The National Football League (NFL) has always been a breeding ground for young talent, where rookies have the opportunity to make an immediate impact and leave an indelible mark on the game.
As we eagerly anticipate the upcoming season, one aspect that always captures the attention of football enthusiasts is the race for the Offensive Rookie of the Year award. Each year, young talents burst onto the scene, showcasing their skills and making a significant impact on the turf. The 2024 NFL season promises to be no different, with a fresh crop of rookies ready to leave their mark on the league.
In this article, we'll delve into the world of the Offensive Rookie of the Year award, exploring the odds and futures for the 2024 season. We'll take a closer look at some of the top contenders, providing you with insights and predictions on who might emerge as the most outstanding rookie.
Whether you're a devoted fan, a fantasy football enthusiast, or simply someone curious about the next wave of talent, join us as we navigate the landscape of the 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year race. Let's examine the odds, discuss the potential candidates, and offer our predictions for who may come out on top in this highly anticipated season.
What is the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award?
The Offensive Rookie of the Year award is a special prize given each year in the NFL to the best new offensive player. It honours rookies who have made a big impact on offense, like quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, and tight ends.
When deciding the winner, they look at different things like the player's individual stats, how well they performed overall, how much they helped their team succeed, and how they influenced the game. Usually, the Offensive Rookie of the Year is someone who showed exceptional skills, can adapt well, and made a big contribution to their team's offense.
Getting this award not only recognizes a player's immediate success, but it also shows that they have the potential to do great things in the future. In fact, many past winners of the Offensive Rookie of the Year award have become famous stars and influential figures in the NFL.
Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson earned the 2023 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award for his astonishing efforts last season, and joined fellow teammate Sauce Gardner at the event, who landed the DROY award.
Now, let's look at the top contenders and the current odds for the 2024 OROY.
2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year Odds
Here are the current sports betting odds to win 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year. (via DraftKings Sportsbook)
Bijan Robinson (+250) - RB, Atlanta Falcons
Bryce Young (+500) - QB, Carolina Panthers
Anthony Richardson (+600) - QB, Indianapolis Colts
C.J. Stroud (+750) - QB, Houston Texans
Jaxon Smith-Njigba (+800) - WR, Seattle Seahawks
Jahmyr Gibbs (+900) - RB, Detroit Lions
Jordan Addison (+1700) - WR, Minnesota Vikings
Zay Flowers (+1800) - WR, Baltimore Ravens
Quentin Johnston (+2000) - WR, Los Angeles Chargers
Zach Charbonnet (+2500) - RB, Seattle Seahawks
Will Levis (+3000) - QB, Tennessee Titans
The Favorite: Bijan Robinson (+350)
Bijan Robinson is the current favorite to win the 2024 NFL Rookie of the Year award with odds of +350 in the sportsbooks.
Robinson is slated as a once-in-a-decade talent at running back with exceptional skills that should make him a standout player in the league and he's joined the perfect team to highlight his abilities...
Arthur Smith has built a run-heavy offense in Atlanta, with the Falcons logging the most rushing attempts in the league last season with 559. The scheme will give Robinson a great shot at OROY if he can produce the stats that come with a lion's share of the ball. Tyler Allgeier came into the league as a little-known running back last year, but demonstrated the true potential of Smith's run-first strategy and put together an impressive rookie season.
To secure the award, Bijan will need to perform well from the beginning of the season, especially as he's competing with several promising quarterback prospects who are likely to start right away. But if his college performance is anything to go by, he's in with a great shot at OROY.
During his time in Texas, Robinson recorded the record for yards per carry in a game (19.1), was 3rd in Texas career rushing touchdowns (33), 4th in Texas career rushing yards (3,410) and 4th in Texas career total touchdowns (41). He also earned the Doak Walker Award (2022), was named a Unanimous All-American (2022), a 1st team All Big 12 (2021 & 22) and the Alamo Bowl MVP (2020).
Scouts and sportsbooks alike are expecting big things from this rookie running back.
The insane career highlights for Texas All-American RB Bijan Robinson! pic.twitter.com/7QxhnIXyJJ
— Hook'em Headlines (@HookemHeadlines) May 1, 2023
The Underdog: Will Levis (+3000)
Will Levis unexpectedly fell to the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft, after many scouts and mock drafts had him going in the top 20. The Tennessee Titans eventually traded up to take the former Kentucky quarterback with the No. 33 overall pick.
Levis put together a solid collegiate career at Kentucky, completing 65.4% of his passes and throwing for 2,406 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. As a two-year captain and starter, he had a record of 17-7 as a starting quarterback, which tied him with Terry Wilson for the second-most wins by a quarterback at Kentucky since 1993.
Levis will be transitioning into the league with a mid-level team that struggled to find their feet last season despite being top of the AFC South in 2020 and 2021. As always, Derrick Henry will provide a solid run game for Levis to rely upon, but the biggest question surrounding his projection in Tennessee is whether he'll even be the starting quarterback this year.
Levis is in competition with Ryan Tannehill and Malik Willis for the top spot on the roster and with both of them having more experience than the rookie, there's a good chance he could be playing back-up for the 2024 season. For that reason, taking the Levis bet would certainly be a risk but if he does land the starting spot we could see him climb the odds very quickly.
Highlights from #Titans 2nd round pick QB Will Levis' first practice with the team.
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) May 13, 2023
How long before he becomes the starter?pic.twitter.com/i67YxEMOPE
Our Prediction: Anthony Richardson (+600)
With the official release of Matt Ryan, it looks like Shane Steichen has committed to rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson. Indy have also picked up Gardner Minshew, who could step up if Richardson doesn't meet expectations, but I'm banking on the former Florida QB taking the trophy for OROY - and ESPN's Matt Miller seems to agree.
Anthony Richardson and the Colts will be on top of the AFC South. He has immense talent as a passer and runner and his fit in Shane Steichen’s offensive system will reignite football in Indianapolis. Even with Trevor Lawrence in Jacksonville, Indy could take over this division. Richardson’s raw ability is unlike anything we’ve seen in football. So in five years, Richardson will be a top-tier starting QB and the Colts will be Super Bowl contenders... He should play early in Shane Steichen’s offense and has the dual-threat ability to rack up huge stats as a passer and runner to get him some hardware after the 2023 season
Matt Miller, ESPN
It is important to keep our expectations in check for Richardson, as he only just turned 21 and hasn't had much experience as a starting quarterback in college. Despite that, he shows promise with his ability to handle pressure in the pocket and his outstanding athleticism. If everything falls into place, he has the potential to become a top five QB in the league and a contender for the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.
Steichen could use Richardson's dual threat ability similar to how he used Jalen Hurts, who had a breakout season and was a strong candidate for MVP while Steichen was the offensive coordinator and play-caller for the Philadelphia Eagles last year.
Given how weak the AFC South has been, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Indy top the division and make a playoff run. If the Colts can keep key players like Jonathan Taylor and Shaq Leonard healthy, alongside their promising young talent, the Colts have a real chance of becoming a strong competitor in the upcoming seasons. And it could just be Anthony Richardson at the helm, but he'll need to learn fast.
Anthony Richardson's @GatorsFB highlights are electric ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/2eZ4zV598Y
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) February 24, 2023
So, that's our call for the 2024 OROY. Do you think we got it right? Or will frontrunners like Bijan Robinson and Bryce Young take an early lead?
Let us know your thoughts over on Twitter & Instagram.
(Header Image Credit: Kirby Lee - USA TODAY Sports)