5 best defensive rookies in NFL History

Five best NFL defensive rookies of all-time

#3 - Richard "Night Train" Lane

Pro Football Hall of Famer Night Train Lane

Dick' Night Train' Lane was undrafted in 1952 before being picked up by the Los Angeles Rams. The cornerback immediately became one of the best defensive backs in football. Lane had an incredible 14 interceptions in just 12 games, a record which still stands to this day and will likely never be broken.

Lane even returned two of those interceptions for touchdowns and was an obvious choice for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1974.

#2 - Jevon Kearse

Jevon Kearse of the Tennessee Titans

Jevon Kearse still holds the rookie sack record, with 14.5, which he made during his debut campaign with the Tennessee Titans in 1999. Kearse's impact was immediate in Tennessee. He helped his side make their first-ever Super Bowl and forced a ridiculous eight fumbles during the regular season.

Kearse would have a sack on Kurt Warner in Super Bowl XXXIV, where the Titans narrowly lost to the St. Louis Rams. However, Kearse's efforts were rewarded as he would make first-team All-Pro and was named the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year.

#1 - Lawrence Taylor

Lawrence Taylor with the New York Giants

We have never seen a rookie make an impact on the NFL like Lawrence Taylor did when the New York Giants drafted him second overall in 1981. LT took the league by storm as the outside linebacker destroyed running backs and tight ends in his path, registering 9.5 sacks unofficially (sacks didn't become an official stat until 1982).

Taylor helped the Giants go from the 27th-ranked defense to third in his rookie year and helped them reach the playoffs for the first time in 18 years. He took home NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors, was named first-team All-Pro, and was named to the first of his 10 successive Pro Bowls.