by Michael Cutting

Created on: August 11, 2008   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

It is August, with helmets hitting pads, two-a-days, and fantasy drafts. That is right. It's football season. The 2008-09 NFL season is fast approaching, and it is time to look at the some of the rookies who will have the biggest impact in their respective teams' success this season. Rookie players are how teams such as New England Patriots fill in holes due to free agent losses, and how teams like the Oakland Raiders make the front page of the sport section. Will Matt Ryan live up to the comparisons with Tom Brady? Is Darren McFadden the next big thing in Oakland? How many of the top picks will earn their paychecks, and how many Brady's will be found in this year's draft class. These are all questions to be discussed, all we look at a list of top picks who will live up to the hype, and some of the shots in the dark that will end up hitting.

Matt Ryan-QB-Falcons- The Matt Ryan express picked up steam throughout the 2007 college football season, as he led the Boston College Eagles to a mid-season #2 national ranking and a bowl win. The comparisons to Tom Brady are inevitable. Ryan is good-looking, has great size, a strong arm, and great decision-making. Ryan's decision-making came into question at the end of his senior year, as he had a tendency to force throws. After being the #3 overall pick in the first round by the Falcons, the weight of the organization has been put on his shoulders. Chris Redman, Joey Harrington, and D.J Shockley are all in camp, but none of them possesses the intelligence and intangible Ryan does. Expect Ryan to be thrown into the fire early for a team that has no chance of winning this year. The wins will not be there this year, but the numbers will. Ryan is a Pro-Bowl Quarterback to be, and his education will began with a solid first campaign in Atlanta.

2008-2009 Projection- 12 Games Started, 2,550 yards passing, 16 TD's, 11 INT's.

Jerod Mayo-LB-Patriots- The Patriots had issues at linebacker last season. The age of the linebacker corps was of major concern, and the Patriots used a first round pick on one of the better tacklers in the draft, Jerod Mayo out of Tennessee. Mayo has ball skills, and hunts the ball carrier. He is versatile enough to shift from inside to outside, depending on the scheme the Patriots want to play. Look for Mayo to get lots of playing time, as Mike Vrable and Tedy Bruschi get up there in age. Mayo is a viable candidate for Defensive Rookie of the Year, and projects out to an above average to Pro-Bowl caliber

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