Photo Credit: Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports
With the NFL regular season done, it’s time to take a look back at which rookie made the most impact for their team. The 2015 NFL Draft class was stacked with a lot of talent and there were a lot of rookies who more than exceeded expectations and surprised everyone. Here are my choices for NFL rookies who exceeded expectations in the 2015 regular season.
RB Todd Gurley
Drafted in the first round by the St. Louis Rams, Gurley was still recovering from an ACL injury that kept him sidelined for the first three games of the season, but he played in every game after that. In those 13 games, Gurley showed that he was truly worth his first-round pick, finishing with 1,106 rushing yards with ten touchdowns. As their main running back, Gurley was basically the Rams whole offense and even occasionally played receiver, picking up an additional 188 receiving yards, making him a dual threat that their offense desperately needed. Gurley’s ability to adapt so quickly to the NFL is commendable and is definitely part of the reason why he is up for Offensive Rookie Of The Year.
WR Jamison Crowder
When the Redskins went to the playoffs, everyone was more than surprised. While most credit is given to quarterback Kirk Cousins, Cousins wouldn’t have gotten anywhere without a good receiving corp. Rookie wide receiver Jamison Crowder became a well-known target for Cousins; finishing the season with 59 receptions, 604 receiving yards, but only two touchdowns. However, Crowder’s speed and ability to pick up an average of ten yards on each reception was something that aided the Redskins greatly this season. Crowder also became their return specialist, rushed a few times and even played on the defensive side of the ball. Crowder’s 4th-round pick now looks like a complete steal and one the Redskins will continue to turn to.
CB Byron Jones
The Dallas Cowboys season was one to forget, but one person who didn’t disappoint was rookie Byron Jones. In a defense that included Greg Hardy, Jones showed his talent and leadership. Jones’ ability to switch positions and his general ability to cover guys like Rob Gronkowski more than justified him being picked in the first-round. While Jones’ stats may not tell his true impact, he was still able to get 66 combined tackles and three stuffs. While it is unclear what position Jones will settle on, his presence in Dallas is exactly what they will need in the future. Jones is certainly one thing in Dallas that deserves more than credit than he gets.
RB Thomas Rawls
To round out my list, I return to the running back position with Thomas Rawls. When it was reported that the Seattle Seahawks would be without Marshawn Lynch, many wondered who they would choose as his replacement. They looked to rookie Thomas Rawls, and Rawls more than delivered. As the only undrafted rookie on my list, Rawls has literally become an overnight success. Rawls appeared in 13 games this season, rushed for 830 yards and four touchdowns, seamlessly becoming the new “Beastmode”. In addition to playing running back, Rawls had nine receptions for 76 yards and scored a touchdown. Rawls had a breakout season for someone who probably wasn’t even expected to play and an essential part of the Seahawks offense now.
