The 2006 Rookie Class Through PPI
A full position-by-position look at how the 2006 rookies actually performed in their first season.
Every rookie class gets judged twice. The first judgment comes on draft day, when the conversation is built around traits, ceilings, measurables, needs, and projections. The second judgment comes after the season, when promise has to share the stage with actual production. That second judgment is usually more complicated. Some rookies step into major roles immediately. Some produce efficiently in tiny samples. Some are asked to do too much too soon. Others barely play at all, leaving a first-year line that says more about opportunity than long-term ability.
That is what makes PPI useful in a rookie review. It does not simply reward the largest raw total. It measures each season against the broader standards of the position, which means a rookie is not graded on a softer curve. A first-year player can be promising and still score modestly. A tiny efficient sample can also rise surprisingly high, which is why playing time and workload still need to be discussed alongside the number. PPI creates structure, but context remains essential.
The class itself was uneven in fascinating ways. Quarterback and most of the offensive line looked developmental. Tight end and wide receiver produced immediate high-level players. The defensive front was deep, the linebacker group was outstanding, and Dawan Landry gave the secondary a true star season. Clint Ingram finished with the highest rookie score on the board, while Marcedes Lewis, DeMeco Ryans, Jeremy Mincey, Brandon Marshall, Greg Jennings, and several others immediately looked like major contributors.
What follows is the full position-by-position review of the 2006 rookie class. The tables keep the production visible, while the longer observations try to separate real workload from small-sample efficiency and immediate impact from developmental promise. |
| | QB | Quarterback is always difficult to judge through a rookie lens because volume and quality can point in different directions. In 2006, neither side of that equation produced a truly strong PPI season. Vince Young led the group at 44.9, finishing with a 75.1 rating, 2,276 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions. That made him the most balanced rookie passer on the board, but it still left him well below the level PPI treats as an established high-quality season.
Jay Cutler carried the biggest workload and produced the loudest raw totals with 3,256 yards and 23 touchdowns, but 23 interceptions kept his score down at 25.7. Kellen Clemens was more limited, while Brodie Croyle and Matt Leinart both struggled badly with efficiency and turnovers. Leinart's 48.0 rating and 6-to-16 touchdown-to-interception line were especially damaging.
This was a developmental quarterback class rather than an immediate-impact one. Young had the best first chapter, Cutler showed that he could handle real volume, and the others offered smaller or rougher samples. PPI is severe here because rookie context does not lower the historical standard. The group may still contain long-term answers, but based strictly on 2006 production, no passer arrived as a finished product. | | PLAYER | PPI | RATING | YARDS | TD | INT | | Vince Young | 44.9 | 75.1 | 2276 | 17 | 14 | | Kellen Clemens | 28.6 | 69.7 | 752 | 3 | 5 | | Jay Cutler | 25.7 | 69.7 | 3256 | 23 | 23 | | Brodie Croyle | 14.3 | 58.9 | 1685 | 8 | 12 | | Matt Leinart | 1.7 | 48.0 | 1598 | 6 | 16 |
| | FB | The 2006 fullback class was small and quiet. J.D. Runnels led the two-player group with a 32.8 PPI, supported mostly by 34 pancakes and modest receiving production. David Thomas finished at 26.5 and had the more varied statistical line, adding 44 rushing yards, 139 receiving yards, and two total touchdowns, but his lighter blocking total kept him behind Runnels.
There is not much reason to inflate this category. Neither rookie produced a season that changed the shape of an offense, and both scores sit well below the range PPI considers strong. Runnels had the better blocking base. Thomas supplied a little more offensive versatility. Together, they made this a functional but unremarkable rookie group. | | PLAYER | PPI | PANCAKES | RUSH YDS | RUSH TD | REC YDS | REC TD | REC | | J.D. Runnels | 32.8 | 34 | 19 | 0 | 57 | 0 | 6 | | David Thomas | 26.5 | 19 | 44 | 1 | 139 | 1 | 9 |
| | HB | Halfback produced one of the better rookie offensive stories of 2006. Michael Robinson led the class with a 100.8 PPI after turning 192 carries into 839 yards and 9 touchdowns. The workload was meaningful, the 4.37 average was solid, and the touchdown production gave him the only elite-range score among the rookie runners.
P.J. Pope followed with an unusual but effective season. He had only 93 carries and averaged 3.61 yards, yet scored 8 touchdowns without fumbling, which pushed him to 88.8. DeAngelo Williams was the more conventional all-around prospect, gaining 802 yards at 4.16 per carry with 8 touchdowns, although five fumbles pulled his score down to 86.3. Jerious Norwood also gave the class a useful fourth option with 439 yards and 5 scores.
Joseph Addai is the clearest example of volume not automatically becoming quality. He received 298 carries and reached 927 yards, but a 3.11 average, only one touchdown, and five fumbles left him at 52.8. At the bottom, several highly recognizable names barely played, and Maurice Jones-Drew's three carries for minus-two yards are obviously too small a sample to say anything meaningful about his future. As a rookie-season ranking, though, Robinson was the clear winner and the class had enough depth behind him to remain interesting. | | PLAYER | PPI | ATT | RUSH YDS | AVG | TD | FUM | | Michael Robinson | 100.8 | 192 | 839 | 4.37 | 9 | 2 | | P.J. Pope | 88.8 | 93 | 336 | 3.61 | 8 | 0 | | DeAngelo Williams | 86.3 | 193 | 802 | 4.16 | 8 | 5 | | Jerious Norwood | 78.0 | 117 | 439 | 3.75 | 5 | 1 | | Joseph Addai | 52.8 | 298 | 927 | 3.11 | 1 | 5 | | Cedric Humes | 49.1 | 53 | 151 | 2.85 | 3 | 1 | | LenDale White | 44.7 | 128 | 356 | 2.78 | 1 | 1 | | Laurence Maroney | 35.9 | 30 | 91 | 3.03 | 1 | 0 | | Brandon Schnittker | 7.7 | 3 | 5 | 1.67 | 0 | 0 | | P.J. Daniels | 6.0 | 3 | 7 | 2.33 | 0 | 1 | | Maurice Jones-Drew | 1.5 | 3 | -2 | -0.67 | 0 | 0 |
| | TE | Tight end was one of the strongest rookie positions in the entire 2006 class. Marcedes Lewis immediately looked like a complete player, catching 47 passes for 712 yards and 7 touchdowns while adding 55 pancakes. That blend of receiving and blocking value produced a 114.1 PPI, one of the best rookie scores at any position.
Vernon Davis was also excellent. His 46 catches, 678 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 37 pancakes gave him a 104.0 PPI and made this a genuine two-player headline rather than a one-man category. Owen Daniels added a very good 91.8 season, while Garrett Mills and Leonard Pope both cleared 80 and contributed enough receiving production to look like real offensive pieces.
The depth is what makes this group especially impressive. Anthony Fasano was useful, Jeff King contributed in a smaller role, and even the lower names gave the position more substance than many other rookie groups. Lewis was the star, Davis was close behind, and the 2006 tight ends collectively delivered one of the cleanest early returns in the draft class. | | PLAYER | PPI | CATCHES | REC YDS | TD | PANCAKES | | Marcedes Lewis | 114.1 | 47 | 712 | 7 | 55 | | Vernon Davis | 104.0 | 46 | 678 | 6 | 37 | | Owen Daniels | 91.8 | 41 | 623 | 3 | 39 | | Garrett Mills | 86.5 | 40 | 418 | 6 | 28 | | Leonard Pope | 81.2 | 39 | 595 | 2 | 29 | | Anthony Fasano | 69.3 | 15 | 208 | 3 | 31 | | Jeff King | 47.7 | 9 | 115 | 1 | 18 | | Quinn Sypniewski | 23.8 | 4 | 23 | 1 | 11 | | Tony Scheffler | 12.0 | 5 | 81 | 0 | 3 |
| | WR | Wide receiver was another major strength. Brandon Marshall led the rookies with 78 catches, 1,328 yards, and 8 touchdowns for a 111.5 PPI. Greg Jennings was almost as impressive, reaching 1,364 yards and 9 touchdowns on only 58 catches for a 110.0. Marshall brought more catch volume. Jennings brought more yardage and scoring efficiency. Both looked like established weapons immediately.
Marques Colston formed a strong second tier with 935 yards and 6 touchdowns, while Todd Watkins, Domenik Hixon, and Jeff Webb all produced credible rookie seasons above 78 PPI. That gives the class real depth beyond the two stars. Bennie Brazell reached 600 yards, and several others found useful roles even without becoming high-end producers.
The lower half of the table also shows how difficult the position can be. A few rookies barely touched the ball, and names such as Chad Jackson, Travis Wilson, and Glenn Holt did not receive enough production to build meaningful PPI cases. Still, the overall picture is clearly positive. Marshall and Jennings were outstanding, Colston was productive, and the supporting group made wide receiver one of the deepest offensive categories of 2006. | | PLAYER | PPI | CATCHES | REC YDS | TD | | Brandon Marshall | 111.5 | 78 | 1328 | 8 | | Greg Jennings | 110.0 | 58 | 1364 | 9 | | Marques Colston | 87.8 | 53 | 935 | 6 | | Todd Watkins | 81.2 | 47 | 777 | 7 | | Domenik Hixon | 78.4 | 51 | 794 | 4 | | Jeff Webb | 78.0 | 37 | 760 | 7 | | Bennie Brazell | 66.2 | 36 | 600 | 3 | | David Brown | 57.9 | 36 | 411 | 3 | | Derek Hagan | 52.6 | 24 | 419 | 2 | | Ben Obomanu | 50.7 | 19 | 376 | 3 | | Kevin McMahan | 44.9 | 20 | 307 | 2 | | Devin Aromashodu | 40.2 | 21 | 253 | 1 | | Miles Austin | 28.9 | 11 | 200 | 0 | | Marques Hagans | 18.8 | 5 | 63 | 1 | | Jason Avant | 12.7 | 4 | 21 | 1 | | Chad Jackson | 4.5 | 1 | 22 | 0 | | Travis Wilson | 3.2 | 1 | 13 | 0 | | Glenn Holt | 2.0 | 1 | 7 | 0 |
| | LT | Left tackle produced a respectable top group but also several harsh rookie lessons. DBrickashaw Ferguson led the class with 87 pancakes and 9 sacks allowed, good for a 76.6 PPI. It was not a dominant season, but it was a substantial workload and a credible first-year result at one of the most difficult positions on the field.
Tony Moll followed at 69.0 with a cleaner three-sack total, while Rashad Butler reached 55.3 and Kevin Boothe, listed at guard on draft day but graded at left tackle in the season file, finished at 50.0. Moose Ojinnaka, Jonathan Scott, and Andrew Whitworth all produced mixed profiles with enough pancake value to show something, but not enough protection stability to rise much higher.
Guy Whimper's line is the clearest warning in the group. Forty-two pancakes suggest real playing time and some run-blocking success, but 15 sacks allowed drove his PPI almost to zero. That is the unforgiving part of offensive line grading. Ferguson had the best overall rookie season, Moll looked useful, and the rest of the class ranged from developmental to extremely rough. | | PLAYER | PPI | PANCAKES | SACKS ALLOWED | | DBrickashaw Ferguson | 76.6 | 87 | 9 | | Tony Moll | 69.0 | 62 | 3 | | Rashad Butler | 55.3 | 47 | 1 | | Kevin Boothe | 50.0 | 54 | 4 | | Moose Ojinnaka | 47.0 | 42 | 1 | | Jonathan Scott | 41.5 | 46 | 4 | | Andrew Whitworth | 39.7 | 54 | 7 | | Zach Strief | 21.8 | 3 | 0 | | Marcus McNeill | 18.4 | 2 | 0 | | Charles Spencer | 2.8 | 4 | 1 | | Guy Whimper | 0.2 | 42 | 15 |
| | LG | Left guard was one of the thinnest rookie positions in 2006. Rob Sims led the group at 30.8 after recording 32 pancakes and allowing 5 sacks. Deuce Lutui had only three pancakes in his available sample and finished at 21.4.
Neither season was strong enough to create a real rookie headline. Sims at least supplied a larger body of work, while Lutui's numbers were too limited to reveal much. This was a development category, not an immediate-impact one, and the table is more notable for how little rookie production existed than for any standout performance. | | PLAYER | PPI | PANCAKES | SACKS ALLOWED | | Rob Sims | 30.8 | 32 | 5 | | Deuce Lutui | 21.4 | 3 | 0 |
| | C | Center gave the rookie offensive line its clearest success story. Chris Chester produced 38 pancakes while allowing only one sack, resulting in an 84.0 PPI. That combination of meaningful blocking production and controlled pass protection made him one of the best rookie linemen in the entire class.
Will Montgomery was a distant second at 35.5, and Nick Mangold endured a very difficult first season in this model. Mangold's eight pancakes and six sacks allowed pushed him to 0.2, a reminder that reputation and draft position do not protect a player from the numbers.
Chester is the reason this group feels positive at all. He gave the position a real building-block season. Montgomery showed some usable production, while Mangold's year looked like a rookie adjustment period in its harshest form. | | PLAYER | PPI | PANCAKES | SACKS ALLOWED | | Chris Chester | 84.0 | 38 | 1 | | Will Montgomery | 35.5 | 24 | 3 | | Nick Mangold | 0.2 | 8 | 6 |
| | RG | Right guard was another small and difficult group. Eddie Keele led at 37.7 with 37 pancakes, but eight sacks allowed kept the score modest. Jason Palermo finished at 34.9 after recording 26 pancakes and allowing six sacks.
There was no breakout player here. Both rookies accumulated enough work to be evaluated, and both paid heavily for pressure allowed. Keele had the stronger blocking volume and narrowly took the position, but this was a category defined more by growing pains than immediate quality. | | PLAYER | PPI | PANCAKES | SACKS ALLOWED | | Eddie Keele | 37.7 | 37 | 8 | | Jason Palermo | 34.9 | 26 | 6 |
| | RT | Brad Butler had the best rookie right tackle season, finishing with 53 pancakes, four sacks allowed, and a 53.8 PPI. It was a respectable foundation, especially compared with the rest of the group, but it remained well short of a high-end tackle season.
Winston Justice posted 55 pancakes but allowed eight sacks, which dragged him to 40.2. Daryn Colledge's 32 pancakes and seven sacks allowed produced a 25.6. The pattern is straightforward: all three rookies showed some ability to create movement, but pass protection prevented anyone from separating as a complete player.
Butler was the most stable of the three and therefore the clear rookie leader. The position still looked developmental overall, with enough evidence to suggest future value but not enough clean play to call the group strong in 2006. | | PLAYER | PPI | PANCAKES | SACKS ALLOWED | | Brad Butler | 53.8 | 53 | 4 | | Winston Justice | 40.2 | 55 | 8 | | Daryn Colledge | 25.6 | 32 | 7 |
| | DT | Defensive tackle was one of the deepest and most impressive rookie groups in the class. Jesse Mahelona led with a 105.5 PPI after producing 9 sacks on only 21 tackles. Johnny Jolly followed at 104.5 with 29 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, and 7 sacks. Haloti Ngata made it three rookies above 100 by combining 35 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, a forced fumble, and two recoveries.
Tamba Hali and Gabe Watson strengthened the group even further. Hali reached 7 sacks and a 93.2 PPI, while Watson added 35 tackles, 4 sacks, and a safety for 90.6. Kyle Williams was more modest, and the remaining rookies fell into developmental territory, but the top half of the table was excellent.
What makes this class stand out is that it was not built on one isolated outlier. Mahelona, Jolly, and Ngata all delivered elite-range rookie seasons, with Hali and Watson close behind. Interior defensive line is not an easy place to contribute immediately, yet 2006 produced several rookies who did exactly that. | | PLAYER | PPI | TKL | TFL | SACKS | FF | FR | DFL | SFT | TD | | Jesse Mahelona | 105.5 | 21 | 4 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | Johnny Jolly | 104.5 | 29 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | | Haloti Ngata | 103.0 | 35 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | Tamba Hali | 93.2 | 27 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | Gabe Watson | 90.6 | 35 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | | Kyle Williams | 60.7 | 26 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | Montavious Stanley | 52.6 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | | Kedric Golston | 43.9 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | Babatunde Oshinowo | 40.0 | 15 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | Domata Peko | 30.9 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | LE | Left end produced a strong four-player top tier. Jeremy Mincey led the class with 48 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, and a safety for a 112.3 PPI. It was a complete edge season, combining real volume with backfield disruption and enough splash production to rank among the best rookie defensive performances of the year.
Rob Ninkovich was also excellent, posting 11 sacks and a 102.9 PPI. Mario Williams delivered a good 89.2 season with 40 tackles, 8 sacks, and four deflections, while Mark Anderson reached 10 sacks and finished at 85.0. After those four, the position dropped sharply, with Charles Bennett and Elvis Dumervil barely appearing statistically.
The top of this group was outstanding. Mincey was the most complete player, Ninkovich supplied the biggest sack total, and Williams and Anderson both looked productive enough to matter. The bottom was almost empty, but the strength of the leading four still made left end one of the better rookie defensive categories. | | PLAYER | PPI | TKL | TFL | SACKS | FF | FR | DFL | SFT | TD | | Jeremy Mincey | 112.3 | 48 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | | Rob Ninkovich | 102.9 | 34 | 8 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | | Mario Williams | 89.2 | 40 | 7 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | | Mark Anderson | 85.0 | 25 | 5 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | | Charles Bennett | 16.6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | Elvis Dumervil | 10.2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | RE | Right end was led by Jason Hatcher, whose 34 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, 6 sacks, forced fumble, and two deflections produced a 93.5 PPI. Victor Adeyanju followed at 80.5 with 6 sacks and enough all-around production to form a credible second strong rookie season.
Ryan LaCasse had a larger tackle footprint but only two sacks, leaving him at 51.8. The rest of the class played very little or produced only isolated statistics. Brent Hawkins and Melvin Oliver recorded a sack apiece, while several others barely registered.
This was therefore a top-heavy group. Hatcher had the best combination of workload and disruption, Adeyanju was useful, and the remaining rookies were mostly developmental pieces. It did not have the depth of defensive tackle or left end, but the top two gave the position a solid foundation. | | PLAYER | PPI | TKL | TFL | SACKS | FF | FR | DFL | SFT | TD | | Jason Hatcher | 93.5 | 34 | 9 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | | Victor Adeyanju | 80.5 | 23 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | | Ryan LaCasse | 51.8 | 29 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | | Brent Hawkins | 38.2 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | Melvin Oliver | 33.8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | Jeff Charleston | 25.8 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | Julian Jenkins | 20.1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | Patrick Hall | 11.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | Mathias Kiwanuka | 11.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | LOLB | Anthony Schlegel led the rookie left outside linebackers with an excellent 109.1 PPI. His 52 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 9 sacks, two forced fumbles, and one recovery gave him the kind of varied impact that PPI rewards heavily. He was not just active. He affected the game in multiple ways.
A.J. Nicholson, drafted as a right outside linebacker but graded on the left in the season file, finished second at 91.7 with 54 tackles and 7 sacks. Manny Lawson added a good 81.2 season and even scored a touchdown, while Keith Ellison contributed in a smaller role. Terna Nande and Ernie Sims had much lighter first-year production.
Schlegel was the clear star, but the group had useful depth behind him. Nicholson and Lawson both looked capable of handling meaningful work, and the position produced three rookies above 80 PPI. That makes it one of the stronger linebacker categories even before considering what happened on the right side. | | PLAYER | PPI | TKL | TFL | SACKS | INT | FF | FR | DFL | SFT | TD | | Anthony Schlegel | 109.1 | 52 | 6 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | | A.J. Nicholson | 91.7 | 54 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | | Manny Lawson | 81.2 | 49 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 1 | | Keith Ellison | 55.0 | 19 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | | Terna Nande | 33.8 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | Ernie Sims | 13.4 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | MLB | Middle linebacker delivered two of the best rookie seasons in the class. DeMeco Ryans led with 125 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, an interception, two forced fumbles, and seven deflections for a 113.5 PPI. The volume alone was impressive, but the range of production is what made the season feel complete.
A.J. Hawk was also outstanding. He recorded 104 tackles, three interceptions, eight deflections, two forced fumbles, a recovery, and a touchdown, finishing at 107.5. D'Qwell Jackson, Tim Dobbins, and Gerris Wilkinson formed a respectable middle tier, all handling real workloads even though their PPI scores stayed below the top two.
Ryans and Hawk gave the position genuine star power. The rest of the group was more developmental, but several rookies still showed enough volume and playmaking to look useful. As a whole, this was one of the most convincing rookie position groups on defense. | | PLAYER | PPI | TKL | TFL | SACKS | INT | FF | FR | DFL | SFT | TD | | DeMeco Ryans | 113.5 | 125 | 16 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | | A.J. Hawk | 107.5 | 104 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 1 | | D'Qwell Jackson | 73.7 | 77 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | | Tim Dobbins | 72.8 | 75 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | | Gerris Wilkinson | 68.2 | 71 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | | Stephen Tulloch | 52.8 | 37 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | | Leon Williams | 17.4 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | | Freddy Keiaho | 9.9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | ROLB | Right outside linebacker produced the highest rookie PPI score in the entire article. Clint Ingram reached 119.5 after recording 80 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 8 sacks, two interceptions, a recovery, and 11 deflections. It was an extraordinary first season because there was no obvious weakness in the statistical profile. He rushed, covered, tackled, and consistently created impact plays.
Chris Gocong also cleared 100 with six sacks, two interceptions, and nine deflections. Chad Greenway finished at 94.4 after a strong 73-tackle season, and Tim McGarigle added an 84.7 score with useful production across nearly every category. James Anderson gave the class another credible contributor before the table dropped into very limited samples.
This may be the strongest rookie position group of 2006. Ingram delivered a near-perfect season, Gocong looked excellent, Greenway was very good, and McGarigle added real depth. Few categories combined such a dominant top player with so many useful performances behind him. | | PLAYER | PPI | TKL | TFL | SACKS | INT | FF | FR | DFL | SFT | TD | | Clint Ingram | 119.5 | 80 | 11 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 0 | | Chris Gocong | 104.3 | 46 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | | Chad Greenway | 94.4 | 73 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 | | Tim McGarigle | 84.7 | 45 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | | James Anderson | 73.9 | 41 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | | Jamar Williams | 34.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | | Omar Gaither | 12.6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | | Jon Alston | 4.4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | Thomas Howard | 4.4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | CB | Cornerback is the position where sample size requires the most caution. Tramon Williams and Cortland Finnegan sit at the top of the PPI table with scores of 110.1 and 108.1, but both did so on extremely limited statistical footprints. Williams recorded one deflection and no catches allowed in the tracked sample. Finnegan had seven tackles and no tracked catches allowed. Those results are efficient, but they are not comparable in workload to the rookies who played full seasons.
Among the higher-volume corners, Jarrett Bush built the strongest overall case. He finished at 93.9 with 22 tackles, 2 sacks, a forced fumble, three recoveries, four deflections, and only one catch allowed. Will Blackmon and Johnathan Joseph both produced four interceptions and substantial deflection totals, reaching 83.4 and 82.7. Jimmy Williams also contributed with three interceptions, 15 deflections, and a defensive touchdown.
The class had exceptional depth, with 25 drafted rookies appearing in the cornerback file, but the quality varied widely. Some players handled real coverage volume and made plays. Others barely saw the field. The table should therefore be read in two ways: Williams and Finnegan had the cleanest tiny samples, while Bush, Blackmon, and Joseph made the strongest cases over more meaningful workloads. | | PLAYER | PPI | TKL | TFL | SACKS | FF | FR | INT | DFL | SFT | TD | CTHA | | Tramon Williams | 110.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | Cortland Finnegan | 108.1 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | Jarrett Bush | 93.9 | 22 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | | Will Blackmon | 83.4 | 51 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 39 | | Johnathan Joseph | 82.7 | 46 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 25 | | Jimmy Williams | 73.0 | 50 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 30 | | DeMario Minter | 67.5 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | | Drew Coleman | 63.8 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | | Tim Jennings | 58.5 | 26 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 8 | | Jowahn Poteat | 57.3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | | Antonio Cromartie | 55.6 | 53 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 29 | | Justin Phinisee | 53.7 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | | Richard Marshall | 52.1 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | | Alan Zemaitis | 46.4 | 34 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 28 | | Devin Hester | 43.0 | 53 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 35 | | Brent Grimes | 41.1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | | Cedric Griffin | 39.2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | | Alvin Nnabuife | 36.6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | | Tye Hill | 36.6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | | Dee Webb | 36.6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | | Kelly Jennings | 17.3 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | | Aaron Gipson | 6.1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | | Marcus Maxey | 5.3 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | | Josh Lay | 3.6 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | | T.J. Rushing | 2.4 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| | FS | Jason Allen was the clear rookie leader at free safety. He recorded 67 tackles, three interceptions, ten deflections, and only seven catches allowed, producing a 100.8 PPI. That was a genuinely strong first season and one of the better rookie secondary performances of 2006.
Danieal Manning finished a distant second at 53.2 with 44 tackles, an interception, and five deflections. Michael Huff, Anthony Smith, and Nate Salley all had much smaller or less efficient statistical profiles. Salley made several plays near the line but struggled badly in the coverage component, which drove his score close to the bottom.
Allen carried this category. His mix of volume, takeaways, and coverage efficiency gave the position a real standout, but the group behind him was modest. This was one excellent rookie season followed by a collection of developmental ones. | | PLAYER | PPI | TKL | TFL | SACKS | FF | FR | INT | DFL | SFT | TD | CTHA | | Jason Allen | 100.8 | 67 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 7 | | Danieal Manning | 53.2 | 44 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 3 | | Michael Huff | 41.2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | | Anthony Smith | 24.7 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | | Nate Salley | 1.6 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| | SS | Strong safety produced another elite rookie defensive season. Dawan Landry finished at 116.4 after recording 64 tackles, 6 interceptions, 19 deflections, a sack, and only six catches allowed. That is an exceptional coverage profile for a player who also supplied real tackling volume, and it made Landry one of the most impressive rookies in the entire class.
Roman Harper and Pat Watkins formed a strong second tier at 83.4 and 83.2. Harper led the group with 71 tackles, while Watkins added two forced fumbles and 14 deflections. Donte Whitner was also useful at 79.7, producing 68 tackles, a sack, an interception, and ten deflections. After those four, the rookies mostly appeared in limited roles.
Landry was the star, but this was more than a one-player group. Harper, Watkins, and Whitner all delivered credible first seasons, giving strong safety a combination of elite top-end play and useful depth. Among the defensive backs, this was the position with the clearest full-season headline. | | PLAYER | PPI | TKL | TFL | SACKS | FF | FR | INT | DFL | SFT | TD | CTHA | | Dawan Landry | 116.4 | 64 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 6 | | Roman Harper | 83.4 | 71 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 11 | | Pat Watkins | 83.2 | 58 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 11 | | Donte Whitner | 79.7 | 68 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 13 | | Calvin Lowry | 38.1 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | Daniel Bullocks | 32.2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | Ko Simpson | 20.7 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | | Eric Smith | 11.9 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | | Bernard Pollard | 11.3 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | | Antoine Bethea | 3.6 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Final Thoughts
The 2006 rookie class was stronger on defense than it was at the most visible offensive positions. Quarterback did not produce an immediate PPI star, and the offensive line was mostly a collection of difficult first-year adjustments. But tight end and wide receiver were excellent. Marcedes Lewis and Vernon Davis gave the class two high-end rookie tight ends, while Brandon Marshall and Greg Jennings both crossed 110 and immediately became the centerpieces of a deep receiver group.
The defensive front was even more impressive. Jesse Mahelona, Johnny Jolly, and Haloti Ngata all cleared 100 at defensive tackle. Jeremy Mincey and Rob Ninkovich did the same at left end. Anthony Schlegel led a good left outside linebacker group, while DeMeco Ryans and A.J. Hawk gave middle linebacker two complete, high-volume seasons. Then Clint Ingram pushed the entire class to another level with a 119.5 PPI, the best rookie score of 2006.
The secondary added its own major performances. Dawan Landry's 116.4 strong safety season was elite by any standard. Jason Allen gave free safety a clear standout. Cornerback was deeper but also more complicated, because the two highest PPI scores came from tiny samples. That is an important reminder of how these tables should be read. Efficiency matters, but workload matters too. A player who dominates a handful of tracked opportunities has done something positive, but it is not the same achievement as sustaining quality across a full season.
That tension is part of what makes rookie evaluation interesting. Some of these players already looked finished. Some simply looked useful. Some were productive but flawed. Some barely played, and their low score should not be treated as a career verdict. PPI is measuring the season that happened, not predicting every season that comes next.
As a first chapter, 2006 had plenty of substance. It had elite rookie linebacker play, a loaded interior defensive line group, two standout receivers, a deep tight end class, a legitimate strong safety star, and enough surprising production throughout the tables to make the draft class worth revisiting. The class was not equally strong everywhere, but where it hit, it hit with real force.
And in 2006, several rookies did much more than simply arrive. They immediately mattered. |
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