Super Bowl LIV 49ers vs. Chiefs: Top impact rookies

Ranking the rookies who will make the biggest impact in the Super Bowl matchup between the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs.

Super Bowl Sunday is here. This evening, the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers will battle for the biggest prize in the game, the Lombardi Trophy. This will be a fantastic game between two iconic franchises. Both the Chiefs and 49ers have had fantastic seasons and deserve to be here. There is no doubt about it, this is a great Super Bowl matchup.

Personally, I am incredibly excited to see how the first-year players for these teams game make an impact in this massive game. At this time last year, we were studying these guys in preparation for the 2019 NFL Draft. Now, they will play major roles for their teams in the Super Bowl. What a year it has been for these guys.

Alright, let’s get down to business. Both the Chiefs and 49ers have talented rookie players who can change the game at any time. In this post, we are going to take a look at the five rookies who could have the biggest impact in the Super Bowl.

Khalen Saunders has not exactly been the most productive rookie for the Kansas City Chiefs this season. However, he has become a nice part-time player who has done a nice job of filling in on the interior when needed. Saunders has an impressive combination of size, power and athleticism up front. He is unlikely to get many chances to make his mark on this game, but Saunders undoubtedly has the talent to make an impact if given the opportunity.

Dre Greenlaw was a fifth-round selection by the 49ers in the 2019 NFL Draft. While he was not expected to come in and make an immediate impact, that is exactly what Greenlaw has done. In the back half of the year, Greenlaw has become a full-time starting off-ball linebacker for the 49ers and has made a consistent impact for the team.

Greenlaw is an extremely rangy and athletic linebacker who has shown the ability to defend from sideline-to-sideline. He tracks down the ball carrier well in space and is strong in coverage. The 49ers are going to need Greenlaw’s speed and ability to make plays in space to help keep the Chiefs’ explosive offensive attack in check. He undoubtedly has a chance to make a massive impact in this game.

Mecole Hardman could be the single-biggest x-factor for the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl. Hardman is an extremely quick and explosive playmaker with the ball in his hands who has the ability to change this game on a dime.

The Chiefs use Hardman as their primary kick and punt returner and he has the speed and playmaking ability to take it to the house on special teams at any time. Hardman is not a full-time offensive contributor for this team, but when he is on the field, he commands attention. Hardman is one of the best big-play players in this game and could easily end up being the rookie who makes the biggest impact in the Super Bowl.

Deebo Samuel has been one of the best offensive rookies in the entire NFL this season. In the regular season, Samuel caught 57 passes for 802 yards and three touchdowns. He was also a threat in the run game, carrying the ball 14 times for 159 yards and three more touchdowns. Simply put, Samuel is one of the biggest offensive playmakers on the 49ers and has a chance to make a massive impact on this game.

The 49ers took Nick Bosa with the second overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft and he has made a consistent impact on the team all season long. Bosa finished the regular season with 47 total tackles, 16 tackles for loss, nine sacks and 25 quarterback hits. He has also piled up three sacks in their two postseason games thus far and was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year for his fantastic first season.

Bosa has been an impact pass rusher and rock-solid run defender for the 49ers this season. He has been a massive reason for their defensive success and will be a major key for them trying to keep Patrick Mahomes in check during this game.