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
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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Dec 28, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) throws in the second quarter against the Chicago Bears at TCF Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 28, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) throws in the second quarter against the Chicago Bears at TCF Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports /

Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Minnesota Vikings

While quarterback Teddy Bridgewater took Rookie of the Year honors, there was absolutely room for improvement from the former Louisville quarterback.

The Minnesota Vikings were cautious with their rookie quarterback, keeping the gameplan simple and not forcing him into bad situations. Despite that he still made his fair share of mistakes, with a dozen interceptions, multiple times when he held the ball a little too long and inconsistent overall accuracy.

He did a tremendous amount right, and while he kept throwing interceptions he also kept up a steady stream of touchdowns with at least one in ten straight games to end the season.

Why the expectation of improvement? Well, at the basic level you can bet Bridgewater, a guy who loves to improve his game, has spent the offseason making sure he knows what he did wrong as well as why it happened. He’ll be better this year because this is a guy who is driven to improve himself.

He’s also a guy who will be more comfortable in the NFL and the Vikings’ offense, as he has now been in it for a year. The team will also loosen the reigns a bit as well, giving him the green light to go long and stretch the defense a little.

On top of that, the team around Bridgewater will have improved. As of right now he has Adrian Peterson returning (though fellow rookie Jerick McKinnon looked good and could continue to develop into a very solid backfield option), Kyle Rudolph for a full season, an emerging weapon in a rookie receiver named Charles Johnson and a defense which should be even more effective in the second year under head coach Mike Zimmer.

Bridgewater started to prove his doubters wrong last season. We think he’ll put a final period on that in the coming season.

Next: Jadeveon Clowney, OLB, Houston Texans