Working on the individual defensive player story for the magazine, I tried to figure which rookies would make the biggest impact. At linebacker (and slightly less likely, safety), that would probably be a player who could go over 100 tackles in his first season.

Since 2000 there have been 39 rookies to do it, or about 2-3 per year. I settled on Buffalo's Reggie Ragland as the likeliest candidate. He should start immediately at inside linebacker in the team's defense.

Another possibility is Myles Jack -- healthy permitting, of course. He has a chance to start right away in Jacksonville, probably on the outside, but just possibly on the inside (if the team decides to move on from Paul Posluszny).

It's possible it will be a defensive back; around a quarter of the 39 were safeties (9) or cornerbacks (2). So maybe Jalen Ramsey in Jacksonville or Karl Joseph in Oakland.

I'll go with Ragland, though, as the most likely 100-tackle rookie and a decent target in IDP leagues.

The list of 100-tackle rookies since 2000, sorted by total tackles, is shown below. Last year's rookies who did it are in bold.

100-TACKLE ROOKIES, 2001-2015
YearPlayerPos SoloAst Tot
2007Patrick Willis, S.F.ILB 13539174
2012Luke Kuechly, Car.MLB 10361164
2013Kiko Alonso, Buff.MLB 8772159
2006DeMeco Ryans, Hou.MLB 12530155
2012Bobby Wagner, Sea.MLB 8753140
2007Jon Beason, Car.MLB 10634140
2012Lavonte David, T.B.OLB 11227139
2014C.J. Mosley, Balt.ILB 8944133
2009Brian Cushing, Hou.OLB 8647133
2008Jerod Mayo, N.E.ILB 10028128
2013Paul Worrilow, Atl.OLB 7948127
2012Vontaze Burfict, Cin.OLB 7354127
2007David Harris, NYJILB 9037127
2006Ernie Sims, Det.OLB 8143124
2010T.J. Ward, Clev.SS 9528123
2009James Laurinaitis, St.L.MLB 10713120
2006A.J. Hawk, G.B.OLB 8237119
2013Alec Ogletree, St.L.OLB 9423117
2005Kirk Morrison, Oak.LB 9125116
2004D.J. Williams, Den.OLB 8133114
2015Stephone Anthony, N.O.MLB 7042112
2015Landon Collins, NYGFS 8428112
2003Nick Barnett, G.B.MLB 8626112
2006Thomas Howard, Oak.OLB 8822110
2014Preston Brown, Buff.OLB 6643109
2014Chris Borland, S.F.ILB 8424108
2004Jonathan Vilma, NYJMLB 7730107
2005Kerry Rhodes, NYJSS 8520105
2014Telvin Smith, Jac.ILB 7232104
2013Johnathan Cyprien, Jac.SS 8717104
2012Harrison Smith, Minn.FS 7430104
2006Donte Whitner, Buff.SS 6737104
2005Lofa Tatupu, Sea.MLB 8519104
2004Madieu Williams, Cin.FS 8617103
2004Teddy Lehman, Det.OLB 7527102
2003Mike Doss, Ind.SS 7329102
2010Alterraun Verner, Tenn.CB 8516101
2004Erik Coleman, NYJFS 7327100
2002Chris Cash, Det.CB 8713100

--Andy Richardson