rookie QBs in passing yards and TDs, although Vince Young didn't start the entire season. Cutler looked just as good as Vince Young did, and he also had a 5 TD game as well as a 4 TD game. Cutler has a rocket arm, and good accuracy to go along with it. He will need to improve his awareness, as he was sacked 58 times which led the entire NFL. Taking a lot of sacks is expected for young QBs, and Cutler will surely be able to improve upon that metric come his sophomore season. The Jaguars have a young offense that will only get better as they get more experience, and they should be competing in the playoffs is the near future.
Brodie Croyle
Stats: 108/241 (44.8%), 1,685 Passing Yards, 8 TDs, 12 INTs, 58.9 Rating
The Saints drafted QB Brodie Croyle in the 2nd round, and likely didn't expect him to play much in his rookie season. With Ben Roethlisberger struggling with injuries throughout the season, Croyle had to start multiple games. he ended up having a respectable rookie season, especially on a team that struggled. He was able to mostly limit the amount of sacks he took throughout the season, although he was sacked 9 times against the Falcons in week 14. He had an up and down season as a passer, which is expected from a rookie, but overall showed flashes and should have a positive outlook in the future if he ends up becoming a starter. The Saints have already shown interest in potentially moving Roethlisberger, if they do end up doing that it will be interesting to see what they do at QB. With their GM on the hot seat they may not want to roll with a young QB, so they could be in the market for another veteran. They may also decide to roll the dice and go with Croyle as their starter after he showed flashes, and build around him.
HBs
DeAngelo Williams
Stats: 193 Attempts, 802 Rushing Yards, 4.16 YPC, 8 TDs, 5 Fumbles
The Patriots already had 26 year old HB Willis McGahee on the team, but when you have no real weaknesses like the Patriots had you can make a luxury pick. They did just that when making DeAngelo Williams the 31st pick in the draft, and the first HB selected. Both HBs split carries throughout the season, Williams ended up leading the team in rushing yards. While McGahee had a more efficient season, with 4.85 YPC and no fumbles, Williams had a great rookie year and will only build on it in the future. It's never a bad problem to have two great HBs on your team, but it does give the Patriots an interesting decision this offseason. With the disappointing early exit from the playoffs, the Patriots could look to get aggressive in the offseason and potentially move someone like McGahee. There have even been rumblings of QB Tom Brady potentially being available, the Patriots could be a team that shakes up the league this offseason. No matter what they do, they have a great core piece with Williams who gets to play on one of the best rosters in the league.
Michael Robinson
Stats: 192 Attempts, 839 Rushing Yards, 4.37 YPC, 9 TDs, 2 Fumbles
Michael Robinson arguably had the best season of any rookie HB, and the Rams got him for great value in the middle of the 2nd round. He got injured after 11 games, and likely would've led all rookies in rushing yards had he not gotten injured. He had an efficient season in his rookie year, with solid yards per carry, averaging almost a TD a game, and with only two fumbles. The Rams had one of the best offenses in the league, and it wasn't just because of QB Kurt Warner or WR Torry Holt. Robinson was a big reason for it as well. The Rams looked like they were the favorites to win the NFC and make the Super Bowl, but they had an unfortunate end when they lost to the Lions in the divisional round. Marshall Faulk filled in well at HB in Robinson's absence, but the Rams will be excited to get Robinson back and healthy for his sophomore season. With Kurt Warner's likely retirement, the Rams will be happy to run it back with a rising young HB in Robinson as they look to compete for the Super Bowl again next season.
Joseph Addai
Stats: 298 Attempts, 927 Rushing Yards, 3.11 YPC, 1 TD, 5 Fumbles
Joseph Addai was the 3rd HB drafted, as he went in the late 3rd round. On the stat sheet, he had an inefficient season. He had lower yards per carry than other top rookie HBs, only scored one TD and had 5 fumbles. However, the Cardinals struggled on offense as a whole. HB is very dependent on the rest of the offense, and Addai was let down by the rest of the unit. Addai had three 100 yard games early in the season, and was healthy the entire year. While he didn't have the best stats on paper, he had a reliable season and as the Cardinals offense improves he will as well. He's got solid size and athleticism to become a top HB in the league, and the Cardinals will likely look to invest into the offensive line this season to help Addai take that sophomore leap. The Cardinals showed some interest in moving QB Chad Pennington and could look to shop him in the offseason. Whether it's Pennington, Kyle Orton, or anyone else at QB for the Cardinals, Addai will be looking to be a reliable force in the ground game as he improves in his second season.
WRs
Brandon Marshall
Stats: 78 Receptions, 1,328 Receiving Yards, 8 TDs, 5 Drops, 288 YAC
After being selected with the 3rd overall pick by the Vikings, WR Brandon Marshall wasted no time establishing himself as one of the league's best weapons. He finished his rookie season with 78 catches for 1,328 receiving yards and 8 touchdowns. The Vikings traded WR Randy Moss in the offseason and immediately had questions about their passing attack, but Marshall filled in for the loss of Moss in a big way. While Minnesota fell short of its ultimate goal of a Super Bowl, Marshall's emergence gives the franchise a cornerstone offensive weapon to build around for years to come. With a full offseason ahead and another year of development, the Vikings have every reason to believe Marshall can take his game to the next level and become an elite WR just like Moss. The Vince Young and Brandon Marshall pairing is likely going to become one of the best duos in the league for a long time, and fellow NFC North teams will likely be looking to improve their secondary this offseason in able to limit those two. The Vikings have their offense mostly set, and will likely be looking to strengthen their defense in the offseason as they look to make another run in the NFC.
Greg Jennings
Stats: 58 Receptions, 1,364 Receiving Yards, 9 TDs, 3 Drops, 423 YAC
The Jaguars selected WR Greg Jennings with the 13th pick in the draft, pairing him up with fellow rookie QB Jay Cutler. The Jaguars found a great young WR when they selected Jennings, as he immediately developed into one of the most dangerous deep threats in the league. On just 58 catches, he had 1,364 receiving yards and 9 touchdowns, averaging over 23 yards per reception. Jacksonville's offense relied heavily on big plays throughout the season, as they had a rookie QB and Jennings became the centerpiece of that attack. he led all rookie receivers in receiving yards and was one of the most productive and efficient WRs in the entire league. The Jaguars have every reason to be excited about their young offense moving forward, and as Jennings continues to develop and gains more experience, the Jaguars will likely end up with one of the best deep threat WRs in the entire league. The Jaguars are in a great position as they get to build around both a promising young QB and promising young WR. They also traded for HB Ricky Williams early in the season, they could end up with one of the most exciting offenses next season.
Marques Colston
Stats: 53 Receptions, 935 Receiving Yards, 6 TDs, 4 Drops, 194 YAC
The Cowboys drafted one of the more raw WRs in the draft when they selected WR Marques Colston in the early 2nd. He's got a massive 6'5 frame but is a very raw WR who needed to improve both his awareness and hands. Despite being a more raw WR, he was asked to take on a big role in his rookie season. He ended up finishing third in receiving among all rookies and second on the Cowboys. Playing with QB Drew Brees likely helped out significantly, as well as being on a great offense with a lot of dynamic playmakers. Colston's size will allow him to become a great receiving threat as he continues to improve and gain experience. The Cowboys have built a great receiving corps as they not only have 6'5 Colston, but also 6'3 WR Ashley Lelie, 6'3 WR Tab Perry, and 6'6 TE Courtney Anderson. Any team playing the Cowboys is going to have a difficult time playing against a receiving corps of physical specimens. While the Cowboys missed the playoffs, despite going 10-6, they've got a lot of positives to look forward to in the future.
TEs
Vernon Davis
Stats: 46 Receptions, 678 Receiving Yards, 6 TDs, 4 Drops, 192 YAC
The Redskins went into the offseason looking for a new franchise TE, and they found one with the 14th pick in Vernon Davis. He's got good size, as well as great athleticism for a TE and he showed that off in his rookie season. He put up good yardage numbers, while appearing in every game of the season for the Redskins. His best game of the season came when he had over 100 receiving yards and 3 TDs against the Jets, and while he didn't surpass 100 receiving yards in another game during the season, he had a solid season in his rookie year. TEs often develop at a slower pace than the other skill positions, but Davis' solid start to his career will allow him to only grow and continue to get better and be a great foundation for the Redskins offense. The Redskins went 9-7, which wasn't enough to make the playoffs, but they've got talent to work with and can be excited about the long-term duo of WR Braylon Edwards and TE Vernon Davis. As they continue to build their skill positions on their team, they are going to be a playoff threat in the near future and will be able to compete in a strong NFC East.
Marcedes Lewis
Stats: 47 Receptions, 712 Receiving Yards, 7 TDs, 8 Drops, 206 YAC
Marcedes Lewis was drafted in the middle of the 2nd round, drafted after other TEs like Vernon Davis and Leonard Pope. A major reason for this is that he's not the elite athlete that those TEs are, but that didn't stop him from leading all rookie TEs in receiving. Lewis doesn't have the speed that other young TEs do, but he makes up for it with his massive 6'6 frame. He's also got solid awareness and hands for a rookie, and was ready to start right away for the Falcons. The Falcons have prioritized size while building around their dynamic QB Michael Vick. Along with Lewis they've got 6'5 WR Larry Brackins, 6'4 WR Derrick Hamilton, and a massive 250lb HB in T.J. Duckett. The Falcons are putting together a difficult offense to stop, with Vick's rushing ability and his weapons sizes. While the Falcons weren't able to get it done in the playoffs, they are building a strong offense and will continue to dominant the NFC South until another team steps up.
Owen Daniels
Stats: 41 Receptions, 623 Receiving Yards, 3 TDs, 3 Drops, 160 YAC
Owen Daniels was seen as a potential highly drafted TE prospect, but he slipped in the draft to the early 4th round. He was the Texans first selection of the draft, and it was a great first player to draft. He put together a very strong rookie season, up their with any of the other highly drafted TEs. While he doesn't have a single elite trait, which may be a reason for his fall, he's a very well rounded TE who should become a reliable starter for a long time. Other TEs like Vernon Davis and Leonard Pope went early for their athleticism, and Marcedes Lewis for his size. Daniels is an all-around reliable player who provided great value for the Texans and will continue to develop and be a good TE for them. He was one of the better value picks in the draft, and helped the Texans forget that they didn't have a pick until day 3. The Texans had a down year this season, but they have a lot of good young players and veterans and should be able to rebound next season.
OTs
D'Brickashaw Ferguson
Stats: 87 Pancakes, 9 Sacks Allowed
Not every team wants to use a high pick on an OL, as it's not always seen as the exciting pick or the pick that can carry a franchise to success. Some teams, however, believe than the trenches are where football games are won and lost. The Jets fall into the category of the ladder, as they selected OT D'Brickashaw Ferguson with the 6th overall pick. He was their top target in the draft, and they were able to trade down to get him, while acquiring a future 1st from the Vikings. He broke the rookie record with 87 pancakes, showing an elite ability as both a pass blocker and a run blocker. He gave up 9 sacks, which isn't a bad number for a rookie, and helped the Jets improve tremendously over last season. While the Jets season ended in an unfortunate matter when QB Alex Smith went down, they've got a lot to look forward to in the future. Ferguson will be an anchor on their OL for years to come, and continue to improve and become a dominant force. It will be interesting to see if other teams look to be more aggressive in drafting OL early after seeing what Ferguson did in his rookie season.
Winston Justice
Stats: 55 Pancakes, 8 Sacks Allowed
The Ravens got great value when they took OT Winston Justice with the 25th pick. He came into the league with great strength, and as a great run blocker. He's also a solid pass blocker, although that's a part of his game that he will look to improve upon as he gains experience. Justice had a good rookie season with 55 pancakes and 8 sacks allowed. He will look to continue to improve as a pass blocker while also being a dominant run blocker. This was one of the best value picks in the 1st round, as the Ravens got a franchise tackle with a late pick in the round. With OT Jonathan Ogden getting older, it was important that the Ravens were able to add a tackle in the offseason. They got a good one in Justice as they continue to build a dominant offensive line. While they had a disappointing season compared to their past few seasons, going 7-9, if they continue adding good players like Justice they will be back to competing for a Super Bowl next season.
Tony Moll
Stats: 62 Pancakes, 3 Sacks Allowed
Tony Moll was originally drafted by the Bills in the middle of the 3rd round. The Chargers ended up trading for him at the trade deadline. They traded a 3rd rounder and 6th rounder for Moll and a 5th rounder. I think the trade was great value as they got a future franchise tackle. Moll had a great season, especially for a 3rd round pick. He had a high number of pancakes, and kept his sacks allowed low. He's a well rounded tackle with good size that gave the Chargers reliable protection for QB Eli Manning. He should continue to be able to improve and become a true franchise tackle in the future. It's rumored that the Chargers have traded Moll for a 2nd round pick. That's great return on value to get him for a 3rd, and then flipping him for a 2nd. He will also provide value for the team that traded for him, as he can become their franchise tackle. Offensive line can be hard to find, as you need five starters and the supply is less than other positions. It's important to find good cornerstones to your offensive line when you can.
IOL
Eddie Keele
Stats: 37 Pancakes, 8 Sacks Allowed
The Jaguars drafted a guard with elite strength when they got Eddie Keele in the late 2nd. He's a raw player, but he's extremely strong and has the ability to develop into a great guard in the future. He's a well rounded blocker, but he can improve his awareness. He had an up and down rookie season, he had solid pancake numbers for a rookie but did give up a decent amount of sacks. IOL can be a big jump for rookies as the game is much more physical. Keele has the strength to play in the league, but needs to gain more awareness and experience as he develops. He's also playing with a rookie QB and a younger offense which can cause growing pains. Once the Jaguars offense develops they should become one of the best units in the league, and the Jaguars could be a dangerous team in the near future. They've already been quickly improving under their new GM, and that should continue into the future. They have a lot to look forward to, and it will be interesting to see how aggressive they are this offseason as they build around their young QB, Jay Cutler.
Will Montgomery
Stats: 24 Pancakes, 3 Sacks Allowed
While the Texans didn't have any picks until day 3, they made the most of those picks and got great value. You wouldn't know all their draft picks were day 3 picks as they had multiple rookies contribute right away. They drafted Montgomery in the late 5th round and he was their starting center. While rookie offensive lineman can sometimes be liabilities early on, Montgomery was a reliable force. He only allowed 3 sacks all season and is a well rounded player. He would benefit from improving his awareness, but he has solid strength and is a good pass blocker and run blocker. He lacks athleticism, which was a trend with many centers in this class, but he makes up for it with his blocking ability and should be a reliable starting center long-term. The Texans will look for him to take a leap in his sophomore season as they hope to rebound from a disappointing season.
Chris Chester
Stats: 38 Pancakes, 1 Sack Allowed
Finding starting caliber OL is extremely difficult after the 1st round, but the Cowboys were able to find a starting caliber center in the 6th round which is great value. Chris Chester has solid size and awareness. He lacks athleticism, but makes up for it with his strong pass blocking and run blocking. He ended up being one of the best hidden gems from the draft as he had a good rookie season. He had a solid 38 pancakes, and also only allowed one sack. He's an underwhelming athlete, which was likely a reason that he fell. He showed that he was worth the pick as he had a good rookie season and should be a reliable piece along the Cowboys OL for years to come. There were concerns about the Cowboys OL going into the season, as they went with a very young OL. The investment into youth seemed to of paid off as QB Drew Brees was only sacked 12 times in 14 games. Brees makes it very easy for his OL as he has elite pocket awareness, but it is still a good sign that a young OL played as well as they did. The Cowboys got unlucky as 10-6 was not good enough to make the playoffs, but they should be able to rebound next season and return to competing for another Super Bowl.
Conclusion
The 2006 rookie class produced talented players at every position, it delivered one of the more promising groups of young talent in recent memory. Throughout the season, rookies made an impact across the league, from franchise quarterbacks and explosive playmakers to cornerstone offensive linemen who helped transform entire offenses. Players such as Vince Young, Jay Cutler, Brandon Marshall, Greg Jennings, and D'Brickashaw Ferguson became key pieces for their teams from day one. At the same time, value selections like Michael Robinson, Owen Daniels, Will Montgomery, and Chris Chester proved that championship foundations are often built well beyond the first round. What makes this class especially intriguing is that many of its top performers are only scratching the surface of their potential. Young quarterbacks will continue to improve in the offseason and get better in their sophomore seasons, young rising skill position players will continue developing chemistry with their QBs, and young offensive linemen will benefit from another offseason of growth and improvement. Several franchises that missed the playoffs still have plenty of optimism because of the young talent they added, while contenders have found impact players capable of helping them pursue a championship now and in the future. Some players who flashed star potential in their rookie year will go on to become great players, while others may face challenges as defenses adjust to them. Likewise, a few players who had quieter rookie campaigns may develop into important contributors over time. Rookies who struggled early on still have a lot of time to grow and improve and many will.
