Early Prediction: 2016 First Team All-Rookie Offense

At the end of an NFL season, analysts name their first team All-Rookie roster, made of the most talented 1st-year players at each position. The list means very little in reality, but these players that excel in their first season usually go on to have great careers. With the 2016 draft just behind us, here is my way too early prediction for this season’s first team All-Rookie offense:

Quarterback: Jared Goff, LA Rams

This is based less on high hopes for Goff and more about him being the only quarterback in this rookie class that I know of that will actually be starting. He’s not going to be bad, but I don’t see him as a first overall talent that instantly makes a difference. Even if Paxton Lynch or Carson Went take over at some point in the season, the Cal product should have a leg up, at least for this season.

Running back: Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys

Drafting running backs in the top 5 is a serious no-no. That being said the Cowboys did it- and even though they should have addressed their excuse for a secondary Elliott should be a beast behind this Dallas o-line. He’ll technically compete with Darren McFadden and company for reps, but by the end of the season Zeke will be the clear number one. He’s the most well rounded back in this class and the Cowboys love guys that can catch it out of the backfield as well as they can run down the middle.

Wide Receiver 1: Laquon Treadwell, Minnesota Vikings

Treadwell fell in the draft because of shaky combine numbers, but his a ability to play on the field makes him an ideal deep threat receiver on a team that featured Stefon Diggs as its primary receiver. Together the two should make an interesting tandem that makes Teddy Bridgewater’s life that much more interesting. He can play anywhere on the inside if he has to, but expect to see him on the outside most of the time with Diggs lining up in the slot.

Wide Receiver 2:  Josh Doctson, Washington Redskins

With Pierre Garcon and Desean Jackson playing pretty shaky as they approach contract seasons, the Redskins grabbed Doctson to make sure they have a reliable option at wideout. Between Doctson and Jordan Reed at tight end, Kirk Cousins is going to have plenty of places to throw the ball as he sets out to prove he deserves big money next offseason. Doctson will be a reliable option who will rack up yards once he proves himself to Cousins. Again, Doctson can line up on the inside but with Jordan Reed in the middle he’ll spend most of his time as an outside receiver.

Wide Receiver 3 (Slot Receiver): Corey Coleman, Cleveland Browns

Coleman was the first receiver off the board and his explosiveness and play making will make him extremely valuable to the Browns, who desperately need to generate offense this year. With RG3 throwing the ball, it’s hard to tell whether or not there will be a consistent ability to pass Coleman the ball, but if they can get the ball in his hands he can make it work and he can also make long balls down field a bit easier since he tracks them down so well. He can line up anywhere on the field, and might end up on the outside more if Barnidge continues to succeed at tight end, but based on their move to pic up Hartline and Coleman’s skill set we will likely see him playing inside more than Treadwell and Doctson.

Tight End: Austin Hooper, Atlanta Falcons

In the NFL today, every team needs to have a tight end who can do some damage, and the Falcons did not with Tamme at the position. Hooper was a stud at Stanford and is a smart enough player to succeed in the NFL. The tight ends in this class simply weren’t a strong group so he won’t have much competition and of those with similar talent levels, no one has an experienced signal caller like Matt Ryan to get them the ball. Going into a system with an established QB where he’ll be a role player day one will set Hooper up for a smooth transition into the pros.

Left Tackle: Laremy Tunsil, Miami Dolphins

Pot smoker or not, Laremy Tunsil was the best offensive lineman in the draft and it wasn’t even that close. Ronnie Stanley went before him because of the twitter post on draft day that showed Tunsil using marijuana, but Tunsil has longer limbs and is overall stronger than Stanley with form just as elite as that of the sixth overall pick. The Dolphins needed desperately to protect Ryan Tannehill on the edge, but aren’t as barren on offense as the Ravens who picked Stanley. If Tunsil can stay on the field, he has the talent to be an elite blindside protector for a long time.

Left Guard: Germain Ifedi, Seattle Seahawks

Ifedi went 31st in the draft mainly due to concerns about his conditioning and form, having come from an unconventional fast paced system in Texas A&M. However, the former Aggie is an absolute beast at 6’6 324 who can be a force in the middle of the line at guard. The Seahawks needed a mauler on the inside and they got one, so long as they can teach him how to explode out of a 3 point stance and to stick with blocks in the NFL. He should have all the support he needs to adjust his game and become a force at guard.

Center: Ryan Kelly, Indianapolis Colts

Part of Andrew Luck’s troubles stemmed from his atrocious pass blocking, particularly right up the middle of the line. Kelly is a smart player coming out of Nick Saban’s system in Alabama and has the ability to play anywhere on the interior of the line. An offensive lineman who really understands the game, Kelly is a great decision maker on the field which becomes huge in the pros. He can also block in any running scheme which will help open up lanes throughout their offense.

Right Guard: Cody Whitehair, Chicago Bears

The Bears have done a really nice job of building up their team and here they got a guy who can really help them keep Cutler on his feet. A left tackle at Kansas State, Whitehair is a good enough pass blocker to be trusted with the blind side and a good enough run blocker to be bumped inside. The decision to move really comes from his lack of the length needed to play left tackle in the NFL because his technique and physicality are up to par. He should make the transfer well and become a great player on a team that’s on the rise.

Right Tackle: Tyler Decker, Detroit Lions

The Lions are finally committing to keeping Stafford alive, something I wasn’t sure would ever happen, under new general manager Bob Quinn. Decker was a quality left tackle at Ohio State, but he really won’t be ready to start there in his rookie season in the NFL. Nonetheless, the Lions can happily plug him in at right tackle where he can play a key role in their run game as he adjusts to the big leagues. With left tackle Riley Reiff at the end of the five mediocre seasons of his contract after this year, the Lions could decide to let him walk and shift Decker to left tackle next year. For this year, however, he projects as a solid right tackle with room to improve as the season goes on.