It’s not easy playing football in the National Football League. It’s even harder when you’re making the transition from the college game. Many rookies struggle as they face faster, stronger, more experienced players who’ve already made the transition and have a leg up on perfecting their craft.

So give credit to these 28 men who have overcome the odds to make an immediate impression on us with their play. Those 28 men fill out the 2014 PFF All Rookie team, so let’s see who made the cut…

Quarterback: Teddy Bridgewater (MIN)

Others generated more talk but no rookie quarterback got about their business as efficiently and impressively as Bridgewater. Sure there were some teething pains but his strong finish to the year was an eye-catcher. He finished with the best grade of any QB over the past five weeks of the season.

Running Back: Jeremy Hill (CIN)

A strong season from Hill who broke the 1,000-yard mark and showed plenty of ability for making defenders miss with his 28 forced missed tackles. He will need to cut down on the four fumbles and make the most of the blocking in front of him.

Full Back: Ryan Hewitt (CIN)

The undrafted free agent would show off his versatility and blocking chops in a nice 525-snap cameo that will give the Bengals plenty of options for how they attack the draft and free agency next year.

Tight End: Crockett Gilmore (BAL)

This wasn’t a class that had a tight end jump out and wow you. Instead, the solid Gilmore gets the nod over his peers, none of whom managed more than 491 snaps.

Wide Receivers: Odell Beckham Jr. (NYG), Mike Evans (TB) and Jarvis Landry (MIA)

As lackluster as the tight end options were, the wide receiver options presented the opposite problem, with so many having eye catching seasons. Of course none was more impressive than Beckham Jr. who would make our All-Pro first team. Don’t sleep on how effective Jarvis Landry has been from the slot and the second half of the year from the outstanding Evans.

Tackles: Taylor Lewan (TEN) and Justin Britt (SEA)

Is it getting harder for tackles to adjust to the NFL? Outside of Lewan none covered themselves in glory. The selection of Britt was a case of him being the least bad right tackle as opposed to being the best. Pass protection in the NFL is tough.

Guards: Joel Bitonio (CLE) and Zack Martin (DAL)

As much as the tackles struggled, though, the guards had themselves a fine year. Brandon Linder was on the outside looking in but had himself a fine debut season, but Bitonio (first team PFF All-Pro) and Martin (second team) were that little bit better with their work in the run game.

Center: Corey Linsley (GB)

He may not have walked into training camp expecting to start but he’ll walk out of this season as not only the teams starting center for the future, but one of the better young linemen in the league.

Click here for the top Defensive Rookies of 2014