The Top NFL Rookies of 2012

The top NFL rookies in 2012 are those first-year professional football players who are quickly making an impact in the league. These NFL players, many of whom were among the best steals in the 2012 NFL Draft, each are seeing success in the pros as quarterbacks, wide receivers, running backs, kickers and even defensive players.

Prior to the start of the 2012 NFL season, all eyes were on the top quarterbacks taken in the 2012 NFL Draft especially as a number of teams had plans to use their rookies immediately. Andrew Luck out of Stanford had perhaps the most on his shoulders as he was filling some very big shoes on the Indianapolis Colts previously filled by Peyton Manning. But things didn't go as planned when the Colts began the 2012 season at the bottom of the AFC South. Instead, another rookie quarterback earned the lion's share of attention. Robert Griffin III, who won the Heisman Trophy as a member of the Baylor Bears in 2011, turned heads when in his opening game notched 320 passing yards and two touchdowns against the New Orleans Saints.

But there are plenty of other players besides NFL quarterbacks who have been impressive 2012 NFL rookies. Running backs Trent Richardson of the Cleveland Browns, Bernard Pierce of the Baltimore Ravens and Alfred Morris of the Washington Redskins, wide receivers Kendall Wright of the Tennessee Titans, Justin Blackmon of the Jacksonville Jaguars and tight end Coby Fleener of the Indianapolis Colts have all seen strong starts to their rookie campaigns.

On the defense, stars like Chandler Jones of the New England Patriots, Bruce Irvin of the Seattle Seahawks and Josh Norman of the Carolina Panthers all began their rookie seasons atop the stats leaders in defensive categories like tackles and interceptions. Don't see your favorite 2012 NFL rookie listed? Want to move these selections around? Do all of that and more below by voting for, adding to or re-ranking this list of top 2012 NFL rookies.