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Top: Jermaine Gresham (left), Montario Hardesty.

Bottom: Maurkice Pouncey (left), Terrence Cody.

In the NFL, you know a divison is strong when experts are picking a team that just won the Super Bowl two years ago to finish third out of four teams. Such is the case with the AFC North. The Cincinnati Bengals shocked everybody last season by sweeping the other 3 teams and winning the division title. Although I personally doubt they will repeat that success, the Bengals had a strong draft and have added some potential weapons with this year’s rookie class. One player who is sure to have an impact is tight end Jermaine Gresham, a stud out of Oklahoma who was injured in his senior year but is going to be a great pro if he’s healthy. He will be a key target for QB Carson Palmer eventually this season. Other potential receiver help for Cinci (remember they already have Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens) came in the form of Jordan Shipley, Colt McCoy’s favorite target at Texas, and Dez Briscoe, an underrated player who should make the roster. The Bengals added defensive help in defensive linemen Carlos Dunlap and Geno Atkins and DB Brandon Ghee. If nothing else, the Bengals’ draft list includes the most players with name recognition. Of course, that doesn’t always translate into production on the field. The Baltimore Ravens are a chic pick to win the division this year, based mostly on their convincing playoff win over New England last season and the rapid development of QB Joe Flacco and RB Ray Rice. The Ravens don’t have a lot of help coming from this season’s rookie class however, especially with Sergio Kindle out for the season following an accident. The Ravens do have possibly the largest rookie to take the field this year in defensive lineman Terrence Cody, a space-eater in the middle who could contribute if he can get in football shape. The Steelers are looking to rebound from a disappointing season and will have to do it without former Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes and for at least a quarter of the season without QB Ben Roethlisberger. They are looking to return to their old identity of a rugged run-first offensive team that pounds the ball, and may wind up trying to do it with 2 rookies starting on the offensive line, with Maurkice Pouncey, either at guard or center, being one of them. The Cleveland Browns are entering a new era under Mike Holmgren, and a lot of people feel that at some point this season the keys to the offense will be turned over to rookie QB Colt McCoy. But the most impressive rookie on the Browns’ roster may be RB Montario Hardesty. The feeling is he will get lots of action, sharing the running game load with Jerome Harrison. The biggest question with him is whether or not he can stay healthy. The Browns also drafted some immediate help for their secondary in cornerback Joe Haden, sure to be in the starting lineup, and safety T.J. Ward.

Top: Toby Gerhart (left), Ndamokong Suh.

Bottom: Jahvid Best (left), Bryan Bulaga.

When looking for impact rookies in the NFC North, just like in most of the other divisions, it pays to start at the bottom. The Detroit Lions have been an NFL punchline for a few years now, but they have done an outstanding job of parlaying that losing into stocking their team with players who will be stars when the team turns it around, which may be as early as this season. The Lions had 2 first round draft picks this year and both should be impact players. Ndamukong Suh will be plugged into the defensive line and hopefully be an anchor there for a decade. Jahvid Best, the other 1st rounder, will certainly see plenty of action at running back and give the Lions an exciting playmaker for the running game, complementing what Drew Stafford and Calvin Johnson do for the passing game. The Minnesota Vikings came within a Brett Favre interception of going to the Super Bowl, but lost a tremendous weapon when backup RB Chester Taylor left in free agency. Taylor’s departure should open up an opportunity for rookie Toby Gerhart, from Stanford, to get extensive playing time. Taylor was a big factor in the passing game and did a great job of spelling Adrian Peterson and will be missed. Gerhart is a different type of back, but his bruising style will add a tougher edge to the Vikes’ offense. Everson Griffen, a big defensive end from USC, fell into the Vikings’ lap in the 4th round and could be a factor later in the year after he gains some experience. The Green Bay Packers should get immediate results from their top rookie, offensive lineman Bryan Bulaga. Bulaga, a left tackle in college, is being plugged into the starting lineup at left guard and will be an improvement to the Packs’ line in both the running and passing games. Undrafted free agent Sam Shields appears to be playing his way into a spot as the extra cornerback in the nickel defense with the Pack. Late round draft pick James Starks, a running back, would have been a possibility to add some spark to Green Bay’s already potent offensive attack but nagging injuries throughout camp have hampered his chances. The Chicago Bears had no early picks in the draft this past season, due to trades, and went into the free agent market, grabbing Taylor and stud DE Julius Peppers, but won’t get much help from their rookie class.

Top: C.J. Spiller (left), Kyle Wilson.

Bottom: Jared Odrick.

Three of the four teams in the AFC East are considered strong playoff contenders with veteran rosters. So looking for impact rookies in this division starts with the Buffalo Bills, the one team that’s an afterthought when the experts try to handicap the division. C.J. Spiller was the Bills’ top draft choice  and is considered a can’t-miss prospect, but the Bills were already deep at running back with Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson. Spiller, however, supplies the Bills with the playmaking ability that their offense has been lacking, and he’ll surely get lots of opportunities on the field.  Torrell Troup, the Bills’ 2nd round pick, also has a good chance to make an impact this year. He’s a high-motor nose tackle prospect and the Bills are switching to a 3-4 defense this year, so he may work his way onto the field also. The Bills have been hampered by injuries at RB and wide receiver in training camp, and that has given 2 undrafted free agents a shot at making an impact.  Joique Bell, a Division II running back from Wayne State, has made the most of his opportunity with both Lynch and Jackson hurt, and  David Nelson has a shot at getting significant playing time at receiver. The New York Jets have already proclaimed themselves the conference favorite to get to the Super Bowl, but if their all-world cornerback, Darrelle Revis, continues his holdout then rookie Kyle Wilson, a highly-regarded corner who was being penciled in to be a nickel corner, could find himself in the starting lineup on opening day. Even if Revis signs, he has missed all of training camp and may not be ready to play at the outset of the regular season. Vladimir Ducasse, another Jet draft pick, is slated to man the starting guard spot that Allen Faneca played last season, and those will be some big shoes to fill.  New England has added their usual great crop of rookies to the roster this season, and in my opinion defense is where the rookies will have the most impact. He wasn’t drafted high, but linebacker  Brandon Spikes is a guy who, despite a bad combine showing, is a football player to the core and will be a leader on the Pats’ defense in short order. Devin McCourty will also likely be on the field, at least as a nickel cornerback, right from the start of the season. Jared Odrick, from Penn State, and  Koa Misi, from Utah, will be impact defensive players in Miami this season also. With Joey Porter gone and injuries striking the Dolphins hard on the defensive line, Odrick and Misi will get plenty of playing time and be expected to help add some pass rush.