Predicting the NFL's Top Rookie Performer at Every Position

As the NFL seems to have more and more immediately productive rookies with each passing season, there will likely be first-year players at every position who make an impact on the field in 2015.

Predicting who those rookies will be before any of them have even played in preseason games is a difficult task, as evidenced by my predictions from last year at this time. While I was correct in projecting that Teddy Bridgewater would be the top rookie quarterback and Aaron Donald would be the best defensive tackle, some of my other prognostications—like Kyle Van Noy being the best outside linebacker over Khalil Mack, and Justin Gilbert being the best rookie cornerback—look laughable in retrospect.

Ultimately, there will be hyped-up rookies who fail to live up to expectations and just as many rookies who emerge as surprise standouts. Still, there is some basis to predict who the best first-year players will be. After all, the league's 32 teams already had to make their own predictions, hypothesizing which players could bring the most value to their teams at each position in advance of the 2015 NFL draft.

Pre-existing talent plays a big role in how much success each player is able to attain as a rookie, but so too does the situation each player is drafted into. Now that we know what teams the 2015 draft prospects will be starting their careers with—and at least have a preliminary idea of where they stand on their teams' depth charts—it becomes more reasonable to surmise which first-years will stand out above the rest at each spot on the field.

The players highlighted in each of the following slides reflect my projections for which rookies will put together the best seasons in 2015.

These projections take into account not only when each player was drafted, but what translatable skills each has and how much playing time each is expected to receive in 2015. Some players who could project to have the best long-term careers at their positions were not chosen here because of conditions that could affect their rookie seasons, including the rosters around them, injuries and areas in which they need to develop.

Conventional wisdom suggests that because No. 1 overall pick Jameis Winston played in a pro-style offense at Florida State and No. 2 overall pick Marcus Mariota played in a spread offense at Oregon, Winston could have a smoother transition to the NFL. You probably remember this refrain being oft-repeated in the months leading up to April's draft.

It is true Winston fits the more traditional picture of what an NFL pocket passer should look like, and if Winston can play up to his potential, he has all the tools to end up being one of the best quarterbacks in the entire league. But Mariota is a top-notch quarterback talent in his own right, and there are numerous reasons to believe he could be the NFL's best rookie quarterback—and perhaps its Offensive Rookie of the Year—in 2015.

First, Mariota is coming off a much better 2014 season than Winston. While Mariota did benefit from a simplistic offense and frequently open receivers, the 2014 Heisman Trophy winner was consistently accurate and smart with the football. Winston, despite an outstanding redshirt freshman year that won him the 2013 Heisman Trophy, regressed last season, showing an alarming proclivity to interceptions that could continue to plague him as an NFL rookie.

The Buccaneers, with wide receivers Vincent Jackson and Mike Evans and tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins, give Winston a more talented group of pass-catchers to work with than Mariota will have with the Titans. Mariota, however, will have a more experienced and talented offensive line, which is crucial in enabling a rookie quarterback to get comfortable.

Finally, the idea that dual-threat quarterbacks from spread offenses cannot succeed as rookies has proved inaccurate with frequency in recent seasons. To the contrary, there are numerous examples of such quarterbacks—see Robert Griffin III and Vince Young—who have had their best success as rookies and then declined thereafter.

Truly, one should expect both Mariota and Winston to be significant upgrades for their teams' offenses, yet still have ups and downs throughout their rookie years. Mariota's demonstrated consistency and ability to make plays as a runner give him a slight edge to make the greater impact of the two signal-callers in year one.

At a position where ready-to-produce players are often found in the middle and even late rounds of the draft, the San Diego Chargers would not have selected Melvin Gordon in the first round—let alone traded up to No. 15 overall to secure him—if they did not expect the Doak Walker Award winner from Wisconsin to make an instant impact on their offense.

A 6'1", 215-pound running back with terrific agility and ability to extend plays in the open field, Gordon is coming off a redshirt junior season for the Badgers in which he posted eye-popping rushing totals of 2,587 yards and 29 touchdowns. Dangerous on the perimeter but also big and strong enough to make plays between the tackles, Gordon has the tools to provide both consistent yardage and big plays.

As a rookie, Gordon could struggle, at least initially, to contribute to the Chargers' passing offense. He was not utilized frequently as a receiver at Wisconsin, and he is not a great pass-blocker either.

Ultimately, observers will measure the success of Gordon's rookie season by how much he contributes to San Diego's ground game. Considering his physical gifts and history of production, anything less than a 1,000-yard season would be a disappointment.

Todd Gurley, selected ahead of Gordon by the St. Louis Rams with the No. 10 overall pick, might very well be the most talented running back in the 2015 class. That said, the start of his rookie season will likely be slowed by his continued recovery from a torn ACL suffered in November.

The four running backs drafted after Gordon at the position—T.J. Yeldon (Jacksonville Jaguars), Ameer Abdullah (Detroit Lions), Tevin Coleman (Atlanta Falcons) and Duke Johnson (Cleveland Browns)—are also strong candidates to be significantly productive in their rookie seasons. It would be a surprise, though, if any of them outperform Gordon, who projects to be San Diego's bell cow back right away.

This year's group of rookie wide receivers has enough talent to rival the impact made by last year's group, which made an emphatic mark on the league in 2014. Even so, No. 4 overall pick Amari Cooper stands out as both the most NFL-ready receiver and the most likely go-to target among the newcomers.

The 2014 winner of the Fred Biletnikoff Award as college football's best wideout, Cooper is coming off a junior season at Alabama in which he caught 124 passes for 1,727 yards and 16 touchdowns. An excellent route-runner with great hands, Cooper also has big-play speed and the change-of-direction quickness to make defenders miss in space.

On an Oakland Raiders offense that did not have a single pass-catcher reach the 700-yard mark last season, Cooper projects to immediately be the team's No. 1 receiving option. Competition for targets is not an element Cooper will have to worry about in his rookie season.

To some extent, Cooper's success will be contingent upon the development of second-year Raiders quarterback Derek Carr. But with his ability to consistently get open at the intermediate level, Cooper should play a big part in helping Carr find more rhythm as a passer in his sophomore campaign.

Barring an unforeseen setback, Cooper should be the best player on Oakland's entire offense in 2015. Already labeled as the "real deal" by a Raiders team source, according to ESPN.com's Adam Caplan, Cooper is a prime candidate to top 1,000 receiving yards and contend for Offensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2015.

The first tight end selected in this year's draft, No. 55 overall pick Maxx Williams projects to quickly play a significant role on a Baltimore Ravens offense very much lacking in experienced talent among its crop of pass-catchers.

A skilled receiving tight end with a demonstrated ability to make spectacular catches, Williams caught 36 passes for 569 yards and eight touchdowns in 2014 on a Minnesota offense that rarely passed the ball. A big target at 6'4" and 249 pounds, Williams has enough athleticism to create mismatches over the middle of the field and be a regular red-zone weapon.

Still needing to develop as a blocker, Williams will likely be Baltimore's No. 2 tight end as a rookie behind Crockett Gillmore. Even so, that shouldn't stop the Ravens from getting him on the field with regularity in two-tight end packages and/or as a substitution in longer passing situations, where Williams offers more ability to elevate down the field.

Part of the reason the Ravens will need to turn to Williams and their tight end group to make plays is that they have limited options at wide receiver. First-round pick Breshad Perriman adds big-play ability but is still raw, while Steve Smith Sr. is the only veteran wideout on the roster with a history of production.

Clive Walford, selected in the third round of the draft by the Oakland Raiders, could also be in line for an immediate impact in 2015, given his team's aforementioned lack of talented pass-catching options. But if any rookie tight end is to make a big mark on the league this upcoming season, Williams is the most likely bet.

Right tackles typically have more success as rookie starters than left tackles. Furthermore, offensive tackles playing the same position they did in college often perform better as rookies than those who have to switch sides of the line.

Given those two trends, it shouldn't come as a surprise if St. Louis Rams second-round pick Rob Havenstein ends up being the NFL's best rookie offensive tackle in 2015.

Projected to start right away for the Rams at right tackle, Havenstein is a massive (6'7", 321 lbs), strong and technically sound blocker who played on the right side at Wisconsin.

He is not an agile athlete by NFL standards, so he will likely have some struggles with outside speed-rushers. That said, his fundamentals help him make up for his athletic shortcomings, and he should prove to be a great fit for the power-running offense St. Louis plans to employ after drafting Todd Gurley in Round 1.

The popular pick to be the NFL's best rookie offensive tackle in 2015 will likely be Brandon Scherff, selected with the No. 5 overall pick by the Washington Redskins. The Outland Trophy winner from Iowa has the skills to immediately succeed in the NFL but has reportedly struggled early on in his transition from left tackle to right tackle, according to CSNWashington.com's Rich Tandler.

The Detroit Lions have not yet positioned Laken Tomlinson to be their starting left guard this season, but even though Manny Ramirez "took almost all the first-team reps at left guard" in offseason workouts, according to ESPN.com's Michael Rothstein, it would still come as a surprise if Tomlinson does not ultimately move ahead of Ramirez and into the starting lineup by Week 1.

While the Lions appear to be playing things slow with Tomlinson, after acquiring both he (the No. 28 overall pick) and Ramirez (in a trade) during the first round of this year's draft, there is every reason to believe Tomlinson, a four-year starter at Duke, will be ready to start and succeed in his rookie season.

Tomlinson is transitioning to playing left guard from right guard—which could be a reason why he has not been accelerated into snaps with the first-team offense—but he is a highly intelligent individual who should be able to make the adjustment quickly and effectively.

At 6'3" and 323 pounds, Tomlinson is a big, strong guard who wins with sound technique. He's not the most explosive or agile guard, but he rarely makes mistakes and won't get pushed around.

There are a number of other first-year guards who appear to be on track to start as rookies, including Cleveland Browns first-round pick Cameron Erving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers second-round pick Ali Marpet and Buffalo Bills third-round pick John Miller. Tomlinson is a more polished player than those three, however, and should be an above-average NFL starting guard right away if he beats out Ramirez—who is best suited for playing center—to win the job.

Coming out of the spring workout season, it does not appear as though any rookies are in line to be Week 1 starting centers in 2015. That said, Max Garcia is the first-year player most likely to get on the field at the position sooner than later.

Down four of their five starting offensive linemen from last season, the Denver Broncos could have playing time available for any blocker who exceeds expectations this summer. That includes Garcia, a compensatory fourth-round pick from Florida.

Gino Gradkowski, who the Broncos acquired for a swap of 2016 draft picks from the Baltimore Ravens this offseason, is currently projected to be the team's starting center. Whether he is good enough to hold down that position in the long haul is uncertain. When Gradkowski started for the Ravens in 2013, Pro Football Focus graded him as the worst center in the NFL.

Garcia only played center for one year in college, so expecting him to beat out Gradkowski this preseason might be a tough ask. But Garcia played well enough against SEC defenses and in the Senior Bowl to inspire confidence that he could be a long-term solution for the Broncos at the position, and perhaps at some point during 2015.

During OTAs, Garcia worked as the Broncos' backup right guard, according to Andrew Mason of DenverBroncos.com. However, the Broncos told Garcia after the draft they expected him to compete with Gradkowski for the starting center job, according to Troy Renck of the Denver Post.

As new Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn installs a multifront defense, it's uncertain whether No. 8 overall pick Vic Beasley should be labeled as a 4-3 defensive end, 3-4 outside linebacker or something more ambiguous like edge defender or "Leo." What is for sure is the Falcons will expect Beasley to play a starring role in their pass rush right away

One of the most explosive athletes in the entire 2015 NFL draft, Beasley should be a perfect fit for the Falcons' hybrid defensive scheme. Possessing rare speed and agility for a 6'3", 246-pound edge player, Beasley has the potential to move all around a defense and contribute in multiple facets.

Where Beasley should truly make an impact right away is getting after the quarterback. After he recorded 33 sacks in his collegiate career at Clemson, Atlanta needs Beasley to provide a true outside speed threat for a defense that registered only 22 sacks in 2014.

Beasley must add strength as a run defender and is inexperienced in coverage, so he will likely start out as a situational pass-rusher early in his rookie season. But even if he is not an every-down player, he could still be a Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate if he is able to bring pressure off the edge with consistency.

Oakland Raiders second-round pick Mario Edwards Jr. and Dallas Cowboys second-round pick Randy Gregory also appear to be set for significant roles in their teams' defensive end rotations in 2015, but Beasley is a more polished pass-rusher than both of them at this point.

Because the New York Jets already have two of the NFL's best 3-4 defensive ends in Sheldon Richardson and Muhammad Wilkerson, Leonard Williams probably won't be a starter in his rookie year. Even so, one should expect the Jets to find ways to get him on the field and for Williams to take advantage and make plays when he does.

Considered by many draft analysts to be the best prospect in the entire 2015 class, Williams became simply too good to pass up when he fell to the Jets at the No. 6 overall pick. Boasting a tremendous combination of size and athleticism at 6'5" and 302 pounds, the USC product has the quickness, power and potential to be both a disruptive interior pass-rusher and a dominant run defender.

The Jets have a luxury with Williams to be able to groom him to be a replacement next year for Wilkerson, who will likely depart the franchise as an unrestricted free agent in 2016. That said, Williams is too talented for the Jets to not be creative in getting him playing time.

A case could be made for San Francisco 49ers first-round pick Arik Armstead projecting as the most productive rookie 3-4 defensive end, by virtue of Armstead's being drafted by a team that actually needs him to be a significant contributor in 2015. However, it is likely Williams will be the better of the two players when he is on the field, as Armstead is a physically gifted but much rawer talent.

Should the Jets develop packages that put Richardson, Wilkerson and Williams on the field simultaneously, they will be able to create matchup problems with opposing offensive lines. Expect Williams to take advantage of those mismatches and make some big plays in his rookie year.

As the Cleveland Browns seek to improve a defense that allowed more rushing yards than any other team in the NFL last season, expect them to call upon No. 12 overall pick Danny Shelton to play a huge role in their defensive front in his rookie year.

A massive and powerful yet deceptively quick interior lineman at 6'2" and 339 pounds, Shelton is an ideal fit to step in and improve the Browns, especially against the run, at the nose tackle position in their 3-4 alignment.

With 93 total tackles, including 16.5 tackles for loss and nine sacks, Shelton was absurdly productive for a man of his size in his senior year at Washington. He won't be able to cover as much ground against faster NFL offenses but nonetheless has the skill set to make an impact as more than just a space-eater in Cleveland.

Shelton probably won't be an every-down player in his rookie year, but he should be a staple of the team's base defense. Truly, a role in which he comes off the field in sub-packages could make him even more effective when he is on the field, as it will enable him to preserve more stamina over the course of the game.

New England Patriots first-round pick Malcom Brown and Chicago Bears second-round pick Eddie Goldman also project to make an impact as nose tackles in their rookie seasons. But while Brown and Goldman could start their careers playing in rotational capacities, Shelton will almost certainly be a Week 1 starter barring injury.

The leader in the NCAA's Football Bowl Subdivision with 19 sacks last season, Hau'oli Kikaha is a technically skilled player who should be able to make an immediate impact for the New Orleans Saints as a pass-rusher in 2015.

Although some expected Kikaha to plummet in the draft due to a substandard combination of size and speed, the Washington product could end up making the Saints look smart right away for drafting him with the No. 44 overall pick.

A smooth bender around the edge who already has an excellent set of pass-rushing moves, Kikaha should find ways to get around blockers and bring pressure as a situational rusher in 2015. It's also possible he could end up being elevated to a starting role as a rookie, depending upon what happens with Junior Galette, who is not only recovering from a pectoral injury but could also potentially be released, according to ESPN.com's Mike Triplett, after multiple off-field distractions this offseason.

Kikaha is small for an edge-setting run defender at 6'2" and 253 pounds, but he has exhibited strength and competitiveness in that regard on tape. His ceiling is low for an early-round pick, but his ability to come in and contribute as a rookie should be higher than most other players in the class.

Pittsburgh Steelers first-round pick Alvin Dupree is another candidate to make a big impact at 3-4 outside linebacker, but the Steelers have a history of bringing their rookies along slowly. While Dupree—in many ways the opposite of Kikaha—is an exceptional athlete, he will probably be better in future seasons, as his game still needs refinement.

One of the most versatile players in the entire class of first-year players, Shaq Thompson will be expected to add a playmaking spark to the Carolina Panthers defense in his rookie season.

An athletic defender who played both linebacker and defensive back during his collegiate career, Thompson has the range to make plays all over the field in both run defense and coverage.

Chances are good Thompson will make the national highlight reels with at least one big play in his rookie season. Thompson scored five defensive touchdowns, including four in his senior season alone, during his three-year career at Washington.

Joining a linebacker corps that already includes two standout players in Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis, Thompson probably won't be an every-down player in his rookie season. That said, the Panthers should do their best to find creative ways to utilize Thompson's diverse skill set, while he could also make an impact on special teams and even play running back in a pinch.

There are no other rookie outside linebackers on teams that run 4-3 defenses who project to play in heavy rotation in 2015.

Playing middle linebacker in a 4-3 defense is not the ideal role for Eric Kendricks, given that he is limited in size at 6'0" and 232 pounds. But that shouldn't stop the second-round pick from having a productive debut season with the Minnesota Vikings in 2015.

The winner of the Butkus Award as college football's best linebacker last season, Kendricks is a well-rounded player who is excellent in play recognition and has the athletic ability to make plays all over the field in both run defense and coverage.

Kendricks is not the rocked-up, hard-hitting thumper type of "Mike" linebacker that most defenses like to have. On the flip side, he is a reliable tackler who offers great range in space and will be an asset, not a liability, in pass defense.

Already working as the Vikings' first-team middle linebacker in offseason workouts, according to Master Tesfatsion of the Star Tribune, Kendricks is fully expected to be the starter at the position as a rookie.

Having recorded 475 total tackles over the course of his four-year collegiate career at UCLA, Kendricks projects as the odds-on favorite to lead all NFL rookies in tackles in 2015.

New Orleans Saints first-round pick Stephone Anthony, who will play as a 3-4 inside linebacker, is another strong candidate to have a productive rookie year. Kendricks gets the nod here, however, as he is a more polished player while Anthony could begin his career as a rotational player off the bench.

None of the five cornerbacks selected in the first round of this year's draft are expected to be starters in their rookie seasons. That said, all of them should still see significant playing time in nickel and/or dime packages.

Among them, the most well-equipped to succeed might be Kevin Johnson, who the Houston Texans made the second cornerback off the board with the No. 16 overall pick.

A fluid athlete with good length, Johnson is the most technically sound defensive back in the entire rookie class. He has demonstrated ball skills, having recorded 33 pass breakups and seven interceptions over his last three seasons at Wake Forest, and has the quickness and awareness to be consistent in coverage.

At only 6'0" and 188 pounds, he needs to bulk up and become stronger in run support, but as a pass defender, he should be able to step in and play both outside and in the slot. That versatility should make Johnson a highly valuable addition to the Texans secondary as the No. 3 cornerback, which could mean playing on the perimeter at times and inside at others.

Trae Waynes (Minnesota Vikings), Marcus Peters (Kansas City Chiefs) and Byron Jones (Dallas Cowboys) might not be quite as valuable as Johnson in situational roles, as all of them are best suited to playing outside primarily. The last of the first-round cornerbacks, Damarious Randall (Green Bay Packers), can play both slot cornerback and safety but might not be a fit to play outside.

Philadelphia Eagles second-round pick Eric Rowe is the most likely rookie to be among his team's top two cornerbacks this year, but is also likely to have significant growing pains after just one year playing the position in college.

From the moment the New York Giants drafted him after trading up to the first pick in the second round, Landon Collins became the most talented safety on their decimated roster. A virtual lock to start at strong safety, Collins should have a productive rookie season in front of him.

A big, hard-hitting safety at 6'0" and 228 pounds, Collins is at his best as an in-the-box player, where he can serve as an extra linebacker at times. The Giants would be smart to continue using him in this role when possible, as his combination of speed, instincts and tackling ability should enable him to be highly productive as a run defender.

Given their lack of other talent at the position, the Giants will likely have no choice but to play Collins in deep coverage in some situations. This will likely lead to some struggles, as he is not particularly fluid as a pass defender, but he does have the ball skills to make some big plays on the back end.

Regardless of how he is precisely used, Collins is likely to be on the field for nearly all of the Giants' defensive snaps in 2015 as long as he is healthy. The deficiency of talent on their depth chart will dictate that, and Collins—a first-team All-American at Alabama—has the tools to rack up tackles in high numbers while also creating some turnovers.

There might not be any other rookie safeties who start for their teams this upcoming season, let alone be linchpins of their secondaries like Collins is going to have to be.

Dan Hope is an NFL/NFL draft Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report.

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