1. Will Grier, Carolina Panthers
No matter if you want to believe it or not, Marty Hurney drafted Grier early for insurance. When leading the offense, Cam Newton has a chance to take the Carolina Panthers to the postseason every year. The big question is if he will return to MVP form following surgery this offseason. Even if Grier plays just one snap, he’s in the best position to succeed this season.
Since entering the league, Christian McCaffrey has been as advertised; an active runner and an excellent pass catcher. Last season, the Stanford star finished just shy of 2,000 total purpose yards in his second year. He also led all running backs in receiving yards and was a top 10 rusher out of the backfield. He can be a Le’Veon Bell 2.0 for Carolina’s offense moving forward.
D.J. Moore will need to continue to improve but had a successful rookie season. Finishing second among rookie receivers in receiving yards (788), Moore will need to be a factor in the red zone to take the next step on his journey to stardom. Greg Olsen is a reliable tight end when healthy while Ian Thomas showed growth as his eventual successor. Curtis Samuel had five touchdowns in his second season but should become a decent slot receiver entering his third season.
The Panthers offensive line allowed just 34 sacks last season, which isn’t as bad as some would project. The team is a top 10 unit and perhaps one of the more versatile offenses in the league. Newton is going to be the starter if healthy, but Grier is set up for success.
If the Panthers struggle next season, it’ll be due to Grier being rushed into the role and not his supporting cast. You can’t say that about any other rookie unit.
Cole Thompson is the Lead NFL writer for Pro Football Network. Follow him on Twitter at @MrColeThompson.