Deone Bucannon, Chandler Catanzaro earn rookie honors

Much of the 2014 Arizona Cardinals rookie class did not have a ton of on-field contributions. However, there were two who received league honors.

Safety Deone Bucannon, the Cardinals' first round selection, and undrafted kicker Chandler Catanzaro made All-Rookie teams.

The PFWA (Pro Football Writers of America) recognized Bucannon and Green Bay safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix at the position.

Bucannon also appears on Gil Brandt's 2014 All-Rookie Team, as does Catanzaro. Catanzaro didn't make the PFWA list. That honor went to Eagles kicker Cody Parkey.

Brandt writes about each.

On Bucannon:

Bucannon is an in-the-box type of safety who makes a lot of tackles (81) and is very aggressive. He's more of a run-stopper than he is a space player, but in the type of defense the Cardinals played in 2014, that was fine. Bucannon might not be a perennial Pro Bowler, but he'll start and play well for a number of years.

On Catanzaro:

He hit 29 of 33 field-goal attempts (87.9 percent), which is outstanding for a first-year pro. The strong-legged Catanzaro hit his first 17 field-goal attempts, tying an NFL record for consecutive field goals made to start a career.

Both are deserving. The funny thing about Bucannon making these lists is that he really didn't play safety much at all this season. He played almost exclusively at linebacker in dime packages. He will go back to playing safety in the offseason, but he was more linebacker than safety in 2014.

Perhaps you think that receiver John Brown should have been on either list, too. As much of a homer we all can be, it would be hard to see Brown make it over Odell Beckham, Mike Evans or Sammy Watkins. The three were on Brandt's team, while Beckham and Evans were the two receivers on the PFWA squad. You can't put Brown past those guys, especially the way Brown faded down the stretch.

Are Bucannon and Catanzaro deserving of such honors? What do you think of All-Rookie teams. Did they get them right?

2014 PFWA ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: WR Odell Beckham Jr., New York Giants

2014 PFWA OFFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: WR Odell Beckham, Jr., New York Giants

2014 PFWA DEFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: DT Aaron Donald, St. Louis Rams

2014 PFWA ALL-ROOKIE TEAM

Offense

QB - Teddy Bridgewater, Minnesota Vikings

RB - Jeremy Hill, Cincinnati Bengals; Tre Mason, St. Louis Rams

WR - Odell Beckham Jr., New York Giants; Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

TE - Jace Amaro, New York Jets

C - Corey Linsley, Green Bay Packers

G - Joel Bitonio, Cleveland Browns; Zach Martin, Dallas Cowboys

T - Taylor Lewan, Tennessee Titans; Ja'Wuan James, Miami Dolphins

Defense

DL - Aaron Donald, St. Louis Rams; Timmy Jernigan, Baltimore Ravens; Kony Ealy, Carolina Panthers; Justin Ellis, Oakland Raiders

LB - Chris Borland, San Francisco 49ers; Khalil Mack, Oakland Raiders; C.J. Mosley, Baltimore Ravens

CB - Kyle Fuller, Chicago Bears; E.J. Gaines, St. Louis Rams

S - Deone Bucannon, Arizona Cardinals; Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Green Bay Packers

Special Teams

PK - Cody Parkey, Philadelphia Eagles

P - Pat O'Donnell, Chicago Bears

KR - Jarvis Landry, Miami Dolphins

PR - De'Anthony Thomas, Kansas City Chiefs

ST - Trey Burton, Philadelphia Eagles