There is no doubt about Darren McFadden\u00c2\u00a0being the #1 ranked rookie keeper prospect for 2008.\u00c2\u00a0 He has held this spot for\u00c2\u00a0two years already.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0McFadden is almost as sure a thing as Adrian Peterson was last year and could be better if not for\u00c2\u00a0his much weaker offensive line.<\/p>\n
The real debate, in this abnormally\u00c2\u00a0great year for rookie-only drafts, is the order of the next four rookie keepers.\u00c2\u00a0 We’ll see what happens in training camp, but Jonathan Stewart, Rashard Mendenhall, Kevin Smith and Matt Forte\u00c2\u00a0will all\u00c2\u00a0have an opportunity in 2008 and any one could become the next Steven Jackson or Marshawn Lynch.\u00c2\u00a0 You also can’t discount the possibility that Felix Jones\u00c2\u00a0or Ryan Torain will emerge in\u00c2\u00a0preseason games.<\/p>\n
After pure talent in determining a rookie keeper’s value comes the players overall situation.\u00c2\u00a0 Of the four best running backs after McFadden, Mendenhall clearly stands out as having the best 5 year outlook due to the combined youth and relative experience of his teammates.\u00c2\u00a0 Roethlisberger, Santonio Holmes, Limas Sweed, Willie Parker and\u00c2\u00a0Heath Miller form a core averaging 24 years old, so if\u00c2\u00a0Mendenhall\u00c2\u00a0can establish himself as the lead back, he\u00c2\u00a0has a better chance of continuing solid production\u00c2\u00a0through 2012.\u00c2\u00a0 That is, if the Steelers aren’t sold and moved to Los Angeles by then.<\/p>\n