AFC & NFC All Rookie Team 2018 (Predicted)

Quarterback

Starter – Baker Mayfield (Cleveland)

Reserve – Sam Darnold (New York Jets)

Wild Card – Luke Falk (Tennessee)

Mayfield may not start week 1 but he’ll be forced in at some point in the season and I expect him to improve Cleveland’s offense. Darnold may take a little more time to develop but will see some starts in 2018. Falk is the wild card if Mariota gets injured which does often happen.

Running Back

Starter – Sony Michel (New England)

Reserve – Royce Freeman (Denver)

Wild Card – Jaylen Samuels (Pittsburgh)

I expect Michel to get carries for New England right out of the gate. Freeman should have a similar situation in Denver. Samuels should see a lot of playing time, as a multi-faceted weapon, in Pittsburgh who may not be able to rely on Le’Veon Bell as much as they have in the past.

Wide Receiver

Starters – James Washington (Pittsburgh), Courtland Sutton (Denver)

Reserve – DaeSean Hamilton (Denver)

Wild Card – Deon Cain (Indianapolis)

Roethlisberger likes to spread the ball around to multiple receivers so Washington should benefit from that. Sutton joins a regressive receiving corps in Denver so could make an impact early as could Hamilton. Cain slipped in the draft but has the potential to be a weapon in Indy.

Tight End

Starter – Hayden Hurst (Baltimore)

Reserve – Mike Gesicki (Miami)

Wild Card – Chris Herndon (New York Jets)

Ravens took Hurst in the first round with the intention of getting him involved early and often. The same applies for Gesicki in Miami although he has more of a boom or bust feel to him. Herndon could benefit from the Jets having an open competition for the TE starting job in New York.

Tackle

Starters – Austin Corbett (Cleveland), Will Richardson (Jacksonville)

Reserve – Orlando Brown (Baltimore)

Wild Card – Brandon Parker (Oakland)

Corbett has been touted as a LT so he may get the first chance to replace Joe Thomas on the blind-side. Richardson could/should push Jeremy Parnell for snaps in Jacksonville. Brown may get the start on the right for the Ravens. Parker could be better than 1st round pick Kolton Miller.

Guard

Starters – Quenton Nelson (Indianapolis), Isaiah Wynn (New England)

Reserve – Sam Jones (Denver)

Wild Card – Khalil McKenzie (Kansas City)

Nelson is a slam dunk to start in Indy and should have an impressive rookie year. Wynn looks destined to start for the Pats although his position, as yet, is unclear. Jones may see playing time as a reserve in 2018. McKenzie could surprise as a player transitioning to play O-line.

Center

Starter – Billy Price (Cincinnati)

Reserve – Bradley Bozeman (Baltimore)

Price should be the day 1 starter in Cincinnati and should be an instant upgrade for their O-line. Bozeman should push Matt Skura through training camp and figures to see playing time at some point during the 2018 season.

Defensive End

Starters – Breeland Speaks (Kansas City), Nathan Shepherd (New York Jets)

Reserve – Sam Hubbard (Cincinnati)

Wild Card – Kemoko Turay (Indianapolis)

Speaks joins a good defensive line unit in KC and should impact early in a rotational capacity. Small school prospect Shepherd could force his way in to a starting role for the Jets. Hubbard looks a reliable pick for the Bengals. Turay could impact as a raw, situational pass rusher in his rookie year.

Defensive Tackle

Starters – Taven Bryan (Jacksonville), Andrew Brown (Cincinnati)

Reserve – Harrison Phillips (Buffalo)

Wild Card – Maurice Hurst (Oakland)

Bryan joins the best defense in football and will add another dimension to that group. Brown joins a good D-Line in Cincy and will get reps in a rotational capacity. Phillips will have limited playing time but should make an impact. Hurst fell in the draft but Oakland will feel good about his ability to improve their D-Line.

Inside Linebacker

Starters – Rashaan Evans (Tennessee), Tremaine Edmunds (Buffalo)

Reserve – Josey Jewell (Denver)

Wild Card – Kenny Young (Baltimore)

Evans joins Tennessee as a direct replacement for Avery Williamson and will be a day 1 starter as will Edmunds in Buffalo. Jewell should see plenty of playing time on Denver’s defense and should help against the run. Young could force his way in to the starting line up in Baltimore with a good training camp.

Outside Linebacker

Starters – Bradley Chubb (Denver), Darius Leonard (Indianapolis)

Reserve – Harold Landry (Tennessee)

Wild Card – Uchenna Nwosu (L.A.Chargers)

Chubb joins an already impressive Denver defense and should be productive immediately. Leonard will slot in nicely, in Indy, as a 3-down backer. Landry will have to fight for playing time but should impact on passing downs. Nwosu, if utilised correctly, could be the perfect fit in LA.

Cornerback

Starters – Denzel Ward (Cleveland), Duke Dawson (New England)

Reserve – Parry Nickerson (New York Jets)

Wild Card – Isaac Yiadom (Denver)

Ward will start for the Browns and should improve their secondary immediately. Dawson may see limited time early but figures to see the field more as the year progresses. Nickerson looks a good prospect for the Jets. Yiadom is raw but could play if injuries hit, in Denver, later in the year.

Free Safety

Starter – Minkah Fitzpatrick (Miami)

Reserve – Justin Reid (Houston)

Wild Card – Dane Cruikshank (Tennessee)

Fitzpatrick provides an upgrade for Miami’s defense and should add much needed play-making ability. Reid may not start straight away in Houston but he has the talent to be given playing time early. Cruikshank could play multiple positions in Tennessee and will see the field in sub packages.

Strong Safety

Starter – Derwin James (L.A.Chargers)

Reserve – Ronnie Harrison (Jacksonville)

Wild Card – Jessie Bates (Cincinnati)

James could be the steal of the draft and will improve an already decent Chargers’ defense. Harrison fell in the draft but finds a good home in Jacksonville and he’ll challenge for the start. Bates is an interesting prospect who figures to see the field in various capacities.

Kicker

Starter – Jason Sanders (Miami)

Sanders was the only kicker on Miami’s roster when he was selected. He will have to prove early that he has the ability to be an NFL kicker and will be tested thoroughly in camp and pre-season.

Punter

Starter – Johnny Townsend (Oakland)

Townsend was drafted to replace Marquette King which is no easy task. The rookie has great talent though and will get plenty of practice in Oakland.

Quarterback

Starter – Josh Rosen (Arizona Cardinals)

Reserve – Kyle Lauletta (New York Giants)

Wild Card – Mike White (Dallas Cowboys)

I truly believe we could see Rosen start in week 1. He is impressing at camp, and has a connection with WR Christian Kirk which could help his cause. Lauletta is a project for the Giants but one with great prominence. He will sit behind Eli this year along with Webb. White proved his worth during the Senior Bowl and there will be a battle for the number 2 spot with Cooper Rush.

Running Back

Starter – Saquon Barkley (New York Giants)

Reserve – Rashaad Penny (Seattle Seahawks)

Wild Card – Ronald Jones (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

Barkley was the number 1 prospect in this year’s draft, by a long mile. He is a clear starter in week 1 for the Giants and could instantly be a game changer. Penny provides Seattle with a talented running game and an added weapon for Wilson. We will also see Jones start week 1 with the Bucs not having much talent at the running back position, Penny should be an instant upgrade.

Wide Receiver

Starter – Calvin Ridley (Atlanta Falcons)

Reserve – DJ Moore (Carolina Panthers)

Wild Card – Christian Kirk (Arizona Cardinals)

Ridley provides the falcons and Matt Ryan another target, I think we see Ridley week 1 in some capacity, either lined up in the slot or on special teams. DJ Moore is what the Panthers need and gives Newton an option to throw to, a position they have lacked. Kirk would pair well with Rosen, who I believe will start for the Falcons.

Tight End

Starter - Dallas Goedert (Philadelphia Eagles)

Reserve - Will Dissly (Seattle Seahawks)

Wild Card - Ian Thomas (Carolina Panthers)

We see Goedert get game time during the 2018 season along with Zach Ertz. I don’t think we see Dissly start ahead of Dickson and Vannett, but he will certainly prove useful in some instances. Thomas is a project and will do well sat behind the likes of Olsen, learning his trade.

Tackle

Starters – Mike McGlinchey (San Francisco 49ers)

Reserve – Brian O’Neill (Minnesota Vikings)

Wild Card – Joseph Noteboom (Los Angeles Rams)

McGlinchey is an NFL ready tackle, and I’m more than convinced that we will see McGlinchey start week 1. O’Neill may see some playing time given the problems with the O line that the Vikings faced in 2018. Noteboom has impressed at the Rams rookie mini-camps but it’s unlikely he will start week 1 given they have Whitworth and Havenstein under contract, but he is versatile enough so anything could happen.

Guard

Starter – Will Hernandez (New York Giants)

Reserve – Connor Williams (Dallas Cowboys)

Wild Card – Alex Cappa (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

Hernandez will start week 1, as a Giants fan, we need him to. He brings youth, talent and versatility to an O line that has lacked depth for a few seasons. Williams will not be 2018 starter, unless injury strikes, but being behind the likes of Frederick and the rest of that O line will be beneficial for Williams. I don’t think Cappa will start in 2018, however, I do think we will see him in some capacity at some point in the year.

Center

Starter – Frank Ragnow (Detroit Lions)

Reserve – Mason Cole (Arizona Cardinals)

Wild Card – Brian Allen (Los Angeles Rams)

Week 1 will see Ragnow start. There is some difference of opinions as to where he will start, either at Center or Guard, but we will defiantly see him line up. Coles starting projection is up in the air, but one thing is for sure, his versatility and consistency will play apart in his inevitable start. Brian Allen has added some much-needed depth for the Rams, he won’t start but we may see him as a back-up.

Defensive End

Starter – Marcus Davenport (New Orleans Saints)

Reserve – Rasheem Green (Seattle Seahawks)

Wild Card – Jalyn Holmes (Minnesota Vikings)

We will see Davenport start week 1 for the saints adding talent and youth to their already great defensive line. Green can play inside and outside and that’s important for the Seahawks as it fills the hole Bennett left. There is some talk of Holmes moving to the inside to play tackle, but there’s no doubt his versatility will give him some playing time at some point in the season.

Defensive Tackle

Starter – Vita Vea (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

Reserve – Da’Ron Payne (Washington Redskins

Wildcard – BJ Hill (New York Giants)

Vea is an immediate starter and someone who will instantly impact the Bucs line, we will see Vea line up in week 1. Payne is a week 1 starter for the Redskins who get talent, youth, consistency and pure size. Hill will serve as a back-up to Snacks and the Giants added talents depth when picking him.

Inside Linebacker

Starter – Leighton Vander Esch (Dallas Cowboys)

Reserve – Micah Kiser (Los Angeles Rams)

Wild Card – Jermaine Carter (Carolina Panthers)

Vander Esch is a week 1 starter for the Cowboys and given their defensive scheme (4-3) will play middle linebacker (which is an inside linebacker). I don’t think we will see Kiser start at any point in the season, nor do I think we see him feature in any regular season games this year. Still some development needed. Carter will sit behind Davis and Jacob this season and develop further.

Outside Linebacker

Starter – Fred Warner (San Francisco 49ers)

Reserve – Shaquem Griffin (Seattle Seahawks)

Wild Card – Chris Covington (Dallas Cowboys)

Warner fits into the 49ers scheme (4-3) as a weakside linebacker behind Malcolm Smith. Whether he players right away, I’m not sure, but he will be on the field in 2018. Again, I’m not sure if we see Griffin line-up as a starter, but we will see him on field even in special teams. Covington will sit for a year and develop as a player, we may see him on field at some point in a limited capacity.

Cornerback

Starter – Jaire Alexander (Green Bay Packers)

Reserve – Mike Hughes (Minnesota Vikings)

Wild Card – MJ Stewart (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

Alexander will be a week 1 start, he has an abundance of talent and the Packers have an immense need at CB. Hughes starts week 1 as far as I’m concerned. Rhodes, Wayne’s and Hughes all have key roles.

Safety

Starter – Tracy Walker (Detroit Lions)

Reserve – Rashaam Gaulden (Carolina Panthers)

Wild Card – Tarvarius Moore (San Francisco 49ers)

Walker isn’t a 2018 starter, but the Lions do see him as a future star. I think this season we see him on special teams and on-field for certain defensive packages. Gaulden stays seated for 2018 (unless injury strikes a starter) and learns his trade. We could see him on special teams as his athleticism is something Rivera likes. I think Moore is a steal for the 49ers, we see him on special teams this season and subbed in an out.

Kicker

Starter – Daniel Carlson (Minnesota Vikings)

Carlson will go into camp with fierce competition from starter Kai Forbath, Zimmer wants that competition and wants to ensure he gets his guy. It’s hard to say if Carlson will start. Carlson was the first kicker taken in the draft.

Punter

Starter – Michael Dickson (Seattle Seahawks)

Dickson is an Australian who played in Texas for the Longhorns. He is a beast of a punter. We see him get onto the 53-man roster and become the starting Punter for the Seahawks in 2018.

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