35 NFL Rookies Who Took The League By Storm

Darren - September 10, 2020

35 NFL Rookies Who Took The League By Storm

Darren - September 10, 2020

7. Robert Griffin III

Before injuries cruelly got in the way of his career, looked like a worldbeater. He broke onto the scene in 2012 as the second overall draft pick. A Heisman winner with Baylor during his final year, Washington Redskins fans had high expectations for their new man.

Then he proved them right by winning the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award. Griffin finished the year with 3,200 passing yards and rushed for 815. However, he suffered some horrendous knee injuries at the end of his incredible season. This resulted in him spending a lot of time as a backup.

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6. Andrew Luck

Luck had the unenviable task of replacing a franchise icon in Peyton Manning. However, the Indianapolis Colts’ quarterback proved he was more than up to the task. He quickly demonstrated that he was one of the best passers in the league as their starting QB as he took the league by storm.

With 4,374 passing yards and 23 touchdowns, Luck was ruthlessly efficient. Furthermore, his 11 wins as a rookie was a new record for a draft first pick. The Colts only won two games in the previous season which shows just how significant his impact was. Unfortunately, injuries ended his career in its prime, but Luck was a generational talent and a supreme athlete at his best.

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5. Eric Dickerson

The most exciting attacking rookies play without fear. Sometimes this can be to their detriment because they may put their bodies at unnecessary risk. However, it can also be scintillating to watch. That was the case for Dickerson in his phenomenal rookie year with the Los Angeles Rams.

Dickerson won all kinds of individual honors for his stellar NFL performances in 1983. He rushed for 1,808 yards and landed 18 touchdowns as he demonstrated his devastating attacking prowess. Furthermore, the running back played in his first Pro Bowl as he took the league by storm.

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4. Dak Prescott

A very gifted player, Prescott is now the undisputed Dallas Cowboys’ quarterback. However, nobody expected Prescott to start for ‘America’s Team’ his rookie year. So how did he end up playing in all 16 regular-season games and winning the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award, not to mention his first Pro Bowl selection?.

Well, Tony Romo suffered an injury during the preseason and was unable to start the season. Prescott took full advantage of this opportunity and put down his mark. His 3,667 passing yards were the fourth-best overall in 2016. It was a magnificent way for him to announce himself in pro football.

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3. Jevon Kearse

When a rookie makes the Pro Bowl, they’ve obviously done very well. Not many manage to achieve this honor. However, Kearse did after an exceptional year in 1999 for the Tennessee Titans. You could argue that he peaked in his first year because he never achieved the same number of sacks in a season again.

‘The Freak’ was a major part of the Titans’ reaching the Super Bowl final. With 48 tackles, eight forced fumbles, and an excellent 14.5 sacks, Kearse was a force of nature in the Tenessee backline. Needless to say, he won the Defensive Rookie of the Year award for his staggering contribution.

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2. Cam Newton

Newton took a meandering route to the NFL, but when he finally arrived, he took the league by storm. The young Carolina Panthers’ quarterback quickly ousted his competition and showed off his incredible talents. He was the first rookie quarterback to throw for 4,000 yards in their first season.

His overall value to the team was incredible. Newton set all kinds of records in his debut year, including rushing yards by a rookie QB and many more. Meanwhile, he won the Offensive Rookie of the Year award which was practically a given.

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1. Ben Roethlisberger

‘Big Ben’ has been in the NFL for 16 years but has been brilliant from the beginning. Incredibly, he was the Pittsburgh Steeler’s third-string quarterback before injuries got him on the field. Then he made the starting shirt his, going 13-0 in his rookie season. In short, the Offensive Rookie of the Year had a dream start.

The Patriots did eventually shut him down in the AFC Championship game, but Roethlisberger had an excellent regular season. After coming into the team with pressure on his shoulders, he took the NFL by storm. His 2621 passing yards were a very reasonable return, but the best was yet to come as ‘Big Ben’ eventually won two Super Bowls.

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