Image via Complex Original
Strong franchises in the NFL are built around scouting departments that go beyond simple predictions like, “Marcus Mariota will be good.” The first pick makes headlines, but the second pick and beyond make championships. There are plenty of future Pro Bowlers to be found after that headline-making opening night. Remember that for every Courtney Brown, there’s a Michael Strahan. For every Ryan Leaf, there’s a Russell Wilson. For every Lawrence Phillips...you get the point. Here are 10 guys who are ready to make an impact at the top level, immediately. These are the 10 NFL Non-First Round Rookies That Are Going to Shock the World:
Ronald Darby, CB, Buffalo Bills
College: Florida State University
Drafted in: Round 2
Stats: 19 tackles, tackle for loss, 2 interceptions, 11 pass deflections
If ever there’s a good recipe for success in an NFL secondary, it’s playing for a Rex Ryan defense with a ferocious front four. Ronald Darby found that out in his first ever quarter of paid football when he picked off Andrew Luck. By the end of September he was named the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Month, and stood tied for first in interceptions (two) and pass breakups (eight). His numbers will likely inflate until his rep gets to the point where QBs stop throwing his way. Until then, he’s in as good a position as any young, developing DB could be, thanks to a head coach who loves shutting down offenses with tactical aggression almost as much as he loves dropping f-bombs.
Karlos Williams, RB, Buffalo Bills
College: Florida State University
Drafted in: Round 5
Stats: 42 attempts, 226 yards, 3 TD’s, 5.4 avg., 5 receptions, 46 yards, 9.2 rec avg., TD
The Buffalo Bills didn’t have a first round pick this year, but it apparently meant nothing since they’re the only team on this list represented twice (which we’re sure was their goal). After taking Ronald Darby in the second round, they snagged his college teammate, Karlos Williams, just a few rounds later. Williams has, thus far, rewarded the organization by averaging 7.8 yards per carry and scoring three touchdowns in just as many games. It’s likely his numbers would be even gaudier except the team traded for LeSean McCoy in the offseason, then signed him to a $40 million deal. Now we’re not saying they wouldn’t make those deal(s) again if they knew what an instant impact Williams was going to have, but we are saying….um, hmmm…actually we are saying that.
Henry Anderson, DE, Indianapolis Colts
College: Stanford
Drafted in: Round 3
Stats: 25 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, sack, pass deflection
In the NFL “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” Look at the mountains of discarded players that’ve gone on to great things. But, another way to ignite your career is during the unfortunate event of an injury. We’ll call it “one man’s indescribable, gut-wrenching, pain is another man’s gain.” So when the Colts’ Arthur Jones went down for the season due to torn ankle ligaments, there was a window opening for Henry Anderson’s career. So far he’s acclimated, and has stats comparable to the top defensive linemen on the planet (Michael Bennett, Aaron Donald and J.J. Watt). We’re not saying that’ll hold, but so far he has been able to shock the world.
David Johnson, RB, Arizona Cardinals
College: University of Northern Iowa
Drafted in: Round 3
Stats: 15 attempts, 85 yards, TD, 5.7 avg., 9 receptions, 137 yards, 15.2 rec avg., 2 TD’s, 3 kick returns, TD, 56.7 KR avg.
Some running backs run 4.5 40s. Some running backs weigh 225 pounds. Occasionally there are running backs like David Johnson who can run that fast and be that massive. Johnson’s speed was on display in his first week of action when he caught a 55-yard TD, late in the game, to put a bullet in the heart of the Saints’ fourth-quarter comeback hopes. The next time he touched the ball was the following week, in the opening kickoff against the Bears. He took it 108 yards to the house. It’s very, very early, but Johnson has proven he has the chops to make big plays in the NFL for a team that’ll likely be playing deep into the playoffs. The only problem, perhaps, is whether there are enough touches to go around on a team with many options in the backfield.
Landon Collins, S, New York Giants
College: University of Alabama
Drafted in: Round 2
Stats: 22 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 3 pass deflections
Like the smartest applicant rejected from Harvard, Landon Collins came just shy of greatness, missing out on the NFL Draft’s opening night by a single pick before going first overall in the second round. In the lead up to his first NFL game he had the nerve to call out a 13-year vet, saying, “If [Tony] Romo tests me, he won’t be happy.” Tony Romo won that game and went home happy, but not because he tested Collins. While he is yet to make an extraordinary, jaw-dropping play of his own, Collins has gotten an endorsement from teammate Odell Beckham Jr., who stated in preseason, “He’s going to be a phenomenal player.” We accept Beckham’s opinion based on the following criteria: He went up against Collins multiple times in college. He doesn’t like to compliment defensive backs. That is all.
T.J. Yeldon, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
College: University of Alabama
Drafted in: Round 2
Stats: 70 attempts, 259 yards, 3.7 avg., 10 receptions, 42 yards, 4.2 rec avg.
It’s probably pretty miserable to play in the NFL when your team stinks. Sure you’re getting paid well, but you’re putting your body through a car wreck each week without any chance of a ring to show for it. That logic changes, however, when you’re a rookie on a terrible team. Then, at least you have the chance of primo playing time, because there’s no competent veteran blocking your way. If a bad team with a lack of ability is a formula for rookie stardom, then Jacksonville is currently paradise for a league newcomer like T.J. Yeldon. We wouldn’t be surprised if he had a tougher time earning carries in Alabama’s backfield last year than he will for the Jags.
Randy Gregory, DE, Dallas Cowboys
College: University of Nebraska
Drafted in: Round 2
Stats: None, injured
How do you go late in the second round despite possessing what’s unanimously viewed by experts as first-round talent? Failing a few drug tests will do it every time. Randy Gregory had a bit of a rough start to his career, even beyond those “character issues” that kept him from sharing an onstage hug with Roger Goodell; he sprained his ankle in his debut, which has thus far prevented him from building on his three preseason sacks. At Gregory’s age (22) you can heal like Wolverine, and we’re banking on the hope that he can come back soon and rush the passer in games that actually count.
Tyler Lockett, WR/KR/PR, Seattle Seahawks
College: Kansas State University
Drafted in: Round 3
Stats: 10 receptions, 109 yards, 10.9 rec avg., 9 kick returns, TD, 30.0 KR avg., 12 punt returns, TD, 11.3 PR avg.
The first punt-return touchdown of the 2015 NFL campaign came less than an hour into the season when rookie Tyler Lockett scampered 57-yards untouched for the defending NFC champs. Two weeks later he took a kickoff to the end zone for the first time against the Bears (the second guy on this list who can thank Chicago for a kick-return TD). He won’t do it every week, but he’s probably going to do it a lot—at least until teams decide to stop kicking it his way. In the past decade we’ve seen both Devin Hester and Patrick Peterson make their initial impact on the league through the return game. Don’t be shocked if you see Lockett continue that trend this season.
Ameer Abdullah, RB/KR, Detroit Lions
College: University of Nebraska
Drafted in: Round 2
Stats: 34 attempts, 115 yards, TD, 3.4 avg., 9 receptions, 83 yards, TD, 9.2 rec avg., 8 kick returns, 30.4 KR avg.
If you believe in omens then you had to love Ameer Abdullah’s first run in the NFL. With 99 Madden vision he found a cutback lane (no second coming of Trent Richardson here), then juked a San Diego safety on his way to a 24-yard touchdown. That was in addition to a 36-yard reception, and the longest kick return of the NFL’s opening Sunday. Unfortunately, Abdullah learned a valuable early lesson about lining up in the backfield in Detroit: No matter how well you play, sometimes you still lose. In fact, we think that was the theme of Barry Sanders’ entire career. That advanced notice of what’s to come (hopefully) braced him for a tough season, because it looks like that’s how it’s going to play out in Motown. And in tough seasons the future of the franchise (see: rookies) get utilized. Eventually Detroit’s got to get that run game going, right?
Jarryd Hayne, RB/PR, San Francisco 49ers
College: N/A
Drafted in: Undrafted
Stats: 6 attempts, 16 yards, 2.7 avg., reception, 7 yards, 6 punt returns, 9.3 PR avg.
In case you didn’t stay up late enough to catch West Coast news this summer, Hayne left his home country of Australia—spurning the largest contract offering in National Rugby League history—to come play in the NFL. This would be like Alex Rodriguez breaking off negotiations for his record-breaking deal to go play soccer in Europe. Hayne was such a big rugby star that he was referred to as the NRL’s “LeBron James” by one of their league executives. With all the hype (at least across the Pacific, where record crowds have been tuning in) you got the feeling Jarryd was bound to do something special in his debut. And wouldn’t you know it, he did just that…by muffing his first punt and getting benched as a returner (Note: He’s since gotten that job back).
