Five 2014 NFL rookies who will take a big step in 2015

May 8, 2014; New York, NY, USA; Teddy Bridgewater (Louisville) poses for photos with his jersey after being selected as the number thirty-two overall pick in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft to the Minnesota Vikings at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /

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Every year we spend several months before the NFL Draft trying to predict who will do well and who won’t do well once they hit the pro level. There are no guarantees of course, which is part of what makes the draft compelling.

Another problem is, we have stopped having patience with players—especially first round guys.

If you’re taken in the first round, the bar is much higher than any other round. On the one hand, they are paid (mostly) a lot more money than someone in the second or third round (and a ton more than anything from Day 3).

On the other hand, we never really adjusted our expectations along with the reduction in pay that rookies get since the rookie wage scale has kicked in. And by expectations, I mean how long you have to wait for an impact.

So bust is a relative term and one which may be applied too quickly at times. After all, some players who struggled in year one could produce much better performances in year two or three.

As we approach the 2015 NFL Draft, it’s worth looking at a few players from the 2014 NFL Draft who should take a big step forward in their sophomore season. Here are the guys we think have the best chance to do so.

Next: Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Minnesota Vikings

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