Three That Could be Offensive Rookie of the Year
The first seven picks of the NFL Draft were on offense. That shouldn't surprise anyone that has watched the NFL for the last 10 years or so. Offense is the focus of the game with every team trying to match the firepower that Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has in Kansas City.
Last season’s offensive rookie of the year, Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert, was a dark-horse candidate that no one saw coming. Herbert was the sixth overall pick in the draft and the third quarterback off the board. He exploded for 31 touchdowns (NFL rookie record) and 4,336 yards passing. He also broke the rookie record for most completions with 396. At such a young age, this level of football is unfathomable, and Herbert will have high expectations going forward.
Looking at the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, there’s a lot of potential for possible breakout stars. Here are the top three picks for offensive rookie of the year:
Trevor Lawrence, Quarterback, Jaguars (Round 1, Pick 1)
Trevor Lawrence has the talent to be the best player in the NFL and is likely to win Offensive Rookie of the Year.
The new Jaguars quarterback has big expectations after being the first overall pick. The Jaguars also selected Lawrence’s best friend and teammate Travis Etienne with their other pick in the first round. Lawrence is expected to get situated quickly in Florida, which is just a state away from where he was born in Georgia. Lawrence passed for 10,098 yards and 90 touchdowns in his Clemson career, which included a national championship win in two appearances. He will be the immediate starter for Jacksonville and get a chance to shine early in newly appointed head coach Urban Meyer’s system.
Kyle Pitts, Tight End, Falcons (Round 1, Pick 4)
Kyle Pitts is arguably the most dangerous weapon in the NFL and could edge out anyone for the Rookie of the Year award.
Many in the media and the NFL mention Pitts as the best player in the draft. If position is taken out of it, it's easy to see why. Pitts is a dominant tight end-receiver hybrid who can play physically or get downfield with his speed and athleticism. The Falcons are so confident in Pitts they are betting on quarterback Matt Ryan as a starter for at least another season. Don’t be surprised to see Pitts find lots of mismatches on a team with wide receivers Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley. He is poised to have a big rookie season for the Falcons and has a veteran quarterback to get the ball to him.
Najee Harris, Running Back, Steelers (Round 1, Pick 24)
Najee Harris has the talent to be a top-five running back in the NFL.
After the Steelers got crushed by the Browns in the playoffs last season, it was time for them to attack the draft and revamp their aging roster. Pittsburgh started that process by drafting Harris, the national champion running back, who could be the missing link for the team's offense. The addition of Kendrick Green and Dan Moore give the Steelers some needed offensive line reinforcements following the retirement of long-time center Maurkice Pouncey. Harris can also get it done in the receiving game, proving to be a viable option. You can bet on Harris having a significant role early in the offense and getting the majority of the carries.
