NFL Draft: 5 rookies ready to make an impact in 2016
By Jacob Yturri
The NFL Draft is finally over, and the newest member of the NFL family are ready to make an impact.
The picks are all in, agents are working on contracts, and the newest rookies are ready to play. We are now officially past the NFL draft. However, that does not mean our analysis of the draft has stopped.
Every NFL draft is the same. There is always a small group of rookies that magically fit a team’s scheme, and master the playbook quickly. Last year, players like Amari Cooper, Jameis Winston and Todd Gurley were rookies that made a huge impact on their team right off the bat.
This year has the potential to have a draft class that is just as good, if not better than last season’s class. But, for that to happen, rookies will need to step up and get involved with their teams quickly. There isn’t a rookie player out there that doesn’t want to start their professional career as soon as possible. However, not every player can adjust to the NFL in time to be starting the first game.
While it seems counter-intuitive to not start a young player that needs work, sometimes throwing a player into the fire can harm a player’s development. One example of a player that needed a little marination is Blake Bortles. After sitting on the bench for a couple of games, he earned his stripes and eventually suited up. Bortles made significant progress in his second season, and it looks like the Jaguars idea to bring him along slowly worked.
Without further ado, here we go! Let’s start looking at five rookies that are sure to make an impact early.
Next: No. 5 Ryan Kelly