Although he didn’t start until the season finale, Terrell Suggs was so impressive for the Baltimore Ravens that he earned the Associated Press’ NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award Tuesday.

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Anquan Boldin earlier was named the unanimous selection for AP offensive rookie of the year by a panel of 50 sports writers and broadcasters who cover the NFL.

Suggs, an outside linebacker with a pass-rushing burst reminiscent of Lawrence Taylor, had 12 sacks out of a 3-4 alignment in which he often served as an end. His skills at pressuring quarterbacks earned him 23 votes from the panel.

That beat Dallas cornerback Terence Newman, who had 15 votes.

“Every rookie in the NFL knows it’s hard to come into the league and perform good enough to get an award for it,” Suggs said. “This has been a really great year, and I’m hoping to finish it real strong.”

Suggs was the 10th overall pick in April’s draft, dropping a few slots when he didn’t run as quickly as expected in private workouts. But he was a pass-rushing force at Arizona State, setting a Division I-A record with 24 sacks in 2002, and he carried that talent right into the pros.

“He’s a bright kid,” Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Nolan said. “Terrell’s still got a lot of growing up to do, but he learns quickly, has a tremendous passion for football and isn’t intimidated by the pro game.”

As for Boldin, he is Exhibit A on the value — or lack thereof — of workouts at the NFL combine.

The receiver was slow in his 40-yard dash time. Scouts looked suspiciously at his surgically-repaired knee. So the Florida State standout wasn’t selected until the second round of the draft, by the Arizona Cardinals with the 54th choice overall.

Then he went out and had the best rookie season by a wide receiver in the NFL history.

Not bad for the sixth receiver chosen in the draft.

“I have coached some great players in this league, Hall of Fame players, and this kid’s foundation, as solid as he is, has all the attributes of all of them,” McGinnis said.

Boldin was the only rookie elected to the Pro Bowl this season.