PFWA All-Rookie Team

The Pro Football Writers of America announced their All-Rookie team last week. It's always interesting to look at these All-Rookie teams. There was a time when filling out an All-Rookie was a struggle. Some positions simply had no players performing at a level that set them apart from the rest. Rookies not only didn't start right away they didn't have to start right away. Now, rookies have a role almost from the moment that they are drafted.

PFWA's 2014 All-Rookie team has several players that did far more than fill a role. They started. They excelled. Some were difference-makers. The rookie receivers got a lot of attention. They deserved it but they were far from alone. A couple of guards received All-Pro recognition. They even got some votes for Rookie of the Year. Guards! That's inconceivable! There were also some fantastic linebackers.

Here is the 2014 PFWA All-Rookie Team:

Offense
QB – Teddy Bridgewater, Minnesota Vikings
RB – Jeremy Hill, Cincinnati Bengals; Tre Mason, St. Louis Rams
WR – Odell Beckham Jr., New York Giants; Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TE – Jace Amaro, New York Jets
C – Corey Linsley, Green Bay Packers
G – Joel Bitonio, Cleveland Browns; Zack Martin, Dallas Cowboys
T – Taylor Lewan, Tennessee Titans; Ja’Wuan James, Miami Dolphins
Defense
DL – Aaron Donald, St. Louis Rams; Timmy Jernigan, Baltimore Ravens; Kony Ealy, Carolina Panthers; Justin Ellis, Oakland Raiders
LB – Chris Borland, San Francisco 49ers; Khalil Mack, Oakland Raiders; C.J. Mosley, Baltimore Ravens
CB – Kyle Fuller, Chicago Bears; E.J. Gaines, St. Louis Rams
S – Deone Bucannon, Arizona Cardinals; Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Green Bay Packers
Special Teams
PK – Cody Parkey, Philadelphia Eagles
P – Pat O’Donnell, Chicago Bears
KR – Jarvis Landry, Miami Dolphins
PR – De’Anthony Thomas, Kansas City Chiefs
ST – Trey Burton, Philadelphia Eagles

The one problem with this team is the glaring absence of Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr. Come on!

There was one rookie awards development that was particularly interesting. Odell Beckham Jr. won pretty much every rookie of the year award outside of defensive rookie of the year award. He probably received some votes for that one as well. The MVP award has become a quarterback's award to lose. These days, it takes an other-worldly performance from a running back or receiver to keep the MVP out of a quarterback's hands. Like Adrian Peterson in 2012. Heaven forbid a defensive player ever being named MVP. It's a passing league and the quarterback is the most valuable position. By a long shot. It's just interesting that the same consideration isn't given to the rookie of the year award. Teddy Bridgewater's uncanny calm and occasional brilliance at the most difficult and important position in the game wasn't given much thought next to Beckham exploding on the NFL scene.