We are nearly half way through the 2010 NFL season and many young players are making statements to be Rookie of the Year. Quarterback Sam Bradford is proving to have been worth the number one overall pick in the draft and wide receiver Dez Bryant has shown some toughness for the Cowboys. However, the Rams and Cowboys overall draft classes are not particularly strong but a few other teams have flown under the radar and found success with a number of first-year players.
To sift through the dross and bring you the best, I have compiled a short list of teams that I believe have possessed the top rookie classes so far in 2010. At the very least, these are the top five teams that have gotten the most help from the newest additions to their respective rosters.
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Top Rookie Performers: WR Mike Williams*, RB LaGarrette Blount, S Cody Grimm, DT Gerald McCoy - McCoy was the headliner after being the third overall pick, but Williams (32 rec, 470 yds, 4 TD's), a fourth round pick out of Syracuse, has been the most consistent weapon for second year quarterback Josh Freeman. Blount, an undrafted free agent who was originally picked up by San Francisco, has come on the last few weeks as the team's top rusher (5.2 yds/carry). Grimm (37 tackles, 2 INT's, 1 FF, 1 TD) has provided some stability in the secondary after Tanard Jackson was slapped with a season-long suspension. This is one of the best young rosters in the entire league and I expect them to keep improving and be competitive for the next decade.
2. Kansas City Chiefs: S Eric Berry*, TE Tony Moeaki*, WR/RB/KR Dexter McCluster, CB Javier Arenas, OG Jon Asamoah - The Chiefs have jumped out to a 5-2 record and a lot of credit needs to go to some of the rookies. Berry was largely considered one of the best overall prospects in the draft and he has not disappointed the team with his play (41 tackles, 2 INT's). Moeaki, a third round pick (93rd overall), is second on the team in receptions (24) and McCluster has provided the spark to pull off some upsets early in the season (see week one). Arenas is the team's top backup at corner and Asamoah has seen significant action on the O-line.
3. New England Patriots - Top Rookie Performers: TE/HB Aaron Hernandez, LB Brandon Spikes, CB Devin McCourty, TE Rob Gronkowski - Hernandez leads in receptions (29), Spikes is third in tackles (39), McCourty is tied for the team lead in INT's (2), and Gronkowski has three TD's. This young roster should continue to improve and may be good enough to compete for a Super Bowl berth.
4. Seattle Seahawks - Top Rookie Performers: S Earl Thomas*, CB Walter Thurmond, OT Russell Okung, WR/PR Golden Tate - Thomas leads the defense in INT's(4) and is second in tackles (35). He could eventually move to cornerback and should be a pro bowl player some day. Thurmond has collected 18 tackles in nickel and dime packages and special team duties after suffering a horrible knee injury last year in college. The rest of the rookies have contributed enough to make this a very strong class and help Seattle get to a 4-3 record. However, this team is lucky to be in the worst division in football and probably will not win many more games. To say the least, they still have a lot of work to do to be good.
5. Detroit Lions - Top Rookie Performers: DT Ndamokung Suh*, RB Jahvid Best*, DB Amari Spievey - Despite possessing another losing record, the Lions have been a lot more competitive this year and are beginning to show signs of being a good football team once again. It has been a rough decade for Motown fans but the efforts of many of the young players, such as Suh (6.5 sacks, 27 tackles, 1 INT, 1 FR, 1 TD) and Best (513 total yards, 5 TD's). Although this team is still a year away from being a true playoff contender, I believe they can win seven of their final nine games and win the division with an 8-8 record. A surprisingly mediocre division coupled with a favorable schedule will help out this young team the rest of the way.
*Denotes Rookie of the Year Candidate
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