NFL Offensive Rookie Immediate Impacts
Today, we’re here to talk you through some of the biggest NFL offensive rookie stars and their potential to make an immediate impact on their new teams. Let’s roll!
NFL Offensive Rookie | Immediate Impact Candidates
Trevor Lawrence
I think the number one draft pick is going to have the biggest rookie impact in the entire NFL. Trevor is joining a squad that finished 1-15 with 15 straight losses. It cannot get much worse for the Jaguars.
With that being said Jacksonvile addressed lots of needs on offense with play calling guru Urban Meyer taking over as head coach. The Jaguars already had two amazing young receivers in Laviska Shenault and DJ Chark. In the offseason they added Marvin Jones Jr.
The big question on offense was under center. Gardner Minshew did not have an awful season, but he was not able to create big plays or put the team in position to find the end zone. We have obviously never seen Lawrence in the NFL, but in college he was able to create big plays and find the end zone at a high rate.
In his career as a college starter, Lawrence threw 90 TDs to just 17 INTs. He is the most highly touted prospect the NFL has seen in years and was the clear number one pick. If Lawrence is able to get protection from his offensive line I think he will be able to push the ball down the field to a solid receiver corps.
If Lawrence is in fact the starter in week 1 I could see Lawrence throwing for 35 TDs and the Jaguars winning 9 games and making a run at the playoffs.
Kyle Pitts
Pitts is coming from one of the most exciting offenses in the country in the Florida Gators to an offense that just lost Julio Jones to Tennessee and an aging quarterback in Matt Ryan. Not to mention the Falcons also have a hole at the halfback position.
Pitts was drafted fourth by the Falcons and I could see him fitting into the offense as the number one target for Matt Ryan. In just 8 games last Pitts caught 43 passes for 770 yards, a 17.9 yard average per catch. Pitts also added 12 TDs.
Pitts ran a 4.44 40 yard dash standing 6 feet 6 inches tall. Pitts is one of the most athletic tight ends I think we will ever see in the NFL. A player with that size and speed and not to mention his amazing catching ability is something we rarely see.
Pitts is a matchup issue for any defensive player. Most linebackers are too slow to run with him and most cornerbacks are too small and cannot match his physicality. I think Pitts will fit in immediately as Ryan’s number one target and I see him being the bright spot on a Falcons team that might struggle to win games this season.
Najee Harris
Many people were down on this draft pick, but I personally believe it is one of the most important for any team in the draft. Last season the Steelers opened the season by winning 11 straight. In their first 10 games, they scored 26+ points in every single game. After the first 10 games they scored 26+ in just one game.
The Steelers offense was able to cruise through the beginning of the season with a lackluster running game. They replaced the run game with short quick passes. However, as the season moved on the defense started to take defenders out of the box and take away the quick passes. The Steelers running backs led by James Conner were not able to answer.
The Steelers finished dead last in the league in rush yard per game. Harris is an explosive back with great size and speed. Harris rushed for 1466 yards with nearly 6 yards per carry. He also found the end zone 30 times.
I think Harris is going to take a lot of stress off of Big Ben. The Steelers need to get back to chunking off 4-5 yards a carry and that will open up the field for the passing game. The Steelers put their trust in Roethlisberger at quarterback for at least one more season and look for him to have success with more open targets due to Harris ability to get the Steelers yards on early downs.
