Last season saw C.J. Stroud win NFL Rookie of the Year on offense. Teammate Will Anderson earned the NFL Rookie of the Year award on defense.
With the 2024 NFL season in full swing, there are obvious favorites to come away with the hardware. That includes rookie No. 2 pick Jayden Daniels. On defense, it’s a much bigger guessing game. After all, the top 14 picks of the 2024 NFL Draft were offensive players. This makes the DROY race very interesting to start with.
Without further ado, let’s check in on our top NFL Rookie of the Year candidates in Week 12.
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2024 NFL Rookie of the Year candidates (offense)
Honorable mention
- Brian Thomas Jr., WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
- Malik Nabers, WR, New York Giants
- Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Arizona Cardinals
- Keon Coleman, WR, Buffalo Bills
- Xavier Worthy, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
5. Caleb Williams, QB, Chicago Bears (LW: Honorable mention)
Even though he’s not the OROTY frontrunner, Caleb Williams is showing positive signs of developing into the Chicago Bears’ franchise quarterback. We’d still like to see more touchdowns and more consistency with his accuracy, but Williams could have a stronger second half of the season after Chicago made a coordinator change.
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4. Brock Bowers, TE, Las Vegas Raiders
Leading all rookies in receiving yardage, Brock Bowers is having a historical rookie season for a tight end. Bowers already has 706 receiving yards and three touchdowns while playing for a Raiders offense that ranks 29th in scoring. But he’s probably not catching up to the quarterbacks.
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3. Drake Maye, QB, New England Patriots (LW: 3)
One of the early favorites to win NFL Rookie of the Year on offense got off to a slow start due to being stuck on the bench for the first three weeks. Drake Maye doesn’t have a chance to win Offensive Rookie Of The Year, but he’s still providing hope for a brighter future in New England.
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2. Bo Nix, QB, Denver Broncos (LW: 2)
Bo Nix is doing just enough to help the Denver Broncos avoid losing. Of course, Denver having a top-five defense has helped too. But he hasn’t shown he’s capable of helping them win. Nix is an outside candidate to win Offensive Rookie of the Year, bue he likely has no chance of catching up to Jayden Daniels.
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1. Jayden Daniels, QB, Washington Commanders (LW: 1)
As a dual-threat weapon, Jayden Daniels is a favorite to win Offensive Rookie of the Year. He’s off to the best start among his fellow rookie quarterbacks, both through the air and on the ground. If Daniels can continue helping the Commanders get into the win column more often while still putting up impressive stats, there’s no reason why he can’t win Rookie of the Year. Having a 68.7% completion rate to go along with 14 touchdowns and just three interceptions makes him a heavy favorite.
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2024 NFL Rookie of the Year candidates (defense)
Honorable mention
- Cooper DeJean, DB, Philadelphia Eagles
- Braden Fiske, DL, Los Angeles Rams
- Evan Williams, S, Green Bay Packers
- Byron Murphy, DT, Seattle Seahawks
- Tykee Smith, S, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- T’Vondre Sweat, DT, Tennessee Titans
- Edgerrin Cooper, LB, Green Bay Packers
- Andru Phillips, CB, New York Giants
- Tyler Nubin, S, New York Giants
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5. Kamari Lassiter, CB, Houston Texans (LW: 4)
The only second-round pick featured on this list, Kamari Lassiter is receiving early snaps on Houston’s defense, where he’s already been relied upon as a starter. Lassiter has amassed 29 tackles, eight pass deflections, and even picked off a pass from Caleb Williams and two from Jared Goff. If those ball skills continue to lead to big plays, Lassiter just might have a chance at winning DROTY.
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4. Laiatu Latu, EDGE, Indianapolis Colts (LW: 3)
Laiatu Latu’s opportunity for increased playing time opened up when Samson Ebukam suffered a season-ending Achilles injury during training camp. Latu was always going to see snaps as a rookie, but not this many. So far, Latu has tallied 21 tackles, three sacks, two forced fumbles, and a recovery. Latu has made just one start, but he’s already making an impact for Indianapolis.
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3. Calen Bullock, S, Houston Texans (LW: 5)
The latest member of the Houston Texans’ rookie class to take the league by storm is a third-round pick, safety Calen Bullock. At 6-foot-3, the 21-year-old has great size, even for safety, and as opponents are quickly learning, he also has a strong nose for the football.
Bullock leads all rookies with four interceptions and also has 32 tackles plus eight pass deflections and a fumble recovery. Clearly, DeMeco Ryans is having a hard time keeping him off the field. Seventy-seven players were selected before him, but Bullock’s proving that those NFL GMs made a mistake.
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2. Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Philadelphia Eagles (LW: 2)
Since being selected 22nd overall, Quinyon Mitchell has started every game for the Philadelphia Eagles’ defense. The 23-year-old has already recorded 31 tackles, but the more impressive stat is the fact that he hasn’t allowed a touchdown yet this season. Though, Mitchell is still seeking his first career NFL interception.
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1. Jared Verse, EDGE, Los Angeles Rams (LW: 1)
Aaron Donald’s retirement creates an urgent need for more pass-rush help on the Los Angeles Rams. But Jared Verse is ready to fit the bill. The Florida State edge rusher has started all nine games for the Rams, where he’s already tallied 42 tackles (11 TFL), two forced fumbles, and 4.5 sacks. So far, Verse is the early frontrunner to win Defensive Rookie of the Year, and he’s starting to get a strong lead.
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Past NFL Rookie of the Year winners
- 2023: C.J. Stroud, Will Anderson
- 2022: Garrett Wilson, Sauce Gardner
- 2021: Ja’Marr Chase, Micah Parsons
- 2020: Justin Herbert, Chase Young
- 2019: Kyler Murray, Nick Bosa
- 2018: Saquon Barkley, Shaquille Leonard
- 2017: Alvin Kamara, Marshon Lattimore
- 2016: Dak Prescott, Joey Bosa
- 2015: Todd Gurley, Marcus Peters
- 2014: Odell Beckham Jr., Aaron Donald
When is the NFL Rookie of the Year announced?
The 2024-25 NFL Rookie of the Year will be announced during the league’s annual awards show on the weekend of the Super Bowl, February 8.
Who will emerge as the early ROTY candidates during the 2024 NFL season?
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