The AP Offensive Rookie of the Year award has been dominated by quarterbacks, wide receivers and running backs.
But when will a tight end or an offensive lineman win the award that goes back to the 1967 season? Heck, even fullbacks have won it twice, but that was way back when fullbacks actually received carries. (Franco Harris won it in 1972 and John Brockington in ’71.)
For this MMQB roundtable, we discuss our dark-horse candidates to win Offensive Rookie of the Year. But rookie offensive tackles Paris Johnson Jr. and Darnell Wright shouldn’t get their hopes up about winning the award.
The tight ends, however, might have a decent shot of having their first winner. There’s plenty of hype about Dalton Kincaid playing with Josh Allen in Buffalo. Perhaps Michael Mayer can make some noise with the Raiders or Sam LaPorta with the Lions.
But will one of us select a tight end as our dark-horse candidate?
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Matt Verderame: Jalin Hyatt, WR, New York Giants. Being the Offensive Rookie of the Year isn't only about talent, it’s also about fit and immediate opportunity. Using those parameters, few have a better chance of capturing the award than Hyatt.
After dominating at Tennessee last autumn with 67 catches, 1,267 yards and 15 touchdowns, Hyatt joins a Giants team high on expectations but low on weaponry. Looking at New York’s depth chart, Hyatt will be fighting for targets with receivers Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton, and tight end Darren Waller. Not overwhelming.
Furthermore, the Giants handed $40 million per year in an extension to quarterback Daniel Jones this offseason. They have to get the most out of Jones, who last year was improved but still threw for only 3,205 yards and 15 scores. If Hyatt gives New York a few big plays per game in the early going, he'll see consistent snaps on an offense that has a coach in Brian Daboll who favors the passing attack.
While running backs such as Atlanta’s Bijan Robinson and Detroit’s Jahmyr Gibbs will always be the favorites to win OROY, Hyatt is an excellent flier.
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Gilberto Manzano: Quentin Johnston, WR, Chargers. Whenever a veteran player gets asked for an evaluation about an intriguing rookie teammate, they tend to have the politically correct response.
But Chargers safety Derwin James was recently asked about Johnston, and his facial expression said it all before he described him as being “that guy.” That, to me, seemed to be an honest assessment, and it appears that the concerns about Johnston possibly having unreliable hands were overblown throughout draft season.
But the 6'4", 215-pound Johnston also had his fair share of rave reviews, with some comparing him to Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins. It would also be a good sign if Johnston cracks the starting lineup for Week 1 because he has stiff competition with Keenan Allen, Mike Williams and Josh Palmer also on the roster.
With Johnston receiving passes from Justin Herbert, and if James’s early evaluation is correct, the Chargers might have gotten the steal of the draft after they selected the TCU product with the No. 21 pick.
