NFL Rookies of the Year 2023-24: Award Candidates, Odds and Predictions
The best players in the NFL's 2023 rookie class will be awarded at NFL Honors on Thursday night.
The steepest competition is in the Offensive Rookie of the Year category.
Puka Nacua and his historic pass-catching campaign goes up against C.J. Stroud, who led the Houston Texans' turnaround to get into the postseason.
The Detroit Lions duo of Jahmyr Gibbs and Sam LaPorta and Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson are also up for the award, but the offensive crown feels like it will go down to Nacua and Stroud.
Stroud's Houston teammate Will Anderson Jr. is one of five finalists for the Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Jalen Carter, Joey Porter Jr., Kobie Turner and Devon Witherspoon are also up for the defensive honor.
Odds for both awards can be found on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Offensive Rookie of the Year Candidates
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Jahmyr Gibbs, Sam LaPorta, Puka Nacua, Bijan Robinson, C.J. Stroud
Nacua is looking to become the third straight wide receiver to capture Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Stroud will attempt to be the first quarterback to secure the award since Justin Herbert won it in 2020.
You have to go even further back to find the last running back to win OROY. That was Saquon Barkley in 2018. History is against LaPorta since no tight ends have won the award.
Nacua set the rookie record for most receiving yards in a season after not having any preseason expectations.
The BYU product emerged as Matthew Stafford's new go-to target in Los Angeles and finished with 1,486 receiving yards. He had the fourth-most receiving yards and ninth-most receptions in the NFL.
Stroud was eighth in the NFL with 4,108 passing yards, but he only had 23 touchdown passes.
That could be the statistic that hurts Stroud in direct comparison with Nacua, but the counter to that is Stroud led the Texans to an unexpected AFC South title.
Gibbs and LaPorta had strong seasons during Detroit's run to the NFC Championship Game, but an argument can be made that they were not the most important parts of their offense, as Nacua and Stroud were.
Robinson recorded 976 rushing yards in his first season in Atlanta, but he seems like a distant passenger in the voting to everyone else since they played on playoff teams.
Defensive Rookie of the Year Candidates
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Will Anderson Jr., Jalen Carter, Joey Porter Jr., Kobie Turner, Devon Witherspoon
Anderson's seven-sack season in Houston could be rewarded with the Defensive Rookie of the Year.
His impact in helping the team earn the division title should stand out in the eyes of DROY voters.
Carter had six sacks and two forced fumbles for the Philadelphia Eagles, but his impact waned in the second half of the season during the team's collapse.
Porter Jr. produced 10 passes defended and an interception in his first season with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Turner made a late push to win DROY with nine sacks for the Rams. He had 3.5 sacks in his final two regular-season appearances.
Witherspoon finished with 16 passes defended and an interception inside the young Seattle Seahawks secondary.
Witherspoon's better coverage numbers will likely put him ahead of Porter in the final voting, but it may not be enough to get past Anderson, Carter or Turner.
Predictions
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Nacua should be rewarded for his record-breaking season in Los Angeles.
The wide receiver's story, having gone from fifth-round pick to one of the best receivers in the NFL, should resonate with voters.
Stroud had an incredible season, but he was expected to have some success with Houston after he was taken with the No. 2 pick in the 2023 draft.
Anderson entered the season with expectations on the defensive side as well and he delivered as the No. 3 selection.
Anderson's complete campaign inside the Houston defense should give him the nod over Carter and Turner.
Carter was stronger in the first half of the regular season and most of Turner's notable stats occurred in the second half of the campaign.
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