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.
The NFC West was, for the most part, a dismal division in 2010.Made up of four teams that were largely focused on rebuilding, it was the first division to have a division champion with a losing record. The cupboard is not bare however, and the NFC West is a division loaded with young talent ready to perform. Which team has done the best job of loading up on young talent?
1. QB Sam Bradford, St. Louis- Presented with their choice of Ndamukong Suh or Bradford with the 1st pick in the 2010 draft, the Rams went with the QB. While Suh has clearly had a solid career thus far, it appears that the Rams made the right choice. Bradford nearly led his team to a play off appearance, falling just short in the final week of the season. He had a great rookie season statistically as well, throwing 169 consecutive passes without an interception (a record for a rookie), and became just the third rookie to start all 16 games and throw for over 3,000 yards. The other two QBs to do so were Peyton Manning and Matt Ryan, which has to leave St. Louis fans feeling pretty optimistic about the future of the franchise.
2. LT Rodger Saffold, St Louis– After drafting their QB of the future in the 1st round of the 2010 Draft, the Rams turned their attention finding the guy that would protect Bradford. St. Louis found that player in Saffold. The LT started all 16 games in 2010 and appeared to be a solid fit at the position. Provided they both stay healthy, the Rams’ future is in great hands with both Bradford and Saffold.
3. WR Michael Crabtree, San Francisco- After missing the first 5 games of his rookie season in 2009 due to a contract dispute, Crabtree has put up solid, if slightly inconsistent production for the 49ers. There are times when Crabtree flashes incredible potential, like his week 16 game vs. St. Louis (6 catches, 122 yards, 1 TD). If he can minimize the disappointing efforts where he struggles to grab just a catch or two, Crabtree will be a force for opposing defenses to reckon with in 2011. 
4. OT Russell Okung, Seattle- When Okung fell to Seattle at the 6th pick of the 2010 Draft, the Seahawks had to jump at the OT. Okung missed six games in his debut season, due to high ankle sprains that he struggled to bounce back from. When he was healthy, he had a very good season, starting ten games and playing well in all ten. A healthy Okung would give the Seahawks at a repeat playoff appearance in 2011.
5. S Earl Thomas, Seattle– The Seahawks were looking for a play maker when they drafted Earl Thomas, and he hasn’t disappointed. With 76 tackles and 5 interceptions, Thomas made plays when his team needed him to, which helped them to a surprise playoff berth in 2010. Thomas flashed Ed Reed-like ability during his rookie year, and with experience he could get closer to reaching that level in 2011.
6. OG Mike Iupati, San Francisco– One of the more athletic lineman in the NFL, Iupati is a guard that, with experience, will have the ability to play at OT. As far as technique goes, Iupati has shown he has a ways to go before he can truly be a Pro Bowl level player. But he has shown tremendous potential, and is an emerging force on the line of scrimmage in the NFC West.
7. MLB James Laurinatis, St. Louis- The Rams have hit on many early round picks in the last couple seasons, and Laurinatis in no exception. The MLB has been a model of consistency, starting every game of his two year career. He has been an anchor of the defense, recording over 100 tackles in each of his two seasons, and he figures to continue in that role for years to come.
8. WR Danny Amendola, St. Louis– For Amendola, the third time was the charm. After going undrafted in 2008, The WR bounced around from the Cowboys to the Eagles, before finally landing with the Rams in 2009. After playing a limited role in 2009, Amendola got significant playing time as the slot receiver in 2010, starting 6 games. He also contributed on special teams, and ended up leading the NFL in all purpose yards with 2,364. Paired with a young QB, Amendola is likely to have an even more productive 2011.
9. LB Aaron Curry, Seattle- Curry has been met with high expectations since becoming a Seahawk in 2009. He was drafted very high (#4 overall) and was given a huge contract. After being out performed by fellow LBs Lofa Tatupu and David Hawthorne, many Seattle fans feel Curry is closer to a bust than a budding star. The fact is, however, that Curry has produced (73 tackles in 2010) and can still develop into a cornerstone of the Seattle defense.
10. DL Calais Campbell, Arizona- Campbell is a versatile DL that plays end and tackle, as well as contributing on special teams. He’s started 30 games over the last two seasons, where he’s recorded a combined 108 tackles and 13 sacks. He showed great improvement in his second year as a starter, and Arizona will need him to continue that development in 2011 to have a shot at capturing the division crown.
Honorable Mention:
RB Chris Wells, Arizona
S Taylor Mays, San Francisco
WR Golden Tate, Seattle
LB David Hawthorne, Seattle
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