Ranking NFL position groups from easiest to hardest for rookies

2. DEFENSIVE LINE

Easiest skill to master: Most defensive linemen, even as rookies, have a clear athletic advantage over the big men on the other side of the ball. In many schemes, D-linemen are just attacking upfield players, especially on throwing downs. Let these big guys attack.

Hardest: Hand usage and technique are skills that take time. If a defensive lineman doesn’t find his early niche, he can quickly find himself struggling to make an impact.

5 who could make immediate impact in 2019:

Nick Bosa, 49ers (Round 1, Pick 2): Bosa has been injured, but once ready, he should explode onto the scene just like his big brother did for the Chargers.

Quinnen Williams, Jets (Round 1, Pick 3): He flashed great skills in the preseason and could be an early dominator in the middle of the line.

Clelin Ferrell, Raiders (Round 1, Pick 4): A surprise early draft pick, he might start his career slowly because he doesn't have dynamic traits.

Josh Allen, Jaguars (Round 1, Pick 7): He has a ton of ability and with all the other pieces in Jacksonville’s front, he should see a lot of single blocking. But he might have to fight for snaps.

Ed Oliver, Bills (Round 1, Pick 9): He might not be a full-time player, but he should help an already strong defense on throwing downs with his ability to get interior pressure.

3. LINEBACKER

Easiest skill to master: Many rookie second-level players have made an early impact. Great athletes at this position translate well to the NFL with their ability to hunt down the ball and play in space as pursuit players.

Hardest: It's challenging for rookies to diagnose plays pre-snap and avoid getting baited with play-action passes. Without question, though, the greatest challenge is playing man coverage against tight ends and running backs.

5 who could make immediate impact in 2019:

Devin White, Bucs (Round 1, Pick 5): A supreme athlete, he flies all over the field and should make an early impact even though he didn’t stand out in the preseason.

Devin Bush, Steelers (Round 1, Pick 10): He will be an every-down player and has Defensive Rookie of the Year potential.

Jahlani Tavai, Lions (Round 2, Pick 11): He  has great size and positional flexibility in the mold of New England linebackers, traits former Patriots assistant Matt Patricia covets.

Germaine Pratt, Bengals (Round 3, Pick 8): He has a long frame, plays well in space, and with the poor state of Cincinnati’s linebacker corps, he could play soon.

Sione Takitaki, Browns (Round 3, Pick 16): The Browns could use someone to insert into their linebacker group, but it might be Mack Wilson instead of Takitaki.

4. WIDE RECEIVER

Easiest skill to master: Simply making plays in space. 

Hardest: The ability to get off press coverage can make or break a young receiver’s career. Rookie wideouts have not regularly dealt with a cornerbacks putting their hands on them right off the snap.

5 who could make immediate impact in 2019:

Marquise Brown, Ravens (Round 1, Pick 15): He is back to full health, and at a minimum, he should make those around him better with his ability to get open deep downfield.

N’Keal Harry, Patriots (Round 1, Pick 32): He could have a tough time cracking this lineup early on as New England’s passing game is quite complex.

Deebo Samuel, 49ers (Round 2, Pick 4): Dante Pettis hasn’t received positive buzz, so maybe there is an opening available for the highly versatile Samuel.

AJ Brown, Titans (Round 2, Pick 19): Brown looks blocked for playing time, but he could prove that he is too good to keep off the field at either the slot or on the outside.

Mecole Hardman, Chiefs (Round 2, Pick 24): With Tyreek Hill not facing suspension, he is no longer a lock to play a lot. But Andy Reid might find a way to use him with Hill.

5. SAFETY

Easiest skill to master: Supporting the run and being physical are the skills that come easiest entering the NFL.

Hardest: With their body language, eyes and pump fakes, NFL quarterbacks toy with young safeties. These rookies in deep patrol must learn to stay with their responsibility and not take the bait.

5 who could make immediate impact in 2019:

Darnell Savage, Packers (Round 1, Pick 21): He can just do so many things well. The Packers will use him all over the field and let him hunt.

Johnathan Abram, Raiders (Round 1, Pick 27): He is an old-school thumper who could help the Raiders change their defensive culture from the start.

Joejuan Williams, Patriots (Round 2, Pick 13): He might not make a big impact in his rookie season, but expect the Patriots to eventually make him their man-to-man answer to tight ends.

Marquise Blair, Seahawks (Round 2, Pick 15): Long gone is the Legion Of Boom in Seattle, so Blair might get a shot at plenty of PT.

Nasir Adderley, Chargers (Round 2, Pick 28): Adderley hasn’t shown up in the preseason, but with Derwin James injured, he might get a chance to play a lot. 

6. CORNERBACK

Easiest skill to master: There really isn’t much that is easy for rookie cornerbacks. It helps if they were adept zone defenders in college, a skill that usually translates quickly in the pros.

Hardest: Ability to handle the massive NFL pressure. Quarterbacks see the fresh meat and test rookie CBs from the get-go. This is a reactionary position, and in today’s NFL, wide receivers are superior overall to cornerbacks.

5 who could make immediate impact in 2019:

DeAndre Baker, Giants (Round 1, Pick 30): It is rare for the first corner off the board to come this late in the first round, but Baker is certainly in a good position to contribute with the Giants.

Byron Murphy, Cardinals (Round 2, Pick 1): Murphy is best as a zone coverage player. With Patrick Peterson suspended for the first six games, he will get called on early. 

Rock Ya-Sin, Colts (Round 2, Pick 2): The reports on Ya-Sin have been favorable and he could help out quite a bit this year.

Sean Bunting, Bucs (Round 2, Pick 7): The Buccaneers have drafted many defensive backs recently. But they are becoming more of a man coverage team, which really suits Bunting.

Trayvon Mullen, Raiders (Round 2, Pick 8): The Raiders want size at cornerback, and there isn’t much in front of the 6-foot-2, 201-pound Mullen on the depth chart.

7. OFFENSIVE LINE

Easiest skill to master: If an offensive lineman has smarts and toughness, he is difficult to get off the field. That holds true for rookies as well.

Hardest: Overcoming the athletic gap -- NFL defensive linemen are much better athletes than the O-linemen. Also, many players at this position enter the league without ever truly putting their hand in the dirt at the college level. Many haven’t even executed basic run plays.

5 who could make immediate impact in 2019:

Chris Lindstrom, Falcons (Round 1, Pick 16): Not the heaviest or strongest, but highly athletic and a great fit for Atlanta’s scheme, Lindstrom will get a great chance to prove himself right off the bat.

Garrett Bradbury, Vikings (Round 1, Pick 18): Bradbury is the perfect guy to anchor Gary Kubiak’s scheme in Minnesota. He could be a great player.

Andre Dillard, Eagles (Round 1, Pick 22): Dillard played well in the preseason and might have a real bright future, but for now, he is behind Jason Peters.

Tytus Howard, Texans (Round 1, Pick 23): A project coming out of a tiny school (Alabama State), Howard might have a tough time being an impact player this season.

Kaleb McGary, Falcons (Round 1, Pick 31): It's hard to speculate when McGary, who missed significant time in the preseason after a cardiac ablation procedure, will get back on the field regularly. But when he does, a starting right tackle spot is waiting for him.

8. TIGHT END

Easiest skill to master: This really varies, depending on what's required. In general, ball skills and ability to play the ball and run are skills that easily transfer from college to the NFL.

Hardest: Blocking is less important than ever at this position -- many NFL tight ends are simply larger versions of their wide receiver counterparts. But it's still part of the job for most tight ends and the most challenging skill for rookies. Once tight ends master all the tricks of their difficult trade, they tend to stick in the league awhile.

5 who could make immediate impact in 2019:

TJ Hockenson, Lions (Round 1, Pick 8): He has the look of the rare rookie tight end who comes into the NFL and lights it up.

Noah Fant, Broncos (Round 1, Pick 20): He has been up and down in the preseason, but he will play often and has a lot of big-play potential.

Irv Smith, Vikings (Round 2, Pick 18): We should see more double-tight end sets this year from the Vikings, and don’t be surprised if Smith is Minnesota’s best player at this position.

Drew Sample, Bengals (Round 2, Pick 20): He could make a big impact as a blocker in this Rams-like scheme, but probably won't offer much early as a receiver.

Josh Oliver, Jaguars (Round 3, Pick 5): Oliver doesn’t have much in front of him on the depth chart, and there is ability here to work with without question.

9. QUARTERBACK

Easiest skill to master: Just the act of throwing the football. But as we have often seen of late, a real crutch for ultra-athletic quarterbacks is their scrambling and running ability.

Hardest: It's the hardest position in sports. Just so much to learn. The speed of the game is must faster than it is in college. Processing it can be incredibly taxing. And the passing windows are significantly smaller in the NFL than they are in college.

5 who could make immediate impact in 2019:

Kyler Murray, Cardinals (Round 1, Pick 1): His offensive line is likely to be a big problem, but this guy will put together a great rookie highlight reel nonetheless.

Daniel Jones, Giants (Round 1, Pick 6): He had an excellent preseason, so hopefully the Giants realize that they must move on from Eli Manning and give Jones the job ASAP.

Dwayne Haskins, Redskins (Round 1, Pick 15):  He has a ton to learn, but there is an awful lot to work with here, and at some point, he will become Washington’s starter during his rookie season.

Drew Lock, Broncos (Round 2, Pick 10): Ideally, he "redshirts." But if Joe Flacco plays like he did during his final seasons in Baltimore, the Broncos might have no choice to turn it over to Lock, who is currently out with a severely sprained thumb on his throwing hand.

Will Grier, Panthers (Round 3, Pick 36):  He would need Cam Newton to get hurt, of course, but he might pay for the Panthers down the line.