Rookies ahead of schedule

Earlier this week, I was asked about draft classes from 2012 that are "ahead of schedule." It's pretty simple: If rookies have significant roles and are playing pretty well, the general assumption is that they are ahead of the curve. That can be true, but it tells us very little in some instances. Consider a few different draft classes.

To read more from Mel Kiper on ahead-of-schedule rookies, you must be an ESPN Insider.

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Mel Kiper Jr.

Football analyst

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• ESPN NFL Draft analyst since 1984
• Contributes to SportsCenter and ESPN Radio
• Writes weekly for ESPN Insider