Immediate Impact Rookies: Quandre Diggs

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From the first overall pick in the NFL Draft to a 6th round pick by the Detroit Lions. I am all over the board here, damn. Well it's a good thing Diggs is helping my cause, as he is already turning heads at the Lions camp. The reason why Quandre Diggs was a 6th round pick, is because scouts say he lacks the ideal size and speed to play outside. With that being said, the importance of a slot cornerback is only increasing in todays NFL, and I believe that he is going to make a really good one too.

I've glazed over the negatives, which is he lacks ideal size and speed to play outside. What he does have are incredible instincts and he attacks the ball. He is a very intelligent player on the field and has quick feet and fluid hips too, which are ideal characteristics for a slot cornerback. He is a fairly polished product (four year starter at Texas) and can come in and contribute immediately for the Lions.

He is also in a great situation with the Detroit Lions too. Detroit had a top 3 defense last season, and even though they lost Suh and Fairley, they should still be very good. They are getting Stephen Tulloch back from his injury, and they get another year of development out of a lot of key players like Darius Slay, Ezekiel Ansah and Kyle Van Noy. Detroit also lacks a good slot cornerback (sorry Bill Bentley) and they desperately need one in a division with Randall Cobb. Diggs can learn from Rashean Mathis who is an incredible veteran presence and has clearly taught Darius Slay a lot. They also have an incredible defensive coordinator in Teryl Austin, who will be able to utilize Quandre Diggs to his strengths and put him in positions to succeed.

The big thing holding Quandre Diggs back from becoming a star, is he has a limited ceiling. His lack of elite athleticism and size will keep him inside, and keep his ceiling limited. This article isn't about whether he will become a star or not, but instead it's that he will have a huge impact for the Detroit Lions straight out of the gate. Diggs is a physical playmaker that fits what Detroit is trying to do on defense, and he will impress people with his ability in the slot in 2015.

Immediate Impact Rookies: Jameis Winston

This article will be one of many in a series of 2015 draftees who I think will have an immediate impact in some way, shape or form. Where they are drafted plays a part in this series as well, because chances are that most of the first two rounds of rookies will have an immediate impact on their teams. That doesn't mean I'm going to automatically put them on my list, as there is a lot that will factor into my analysis of these players. A few components that factor into my decision will be there skill level, the situation the player is drafted into, the amount of playing time I think they will get, etc. I hope to explain myself well enough for each player I analyze that my opinion isn't completely batshit crazy. Enjoy!

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Jameis Winston

Onto the most talked about rookie since... Well since Johnny Manziel. So it was only a year earlier. Well either way, I like to think that Winston's hype is more driven by his play, and actual quarterback traits. Winston being in an 'Immediate Impact Rookies' article seems fairly redundant. He was the first overall pick and went to a quarterback needy team. It's a no-brainer. Well even if this article doesn't need a brain, it's going to get one!

The knock that I (along with most football analysts) have against him is his decision making. He too often throws a ball he flat out shouldn't throw. Other than that and a slightly long release, I haven't seen much to dislike about the young QB out of Florida State. He has an arm that can make every single throw on the field, he has an incredible football I.Q. and he has solid accuracy to go along with it. My favourite trait about Winston, is he isn't afraid of anything on the field. If Winston throws a pick to Richard Sherman, and the next play he thinks the best throw on the field is right back at Sherman, he'll challenge him again. He trusts his wide receivers, and more importantly he trusts himself to always make every throw. Also he is very rarely shaken, which is huge for a quarterback of his stature. I do believe that Winston was the most talented player in this years draft, and I think he has all of the ideal traits every team looks for in a franchise QB.

The biggest reason he is on this list isn't for his talent, because that is well documented in the NFL media circle. The main reason why he is on this list is because I love the situation he is in with the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay has three huge, very talented pass catchers for Winston to throw too. Mike Evans, Vincent Jackson and Austin Seferian-Jenkins should help smooth over Winston's transition to the NFL. Evans especially, as he could be the top receiver in the NFL next season and it would not shock me one bit. With Mike Glennon as his QB, Mike Evans put up 1,051 receiving yards with 12 touchdowns. Winston is the perfect QB for Evans, as he will throw him 50/50 balls and not be intimidated by any defensive back covering Evans. Since Evans has arguably the strongest hands in the NFL, and absolutely dominates 50/50 balls, Winston will thrive when throwing him the ball. Oh yeah, and ASJ is 6'6 to go along with the 6'5 Vincent Jackson and 6'5 Mike Evans. So they should have quite the potent red zone offense.

I'm not going to completely ignore the negatives, as the Bucs offensive line is a big question mark on paper. They are relying heavily on two rookies, which might not go over well. Donovon Smith is slotted in at left tackle, and Ali Marpet should be their right guard. The rest of the offensive line is solid, but these two rookies can't falter under pressure and need to step up. The good thing is that Winston isn't known for crumbling under pressure. He has good pocket presence, and is deceptively mobile, so he doesn't need an elite offensive line to play at a high level (obviously it would help though). The run game the Bucs have is interesting. It's not bad, it's not great, but they have quite a few guys that could make an impact. Between Doug Martin, Charles Sims, Bobby Rainey and Mike James, I expect somebody to step up and be a solid running back for Winston.

I like what the Bucs did to help Winston. They believe that he can be their franchise quarterback, and they drafted to support that sentiment. This will be a transition year for Tampa Bay, and they probably won't be all that competitive, but I'm a strong believer in Winston and I think he'll have a great rookie season that proves he can be their franchise quarterback.

AFC West Breakout Candidates 2015

Denver Broncos

Bradley Roby, CB: The rich get richer. Denver's talent at cornerback is already at an elite level with Chris Harris and Aqib Talib, and Bradley Roby will push them over the edge. Roby had a solid rookie season, but he has an incredibly high ceiling. He has the size, speed and ball skills of an elite cornerback, he just needs to work on consistency. He sometimes can get caught trying to make the big play and get burned, but if he works on that he could be great. He is in a very good position with Denver too, as they have a wicked pass rush with Von Miller, DeMarcus Ware and Shane Ray. The Broncos D can bring the heat, which provides more of an opportunity for their secondary to make plays. Roby will bring to light that the Broncos have a terrifying trio instead of a dynamic duo at cornerback. I'm predicting 4 interceptions for Roby and more consistent play too.

San Diego Chargers

Jason Verrett, CB: I'm not overly confident in this choice. Only because I don't know if Verrett has already broken out. Mighty Mouse is a star. I have a huge man crush on this guy, and I think he is going to be one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL for years to come. He has all the traits you would look for in a star cornerback except for size, but he plays way bigger than he is. I could go on and on about how awesome Verrett  is, but it's easier if you just watch some of his highlights. He's incredible. Between him and Flowers, the Chargers have a deadly duo at cornerback. I'm predicting 3 interceptions for Verrett, but more importantly I think he will end the year as a top 5 cornerback.

Oakland Raiders

Derek Carr, QB: There are usually two kinds of opinions on Derek Carr. The first is that he is a franchise QB and had a terrific rookie season. The second is he had a horrible rookie year and isn't a good quarterback. I fall somewhere in between these two views. I think he had a bad rookie season, but he showed me enough flashes of brilliance that I think he is a franchise QB going forward and will make a big leap in year 2. Carr is a very smart quarterback with a big arm, and I'm expecting him to jump to at least a league average QB next year. Drafting Amari Cooper was very smart by Raiders management, because Carr really lacked any explosive go to target, and now that he has just that in Cooper there is no telling what the two can do. Oakland also has hope in the backfield with Latavius Murray, and if he is even serviceable then that will go a long way in helping ease some pressure off of Carr. I'm predicting 3,800 yards for Carr, with 26 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

Kansas City Chiefs

Travis Kelce, TE: The only things that previously stood in Kelce's way to break out earlier is health and playing time. Health is always a risk for every player, but the lack of playing time should not be a problem anymore. Kelce is an absolute animal on the field, which led to his nickname being Mini-Gronk, and it is almost criminal that it has taken KC this long to realize they should play him more. Kansas City does run a conservative offense, but along with Maclin and Charles, they only have three real receiving threats so he should be due for a lot of targets. I don't have much negative to say about Kelce. Talent wise I think he is a top 3 TE in the NFL (behind Gronk and Graham) and if KC uses him well then he will put the NFL on notice early. I'm predicting 950 yards and 10 touchdowns for this behemoth.

AFC South Breakout Candidates 2015

Houston Texans

Jadaveon Clowney, OLB: Okay so this choice is a little bit of a copout. Clowney is insanely talented, and if he stays healthy he could immediately establish himself as an elite edge rusher. JC has power and jaw dropping speed for his size, and he also has an underrated array of pass rushing moves. In college he was consistently triple teamed by the left tackle, tight end and running back, but he still made a huge impact and got to the QB a lot. On Houston, he is in a great situation with JJ Watt, and since offenses have to pay the most attention to Watt he will get a lot of 1-on-1 rushes so he can thrive. The one thing standing in his way is health, but if he can stay on the field he could be great. I'm predicting 12 sacks for the 1st overall pick, and for him and Watt to be the best duo on any defense in the NFL (that's right, I'm looking at you Sherman and Thomas).

Indianapolis Colts

Jack Mewhort, OG: If he makes the jump I am predicting, the Colts could have the best offense in the NFL. Not to say the entire offense will rely on the play of one offensive guard, the Colts are going to have an elite O either way, but it would help a lot because they don't have an overly strong offensive line. Mewhort is a strong, physical player, and he is a very smart player too. Luck is a smart QB, and whatever offense they end up running, Mewhort will be able to keep up with it. I actually think he would make a great center for the Colts, because he is a highly intelligent player that is tough and can be a leader of the team. Whether he plays guard or center, he should make a jump this coming year on what should be a much stronger Colts offensive line.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Telvin Smith, OLB: The Jags are a great team to pick a breakout candidate for, because there are so many players that could make a big jump in 2015. I went with one of my many man crushes in Telvin Smith. This guy has a nose for the ball, and can flat out play. He's undersized, like so many other players though (Aaron Donald, Russell Wilson, Drew Brees, Wes Welker), he plays much bigger than he actually is. He had a slow start to last season, but he was a rookie so that is almost expected. He still needs to work on his consistency, but he ended the season with 64 tackles in his last 6 games, and 31 in his last 2. Where he could really thrive this coming season is in coverage. He is a Shaq Thompson type player, that could realistically play safety, but he is extremely instinctive and almost an energizer bunny-type player on the field. I'm expecting him to do damage in all facets of the game, with 130 combined tackles, 3 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles and 4 fumble recoveries. He's a very exciting player to watch and has an All-Pro ceiling.

Tennessee Titans

Bishop Sankey, RB: To be honest, I'm not the biggest Bishop Sankey fan, but the situation he is in is too good for him not to be a breakout candidate. He has very little competition to be the starting running back (sorry Shone Green and David Cobb), so he should get the bulk of the carries. Also, having Marcus Mariota as the QB will be huge for the run game. A mobile QB opens up an entirely different threat for an offense. In Washington, Alfred Morris runs for roughly a yard more on average with RGIII as his quarterback. Sankey is a solid strong back, that has proven able to carry a big workload. Tennessee has a good offensive line too, and a lot of weapons at receiver to open up the field. I'm predicting 1,000 yards and 7 rushing touchdowns for the former 2nd round pick.

AFC North Breakout Candidates 2015

Cincinnati Bengals

Jeremy Hill, RB: Hill had a great rookie season. He's going to establish himself as a top 5 running back next season. Hill showed every single trait of a top running back last season, and even was a very good blocker too, but he will be in a "timeshare" with Gio Bernard for the foreseeable future. I'm quoting "timeshare" because even though Gio Bernard is very good too, they will have a tough time justifying taking Hill off the field. Hill is a great blocker as I mentioned earlier, and he is also a very good receiver in the backfield. He's just a more complete runner than Bernard too, and that will show this season. Hill is the best back Andy Dalton has ever had, and even though I don't think Dalton will take any strides in development, Cincinnati has a star in the making with Jeremy Hill. I'm predicting 1300 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns, which truth be told aren't that different from his 2014 numbers, but it's only because they will get in their own way with the RBBC idea. He WILL establish himself as a star RB though, and if he gets more carries, he will do a lot more damage.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Ryan Shazier, MLB: Another player who barring injury, should be in for a big season. Part of me wanted to go with Martavis Bryant to breakout, but that is almost expected and I think that Shazier will actually make the bigger jump in 2015. He is an athletic freak that can physically do anything on the football field. He's also an incredible playmaker, and if he improves his technique and instincts, he can have a NaVorro Bowman type impact on this defense. He's not perfect, he's still very raw, but his ceiling is high. I have faith in Pittsburgh's defensive staff to coach up Shazier in areas where he needs it, but alongside Lawrence Timmons he will wreak havoc on opposing offenses. I'm predicting 95 total tackles for Shazier, 3 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries and quite a few jaw-dropping athletic plays.

Cleveland Browns

Barkevious Mingo, OLB: This is a risky breakout candidate. Not as risky as me predicting Johnny Manziel to break out, but nevertheless he might not shape out to what I believe he can. Mingo hasn't developed into the pass rusher the Browns were hoping for, and they also drafted Nate Orchard in the second round to add some depth on the edge. So why does Mingo get breakout candidate love? Simple, he improved a lot last season even if the stats don't necessarily show it, and he is still an athletic freak with a high ceiling. The Browns defense should be even better in 2015, and Mingo should be in line for a bigger role and more snaps too. I'm predicting 7 sacks for Mingo in 2015, which would be a huge increase from his 2 sacks in 2014. I also think he'll continue to develop a well rounded game, and improve in his technique, which is vital for his growth.

Baltimore Ravens

Jimmy Smith, CB: Jimmy Smith is a player that if he stays healthy, he will be a star. He was well on his way to stardom last season, but a foot injury prematurely ended his year. He has the size, athleticism and technique to go toe-to-toe with any wide receiver in the NFL and he's still only 26 years old. The Ravens secondary really struggled in 2014, and they should be in for a resurgence in 2015 with Smith being healthy and Webb being another year removed from his big injury. Everybody knows about the Ravens deadly front seven, and if you didn't know, now you do. They will be able to bring pressure to opposing QB's, which means Smith will have an easier time defending receivers (not that he needs it). Smith is in a position to thrive with Baltimore in 2015, and if he stays healthy, he could be a top 5 cornerback in the entire NFL. I'm predicting 3 interceptions, but what's most important is that he will constantly give opposing WR's a hard time and he will rarely be burned too.

AFC East Breakout Candidates 2015

Buffalo Bills

Stephon Gilmore, CB: Get ready for Gilmore to join the elite group of cornerbacks in 2015. Health has held him back these past couple of years, but if he can stay injury free then he is in for a huge year. Gilmore has the size, athleticism and ball skills to join the upper tier of cornerbacks, and he is in a terrific position with Buffalo to do just that. Rex Ryan has had a lot of success with defenses in general, and he often relies on great cornerbacks (Revis and Cromartie) to anchor his defenses. Ryan will be able to get the most out of Gilmore, and the Bills have arguably the best front 4 in all of football (between them and St. Louis) to aid Gilmore even more. I'm predicting a big jump from Gilmore, and for him to have 5 interceptions by seasons end.

Miami Dolphins

Jelani Jenkins, OLB: Jenkins has games where he is the best player on the field. He can be a tackling machine that plays all over the field. The problem is that there are games where he is very quiet and has such a small impact on the field. I'm going to bet on the former becoming more of a regular appearance in 2015. Jenkins is very good in coverage, and he also looked solid as a pass rusher too. Where he struggled at times was against the run, but lucky for him the Dolphins invested in Ndamukong Suh to beef up their D-line. This should give Jenkins more space to operate, and allow him to use his athleticism to flourish. I'm predicting Jelani Jenkins to have 135 combined tackles, with 3 interceptions and 4 sacks.

New England Patriots

Dominique Easley, DT: Easley is another year removed from his ACL tear, and should be in line to play a lot of snaps for New England. Alan Branch and Sealver Siliga are not good starters to have, and the Patriots have two very talented young players in Easley and Malcolm Brown waiting to replace them. Since I don't mention rookies as breakout candidates, I won't talk about Malcolm Brown, but Easley is a talented interior pass rusher and penetrator, and can be a key cog in a talented Patriots front seven. New England will rely on him to step up because they lost Vince Wilfork in the middle, and need another threat in between their ends. Even though he won't play nose tackle like Wilfork, he can eat up space in the middle to give the Pats linebackers space to work their magic. What's working against him is his health. He has torn both of his ACL's in his career but if he can stay healthy I'm predicting 4 sacks, and for him to be an impact run stuffer too.

New York Jets

Calvin Pryor, SS: What better way to retool a struggling secondary then by signing Darrelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie and Buster Skrine. They also have an incredible defensive line to support their secondary. This puts Calvin Pryor in a perfect position to do what he does best, hit hard, make plays and strike fear into opponents. Todd Bowles has a better Deone Buchanon to use in Calvin Pryor, and with a substantially better secondary, this allows Bowles to play Pryor to his strengths. He had a solid rookie season, but at times he struggled with consistency and went through expected rookie struggles. If he can fix a few technical issues, he could turn into a terrific safety. This kid is a flat out playmaker and he should begin to realize his potential next season. I'm predicting 80 total tackles, 3 interceptions, 1.5 sacks and a handful of bone crushing hits.

NFC East Breakout Candidates 2015

Dallas Cowboys

Darren McFadden, RB: The obvious choice is a Cowboys running back. From what I have seen, the majority of people either think Randle is better, or he will get the bulk of the work. I disagree. I think if Run DMC is healthy, he will get the bulk of the carries and he is the better running back. I'm not ignoring the tape though, as I do believe McFadden isn't anything more than an inconsistent, but talented back. This is more about the situation he is in, as he's in the perfect offense to utilize his talents and he is behind a behemoth of an offensive line. I'm predicting 900 yards and 7 touchdowns barring injury.

Washington

Robert Griffin III, QB: How naive am I? I don't think Griffin is going to be a star next year, but I do think he will be a good NFL QB. His offensive line with Scherff should be substantially better, and he is another year further removed from his ACL tear. As porous as Washington's defense is, their offense still has talent. Alfred Morris, Pierre Garçon and DeSean Jackson are all very talented players, and can help RGIII succeed. The key for Griffin once again is health. If he is healthy, he can be very good. I'm predicting 3,400 yards, 22 passing touchdowns, 8 interceptions and 4 rushing touchdowns too.

New York Giants

Prince Amukamara, CB: Don't get me wrong, Prince is already a very good cornerback, but he will become a star this year. He was one his way to stardom last season, but he tore his bicep and was out for half the season. Amukamara is physical, fast, has good technique and he has the ball skills too. Alongside Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, he will thrive. The Giants defense is young, but they have talent, and he should step up big for them in 2015. I'm predicting 5 interceptions for Prince, and for him to be able to blanket good receivers.

Philadelphia Eagles

Zach Ertz, TE: Sam Bradford will "breakout" if he stays healthy too, but I went with Ertz because I still love his pass catching ability and Bradford is the best quarterback he has ever had. The Eagles offense will be explosive with Chip Kelly running it, and there will be more targets to have after the Eagles lost Maclin in free agency. Bradford has also never worked with a tight end as talented as Ertz, and he will be a perfect player for him to stretch the seam. I'm predicting 800 yards, and 7 touchdowns for Zach Ertz.

NFC North Breakout Candidates 2015

Chicago Bears

Shea McClellin, ILB: I'm taking a shot in the dark here. McClellin is switching positions for the third time in four years, and I think this one will work out for him. He has not lived up to his 1st round status as of yet, but last year he was exponentially better than his first two seasons. He played well against the run, and that is what they will need him for in 2015. The Bears run defense was atrocious last season, and they have little depth at inside linebacker once again. McClellin will most likely be relied on to play a big role for these Bears, and I think he can step up. I'm not expecting Shea McClellin to become a star, but I think he can be a good player and an everyday starter, which is breaking out compared to what he has been these past few years.

Green Bay Packers

Davante Adams, WR: All of these don't have to be bold picks right? Even though Davante Adams is the obvious choice, he is the right one. It seems as though he is almost destined to breakout in 2015, as he is in an incredible position on Green Bay's offense. Adams had an up and down season last year, with some incredible highs (Patriots game) and also some lows (Last 4 games of the season, combined 4 catches). Adams has incredible talent, especially after the catch, and it seems as though he gained Rodgers trust throughout the season. Adams will be an outside WR opposite Nelson, and will be treated as the 3rd option behind Nelson and Cobb. He has the talent to be a top wide receiver in the NFL, and will be treated as the 3rd receiver on this team by opposing defenses. Just based off of that, he's in for a big year. Oh yeah, and he has Aaron Rodgers throwing to him who is a pretty good QB. Explosive offense, explosive player, it just fits. I'm predicting 1,000 yards and 8 touchdowns for the young star in 2015.

Minnesota Vikings

Teddy Bridgewater, QB: Once again, I couldn't pick just one player. What screams volumes about how good Mike Zimmer is and how successful the 2014 draft was, these players were his two first round picks that he drafted with Rick Spielman. Bridgewater had a very good rookie season, and he will only get better. Last seasons supporting cast was downright bad. He had a struggling offensive line, Matt Asiata as his running back, and inconsistencies at wide receiver. In 2015, he has Adrian Freaking Peterson back. No matter what your personal opinions about All Day are, he is one of the best running backs in the NFL, and will make a huge difference for Bridgwater. They also replaced Greg Jennings with Mike Wallace, which should be an upgrade. They also have 4 rookie offensive lineman to add depth to an O-line that was very inconsistent in 2014. Just speaking of Bridgewater, he has the touch, vision, anticipation and pocket presence to be a very good QB in the NFL, and next season he will take a huge step forward. I'm predicting 4,000 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions which is a great season.

Anthony Barr, OLB: I might have a bit of a man crush on Anthony Barr. He is an extremely talented player, and he needed more press after his solid rookie season. Credit Mike Zimmer, because Barr was supposed to be very raw coming out of college, but he played very well in year one. He is now playing in a very, very good, young defense, and now will be playing alongside his former UCLA teammate Eric Kendricks. I believe that the Minnesota's defense can be lead by Harrison Smith and Anthony Barr. AB is in a position to utilize his strengths at weak side linebacker in the 4-3 defense, and he will most likely be asked to rush the passer more, and play more in the opponents backfield too. I'm expecting 8 sacks from Barr, 12 tackles for loss, 100 total tackles, a few forced fumbles, and also an interception or two. He is Minnesota's not-so-secret weapon on defense, and will do a little bit of everything for them.

Detroit Lions

Travis Swanson, C: Swanson struggled in his rookie season after being thrust into a starting role due to injury. Is he still my favourite center from the 2014 draft? Yup. Do I think he's going to have a good career? Hell yes. Swanson is a very talented player, and he will get a shot to be the starting center. Often times a player will make a huge jump after their rookie season (especially at a position like center where the player needs to know how to read a D-line and help their QB), and Swanson is talented and smart enough to do just that. The Lions have beefed up their offensive line, which will take some pressure off of Swanson too. Swanson started 50 games in college, is very durable, and probably needed a year to put on some muscle and get used to the NFL. Swanson will establish himself as a very good NFL center next season on a Detroit Lions line that will bounce back from a rough season in 2014.

NFC South Breakout Candidates 2015

Atlanta Falcons

Ra'Shede Hageman, DT: This is where I wish I could pick a rookie to breakout or have a way better year than his draft position. Justin Hardy, Grady Jarrett, Jalen Collins and Vic Beasley all should have huge impact years for Atlanta. Alas, here I am with Hageman. This isn't to say I'm settling for choosing Hageman. He is a great talent, and I think he'll have a very big year since he should be getting regular playing time. He is an absolute freak of an athlete for his size (6'6/320 lbs). His ceiling as a player is being one of the best interior disruptors in the NFL, and I think 2015 will be the start of him realizing that potential. He has a terrific combination of burst and power, but he was very raw coming out of college and needs to develop his technique. Dan Quinn is the perfect coach to do just that and develop what Hageman's lacking while utilizing what he has. I'm predicting at least 5 sacks for Ra'Shede, and to show clear development in his technique, which will be key to him reaching his full potential as a player.

New Orleans Saints

Kenny Vaccaro, SS: I am going down with the Vaccaro ship. I'm not going to sugarcoat it, last season was rough. He struggled in coverage, wasn't great against the run, and there were times when he just seemed lost on the field. With that being said, he had a very good rookie season, and he has loads of talent. Jairus Byrd returning will really help him, as his responsibilities on the defense will play more to his strengths while playing next to a ball hawking safety like Byrd. Vaccaro can still be an enforcer, and a playmaker for Rob Ryan's defense. I'm predicting Vaccaro and Byrd to be one of the best safety tandems in the entire NFL.

Carolina Panthers

Bené Benwikere, CB: I feel good about this breakout prediction. Benwikere was a good player last season, but he got hurt and only actually started six games for the Panthers. In his limited snaps, Benwikere showed terrific all around cornerback skills. He is extremely explosive and has terrific leaping ability to make up for his smaller frame, and he is terrific at recognizing the play off of the snap. BB should have a much bigger impact on a fairly thin Panthers secondary if he stays healthy, and he could develop into a very good NFL cornerback. Stats wise, I think he'll get at least 4 interceptions in 2015. This will be the last year where very few people know about him and you can jump on the bandwagon before he gets very good.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Austin Sefarian-Jenkins, TE: ASJ is in for a big year. Winston might not be an amazing quarterback right out of the gate, but going from Glennon and McCown to Jameis is a massive upgrade. Sefarian-Jenkins is a huge tight end, with a great catch radius and good athleticism too. Jameis' weapons consist of Mike Evans, Vincent Jackson and ASJ. They don't have a lot of depth behind those three guys, and Winston is going to sling the ball this season. There will be targets for ASJ to get, and he will produce with them. Alongside Evans and Jackson, those three players will make for terrific red zone targets for the Bucs new QB. I'm predicting ASJ to get 600 yards and 8 touchdowns, which would be an incredibly productive year and put him in the upper tier of tight ends.

NFC West Breakout Candidates 2015

San Francisco 49ers

Aaron Lynch, OLB: A lot of people might say this is a copout, because he had a very good rookie season, but I think he will be substantially better in 2015. I'm expecting at least double digit sacks, and for him and Aldon Smith to challenge Tamba Hali and Justin Houston for the best pair of edge rushers in the NFL. Lynch is big for an outside linebacker (6'5/270 lbs), but he is surprisingly quick too, and the more pass rush moves he develops in his arsenal, the bigger a threat he will be. 

Eric Reid, FS: Usually I will only do one breakout player, but I can't choose just one player for the 49ers. Reid took a step back in 2014, but that can be partially attributed to the entire team having a rough season. He still has a lot of talent, and could be one of the elite ball hawking free safeties in the NFL. I think he will have over 5 interceptions in 2015, and establish himself as a top 10 safety.

Seattle Seahawks

Ahtyba Rubin, DT: This is the toughest team to predict a breakout candidate for. Most of their defense is playing at such a high level that I couldn't predict one of their sure fire starters to breakout because they have already broken out. Their offense doesn't have any stand out candidates either (there was no way I was picking Tyler Lockett because he's a rookie, but I do think he'll have a great year). Some would say Rubin is too old to break out, or that he has already had his breakout year because he was terrific in 2010 and 2011. He's fallen off in recent years, but he is still a very talented run stuffer, and can be a sneakily threatening pass rusher too. He's behind Brandon Mebane right now, and there is no way he will pass him on the depth chart, but in limited snaps he could be a huge difference maker for a team that struggled up the middle when Mebane went down with an injury last year. I think he'll pick up a few sacks, but he'll have a big impact against the run. The only question is how many snaps he will get.

St. Louis Rams

Brian Quick, WR: He was oh so close to breaking out last season. Barring another injury, Brian Quick passed the eye test last season and he looked like he could be the St. Louis Rams number one guy at receiver. Nick Foles has a good arm, and I expect this offense to try and stretch the field a lot so they can open up more lanes in the run game. While Quick isn't the fastest guy, he's a big (6'3/220 lbs) and strong receiver that can go up and get those 50/50 balls that Nick Foles likes to throw. Quick has the talent, and in a small sample last season he showed that he looks the part too. I'm predicting a 1000 yard 8 touchdown season for a player clearly in a run first offense. 

Arizona Cardinals

Tyrann Mathieu, FS: Part of me was thinking John Brown, but Mathieu is going to explode this season. He had a terrific rookie season, but was hampered last season by a knee injury he suffered at the end of his rookie season. His raw skills are already elite, he just needs to feel comfortable with his knee and he will be unleashed. Arizona lost Antonio Cromartie and has some questions at the second CB spot, so they will rely on Mathieu to play big this year. I'm predicting for him to lead the entire NFL in forced turnovers, and I'm confident that he will establish himself as an elite safety.

Cam Newton New Deal

The report on Cam's new deal so far is a 5 year extension worth roughly $100 million. Also, a significant portion is expected to be guaranteed money. "Well he hasn't won anything yet" and "Why should he be paid more than Kaepernick and Dalton who have done just as much as him if not more" will be two common complaints heard among critics of this deal. I will tell you exactly why he should be paid more than those two quarterbacks. He is better. I'm not saying he is in the elite tier of quarterbacks yet, but he has the talent to get there one day. Over his career, Cam has gotten very little help on offense. Once Jordan Gross retired, his offensive line has been dreadful, and other than Steve Smith he hasn't had an above average wide receiver to work with in his career (Kelvin Benjamin should be good, but last season he was only average. He still has quite a few things to work on, was raw coming out of college so it should be expected). Carolina has their QB for the present, and for the future. They should be applauded for doing whatever it took to retain him. If they ever end up giving Cam Newton some good weapons on offense (no offense Greg Olsen and Kelvin Benjamin), and solid protection, they have what it takes to be a top tier offense. Everybody just ease off Cam, Michael Oher is his left tackle this season. I might need $100 million to fully trust him to protect my blindside too.

NFL Offseason Power Rankings 2015

1. Green Bay Packers

Having the best quarterback, and arguably the best player in the NFL helps your cause to be the best team. Green Bay isn't just Aaron Rodgers though, they have an incredible group of wide receivers, a stout run game and a terrific offensive line to support the best QB in the league, and what figures to be the most potent offense in the league too. On top of that, their defense could surprise this year. There is a lot of versatility in a talented, young secondary, and their front seven led by Clay Matthews, Mike Daniels and Julius Peppers is solid too.

2. Seattle Seahawks

I know Seattle beat the Packers twice last year, and they have been to two straight Super Bowls. I actually still thought the Packers were the better team last year so that argument is moot. If Aaron Rodgers wasn't playing on one leg, this team would have most likely lost the NFC Championship game. With that being said, this is still an insanely good team with the best defense in the NFL, and they added Jimmy Graham to the fold too. This will be a deadly team that nobody will want to face (especially when they are at home) and if Russell Wilson continues to grow they could be going to their third straight Super Bowl.

3. New England Patriots

Why are the reigning Super Bowl champions only 3rd? Well their cornerback depth prevents me from putting them higher. The DeflateGate suspension of Tom Brady has little to no impact on their ranking for me, because even if he misses 4 games they will still be a threat in the playoffs, and in my opinion they are the 3rd best team with him back. Resigning Devin McCourty was huge though, especially with their lack of depth in the secondary. Even though I have them 3rd now, I think they are extremely close to the 4th ranked team in these rankings.

4. Indianapolis Colts

Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts are just getting better. That is a scary thought. Their defense still has some holes at safety and along the defensive line, but it will be very nice for them to get Robert Mathis back from his injury in 2015. On offense, this team decided that they wanted to give Andrew Luck every single weapon in the NFL. Maybe that's a little bit of an exaggeration, but between Luck, Gore, Hilton, Johnson, Dorsett, Moncrief, Fleener and Allen, this offense will be a force to be reckoned with.

5. Baltimore Ravens

Ozzie Newsome knows how to build a roster in the NFL. Both the offense and defense are extremely balanced, and are surrounded by terrific players. Joe Flacco is behind an elite offensive line, and he has a solid group of skill position players to help him with Marc Trestman's offense. On defense, Terrell Suggs and Elvis Dumervil bring the heat in a stellar all around defense that should be a top 5 defense in football. They also should have an improved secondary, which is where they struggled last season. This is a team that could be on its way to its second Super Bowl in 4 years.

6. Denver Broncos

The Broncos are not a bad football team. I don't care that Peyton Manning is getting older, this is in the top tier of NFL teams. Their defense severely under performed in 2014, and a change in the coaching staff should bring a jolt of life back into them. They have an insane amount of talent between their edge rushers (Ware, Miller, Ray) and their cornerbacks (Harris, Talib, Roby). This group should at least be a top 10 defense in football, supported by one of the best offenses in football. Losing Ryan Clady hurts, but Manning has played behind worse O-lines and he gets rid of the ball so quickly it shouldn't hurt them that badly. This is the last team in my Power Rankings that I can genuinely see them winning a Super Bowl next season.

7. Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles are the best of the second tier of teams. I think they are above the second tier of teams, but below the elite tier, so this is where the line is. If Bradford is fully healthy, then they have a real shot at competing. They have a stout O-line in front of what should be a deadly rushing attack, and their passing game should be solid under Chip Kelly even though they lack elite weapons at wide receiver. The real improvement should be seen in their defense. Signing Byron Maxwell will be huge because their outside cornerbacks were terrible last season. Chip Kelly might be crazy, but he can build one hell of a team.

8. Arizona Cardinals

A 9-1 start to last season and their starting QB only played in 6 games? Yeah this is a good team. I don't think they will dethrone Seattle, but a stout defense and incredible coaching will lead them a long way. They also remade their offensive line, and their offense actually looks really good for a team that is known as a defensive force. Questions at their number 2 cornerback spot and in their pass rush prevent me from putting them up with the elite group of teams, but if anybody could prove me wrong it would be Bruce Arians.

9. Miami Dolphins

I have the Dolphins this high but not for the reason you may think. Signing Suh will be huge for this defense, but I like them because they have a good young QB leading an offense with a lot of talented young players. Their top 4 skill players on offense are Ryan Tannehill, Lamar Miller, DeVante Parker and Jarvis Landry. That is some serious talent that will continue to develop and get even better. They also have what figures to be a very good defense too. Ndamukong Suh, Cam Wake and Brent Grimes are all in the elite tier of their respective positions, and they also have solid supporting players too. I doubt they will challenge the Patriots this season, but a wildcard berth is entirely possible, and maybe even likely.

10. Dallas Cowboys

This might be my most polarizing ranking, because I get the feeling that people will think this is way too low, or too high. I think the loss of DeMarco Murray is bigger than the Cowboys think, and they will really feel it when Randle and McFadden cannot replicate his production. This is still an elite offensive line, with an elite quarterback, who has an elite wide receiver and solid complementary weapons outside of Dez as well. Their defense should also be improved, although they are very thin at safety and they are relying on a lot of younger players to play big roles for them. The wildcard is Sean Lee. He is a difference maker when healthy, and if he stays injury free the entire season, this team could go on a playoff run. 

11. Minnesota Vikings

The highest riser in this years power rankings from last year, the Minnesota Vikings have gone through a team transformation under Mike Zimmer. With very few actual roster changes, they went from having the worst defense in the NFL, to the 11th best. They also (seemingly) have found a franchise quarterback in Teddy Bridgewater, and they are getting Adrian Peterson back in 2015 too (although I don't know what will happen with him, the whole situation is a little ridiculous). This team will be led by its defense though, and I think that they have the talent to be a top 5 D as soon as next season. With what I expect out of their players, they will be a surprise playoff team next year.

12. Detroit Lions

How did the Detroit Lions have the 3rd best defense last year? Even though I watched a lot of their games, and I saw how well they played, it still doesn't add up when you analyze their roster on paper. I give a lot of credit to Teryl Austin their defensive coordinator, because he had Darius Slay, Glover Quin and Reshean Mathis playing out of their minds. The losses of Suh and Fairley hurt, but they traded for Haloti Ngata to try and minimize the blow of losing those players. They made an effort to improve their offensive line this offseason, and it seems as though they have done a good job of it. This offense should be really improved and more comfortable in their second year under Joe Lombardi's scheme. They are young and athletic, and they have a good QB in Matthew Stafford. That's always a good combination for a winning team, and they should be right in the thick of competing for a playoff spot in 2015.

13. San Diego Chargers

San Diego could be very competitive. A new found running game to pair with Phillip Rivers is a very threatening combination. They have invested in their offensive line, and Melvin Gordon is a difference maker in the backfield. Phillip Rivers is still a very good QB, and he has the talent to lead a playoff team. This defense should surprise people, ad they have one of the best secondary's in all of football with Brandon Flowers, Jason Verrett and Eric Weddle. The Chargers will always be a competitive team as long as they have Phillip Rivers, and they are starting to provide him with a very good supporting cast too.

14. Kansas City Chiefs

Damn this defense. It's basically the underrated Seattle with edge rushers as their Legion of Boom. Justin Houston and Tamba Hali are both incredible players, and as long as KC has them, they will be a nuisance for opposing offenses. Also, Marcus Peters and Sean Smith are going to be awesome at CB. The real improvement should come on offense though. Andy Reid getting Jeremy Maclin is huge for this offense. Dwayne Bowe is not a number 1 receiver, but Maclin is. Between Maclin, Kelce and Charles, Alex Smith actually has good weapons. He should be able to make an impact with them, and they are in a very similar situation to San Diego in that they will be right in the thick of the playoff race all season.

15. Pittsburgh Steelers

All I have to say is Big Ben, Le'Veon Bell and Antonio Brown. The best offensive trio in the NFL (Rodgers, Nelson and Lacy a close second). This defense still has holes in it, mainly in the secondary, but this offense should pick up any slack of the D. They are in a very similar situation as 2014, as this team is still in transition from the Steel Curtain days and has to rely on Ben Roethlisberger to carry them to the playoffs. Luckily he has the talent to do just that.

16. Buffalo Bills

I haven't talked to one Buffalo fan that doesn't love what is happening with the team. Rex Ryan comes with a brand new swagger, and Buffalo fans should be excited. This team looks substantially better on offense, yet they still lack a QB. If Buffalo had a solid QB, they would place much higher on this list, but they are still a good team. Their defense should still be great, and Rex Ryan is a great defensive coach so it could be even better. On offense I'm guessing that they will run a lot of short passes and screens because between LeSean McCoy, Sammy Watkins and Percy Harvin, they are astounding after the catch and in space. Buffalo might still be a QB away from truly competing, but this is a team that nobody is going to want to face.

17. Atlanta Falcons

The reason why I have Atlanta this high, and in fact winning their division too, is because of Dan Quinn. Atlanta has a talented team overall, but I'm expecting Dan Quinn to bring their defense up in a substantial way, and I also think their offense will take a step forward with a better offensive line. On paper, I think New Orleans has a more talented roster, but I also think that New Orleans had one of the most talented rosters in 2014. They are in a winnable division, they have a franchise quarterback and Dan Quinn is one hell of a coach. They can be a playoff team in 2015.

18. New Orleans Saints

The Saints are a confusing team. Last season I pegged them to be a top 3 team in the NFL, and then they went on to be just flat out bad. Yet in 2015 they have roughly the same team, and maybe even more talent on defense. They appear to be changing their philosophy on offense to a run first approach, and that is for the best to preserve Drew Brees' arm. Most importantly, Rob Ryan needs to get his D to bounce back because they are only two seasons removed from having the 4th best defense in the NFL. Jairus Byrd should also be a fun toy for him to play with on D, as one of the best safeties in football should really help what was a shaky secondary. I don't know what to expect from the Saints, they could be elite or drafting high in 2016. Either way it will be an exciting season for them.

19. New York Giants

Why did Will Beatty have to go down with an injury? This was (still is) a sleeper playoff team for a lot of well respected NFL analysts and I can see why. Their offense looks very good, and Eli is going into his second year under Ben McAdoo's offense, after he had one of the best statistical seasons of his career. Oh, and did I mention Odell Beckham Jr. That guy is ridiculous. He could end the season with 2,500 yards and 20 touchdowns and I would just shrug (maybe I'm over exaggerating a tiny bit). The defense should be improved too, and if Landon Collins can be a key player early on they could make some noise in the NFC. 

20. Cincinnati Bengals

I'm not a fan of Andy Dalton on the football field. That is the biggest reason for the Bengals to be ranked 20th now. They could easily make the playoffs for the fourth year in a row. I'm not predicting it, as I actually have them missing the playoffs by a wide margin, but I would not be surprised. But every team above them, I believe has a better shot to win a Super Bowl in 2015. Dalton had a terrific supporting cast in 2014, and he did very little with it. Their defense is good, but not elite enough to make up for the Bengals being in Andy Dalton Purgatory. I think this will be the last year of Andy Dalton in a Bengals uniform, and I think it is mutually for the best.

21. Houston Texans

JJ Watt. JJ Watt. JJ Watt. The Texans have the best player in the world right now. Their defense didn't have a lot of talent last season, but he made them a top 7 defense. We (as a human race) need to recognize how well he has been playing over the last few years, because this is an unprecedented level of play. They also have Jadaveon Clowney who has all the talent in the world but is coming off of a season in which he had little to no impact. So as well as this defense did in 2014, they should take a huge step forward next year. On offense they are in QB purgatory. Brian Hoyer and Ryan Mallet are holding back what could be a very good offense. A good O-line, DeAndre Hopkins and Arian Foster are terrific pieces to have, but that missing franchise QB really holds them back.

22. San Fransisco 49ers

This season is entirely up to Colin Kaepernick. Contrary to popular belief, San Fran still has a lot of talent on its roster, including returning talent such as Navorro Bowman and Glenn Dorsey. The offense is similar to last season, the defense is still very good, but the coaching staff changes are what will have the biggest impact on them. Whether you like Jim Harbaugh or not, he is one hell of a coach, and I don't think Jim Tomsula has it in him to replace an elite coach like Harbaugh.

23. Carolina Panthers

Why does a team with so much young talent and an established young QB insist on putting his life at risk behind what is destined to be a porous offensive line. Micael Oher at left tackle? Please. I seriously think they might get Cam Newton killed. Apart from the O-line, this should be a good team though. Through watching many Panthers games and going through incredibly precise analysis, I have determined that Cam is a stud. He isn't a top tier QB yet, but with very little help he raises the play of those around him. They also have three extremely talented linebackers to lead a very talented defense. Did I mention they were in the very winnable NFC South?

24. New York Jets

Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie back in Gang Green? Hell yeah! A new coaching staff and a revamped roster brings plenty of excitement to the city that never sleeps, and they really are looking a lot better than 2014. They have a deadly defensive line and secondary unit, and should end up having a top 10, if not top 5 defense. Even on offense this team is coming together. Brandon Marshall, Eric Decker, Devin Smith and Jace Amaro are pretty damn good targets for Geno. Except they still have Geno. I actually don't think Smith is as bad as certain people seem to think he is, but I also don't think he can lead this team to a playoff berth. They do need a QB, but once they get one this team has enough talent to compete.

25. St. Louis Rams

This is a team I could be very, very wrong about. If Jeff Fisher has this team playing hard, and their new run first, beat the other team up at the line approach on offense works, they could be very good. I have faith that Todd Gurley can be the best running back in the NFL, and he should hit the ground running. Nick Foles isn't a terrific option at quarterback though, and they don't have any overly dangerous threats at wide receiver to stretch the field and open up the run game. This team will be fun to watch no matter what because of their deadly front four. I'm scared for opposing quarterbacks.

26. Cleveland Browns

A team being a quarterback away from competing sounds like such a cliche now, but for the 2015 Cleveland Browns it is true. They have a stout defense that should be even better in 2015, an elite offensive line to support the ground and pound offense they want to run, and Josh McCown or Johnny Manziel at quarterback. I am a naive believer in Manziel, but through every passing moment it looks as though he won't play another down for them. I think that is ridiculous. My point isn't that Manziel will be amazing, but everybody knows exactly what Josh McCown is, which isn't good. Manziel could be better, and either way you find out what you have. At least their defense should be really good!

27. Jacksonville Jaguars

It's all on Blake Bortles. I don't mean that this is a make or break year for him, but if he is even a league average QB (which would be a huge leap forward, but it's possible) then this team can compete this season. David Caldwell and Gus Bradley have built a promising young team, and they have a lot of players that could take big steps forward in 2015. This will be a fun team to watch, and a tough team to play too, but they also seem like they are a year or two away from being competitive.

28. Oakland Raiders

I think Oakland has it's franchise quarterback in Derek Carr. They also gave him a terrific go to weapon with Amari Cooper. On top of that, they have a star on defense that they can build a very good D around in Khalil Mack. Outside of those three players... It's not looking great for the Raiders. This is going to be a year of development because this team can't compete at the moment. The silver lining is that those three players I mentioned are budding stars and Oakland can build a competitor around them sooner rather than later.

29. Chicago Bears

Well Kevin White and Alshon Jeffery are a dynamic duo if there ever was one at wide receiver. Other than those two players, there aren't a lot of positives about a Chicago team that is stuck in Jay Cutler hell. I don't think Jay Cutler is an awful QB, but he is a frustrating quarterback and with the roster they have now they can't win with him. Their offense should be fairly productive though, as Forte, Bennett, White and Jeffery are all very talented. Their defense should have a solid defensive line, and Kyle Fuller is a great young CB, but they do not have the depth to be even a league average D. It might be a long year for a team that needs to find its identity.

30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

They got Jameis! I'm one of the people that think Jameis can be a franchise quarterback, so I believe that Tampa Bay has a bright future. Jameis Winston and Mike Evans will be a ridiculously awesome combination for years to come. This team seems like they are a year or two away from being ready, as they lack any depth on their defense, and outside of Gerald McCoy and Lavonte David they don't have any impact players. It will be a growing year for the Bucs, but as long as Winston shows the traits of being a franchise QB, then this should be a positive season for them.

31. Washington

I think it's time for Washington to move on from the RGIII era. I'm actually still a believer in RGIII, but I think he needs a change of scenery, and Washington needs to start over. They spent their first round pick on Brandon Scherff to beef up their offensive line, which was a smart pick for their franchise. They are in a position right now where their roster is void of a competitive talent level, and they need a couple drafts to get back to a competitive level. Their offense could be solid, they have a pair of good receivers, a good running back, and maybe a good QB, but their defense has holes in the secondary and other than Kerrigan they don't have any star players that can step up. I think a change in coaching staff needs to happen too, because Jay Gruden has not proven to me that he can raise the level of play of his players.

32. Tennessee Titans

Sorry Titans fans, this season isn't looking all that good for you. Let's start with the positives. Tennessee drafted Marcus Mariota, and there is a chance that he could be a franchise QB. They have what should be a very good offensive line to support their new quarterback, and they also have some solid young weapons for him to play with. Dorial Green-Beckham, Kendall Wright, Delanie Walker and Justin Hunter are all very talented, and can help ease the transition for Mariota. They also have Jurrell Casey and Jason McCourty on defense, who are both terrific players. Now the negatives. This offense is still too young and unproven to be considered a real threat, they don't have a solid threat in the backfield to take some pressure off of Mariota, and they have a lot of holes on defense. This year should be about one thing and one thing only for the Titans, help Mariota and make his transition to the NFL as easy as possible on him.