Being a rookie in the NFL is always tough: having to navigate your first proper NFL pre-season training and evaluation before then being thrust into the limelight of a regular season game that could make or break a franchise’s season.
Here are just some of the promising rookies who have what it takes to launch themselves onto the NFL stage.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire – Kansas City Chiefs
When you have the best quarterback in the game supplying you, a rookie has every chance of hitting the ground running, so Clyde Edwards-Helaire will be looking forward to helping Kansas realize the favorites tag that has been bestowed on the franchise by bookmakers in the know.
Edwards-Helaire joins an already strong running team, but with his sturdy base and incredible turn of speed he could well be in with a shout of being rookie of the year.
Cameron Dantzler – Minnesota Vikings
This cornerback slid down the draft pecking order, as his unusual athletic build – he is so skinny his nickname is “The Needle” – held him back. However, all that has changed during pre-season with the Vikings, who have been impressed by his lightning-fast reaction intercepts.
If he plucks some passes out of the sky in the regular season he could well be on the path to greatness.
Rookies will be chomping at the bit to get off to a flyer this new NFL season
Joe Burrow – Cincinnati Bengals
Burrow was a sensation at college level and the hype surrounding him only grew further when he was made the number 1 draft pick.
The Bengals will probably need a hell of a lot more than just a star quarterback to turn themselves into genuine playoff contenders, but it is certainly a good place to start. If Burrow can bring them something close to an even win-loss ratio he will have done a stellar job.
Which rookie will get their mitts on the Vince Lombardi Trophy?
Parnell Motley – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
There is a buzz about the Bucs this season, with Tom Brady (Orange fan that he is) being about 99% of the reason for it.
However, there are plenty of other justifications for this optimism. One of those is the fact that the franchise appears to have picked up a bargain in the form of cornerback Parnell Motley, who is reported to be making life hard for Brady during Tampa practice sessions.
Rumor has it that he will have a big part to play this season.