NFL Spin Zone
Fansided

Each NFL team’s rookie most primed to make an instant impact

By Michael Johnson

TEMPE, ARIZONA - MAY 29: Quarterback Kyler Murray #1 of the Arizona Cardinals practices during team OTA's at the Dignity Health Arizona Cardinals Training Center on May 29, 2019 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
TEMPE, ARIZONA - MAY 29: Quarterback Kyler Murray #1 of the Arizona Cardinals practices during team OTA's at the Dignity Health Arizona Cardinals Training Center on May 29, 2019 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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SOUTH BEND, IN – SEPTEMBER 15: Jerry Tillery #99 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish rushes against Devin Cochran #77 of the Vanderbilt Commodores at Notre Dame Stadium on September 15, 2018, in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame defeated Vanderbilt 22-17. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN – SEPTEMBER 15: Jerry Tillery #99 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish rushes against Devin Cochran #77 of the Vanderbilt Commodores at Notre Dame Stadium on September 15, 2018, in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame defeated Vanderbilt 22-17. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

Los Angeles Chargers – DT Jerry Tillery

The back end of the Chargers defense is loaded with speed and talented cover guys. Gus Bradley’s defense is all about speed, so applying pressure up front is important. Melvin Ingram and Joey Bosa man the outside but they have missed pressure up the middle. That’s where Jerry Tillery comes in.

Tillery has great first step and second gear to eat up space. Brandon Mebane will do the grimy work as the stout anchor in the middle. Tillery will get used exploiting gaps and give the Chargers an interior pass-rusher. At 6-6, 295 pounds he’s able to knife through defenders with excellent timing to jolt guards.

Los Angeles Rams – RB Darrell Henderson

Todd Gurley is the workhorse back of Sean McVay’s offense. However, the injury that sidelined him  at the end of 2018 and is still ailing him could force the Rams to decrease his workload. Like C.J. Anderson last year, the beneficiary of the change could be rookie Darrell Henderson.

Henderson gives McVay another home-run threat at running back. But Henderson is more than just speed — he’s quick with solid power. There’s some resemblance of Ray Rice in his game as he’s quick, tough with great contact balance.

If Gurley needs to miss time for maintenance, Henderson could carry the load. While he didn’t catch a lot of passes in college, he’s shown soft hands. Henderson could surprise the league as a Rookie of the Year candidate.

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