The 2015 NFL Draft saw a pair of highly-touted Heisman-winning quarterbacks (Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota) go 1-2, with another pair of supercharged running backs (Todd Gurley and Melvin Gordon) drafted early in the first round. Expectations will be high for those rookies to justify their lofty draft spots right away. Can they live up to the hype, or will some of their other draftmates steal their first-year thunder?
Read on below as we count down our picks to be the top 10 best rookies for the upcoming NFL season. You may also want to check out our top 10 picks for the best running backs, tight ends, and kickers this year.
[sc:Football ]Top NFL Rookies for the 2015-16 NFL Football Season
10. Nelson Agholor, WR – Philadelphia Eagles
[sc:NFL240banner ]Nelson Agholor was one of the most productive receivers in college football last season. He finished 12th in the nation in yards per game (101) and eighth in catches per game (8.0) in his junior year at USC, where he was the top receiving target in a high-powered Trojans offense.
He could very well end up in a pretty similar role in his rookie season in the NFL after landing with the Eagles and their high-powered offense. With Jeremy Maclin’s departure in the offseason, Chip Kelly will call Agholor’s number early and often in his rookie year, and Agholor – the 20th overall pick in the draft – should be good enough to answer the call.
9. Danny Shelton, NT – Cleveland Browns
There were only two defensive tackles drafted in the first round this year, and one of them was in the very end of the round. Meanwhile, Danny Shelton went to the Cleveland Browns at No. 12, which should tell you all you need to know about the young man’s talent.
The Browns needed an upgrade on the defensive line after a horrific season which saw them finish dead last against the run. They got exactly that in Shelton, a 6-2, 339-lb. monster of a nose tackle who should immediately step into the starting lineup and stuff running lanes right from Week 1.
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8. Vic Beasley, OLB – Atlanta Falcons
Similar to the Browns, the Atlanta Falcons addressed their big weakness last season – pass rushing – in the first round by drafting Vic Beasley. Although he may not be the pass rusher with the highest upside, he could end up with the best rookie season, and not just because No. 3 pick Dante Fowler Jr. is out for the year.
Beasley, who had 12.0 sacks in his senior year at Clemson, finds himself in a great situation in Atlanta. Head coach Dan Quinn, architect of the great Seattle Seahawks defenses in the last couple of years, handpicked Beasley for the LEO role – his preferred role – which means the rookie should have very little trouble transitioning to the pros.
7. Landon Collins, S – New York Giants
Alabama safety Landon Collins fell all the way to the second round, and the New York Giants couldn’t trade up fast enough to go get him. Not only did the Giants finally get a viable option in one of their problem positions, they apparently got so much more.
As early as May, the rookie was already asserting himself as the leader of the Giants secondary. If he manages to further assert himself once the regular season begins, No. 7 could very well be too low a spot for him when it’s all said and done.
6. Todd Gurley, RB – St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams didn’t use the No. 10 overall pick to draft any ordinary running back; they used it to draft Todd Gurley, an incredible talent that was even rumored to be one team’s No. 1-ranked prospect. Prior to tearing his ACL, Gurley had averaged 151 yards per game and 7.41 yards per attempt with nine touchdowns in six games with Georgia last season.
Frankly, the biggest reason Gurley isn’t higher on this list is because of that injury. (The runner-up: a questionable Rams O-line.) It could take some time for him to settle in and shake off some rust. But much like Odell Beckham Jr. last season, Gurley is such a talent that even with the injury setback early in the season, he should still be comfortably one of the best rookies in football.
5. Leonard Williams, DE – New York Jets
Leonard Williams slipped to No. 6 in the draft, but he gets a slight bump up in this list. Drafting Williams was second-guessed initially, but it has turned out to be a godsend for the Jets, especially after finding out Sheldon Richardson was going to be suspended for a quarter of the season.
Williams, who was touted as a possible No. 1 overall pick, now gets a chance to play right from the start. He should fit seamlessly into an already imposing Jets defensive line, and with his pedigree, he should impress as soon as he steps onto the field.
4. Melvin Gordon, RB – San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers won’t run Melvin Gordon into the ground – not with Philip Rivers still in town – but they do have the potential to be so much more efficient in the running game, which will benefit the rookie all the same. The Chargers beefed up their offensive line during the offseason to open up those running lanes for Gordon, who needs only a sliver of space to break free.
Gordon, who was the nation’s most prolific rusher in college football last season (his 184.79 yards per game and 29 rushing touchdowns were tops in the CFB), has found himself in a great situation in San Diego, and should have a field day rushing the ball in his first season.
3. Jameis Winston, QB – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Coming from a pro-style system in Florida State, Winston should feel very much at home in the NFL right out of the gate. Winston, who threw for 3,907 yards and 25 touchdowns last season with FSU, will also have a pair of very solid wideouts in Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson, a nice luxury to have for a rookie.
However, the Bucs have some question marks with their O-line and running game, and Winston showed some poor decision-making in his sophomore season. Winston should be pretty solid, albeit somewhat inconsistent in his first year with the Bucs. Unfortunately, that won’t quite be enough to make the No. 1 pick the No. 1 rookie.
2. Amari Cooper, WR – Oakland Raiders
It hardly mattered that everyone in the stadium knew Alabama was going to pass to Amari Cooper, who was head-and-shoulders the team’s best receiver. He still put up incredible numbers last year with 123.4 yards per game (third in the nation), 8.9 receptions per game (second) and 16 touchdowns (second).
It’ll be a bit tougher getting those numbers in his rookie year, but he’ll still be the undisputed top guy, this time for the Oakland Raiders. He’ll have the lion’s share of the targets from Derek Carr, and will show enough flashes of greatness to be worthy of top rookie consideration.
1. Marcus Mariota, QB – Tennessee Titans
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers may yet regret passing up on Marcus Mariota. Last year’s Heisman winner was outstanding with Oregon last season, as he posted a ridiculous 181.75 rating, averaged 10.0 yards per attempt and owned an incredible 10.5:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Mariota is already displaying some of that terrific decision-making with the Titans, and has not even thrown a pick through training camp.
He doesn’t have much proven talent in the skill positions, and his offensive line still has question marks after a disappointing 2014 season. But Mariota will bring a steadying influence to the Titans this season, with a sprinkling of the incredible potential which could’ve (or should’ve) made him the No. 1 pick. In any case, Mariota is the pick to be this year’s standout rookie.
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