Working a little bit with the defensive files, it's clear that 2017 wasn't a great year for rookie defenders. We ran the thing on Reuben Foster last week, who was fairly productive in his 10 games (but has some off-field concerns). And then of all the other rookies, none reached the 100 tackle level last season.

That's just a number, but multiple rookies had reached 100 tackles in each of the previous five seasons, and seven of eight. Only two other times this century (2001 and 2011) has there been a season where at least one rookie didn't have at least 100 total tackles.

Two rookies, Jarrad Davis of Detroit and Zach Cunningham of Houston, reached 90. Those were the best of the 2017 rookie class.

100-TACKLE ROOKIES, 2000-PRESENT (plus 2017's best)
YearPlayerPos SoloAst Tot
2017Jarrad Davis, Det.MLB 653196
2017Zach Cunningham, Hou.ILB 484290
2016Deion Jones, Atl.MLB 7533108
2016Keanu Neal, Atl.SS 7234106
2015Stephone Anthony, N.O.MLB 7042112
2015Landon Collins, NYGFS 8428112
2014C.J. Mosley, Balt.ILB 8944133
2014Preston Brown, Buff.OLB 6643109
2014Chris Borland, S.F.ILB 8424108
2014Telvin Smith, Jac.ILB 7232104
2013Kiko Alonso, Buff.MLB 8772159
2013Paul Worrilow, Atl.OLB 7948127
2013Alec Ogletree, St.L.OLB 9423117
2013Johnathan Cyprien, Jac.SS 8717104
2012Luke Kuechly, Car.MLB 10361164
2012Bobby Wagner, Sea.MLB 8753140
2012Lavonte David, T.B.OLB 11227139
2012Vontaze Burfict, Cin.OLB 7354127
2012Harrison Smith, Minn.FS 7430104
2010T.J. Ward, Clev.SS 9528123
2010Alterraun Verner, Tenn.CB 8516101
2009Brian Cushing, Hou.OLB 8647133
2009James Laurinaitis, St.L.MLB 10713120
2008Jerod Mayo, N.E.ILB 10028128
2007Patrick Willis, S.F.ILB 13539174
2007Jon Beason, Car.MLB 10634140
2007David Harris, NYJILB 9037127
2006DeMeco Ryans, Hou.MLB 12530155
2006Ernie Sims, Det.OLB 8143124
2006A.J. Hawk, G.B.OLB 8237119
2006Thomas Howard, Oak.OLB 8822110
2006Donte Whitner, Buff.SS 6737104
2005Kirk Morrison, Oak.LB 9125116
2005Kerry Rhodes, NYJSS 8520105
2005Lofa Tatupu, Sea.MLB 8519104
2004D.J. Williams, Den.OLB 8133114
2004Jonathan Vilma, NYJMLB 7730107
2004Madieu Williams, Cin.FS 8617103
2004Teddy Lehman, Det.OLB 7527102
2004Erik Coleman, NYJFS 7327100
2003Nick Barnett, G.B.MLB 8626112
2003Mike Doss, Ind.SS 7329102
2002Chris Cash, Det.CB 8713100

--Andy Richardson