Youth Movements: NFC East

Even the most casual NFL fan is more than aware of the young superstars like Desean Jackson and Chris Johnson. These players have dominated both opposing teams and post game highlight reels very early in their careers. These superstars are not the only young players that are changing games on Sundays, however. The NFL is a rich with young talent, and much of goes largely unnoticed.

For the next few weeks, we’ll be writing about the top young talent that you may or may not have heard of in each division. The focus is going to be on players that under 26 years old, and haven’t yet been named to the Pro Bowl, though many have developed into Pro Bowl level talents. Next up is the division that just may be the most popular division in the NFL, the NFC East. Nearly each divisional game is played in a national spotlight, and the rivalries are bitter and go back decades. Which team has the best young talent in the division?

1. RB LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia– Anytime a player puts up nearly 1,700 yards of total offense it’s a noteworthy accomplishment. A player doing that in his first full season as a starter is truly remarkable. McCoy did just that in 2010, proving himself a more than capable replacement for former Eagles great Brian Westbrook. In an offense that includes players like Michael Vick and Desean Jackson, McCoy is another explosive weapon that will give opposing defenses headaches for years to come.
2. WR Hakeem Nicks, New York– Nicks was drafted in 2009 to replace Plaxico Burress. It would be difficult for the Giants to say they’re disappointed in the investment thus far in Nicks’ career. In 2010, Nicks cemented himself as a playmaker for New York with 11 TDs and over 1,000 yards receiving. As Nicks continues to develop, he has the potential to not only be one of the top young players in the NFL, but one of the best WRs in the NFL overall.
3. WR Jeremy Maclin, Philadelphia– Maclin followed up a solid rookie season in 2009 with an even better 2010 campaign. The WR came just short of reaching 1,000 yards receiving and caught an impressive 10 TD passes.  And while his fellow WR Desean Jackson grabs all the headlines and highlights, it’s Maclin that is the most consistent receiver, catching 23 more passes and 4 more TDs than Jackson.
4. OT Trent Williams, Washington– The Redskins have made many draft picks over the last several years that have left draft analysts across the country confused. One pick Washington won’t regret, however, is taking Williams with their first round pick in 2010. The former Oklahoma Sooner quickly cemented his spot in the starting lineup, starting 13 games in his rookie campaign. As he is only 22 years old, LT is one position Washington won’t have to worry about for quite some time.
 
5. QB Kevin Kolb, Philadelphia– As we progress through the 2011 offseason, it’s hard to recall a back up QB that has drawn the amount of attention from other teams than Kolb has. Originally drafted to replace Donovan McNabb, Kolb was left in the wake of Michael Vick’s explosion on to the scene in 2010. Kolb has shown that he has potential to be a starting QB somewhere. It’s just not likely that it will be as an Eagle.
6. RB Felix Jones, Dallas- After averaging over 6 YPC in his first two years in the league, Jones only averaged 4.3 YPC in 2010. This was largely due to the Cowboys asking Jones, who relies heavily on his explosive speed, to bulk up. Jones brought his weight down to normal and averaged 5.9 YPC in the last 3 games of the year. As long as he can stay healthy, Jones stands ready to become an explosive player again in 2011.
7. WR Dez Bryant, Dallas– If success in the NFL was based solely upon on the field talent, Bryant just might be one of the top 5 WRs in the league. In reality, it’s also maturity, dedication, and off the field behavior that count as well. These are the areas where Bryant has to show he’s improved in the 2011 season. Throughout 2010 season Bryant flashed loads of ability, and if he can pull everything together he will be someone for the Cowboys to build around for a decade.
8. WR Mario Manningham, New York– The NFC East is a division full of young WR talent, and Manningham is another of these young WRs making a name for himself. He has steadily improved since his rookie year in 2008, and with WR Steve Smiths’ status questionable in 2011, Mannigham has a chance to become a full time starter. This opporutiny couldn’t be timed any better for Manningham, who is in the final year of his contract.
9.  RB Ahmad Bradshaw, New York– Prior to 2010, Bradshaw got limited playing time in a system where he shared time with a number of other RBs. Last season he finally got the chance to be the RB that carried the majority of the load, beating out Brandon Jacobs. This resulted in Bradshaw posting career highs in both rushing yards (1,235) and TDs (8). Unfortunately, he also had a career high in fumbles with 7. If Bradshaw can’t take better care of the ball in 2011, he will quickly return to his previous role, sharing carries with another RB.
10. RB Ryan Torain, Washington– Fantasy owners everywhere are more than familiar the Washington RB. After starting the season on the Redskins’ practice squad, Torain was elevated to replace an injured Clinton Portis. Torain broke out with 3 games over 100 yards, including a 172 yard outing against Tampa Bay. While Torain doesn’t have a lot of speed or size, he’s a great fit for the Redskins’ zone blocking scheme. Still, he’s had trouble with injuries and will need to stay healthy to hold off rookie RB Roy Helu from taking over at the starting RB spot.
Honorable Mention:
OT Winston Justice, Philadelphia
CB Kenny Phillips, New York
TE Martellus Bennet, Dallas