Chris Cooley may be the Skins’ most media-friendly player, but Davis could end up being the more dynamic of the team's two tight ends. He emerged in the second half of 2009 and is primed to have a breakout campaign in ’10. In Mike Shanahan's offense, don’t be shocked if both Cooley and Davis have big years.

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First things first — Chris Johnson's No. 28 is about as hot a jersey as you could own. That thing may be the coolest top in the entire league. But if you want to go another direction, Griffin — a guy who took a minor step back last year — should be much-improved. No one's talking about the Titans this season. They could be the league's biggest surprise. Griffin, a Pro Bowler two seasons ago, is 100 percent healthy and ready to reclaim his ’08 status as one of the league's best young safeties.

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Williams was both a misfit and a mystery during his time at Syracuse, ultimately quitting the team last season halfway through the year. However, he’s got all the talent in the world. A fourth-round pick in April, he’s been the buzz of training camp in Tampa. With the wideout depth chart wide open for the Buccaneers, he could very well emerge as Josh Freeman’s go-to guy this season.

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Sam Bradford's the quarterback of the future in St. Louis, and Rodger Saffold and Jason Smith are his offensive tackles. We know that. The reliable wideout he'll grow old with? There are several candidates vying for that gig in 2010. Gilyard, the young third-round pick out of Cincinnati, was an electrifying player in college ball and should make an immediate splash. Outspoken, exciting and vibrant — he'll be a lightning rod for the Rams.

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The Seahawks' defensive backfield was among the league’s very worst units in 2009. In 2010, there's hope the additions of Thomas — a player so talented he could pass as a corner — and veteran Lawyer Milloy at safety will bring the defense back from the NFL's basement. Thomas, the 14th pick in April's draft, is the rare safety who can cause turnovers and punish receivers across the middle. Some draftniks — NFL Network's Mike Mayock, in particular — had him ranked higher than the eventual fifth overall pick, Eric Berry.

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Goldson’s the best safety in the league you’ve never heard of. The four-year veteran is one of many unsung talents on Mike Singletary’s young defensive unit. After an outstanding second half to the 2009 season, optimism is soaring over this guy in San Fran this summer. You might as well get on that bandwagon now. Sport his jersey opening day.

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LaDainian who? Mathews, selected 12th overall by San Diego in April, is expected to step right into the Chargers' high-powered offense and carry the load at running back this season. Based on the early results — including a dazzling 50-yard scamper in Saturday’s preseason opener — he’s primed to do just that and more. Mathews idolized Tomlinson as a kid, wearing his No. 21 in college at Fresno State. He’s looking to make No. 24 just as popular.

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This is the year Timmons finally breaks out! Or, at least Steelers fans are hoping so. Barring any major preseason surprises, the 2007 first-round pick will be starting at inside linebacker alongside James Farrior in 2010. Whereas fellow ’07 draft pick LaMarr Woodley has been a top performer since his sophomore season, Timmons has taken a bit of time. This ... is ... the ... year. We think.

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The Eagles desperately missed Brian Dawkins in ’09 as the defensive backfield took a step back in his absence. Allen, a ball-hawking interception machine at South Florida, comes to Philly in hopes of boosting the unit back among the league’s elite.

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The 2010 draft's No. 8 overall pick is the early favorite for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. Already announced as the starter at middle linebacker in Oakland, the former All-American standout and defensive leader for Nick Saban's Crimson Tide squads comes to Oakland to replace the departed Kirk Morrison. He'll do all that and more. Mark it down now, the guy wearing Matt Millen's old No. 55 is going to be among the league leaders in tackles this season.

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If you didn't fall in love with “The Terminator” during his Kentucky years or at February's NFL scouting combine, you certainly liked him on last week's season premier of Hard Knocks. A fullback, Conner (pictured here at the combine) pulverizes opposing linebackers and is built like a truck. He's a Rex Ryan guy — Ryan was the one who pushed for him in April's draft — and should be an immediate fan favorite in 2010.

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With 85 tackles and five interceptions, Thomas was one of the few bright spots on a putrid ’09 Giants defense. In 2010, there are six defensive backs — all healthy — who were either first or second-round picks. Thomas, a second rounder in ’08, could very well be the breakout star of the bunch.

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The NFC Championship and Super Bowl hero — the man who put the nails in both Brett Favre and Peyton Manning’s 2009 campaign coffins — is one of several young defensive backs in Gregg Williams’ defense worth sporting on your back. He sports cool haircuts, too.

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The 6-foot-8, 315-pound big fella out of Houston stepped it up when called upon as a rookie and is expected to do even more in 2010. A proud graduate of Quirinus Gymnasium High School in Kaarst, Germany, Vollmer isn’t your cookie-cutter NFL offensive tackle.

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Though everyone seems to assume second-round pick and 2009 Heisman runner-up Toby Gerhart will immediately serve as the ying to Adrian Peterson's yang in the Minnesota backfield, Young’s outplaying the rook this summer. Chester Taylor was a crowd favorite and valuable No. 2 in Minny; Young should carry that torch.

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Incognito not only has the name of a wrestling heel, but he plays like one too. Filthy, hated and, at times, an emotional loose cannon on the field — he’s everything a Bill Parcells player ever should be. He’ll also be a valued force in the trenches for the 2010 Dolphins, a team I have going to the playoffs.

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Fans of the SEC know how versatile and dangerous McCluster is. Though many draftniks feared he was just too damn small to do anything in the NFL, I’m confident Charlie Weis and Todd Haley will find a way to utilize him in that Chiefs offense. McCluster’s a lightning bolt in a firefly’s body. He’ll be a fan favorite right away.

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If there are actually living, breathing Jaguars fans out there — and you happen to be one of them — go with the second-year man out of Arizona's jersey. Though only 5-foot-8, Thomas has become a favorite of quarterback David Garrard’s and should be one of those sneaky fantasy sleepers who helps your fake team beat your buddy's fake team in 2010. He's also — interestingly enough — the Pac-10's all-time leader in receptions.

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You can have your Brian Dawkins, Ed Reed, Troy Polamalu and Bob Sanders jerseys. Give me the guy who was hands down the league’s best safety over the final eight weeks of the 2009 season. A former sixth-round pick out of Howard, I’ve got Bethea as a First-Team All-Pro pick in 2010.

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The shortest player in the league (listed at 5-foot-5 by Texans), Holliday makes Darren Sproles look like a giant. He’s also the fastest guy in the NFL, having won the 2009 NCAA championship for the 100 meters last year at LSU. A kick returner with big-play ability, Holliday could be the spark plug that gets Houston over the hump and into the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.

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While longtime starter Atari Bigby continues to be MIA on the practice field, rookie safety Morgan Burnett (pictured making tackle) continues to impress. A ball hawk at Georgia Tech, Burnett should be on the field right away this season. There will be growing pains. There will also be several interceptions.

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Lions fans know Delmas was one of the few bright spots in a dismal 2009 season. The rest of the nation will know his name in 2010. Suh will get the media attention and the glory if the defense vastly improves, but Delmas is the unit’s heart and soul.

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Tim Tebow’s jersey is not only the No. 1 one seller among Broncos, but it’s the top-selling jersey in the entire league this summer. Let everyone else wear a third-string quarterback’s jersey. You? Go with Thomas, Denver’s other first-round pick. At 6-foot-3, 230 pounds, he's built like Brandon Marshall (remember him?!) and ready to burst on to the scene. Let’s hope his foot cooperates.

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I’ll be honest here — I just love the idea of a bunch of diehard Cowboys fans roaming around Jerry World with the word “Sicko” on their backs. Is that not perfect? A relative longshot to make the team a few weeks ago, a season-ending injury to John Phillips last Sunday could ensure a roster spot for the rookie out of New Hampshire.

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Joe Haden may have been the top defensive back taken in the 2010 draft, but Cleveland's second-round selection, Ward, will make a more immediate impact this season. The punishing safety's been a star in training camp and should end up starting on opening day. The former player he admired most growing up? The late Jack Tatum.

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Lost in the Chad Ochocinco, Terrell Owens, Antonio “Chris Bosh” Bryant media frenzy in Cincy has been the wonderful camp the team’s third-round pick has been having. A star at Texas and already connecting with Carson Palmer, Shipley could end up being the quarterback’s safety blanket and third down “old reliable” in 2010. He also returns kicks.

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If the Jay Cutler-Mike Martz marriage works out, the Bears could return to the playoffs, Lovie Smith’s job could be saved and a bunch of young receivers could become household names. Aromashodu, the wideout folks in Bears camp are most juiced about, could end up being the best of ‘em all.

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The Panthers’ rookie wideout (pictured here at NFL Combine) has been the talk of training camp, getting a ton of positive buzz and connecting often with quarterback Matt Moore. LaFell was a three-year starter under Les Miles at LSU and should get some immediate playing time in his first year in Carolina.

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As a rookie last year, Byrd — the son of Chargers great Gil Byrd — tied for the league lead in interceptions and finished second in the AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year voting. In 2010, his sophomore campaign with Buffalo, he makes up one-fourth of what’s being talked about as the NFL’s best young defensive backfield.

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He's 350 pounds, eats running backs for breakfast and is going to be lining up next to another 350 pounder in teammate Haloti Ngata this season. What more do you need?

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Warrick Dunn used to sport No. 28 in Atlanta. Now, the jersey belongs to the hard-hitting DeCoud. DeCoud started 16 games last season at free safety and played at a Pro Bowl level. Get his name on your back now, Falcons fans.

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Boldin’s gone, Warner’s gone, Dansby’s gone and Rolle’s gone. Enter Doucet, who had more receptions in two postseason games last January than he did during the entire 2009 regular season. Built more like Boldin than Steve Breaston, Doucet could end up being the No. 2 in Arizona.

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So which players jerseys should you go for in 2010? The most popular and highest selling jerseys aren’t going to set you apart from the crowd (sorry, Sam Bradford). You'd better get a young, up-and-coming player. For an NFL fan spending $90 on a player’s jersey, getting that nod of acknowledgement or a “nice jersey” at the stadium from a stranger is the ultimate high. Peter Schrager has 32 jerseys — one for each team — that will set you apart from the herd and earn you kudos from your fellow fans this season.

Schrager: When (and when not) to rock your NFL jersey