The draft is done and this is a dead time for the NFL, so it’s guessing game time. Let’s rank who could win the NFL rookie of the year.
Kyler Murray
Murray has to be the odds on favorite to win the rookie of the year. He’s going to start. The Cardinals don’t have any other options. Murray is going into an offense that’s going to pass the ball a lot. He’s going to be the focus of everything going on in Arizona. Also, it’s easy to vote for quarterbacks for awards.
Dwayne Haskins
Haskins should start in the nation’s capital. Case Keenum is there, but the future is now for the Redskins. If Murray somehow struggles — or gets injured — then Haskins will have a real shot to be rookie of the year.
Josh Jacobs
Right now the Raiders don’t have a ton of weapons in the backfield on offense. Their running back situation is basically Josh Jacobs and then a bunch of players who haven’t exactly lit things up in recent years. If Gruden wants to pound the football and use play-action it’s going to be Jacobs who will get a ton of touches. Teams will probably look to double Antonio Brown as much as possible so Jacobs could be a focus on offense.
D.K. Metcalf
Metcalf was a freak at the combine but fell to the second round of the NFL draft. The Seahawks will give him a chance to be their No. 1 wide receiver. Playing time shouldn’t be a problem. He could do really well when the play breaks down and Russell Wilson starts playing playground football.
Mecole Hardman
If Tyreek Hill gets suspended by the NFL for the ongoing investigation he’s involved in right now, Hardman will be the speed guy for the Chiefs. Someone has to catch the ball and Hardman shouldn’t have a problem doing that.
N’Keal Harry
Harry is going to be a weapon on a marquee team. He may get more pub than he actually deserves since the Patriots are always covered very closely by the national media.
T.J. Hockenson
Hockenson is a real longshot.
