Matt Johnson
Immediately following the 2026 NFL Draft, one center of focus turns to how the rookie class will perform in the upcoming season. There are some compelling NFL Rookie of the Year candidates this year, with some similarities to last year’s class that make for a worthwhile comparison.
A year ago at this time, Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty was the overwhelming favorite to win NFL Rookie of the Year with Tennessee Titans quarterback Cam Ward behind him. Who won? Carolina Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, with neither Jeanty nor Ward finishing top-five in voting.
We’re keeping that in mind as we dive into our 2026 NFL Rookie of the Year candidates rankings before the summer.
1. Jeremiyah Love, RB, Arizona Cardinals
We’ve seen the talk about the Arizona Cardinals depth at running back with Tyler Allgeier, Trey Benson and James Conner. The latter two are irrelevant when you use the third overall pick on a running back, and Allgeier is clearly just going to be a situational back for Arizona. Jeremiyah Love’s skill set is similar to that of Bijan Robinson, both in his ability to rip off explosive runs and impact the passing game a bit like a receiver.
Arizona also upgraded its interior offensive line this season with Isaac Seumalo and Chase Bisontis, so there should be some running lanes for Love. We’ve seen Robinson (1,463) and Jeanty (1,321) each eclipse 1,300 scrimmage yards in their rookie seasons, and that seems like a reasonable target for Love. Plus, given this isn’t the strongest pool of Rookie of the Year candidates, it might be enough for him to win.
Related: 2026 Dynasty Positional Rankings
2. Carnell Tate, WR, Tennessee Titans
The best bet to win Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2026, at least for now, is Tennessee Titans wide receiver Carnell Tate. While he’s slightly impacted by the presence of Wan’Dale Robinson, who signed a $70 million contract this offseason and is a favorite of offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, we still like the situation with the Tennessee Titans.
Tate is a crisp route-runner with a well-rounded set of skills that immediately translate to the NFL and can make him a go-to target for Cam Ward. Tet McMillan needed just 1,014 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns last fall to win Rookie of the Year, and if Ward makes 550-plus pass attempts with a 62-plus percent completion rate, a 1,000-yard season is more than doable for Tate. He could be the only rookie receiver to clear that mark, too.
3. KC Concepcion, WR, Cleveland Browns
We loved what the Cleveland Browns did in the 2026 NFL Draft, and it wouldn’t at all surprise us if KC Concepcion wins Rookie of the Year honors after the upcoming season. While Jerry Jeudy will still have a role in Todd Monken’s offense, he doesn’t offer the playmaking ability with the football in his hands that Concepcion brings to the table. Monken can also get Concepcion open on underneath routes quickly, and we have confidence those are the type of throws Shedeur Sanders can hit on consistently with good timing and touch.
We think 800-plus receiving yards with 5 touchdowns is doable in Concepcion’s rookie season. What pushes him up even higher in our rankings of Rookie of the Year candidates is his explosiveness as a returner. If he can take one back to the house and be among the NFL’s best returners, winning ROY is doable.
Related: Best 2026 NFL Draft Classes
4. Jordyn Tyson, WR, New Orleans Saints
Durability is our primary issue when stacking up Jordyn Tyson among the NFL Rookie of the Year candidates in 2026. The New Orleans Saints snagged him with the 8th overall pick, and he’ll complement Chris Olave nicely in this offense. However, he also had a bit of a shaky pre-draft process because of a hamstring injury that reaffirmed some long-standing concerns about his injury history.
If Tyson plays all 17 games, he might be the right pick to win OROY. While he won’t see as many targets as Olave, playing the No. 2 role also means drawing less defensive attention and getting the more favorable cornerback matchup. Tyson has a very good chance at leading all rookies in receiving touchdowns, and that could come with 900-plus receiving yards to go with it.
5. Fernando Mendoza, QB, Las Vegas Raiders
It already seems pretty clear that Kirk Cousins will be the Las Vegas Raiders starting quarterback in Week 1. That’s a reasonable approach to take, as the franchise wants to ensure that Fernando Mendoza is ready to run Andrew Janocko’s offense and handle being under center when he makes his first start. It does, however, impact his Rookie of the Year odds a bit.
We’re also keeping in mind the recent history of Offensive Rookie of the Year winners. Jayden Daniels and C.J. Stroud both made the playoffs and posted 100-plus QB ratings in 15-plus games when they earned the honor in respective years. We don’t necessarily believe Mendoza will be as successful in his first year, nor are the Raiders well-positioned to make that big of a leap forward.
6. Jadarian Price, RB, Seattle Seahawks
One thing Seattle Seahawks running back Jadarian Price has working against him is the fact that him being taken in Round 1 is already viewed negatively by voters. It was a reach, and the Seahawks’ front office put added expectations on him by reaching for him in that spot. With that acknowledged, the opportunity in Seattle is enticing.
The Seahawks offensive line ranked eighth in ESPN run-block win rate (73 percent) in 2025, so there should be some running lanes for Price. He’s a very good early-down back, and with Zach Charbonnet recovering from a torn ACL suffered in the playoffs, the runway is clear for Price to be the primary ball-carrier early in the season. We’re just not certain if he’ll put up the numbers this season to overtake any of the bigger names who will be playing more prominent roles.
Related: NFL Power Rankings, Evaluating Teams After 2026 NFL Draft
