The future is now for the NFL’s top rookies

Jameis Winston of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Marcus Mariota of the Tennessee Titans are inextricably connected. The two quarterbacks were the first two picks of the 2015 NFL Draft, and the fates of the teams that selected them are tied to their success.

Is one Peyton Manning and Ryan Leaf? Or even Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III? If Winston, the first overall pick in the draft, becomes a success, he will help turn the Buccaneers’ franchise around. If Mariota becomes a star, he stops a string of quarterback busts in Tennessee and makes the Titans relevant again the AFC.

In the landscape of NFL rookies this season, those are the two obvious ones to follow. They’re far from the only intriguing and interesting ones. Some rookies are poised to step in and quickly make a name for themselves while others bear the burden of their team relying on them this season.

Wide receiver Amari Cooper could be for the Oakland Raiders what Odell Beckham Jr. was for the New York Giants last season. Although Cooper may not have Beckham’s flash, he’s a technician who runs strong routes and has good hands. He’s the type of wide receiver who will quickly become second-year quarterback Derek Carr’s favorite target and give Oakland their first great wide receiver since Tim Brown.

When the New York Jets took defensive lineman Leonard Williams in the first round, I was one of the fools who was quick to pan the selection. With Muhammad Wilkerson and Sheldon Richardson already on the roster, the choice of Williams seemed like a luxury pick by a team needing to fill out a thin roster. Now with Richardson’s status up in the air and Wilkerson wanting a new contract, the choice is now looking brilliant. Williams was the best player in this year’s draft, and has done well for himself in the preseason. The versatile Williams can play the run and will create disruption in the passing game.

For Marcus Peters, it will be forced stardom playing with the Kansas City Chiefs. The team’s first-round pick faces Peyton Manning and Aaron Rodgers in just the second and third games of his career. Compounding that pressure is the fact that Chiefs No. 1 corner Sean Smith is suspended for those games. When he comes back, Peters may actually be the best corner on Kansas City’s roster. Peters comes into the NFL possessing the size, speed, instincts and athleticism teams covet in a cornerback.

The Chargers taking running back Melvin Gordon in the first round of the draft was one of the more obvious choices this year, and justly so. San Diego needed a true lead running back, and Gordon was arguably the best one in the draft. A threat to score whenever he touches the ball in space, Gordon will help give San Diego’s offense balance.

In Denver, the fate of a potential Super Bowl run could be determined by the play of left tackle Ty Sambrailo, who replaces the injured Ryan Clady. The best-case scenario for Sambrailo is being this year’s version of David Bakhtiari of the Green Bay Packers. In 2013, Bakhtiari was supposed to be developed as a backup, but was forced to start after Bryan Bulaga was lost for the season. Sambrailo was thrust into a critical starting role protecting Peyton Manning and will face players like Khalil Mack of the Raiders and Justin Houston of the Chiefs twice this season. The Broncos are poised for another deep playoff run, but Sambrailo’s play may determine just how far.

The Packers lost cornerbacks Davon House and Tramon Williams in free agency, leaving a need for talent in the secondary. Green Bay added it with Damarious Randall, the team’s first-round pick this year. After sitting Green Bay’s first preseason game, Randall’s first snap in the NFL came while lined up against Antonio Brown of the Pittsburgh Steelers. If Randall doesn’t isn’t the answer, the Packers also used draft picks on corners Quinten Rollins and LaDarius Gunter.

There should be a production expectation for Devin Funchess in Carolina after the Panthers gave up their second-, third- and sixth-round picks to move up and take him at No. 41 overall in the draft. Following Kelvin Benjamin’s season-ending injury, there is not only an expectation of production, but a necessity. Funchess is a good athlete with questionable hands, but at Michigan he had a penchant for big plays. In three seasons with the Wolverines, Funchess had 126 receptions for 1,715 yards and 15 touchdowns. In Carolina’s offense, where there are few playmakers, Funchess can be one.

Despite missing time during the preseason with a sprained MCL, Landon Collins should be the long-term answer at free safety for the Giants. Collins -- the draft’s top safety -- slid all the way to the second round where the Giants traded three picks to get him. In obtaining him, the Giants get a safety who can come up and be physical at the line of scrimmage just as well as he drops into zone coverage.

The Saints have needed to find a pass-rush threat to pair with Cameron Jordan for a couple seasons, and they may have found their man in Hau’oli Kikaha. The second-round pick out of Washington is a high-effort athlete who specializes in getting after the quarterback. Kikaha could be a staple of the Saints’ 3-4 defense for years, even if he has a specialized role.

The Chicago Bears have long been searching for competent safety play, and may have gotten that and more with fifth-round pick Adrian Amos. He could become a stalwart at free safety for Chicago for a long time. The same can be said of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and middle linebacker where Kwon Alexander was a sensation in the preseason. The fourth-round pick out of LSU quickly overtook free agent signing Bruce Carter for a starting job.

The Bills didn’t use a third-round pick on guard John Miller with the intention of letting him slowly work his way into the starting lineup. Buffalo needed to rebuild the interior of its offensive line, and the 81st overall pick in the draft is a key piece. With new running back LeSean McCoy in town, and a sketchy quarterback situation, the Bills will be relying on Miller and the offensive line to lead the offense.

“I think he’s a 10-year vet out there,” Bills head coach Rex Ryan said about Miller earlier this year. “He doesn’t make mental mistakes, and he’s an athletic guy.”