Reviewing the Rookie Class So Far
Back in Week 1, this rookie class looked like most rookie classes do in September — a lot of "flashes here and there" and not much else. Nearly three-quarters of the way through the season, the picture has sharpened considerably. A handful of names have turned into genuine difference-makers, a couple of position groups are still waiting on their first real impact player, and a few Day 1 picks are still searching for the production teams thought they were drafting.
The Cornerbacks Are Running the Show
If there's one position group that has completely taken over this rookie class, it's cornerback — and it starts at the very top of the draft.
Darrelle Revis (Raiders, 1.1) has been every bit the shutdown corner his draft slot promised: 52 tackles, 3 interceptions for 125 yards, and a pick-six.
Patrick Willis (Packers, 1.2) hasn't been far behind, with 39 tackles, 2 interceptions (37 yards, one returned for a score), and 16 passes defended. Together, the top two picks in the entire draft have combined for 5 interceptions and 2 defensive touchdowns — exactly the kind of game-breaking production a rookie class rarely delivers this early.
But the story here isn't just the top of the round.
Corey Graham, a third-round pick by the Broncos (3.11), has quietly been one of the best value picks in the entire class — 26 tackles and a class-leading 5 interceptions for 34 yards. For a player picked more than two full rounds after Revis and Willis, that's a remarkable return.
Running Backs and Quarterbacks: Still Waiting
The two positions that were non-factors in Week 1 remain non-factors now. No rookie running back has taken over a starting job —
Marshawn Lynch (Packers, 1.29), the only first-round back, has managed a respectable 4.32 yards per carry but has barely topped 40 carries all season, missing time along the way. The class's actual workhorse has been
Nate Ilaoa, a second-round pickup by the Bengals (2.27), who leads all rookie backs with 95 carries for 292 yards and 2 scores — solid, unspectacular volume, but volume nonetheless.
At quarterback, there's simply nothing to report. No rookie passer has strung together a full season as a starter, and the closest thing to it —
Brady Quinn in Houston — is completing under 47% of his throws with a 53.0 rating. This remains a class without an answer at the position.
Where the Class Has Actually Shined
Beyond the cornerbacks, a few other spots have delivered real production. At wide receiver,
Sidney Rice (Panthers, 1.7) has been the best offensive rookie in the league, full stop — 40 catches, 841 yards, and 8 touchdowns.
Jacoby Jones (Redskins, 1.16) has been steady as well, with 34 catches for 625 yards and 7 scores, while
Steve Smith (Chargers, 1.1
has been the class's most explosive weapon on a per-touch basis, averaging an absurd 26.18 yards per catch on limited volume.
Calvin Johnson (Giants, 1.6), meanwhile, has been solid but not spectacular — 35 catches for 489 yards — quieter than his draft slot would suggest, especially next to Rice.
Tight end has turned into a genuine surprise. None of the top producers at the position were first-round picks —
Martrez Milner (Jaguars, 3.1) leads the group with 41 catches for 474 yards,
Brent Celek (Steelers, 2.2
has 31 catches and 478 yards, and
Kevin Boss (Packers, 2.12) has been the most efficient with 5 touchdowns on just 28 grabs. All three have outproduced
Ben Patrick, the lone first-round tight end (Broncos, 1.2
, who has just 12 catches for 208 yards.
Up front,
Joe Staley (Falcons, 1.26) has been the best offensive lineman in the class, with 43 pancakes and just 2 sacks allowed, while
Ben Grubbs (Jets, 1.14) and
Ryan Kalil (Jaguars, 1.20) have both held up well. On the other side of the ball,
Turk McBride (Packers, 1.25) has been the most disruptive rookie lineman by far, with a class-leading 7 sacks and 6 tackles for loss.
First-Rounders Still Finding Their Footing
Not every first-round pick has lived up to the billing.
Stewart Bradley (Patriots, 1.27) and
David Harris (Patriots, 1.31) — two of the six middle linebackers taken in Round 1 — have combined for just 10 tackles between them, easily the quietest production at the position.
Alan Branch (Packers, 1.
has 8 tackles and 4 tackles for loss but has yet to record a sack. And while
Ben Patrick hasn't been a bust, being outproduced by three tight ends drafted a round or more later is a fair sign his impact hasn't matched his draft slot.
Early Rookie of the Year Candidates
On defense, this race runs through the middle linebackers.
Zak DeOssie (Saints, 1.5) has been the most complete defender in the class — 55 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, and a jaw-dropping 5 interceptions for 50 yards from the middle linebacker spot.
Lawrence Timmons (Bears, 1.3) isn't far behind on raw production, leading all rookies with 68 tackles and 12 tackles for loss, though without the same knack for takeaways.
Darrelle Revis belongs in this conversation too, given the interceptions, the touchdown, and the shutdown reputation he's built through three-quarters of the season. Right now, DeOssie's rare combination of run-stuffing and ball production makes him the favorite, with Timmons and Revis right behind.
On offense, this isn't much of a debate.
Sidney Rice's 8 touchdowns and 841 receiving yards put him in a different tier than every other rookie skill player in the league. Unless something changes over the final quarter of the season, he should be the clear choice.
The Big Picture
Three-quarters of the way through, this rookie class has separated into clear tiers. The cornerbacks and middle linebackers from the top of Round 1 have been every bit the difference-makers their draft position promised, a few mid-round gems (Graham, Ilaoa, the tight end trio of Milner/Celek/Boss) have outplayed their draft slot entirely, and the running backs and quarterbacks remain the class's biggest question marks heading into the stretch run.
