10 NFL Rookies Who Will Have The Biggest Impact In 2017

The 2017 NFL Draft had a ton of talent in it, and a number of the top prospects landed in perfect situations. Several rookies are in a great position to do big things in Year 1. Here’s a look at the 10 who have the best chance at making a major impact in 2017.

10. Corey Davis, WR, Tennessee Titans

A big (6’3″ 209), prolific receiver in college at Western Michigan, Corey Davis will finally give Marcus Mariota the type of target he’s been lacking in the NFL. There’s a reason Tennessee took Davis with the fifth pick in the 2017 NFL Draft.

Mariota completed just 159 passes to receivers for 16 touchdowns in 2016. Davis had 97 receptions for 1,500 yards and 19 touchdowns at Western Michigan as a senior in 2016. If this duo gets on the same page, the Titans offense could explode in 2017.

9. O.J. Howard, TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Like Mariota, Jameis Winston got something he really didn’t previously have when the Bucs drafted O.J. Howard with the 19th pick in 2017. While Mike Evans is turning into a star on the perimeter, Winston needed a solid option over the middle and in shorter areas. His new toy from Alabama gives him that.

Howard was easily the best tight end in college football last year and returning for his senior season solidified his draft position. At 6’6″ and 251 pounds with a 4.51 40, he’s big, fast, athletic and powerful. He’ll be perfect for Winston’s quarterbacking style.

8. Dalvin Cook, RB, Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings needed to find a long-term replacement for Adrian Peterson and they did so with the 41st pick in the 2017 draft. Dalvin Cook’s stock took a hit due to character concerns but there’s little doubt he was one of the best and most complete running backs in the draft.

Cook rushed for 4,464 yards and 46 touchdowns in three years at Florida state, while averaging 6.5 yards per carry. He also caught 79 passes. As a team the Vikings rushed for just 1,205 yards and averaged 3.2 ypc in 2016. Cook should fundamentally change the team’s offense with his game-breaking speed and receiving ability out of the backfield.

7. T.J. Watt, OLB, Pittsburgh Steelers

J.J. Watt’s little brother blew up at the combine, showing excellent athleticism and quickness that should lead to on-field playmaking ability. T.J. Watt is being brought in solely to help Pittsburgh’s pass rush, which garnered 38 sacks in 2016, but wasn’t consistent enough.

A first-team All-Big Ten selection in 2016, Watt checks in at 6’4″ and 252 pounds with 4.69 40 speed.Those are all ideal numbers for an edge rusher, which is why the Steelers selected him with the 30th pick in the draft. While he’ll never be the physical freak his brother is, T.J. could make a big impact on a Steelers team that should be in contention in the AFC this season.

6. Haason Reddick, OLB, Arizona Cardinals

With Kevin Minter, Calais Campbell and Alex Okafor all gone from the front seven, the Cardinals needed a boost of athleticism to their linebacking corps. Enter Haason Reddick, who played defensive end at Temple, but will be an inside linebacker in Arizona’s 3-4 scheme.

At 6’1″ and 237 pounds, Reddick won’t blow anyone away with his size, but he ran a 4.52 40 at the combine, while busting out an incredible broad jump of 11’1″ and a 36.5-inch vertical. The 13th pick in the 2017 draft is obviously super athletic, but also possesses next-level instincts and should be a prolific tackler on a defense that needs one.

5. Leonard Fournette, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars

Jacksonville’s offense ranked 23rd in the NFL in 2016, and 22nd in rushing yards (101.9 per game). Blake Bortles hasn’t inspired a lick of confidence under center, but lucky for him the Jags selected Leonard Fournette with the fourth pick in this year’s draft.

Fournette is a big, strong running back who possesses 4.51 speed and good short-area quickness. He also has really soft hands out of the backfield. New Jags coach Doug Marrone loves to run the ball, so Fournette should get plenty of opportunities. If he’s healthy, he should put up very good numbers and take a ton of pressure off Bortles.

4. Jamal Adams, S, New York Jets

The Jets were a mess at the back of the secondary last season. With Calvin Pryor gone to Cleveland, Gang Green needed a new leader at safety, and it found the best in the 2017 draft in Jamal Adams.

The sixth pick in the 2017 draft has the size, athletic ability and instincts to captain a defense from the safety position. Adams started games in all three of his seasons at LSU and was a leader and All-SEC performer in both of his final two seasons. He’s definitely a Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate.

With Leonard Williams along the defensive front and Adams at safety, the Jets will have two of the NFL’s best young defenders.

3. Deshaun Watson, QB, Houston Texans

The Texans shocked a lot of people when they traded up to select Deshaun Watson with the 12th pick in the draft, but the 21-year-old might actually be on pace to open the season under center. Given how bad Brock Osweiler was last year, it’s amazing Houston managed to win the AFC South and reach the second round of the playoffs. The Texans roster is so good that if Watson can just be a league-average quarterback, they could be contenders in the AFC.

Watson doesn’t have the biggest arm or pinpoint accuracy, but he’s a winner who did great things at Clemson. He’s coming off back-to-back national title game appearances and hoisted the trophy in January. The Texans expect big things from him. He could be the most important rookie in football this year.

2. Myles Garrett, DE/OLB, Cleveland Browns

Myles Garrett was the consensus top player in the 2017 draft and the Browns had to take the talented edge rusher with the No. 1 pick. It just so happened that creating a pass rush was one of the Cleveland’s top needs, as the Browns finished 30th in the NFL with just 26 sacks in 2016.

Garrett is an explosive athlete. At 6’4″ and 272 pounds he possesses 4.57 speed, a 41-inch vertical and threw up 33 bench reps at the combine. With those physical gifts, there is nothing stopping Garrett from being a star other than desire. If he wants it bad enough, he’ll be a terror for opposing offenses. If he doesn’t? Well that would be fairly classic Browns now, wouldn’t it?

1. Christian McCaffrey, RB, Carolina Panthers

Cam Newton struggled in 2016 as he threw 19 touchdown passes and had 14 interceptions. He needs help, which is why the Panthers selected Christian McCaffrey with the eighth pick in the draft.

McCaffrey was a dominant running back in college, but he’s going to do a bit of everything for the Panthers. He should be devastating to opposing defenses as a receiver out of the backfield, could also line up in the slot, and his slashing, quick running style should act as a perfect complement to Jonathan Stewart’s between-the-tackle bruising.

McCaffrey will be a perfect addition to Newton’s arsenal and should see plenty of touches, which will give him the inside track on the Offensive Rookie of the Year race.