Thursday 21 November 2013 13:14, UK
After the NFL Draft of 2013 I started talking about who would be great NFL rookies. Last year we were all in clover, having feasted on the likes of Robert Griffin III, Russell Wilson and Colin Kaepernick.
8. Keenan Allen (WR, San Diego Chargers) The exceptionally-talented young receiver from the University of California-Berkeley has made a lot of people excited in San Diego....and no one more, we expect that Phillip Rivers, who's having a bit of a resurgence where the Beautiful People Live. Allen, who was taken in the third round despite having first round talent (we're still trying to work out how he missed everybody) in his years at Cal, has 41 receptions, 613 yards receiving, and 3 TDs. We noticed in the last two games against Denver and Miami that he only had 7 receptions total...are defensive co-ordinators beginning to find him out? In his first year, that's a helluva compliment. 9. Zac Stacy (RB, St Louis Rams) Because a lot of people don't pay attention to Vanderbilt football, Stacy wasn't exactly trumpeted loudly around NFL parts when he was taken in the fifth round by the St Louis Rams. Well, after putting up over 500 yards rushing and three TDs for what has been a pretty-horrible-to-watch St Louis offense, the St Louis management must be feeling pretty pleased with themselves. 10. Marcus Cooper (CB, Kansas City Chiefs) This year the Kansas City Chiefs defence has been brilliant to watch. Although it's been led up from by Tamba Hali, Cooper's been quietly a shut-down corner, recording 16 defended passes and two interceptions for the Chiefs, as well as forced fumble. Not bad for the seventh round pick by the San Francisco 49ers, who was claimed off waivers before the beginning of the 2013 season, eh? Oh, and here's a fun fact for you: Cooper hasn't always been a cornerback. A former wide receiver, he only switched to the position in his final year at Rutgers. It could be quite the financially beneficial one....
