Mel Kiper's 2015 all-rookie team

Mel Kiper’s 2015 all-rookie team

http://nflfootballjournal.blogspot.com/

So we’re officially at the end of the line. I know nobody reads the intro, so let me just cut to the chase with the parameters I use all year for the Rookie Rankings, just so you have the rules.

This is a measure for all games this season.

Total snap count matters. Staying on the field is a measure of value.

Positional value matters, but overall performance and impact on the team matters more.

Relative value matters. I ask: Would this player be a starter on a really good team?

With that in mind, here is the team — offense, defense and special teams.

Offensive rookie of the year

Jameis Winston, QB, Buccaneers

You can argue that passing totals are up and we shouldn’t get too excited about another great rookie season, but consider the company Winston is in after throwing for 4,042 yards. Andrew Luck. Cam Newton. Peyton Manning. And Winston did it a year younger than Newton and Manning. The totals are nice; the rate of improvement is what is really impressive. This is what you hope to see in a No. 1 pick.

Others considered: Todd Gurley, Rams; Mitch Morse, Chiefs

Defensive rookie of the year

Leonard Williams, DE, Jets

He played nearly 800 snaps, was outstanding against the run, helped free up teammates to rush the passer, and actually did some great work in pushing the pocket himself. You really have to watch Williams on every snap because stats won’t do him justice. I had him as the No. 1 overall player in the 2015 NFL draft, and I think he lived up to that. And yes, he was a total steal at No. 6 for New York. Great work by that front office.

Others considered: Marcus Peters, Chiefs; Ronald Darby, Bills

Offense

Marcus Mariota did some really impressive things but missed some time, so Winston gets the nod. By the way, I found myself looking at this rookie class and wondering what Brett Hundley is going to be. I think he’ll be ready before Aaron Rodgers is ready to go anywhere — maybe by a handful of years.

Running back: Todd Gurley, Rams

Gurley wasn’t a total runaway from Thomas Rawls, T.J. Yeldon and David Johnson, but his 1,106 yards have to make the Rams feel better about the risk they took in taking him at No. 10 overall. If there’s a question, it’s about consistent production versus a reliance on big plays for big yardage totals.

Fullback: Michael Burton, Lions

Not a crowded field here, with Burton getting the nod over Jalston Fowler. Think he’s there to block? Burton racked up four carries for 2 yards.

Wide receivers: Amari Cooper, Raiders; Stefon Diggs, Vikings; Tyler Lockett, Seahawks

Yes, these were the top three rookie leaders in receiving yardage, but I also think they led the way in impact, so they get the three spots in my offense. But it was another full class — I also considered Jamison Crowder, Devin Funchess and Dorial Green-Beckham and also saw a late charge from DeVante Parker.

Tight end: Clive Walford, Raiders

Rookie tight ends rarely put up big totals, so call Walford’s 28 catches is highly encouraging. He’ll become a bigger weapon. Maxx Williams was in the mix. And I see you, Blake Bell, Tyler Kroft, Nick Boyle and MyCole Pruitt.

Offensive tackles: Donovan Smith, Buccaneers; Robert Havenstein, Rams

Important: Smith gets the nod at left tackle where, frankly, it wasn’t pretty for any rookie who saw time there, and Havenstein gets the nod at right tackle. After that, let’s just say it’s not easy to jump to the NFL and hold down a tackle position as a rookie. I give Ereck Flowers serious kudos, however. He was put in a tough spot and competed. He’ll get better.

Guards: Ali Marpet, Buccaneers; Brandon Scherff, Redskins

Play over an entire season gets these two ahead of La’el Collins, who eventually stepped into a starting role and is a tremendous run-blocker.

Center: Mitch Morse, Chiefs

When they go back over the season, the Chiefs could call Morse their most valuable offensive lineman. He stayed on the field amid chaos on that unit caused by injuries. David Andrews and Hroniss Grasu were two others worth mentioning, but Morse was the clear leader here.

Defense

Defensive ends: Leonard Williams, Jets; Mario Edwards Jr., Raiders

Important note here: Henry Anderson would have challenged for defensive rookie of the year had he stayed healthy. But he’s been out half the season. Williams you know about if you read the top, but Edwards really started to come on and officially served notice that he has Pro Bowl potential starting as soon as 2016. Tremendous potential, tremendous power. I also have to call out Danielle Hunter, who is showing star potential, and Arik Armstead.

Defensive tackles: Eddie Goldman, Bears; Malcom Brown, Patriots

Goldman is going to be a centerpiece for the Chicago defense for years to come, and Brown is every bit the steal I assured you he was when he fell, inexplicably, all the way down to the end of Round 1. Rodney Gunter, David Parry and Grady Jarrett are three others who deserve mention.

Inside linebackers: Kwon Alexander, Buccaneers; Eric Kendricks, Vikings

Alexander lost time at the end of the season with a suspension, but he did really well when thrown into action; he won’t turn 22 until training camp in August. Kendricks makes it two straight years in which the Vikings have found a stud linebacker out of UCLA. Jordan Hicks probably beats out one of these two if he stays healthy, and Denzel Perryman, Stephone Anthony and Jake Ryan were all close.

Outside linebackers: Markus Golden, Cardinals; Preston Smith, Redskins

Smith really turned it up later in the season and became a big part of that defense. He also led all rookies in sacks with 8.0. Golden looks like an absolute steal for the Cardinals. He’s going to get his share of sacks in the future (and maybe in the playoffs). Shaq Thompson and Hau’oli Kikaha were also considered.

Cornerbacks: Ronald Darby, Bills; Marcus Peters, Chiefs

Darby was one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL — not just the rookie class — for the bulk of the season. Peters is going to be a star. There were a lot of big plays allowed, but he also made a ton of them himself. He tied for the league lead in interceptions (eight) as a rookie, and it’s clear his instincts and ball skills are special. Elsewhere, Damarious Randall, Byron Jones, Kevin Johnson, Quinten Rollins, Quinton Dunbar and Quandre Diggs all deserve mention. Diggs is a guy I thought would be a star going back to his high school days. He didn’t always show that at Texas, but here we are.

Safeties: Landon Collins, Giants; Adrian Amos, Bears

Give Collins a lot of credit. A lot was asked of him, and while he struggled plenty, he gave the Giants reps, led the rookie class in tackles and is going to get better. Amos played a very good free safety for the Bears. Kyshoen Jarrett and Jaquiski Tartt also deserve a mention.

Special teams

Josh Lambo not only was one of the NFL’s more accurate kickers, he showed off a strong leg.

Lambo edges out Andrew Franks because he made twice the number of field goals (26 to 13) at a higher percentage, and also knocked home 4 of 5 from 50-plus yards.

Punter: Matt Darr, Dolphins

Darr gets the nod, though he needs to cut down on the touchbacks, which make an impressive 47.6-yard average look a little leaner.

Kick returner: Ameer Abdullah, Lions

Abdullah finished No. 2 in the NFL in kickoff return average at 29.1 yards per pop.

Punt returner: Tyler Lockett, Seahawks

Punters are already keenly aware of Lockett. They either need to get the ball a mile in the air and sacrifice distance or get it out of bounds.

Long-snapper: Joe Cardona, Patriots

He was my No. 1 long-snapper in the draft. Glad the econ major from the Naval Academy found an NFL home.