Demarcus Ware has been a playmaking force in the preseason for Bill Parcells' Cowboys. Otto Greule Jr./Getty Images

We wish we could tell you we saw the rookie of the year success by Ben Roethlisberger and Jonathan Vilma coming a mile away last year at this time, but that's why they have archives for this stuff.

Based on what we know now, here are 10 rookies we think are ready to make impacts for their new teams in 2005. As always, actual results may vary:

1. Brandon Jones, Tennessee, receiver: The Titans drafted three receivers this spring -- Jones and Courtney Roby in the third round and Roydell Williams in the fourth -- and they've all made big preseason contributions. But Jones, who was Oklahoma's No. 3 receiver, looks the most polished and ready to contribute immediately. In three games, he has hauled in eight passes for 130 yards. Jones gives Tennessee a true vertical threat, and already he and quarterback Steve McNair seem to be on the same page. McNair is excited about all three of his young pass-catchers, but Jones has been getting a lot of work as the team's No. 2 receiver while Tyrone Calico continues to come back from last year's season-ending knee surgery.

2. Logan Mankins, New England, guard: The final selection of the first round has been everything the Patriots could have hoped for at this point. He has stepped into the starting left-guard slot -- vacated by Joe Andruzzi -- and made it a non-issue throughout August. A collegiate tackle, Mankins isn't entirely familiar with his new position, but his competitive nature and hard-nosed attitude make up for less than perfect technique. Shoot, he's already such an ideal Patriot that he barely talks to the media and offers very little in the way of injury information.

3. Demarcus Ware, Dallas, defensive end/linebacker: We're not exactly breaking this story, but Ware looks like the real deal so far. Cowboys coach Bill Parcells believes in doling out praise with an eye-dropper, but he can't really do much to discourage the buzz created by Ware's recent performance against Seattle. Ware's explosive playmaking skills were on full display against the Seahawks, when he registered a sack and an interception and forced two fumbles and recovered one -- all of which he accomplished in about 26 minutes of playing time. It would appear Parcells has himself a havoc-wreaking defensive weapon who conjures up images of Lawrence Taylor.

4. Matt Jones, Jacksonville, receiver: Already the former Arkansas quarterback/basketball player has shown the athleticism that made him the most intriguing prospect in this year's draft. Did you see that boffo one-handed stab he made down the middle of the field against Atlanta last week? Jones has seven catches for 148 yards in three games (21.1 average), and if he keeps making grabs like that one, the Jaguars might not even have to use him as selectively as they had first planned. He's not going to be a finished product for quite some time, but the 6-foot-6, sky-walking Jones is a defensive coordinator's matchup nightmare.