The transition from the NCAA to the NFL is a difficult one. While some rookies make it look easy, the jump from a schedule that fits in FCS teams to one loaded with the best college players across the board is a daunting task.
That can create developmental delays on a prospect’s path to stardom. Patrick Mahomes sat for a season behind Alex Smith before taking the league by storm in 2018. Lamar Jackson followed a similar path one year later. Rashan Gary didn’t start a single game as a rookie, but has since developed into Green Bay’s most effective pass rusher.
The 2021 NFL Draft class dropped a handful of ready-made stars into the league, including Ja’Marr Chase, Micah Parsons and Rashawn Slater. We already know they’re awesome; this article is not about them. Instead, we’re going to break down the players who had a quiet rookie campaign last year while building towards a breakout sophomore season.
1 Trevon Moehrig, S, Las Vegas Raiders
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Christian D’Andrea: Moehrig was very good as a rookie. He could become a bonafide star in 2022.
The Raiders’ second-round safety was a deterrent in single-high situations, playing 100 percent of his defense’s stats but only being targeted 27 times in coverage thanks to his ability to pick up routes and erase potential big plays downfield. He worked with those opportunities. Moehrig allowed just a 58 percent completion rate and 7.5 yards per target despite facing quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert. His six passes defended came out to 25 percent of the throws where he was the primary defender.
He’ll face an even tougher lineup of passers now that Russell Wilson is a Bronco. Moehrig, with another year of experience under his belt, will be up for the task.
Area of improvement for 2022: Tackling. Moehrig’s coverage was great but he could beef up his ball-stopping. Pro Football Reference credited him with nine missed tackles in 64 opportunities as a rookie.
2 Trey Lance, QB, San Francisco 49ers
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Charles Curtis: It would be more obvious to choose that other QB at the top of the 2021 draft, but that’s almost too obvious, right?
Instead, I’m going with the guy getting to run Kyle Shanahan’s offense this year. I think there’s A LOT more drama when it comes to Lance — this is a Niners team that could contend if Year 2 Trey puts it all together after San Francisco traded up to grab him last year.
Thing is: He wasn’t a superstar right off the bat when he started in 2021. And that’s totally fine! But there’s pressure for him to be what he was at North Dakota State, and I’m most excited to see what a year of watching and learning did.
Area of improvement for 2022: Mechanics seem to have been his issue, as you’d expect from a rookie.
3 Rondale Moore, WR, Arizona Cardinals
(AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski)
Blake Schuster: The speedy receiver out of Purdue seems like he’s in a prime position to get overlooked. He had a fine, not standout rookie season and being a second-round pick in 2021 allowed him to avoid the hype attached to first-rounders like Ja’Marr Chase, Jaylen Waddle, DeVonta Smith and Kadarius Toney.
Moore was targeted 64 times last year and finished with 54 catches for 435 yards and one touchdown.
He was, again, fine.
He will also be one of the reasons the Cardinals’ offense is able to overcome a six-game suspension to DeAndre Hopkins and the departure of Christian Kirk. Moore has every tool he needs to excel in the NFL and with a full year of work alongside Kyler Murray and Kliff Kingsbury under his belt, he should feel comfortable deploying them.
Areas of improvement for 2022: Opportunity. Hopkins’ suspension, the uncertainty surrounding Hollywood Brown and a 34-year-old AJ Green heading the position group should make Moore one of Murray’s favorite targets this season.
4 Justin Fields, QB, Chicago Bears
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Robert Zeglinski: In a new offense with arguably the worst supporting cast in the league, Justin Fields will likely face tough sledding in his second season in Chicago. But don’t discount a better scheme with a coach, Luke Getsy, who understands how to get Fields to play to his strengths and to play faster.
The Bears aren’t built to throw the ball 35-40 times a game, and that should still play into Fields’ favor, thanks to his legs. A strong defense and running game with David Montgomery and Khalil Herbert can be just as complementary as big-time pass targets (though he’ll still need those eventually to make a HUGE leap!). A lot of the aspects of the game that Fields struggled with as a rookie were more about a playbook that constrained his processing entirely and general first-year jitters. The new-look Bears love Fields and want him to lean on his athleticism as much as possible as they build their foundation from the ground up. That’s great news for a quarterback ready to handle the load and take the next step.
Look for Fields to shine despite his circumstances to set up a potentially promising year in Chicago in 2023.
Areas of improvement for 2022: Faster release/less negative plays
Fields was sacked 36 times last season. Not all of that was due to a poor offensive line. Fields’ quick-hit game needs to improve to survive behind what might be a worse pass-blocking line this year. He also has to stop holding the ball so long while taking sacks — a problem that’s plagued him dating back to his days at Ohio State. By early accounts through the spring and training camp, Fields already appears to be on the ball here, tightening his throwing motion.
5 Kadarius Toney, WR, New York Giants
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Prince J. Grimes: It was Week 5 of the 2021 season against the Dallas Cowboys. Toney’s stat-line read: 10 receptions, 189 yards. And he didn’t even finish the game. He was ejected for throwing a punch. That’s been the Kadarius Toney experience after one year in the NFL. When he’s available, he’s a difference-maker, a game-breaker even. But he has to be available.
There’s plenty of optimism that the Giants offense and quarterback Daniel Jones can take a leap under a new coaching staff and with an offensive line that should be better. Part of that rests on what Toney brings as a lightning quick playmaker. They’ll want to get the ball in his hands any way possible, and he’s explosive when he gets it. The opportunities will be there.
Areas of improvement for 2022: Availability. As I mentioned above, even as a rookie, he was good when he played. But he missed seven games due to a variety of injuries; shoulder, hamstring, thumb, quad, oblique and two positive COVID tests. If he’s healthy (and not throwing punches), he’ll have a monster year.
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