The Offensive Rookie of the Year award is one of the most prestigious honors presented each year, with many of the NFL‘s top talents having received it in the past. The reigning winner, Jayden Daniels, demonstrated how rookies can make an immediate impact on NFL franchises, but who has the talent to follow in his footsteps?
Historically, the Offensive Rookie of the Year award has been dominated by quarterbacks and skill-position players. There’s no reason to believe that the 2025 season will be any different. Let’s analyze and determine who has the best chance of winning the award from all 32 NFL teams in 2025.
Arizona Cardinals: Bryson Green, WR
It’s improbable to think that the Arizona Cardinals will produce the Offensive Rookie of the Year. Jonathan Gannon’s side didn’t draft a single skill-position player in the 2025 NFL Draft and only picked up one receiver and one tight end as undrafted free agents.
Bryson Green was the lone wideout picked up and has the potential to be a big-bodied receiver who can add to the Cardinals’ WR rotation. The 6’1”, 207-pound pass catcher had 97 career receptions for 1,422 yards in his four years for the Oklahoma State Cowboys and Wisconsin Badgers, and fits the mold that Arizona has leaned towards in recent seasons.
Atlanta Falcons: Nick Nash, WR
Nick Nash joins the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent. Nevertheless, his college production and athletic traits could have an instant impact on the passing offense in Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Nash led all college football receivers in receiving yards and touchdowns with the San Jose State Spartans in 2024, accumulating 1,382 yards and 16 touchdowns, transitioning to the position full-time. A former quarterback recruit, Nash has the instincts and natural game feel to impact the field in multiple situations. He could even be used in specialized situations as a passer or rusher.
Baltimore Ravens: LaJohntay Wester, WR
The Baltimore Ravens didn’t select a skill-position player until the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, making it a long shot for an OROY candidate. LaJohntay Wester links up with Lamar Jackson and Co., adding more dynamic speed to an already explosive offense after displaying the ability to be a field-stretching threat under Deion Sanders with the Colorado Buffaloes in 2024.
Buffalo Bills: Kaden Prather, WR
With the reigning NFL MVP under center, there will be plenty of opportunities to go around in Buffalo. A seventh-round selection, Kaden Prather is going into an enviable situation in his rookie season.
The Buffalo Bills ranked sixth in the NFL with an average yards per reception of 12 yards, almost identical to the former Maryland Terrapins’ wide receiver’s 12.1 over his four-year college career.
Carolina Panthers: Tetairoa McMillan, WR
The Carolina Panthers’ offense ranked 31st in the NFL with only 3,343 receiving yards over the 17-game regular season. Enter Tetairoa McMillan, the No. 8 overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, who is tasked with taking the receiving game to the next level.
The former Arizona Wildcats receiver is +1500 with DraftKings Sportsbook to be crowned Offensive Rookie of the Year and follow in the shoes of Garrett Wilson and Ja’Marr Chase as wide receivers to have won the award in the last decade.
Chicago Bears: Colston Loveland, TE
The Chicago Bears bolstered their passing attack by adding Colston Loveland and Luther Burden III in April’s draft. And it was a toss-up as to which pass-catching weapon is best placed to make a push.
Ultimately, as a first-round selection, Loveland will automatically be of higher consideration for AP voters, despite a tight end never winning the award.
I cannot wait to see what Colston Loveland can do in the Bears offense.
TE size but plays like a WR. This offense is going to be a lot of fun pic.twitter.com/TWgPEE93SH— Just Another Year Chicago: Bears (@JAYChi_Bears) June 17, 2025
The versatility and twitchy, elusive athleticism that Burden possesses will add a new dynamic to the Bears’ passing offense, but Loveland should be more heavily featured.
The former Michigan Wolverines TE is expected to create a telepathic relationship with QB Caleb Williams, with Chicago expected to enter a new era of offense under Ben Johnson, who has a history of delivering productive rookie tight ends.
Cincinnati Bengals: Tahj Brooks, RB
Tahj Brooks joins a running back committee in Cincinnati that ranked 30th in the NFL, totalling only 1,574 yards in 2024. Chase Brown was the Cincinnati Bengals’ leading rusher, collecting 990 yards, but Brooks has the skill set to surpass him.
The former Texas Tech Red Raiders’ running back is a powerful, shifty rusher who forced the third-most missed tackles in college football over the last two seasons (154) while having back-to-back 1,500+ yard seasons.
Cleveland Browns: Quinshon Judkins, RB
The Cleveland Browns had the 29th-worst rushing attack in the NFL in 2024, but drafting Quinshon Judkins should elevate some of the barriers. Judkins has elusive footwork and expressive vision while also possessing the physicality to break tackles and thrive in short yardage.
On top of his skill set, Judkins has also been highly productive. He’s gone for 1,000+ yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground in all three of his college football seasons, and his dynamic, bruising, and often elusive play style should deliver elevated numbers as a rookie in the AFC North.
Dallas Cowboys: Jaydon Blue, RB
The Dallas Cowboys drafting a running back was one of the worst-kept secrets of the 2025 NFL Draft, but how late they left it caught most by surprise. Jaydon Blue was selected in the fifth round, but he has the energy and elite speed to be a turn-of-pace demon in an RB room that also consists of Miles Sanders and Javonte Williams.
A first-year starter in 2024, Blue is the latest Texas Longhorns rusher to feature in the NFL. He has the true track-star speed to be the dominant force in the Cowboys’ backfield, displayed by his 4.35 40-yard dash at the 2025 NFL Combine, as well as the receiving profile to be a favorite check-down option for Dak Prescott.
Denver Broncos: RJ Harvey, RB
Is there a better match than Sean Payton and young, energized running backs? It’s why RJ Harvey is a favorite among oddsmakers to win Offensive Rookie of the Year, despite being a healthy +2000 to win the award.
The former UCF Knights rusher averaged 6.8 yards per rush in 2024 (10th in the country), using his vision and dense 5’8”, 207-pound frame to explode through holes, activate his flashy footwork, and develop his receiving profile to be one of the most exciting rookie RBs ahead of the 2025 NFL season.
Detroit Lions: Isaac TeSlaa, WR
The Detroit Lions pulled off the shock move of Day 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft by moving up to draft Isaac TeSlaa, a player who featured significantly lower on most analysts’ big boards.
However, Dan Campbell and his staff clearly have a vision for the former Arkansas Razorbacks wide receiver. At 6’3” and 214 pounds, TeSlaa offers the expansive catch radius and athletic traits to be a key contributor for the current NFC North champions.
Green Bay Packers: Matthew Golden, WR
It was a sight to behold when the Green Bay Packers drafted a wide receiver in the first round of the NFL Draft for the first time since 2002. With 987 yards and an SEC-leading nine receiving touchdowns in 2024, Matthew Golden has the proven play style to elevate the Packers’ passing attack.
Matthew Golden gets selected by the Packers and the crowd erupted, he walked up in his golden suit and address the Green Bay crowd, this is so hype man 👀
pic.twitter.com/Nr6CHpmPXb— SM Highlights (@SMHighlights1) April 25, 2025
Jordan Love will look to take advantage of Golden’s smooth route running and elite speed after the former Longhorns receiver ran a 4.29-second 40-yard dash in Indianapolis, the fastest at the 2025 NFL Combine.
Houston Texans: Jayden Higgins, WR
The Iowa State Cyclones’ receiving game ranked 21st in the FBS in 2024, racking up 3,580 receiving yards. The Houston Texans have gone a long way to replicating that success by drafting both Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel in a double-dip into the Iowa State attack.
Higgins is the premier option as a pure outside threat. The 6’4”, 214-pound receiver had 2,166 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns over the last two seasons and should be a favored target for C.J. Stroud.
Indianapolis Colts: Tyler Warren, TE
Tyler Warren was critical to Penn State’s offense in 2024, being targeted on 21.89% of his routes. The former Nittany Lions’ TE will be equally important to the evolution of Anthony Richardson in Indianapolis, with the former No. 4 overall selection entering a prove-it season.
With 929 yards after the catch last season, Warren will be the Indianapolis Colts’ offensive safety valve. Could this translate into an OROY candidacy?
Jacksonville Jaguars: Travis Hunter, WR/CB
Travis Hunter is one of the favorites to win an award following the 2025 NFL season. And rightly so.
The Heisman Trophy winner is expected to contribute on both sides of the ball for the Jacksonville Jaguars, who moved up in the draft, giving up a first-round pick in 2026 in the process to secure the rights of the star Colorado two-way player.
In fact, expectations are so high for Hunter that you can get odds as short as +425 for him to be named either Offensive or Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Kansas City Chiefs: Jalen Royals, WR
Any player who is lucky enough to catch passes from Patrick Mahomes will have expectations on their shoulders.
Jalen Royals had 1,914 receiving yards, 21 touchdowns, and averaged 15.2 yards per reception with the Utah State Aggies in 20 games over the last two seasons. Picked in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, PFSN issued an A+ draft grade for Royals’ selection, meaning his ceiling is sky high in Andy Reid’s offense, which ranked 12th in the NFL, averaging 238 passing yards per game in 2024.
Las Vegas Raiders: Ashton Jeanty, RB
Ashton Jeanty is the frontrunner to take home the Offensive Rookie of the Year award this coming season. The Las Vegas Raiders’ first-round selection is +250 with DraftKings to win the award, which is no surprise following his historic 2024 season.
The former Boise State Broncos RB was elite a season ago, forcing 170 missed tackles, collecting 1,970 yards after contact, and finishing just 26 yards shy of Barry Sanders’ all-time college football record.
Los Angeles Chargers: Omarion Hampton, RB
Omarion Hampton should thrive in Jim Harbaugh’s run-heavy offense, where the do-it-all running back can use his underrated athletic profile and powerful leg drive to dominate the carries.
The former North Carolina Tar Heels RB ran a 4.46 40-yard dash at the Combine as well as a 96th-percentile 10’10” broad jump. On the field, Hampton had 1,660 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns in 2024, and there’s no reason to expect his production to ease up at the next level.
Los Angeles Rams: Terrance Ferguson, TE
Terrance Ferguson was highly coveted by the Los Angeles Rams, with Sean McVay even telling Adam Schein of SiriusXM that they were willing to take the Oregon Ducks TE earlier than No. 46 overall. The 6’5”, 249-pound tight end is set to feature highly in the Rams’ explosive offense, using his yards-after-catch ability to have a dominant rookie season.
Miami Dolphins: Ollie Gordon II, RB
The Miami Dolphins rushing attack only accumulated 1,795 yards on the ground in 2024, but the emergence of De’Von Achane as a legitimate go-to weapon gives the running game pace.
Ollie Gordon II has the potential to also give it bite, forming a potential one-two tandem. The former Oklahoma State running back led college football with 1,732 rushing yards in 2023, with 21 touchdowns and averaging 6.1 yards per attempt.
Unfortunately, 2024 saw a downturn in production and effectiveness. Gordon only reached 880 rushing yards at 4.6 yards per rush (3.25 after contact). However, Mike McDaniel’s offense has the potential to bring Gordon to national attention once again.
Minnesota Vikings: Tai Felton, WR
The Minnesota Vikings have a loaded WR room, but they injected more pace when they drafted Tai Felton at No. 102 overall. Felton has great short-area quickness and the ability to make defenders miss in a phone booth. J.J. McCarthy will need all the weapons possible at his disposal to succeed in his first year as a starter.
New England Patriots: TreVeyon Henderson, RB
The New England Patriots needed to surround Drake Maye with weapons heading into his second season, and none may figure to be more critical than TreVeyon Henderson.
In 2024, Henderson totaled 1,016 rushing yards, averaging 7.1 yards per rush (sixth in the nation) and 4.43 yards after contact, showcasing elite athleticism, ball security, and vision.
Is Treveyon Henderson the next Jahmyr Gibbs?
— PlayerProfiler (@rotounderworld) May 9, 2025
Henderson was the top pass-protecting running back in the 2025 NFL Draft, and his effectiveness as a legitimate receiving option and blocking prowess could be featured late in the season as one of the front-runners to be named Offensive Rookie of the Year.
New Orleans Saints: Tyler Shough, QB
Tyler Shough looks to be an instant starter in New Orleans after the Saints used a second-round pick to select the former Louisville quarterback. Naturally, if Shough can produce over a 17-game season and stay healthy, he will be in contention to win OROY, simply due to the position he plays.
However, despite Shough having the best season of his career in 2024, he only finished with a 80.8 grade according to PFSN’s QB+ metrics, which ranked 15th among his peers and is only the 152nd best season in our database since 2019.
Nevertheless, if Shough can establish a connection with Chris Olave and the rest of the New Orleans Saints’ receiver room, there’s a path to production for the veteran college QB.
New York Giants: Jaxson Dart, QB
How much Jaxson Dart will play in 2025 is still unknown. However, what we do know is that the Offensive Rookie of the Year award has historically been given to quarterbacks, with 11 such winners since the year 2000.
Dart’s 2024 season with the Ole Miss Rebels shouldn’t be understated. He had a QB+ grade of 90.5 last season in Oxford, the highest of any quarterback in the FBS and the 15th-highest QB+ grade since 2019. If Brian Daboll can get Dart reproducing similar numbers in his rookie season, then the award could very well be heading to the Big Apple.
New York Jets: Mason Taylor, TE
There are high expectations for Mason Taylor coming off a productive year with the LSU Tigers in 2024. The son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Jason Taylor, Mason already has the bloodlines and makeup to be a high-level professional. Throw in his outstanding blocking and flowing route running, and the physical tight end has the potential to be Justin Fields’ best friend as an underneath target.
Philadelphia Eagles: Taylor Morin, WR
The Philadelphia Eagles didn’t add a skill-position player throughout the entire 2025 NFL Draft, but their haul still earned an overall A grade from PFSN.
However, among their UDFA signings is former Wake Forest Demon Deacons wide receiver Taylor Morin, who ranks second in program history with 227 career receptions and also ranks fourth with 21 touchdowns. Morin is also a formidable punt returner with a path to field time as a rookie.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Kaleb Johnson, RB
Kaleb Johnson is a physical, hard-hitting, dominating running back who possesses thunderous power and movement. The former Iowa Hawkeyes rusher ranked 11th in the country in 2024, averaging 4.42 yards after contact using his dense frame to explode through contact, whilst also having the vision to win on the outside.
Mike Tomlin has a history with rookie running backs. Najee Harris ended his maiden NFL season leading the league in carries on his way to 1,200+ rushing yards. A similar season from Johnson will likely be enough to put him in conversation.
San Francisco 49ers: Jordan James, RB
Over the years, the Kyle Shanahan system has consistently produced exceptional rookie seasons for running backs, including those drafted in later rounds. Jordan James had 1,267 rushing yards on 233 carries in 2024 and has the potential to be the next breakout star in Shanahan’s offense.
Seattle Seahawks: Elijah Arroyo, TE
The Seattle Seahawks drafted Elijah Arroyo purely off of potential, with the former Miami Hurricanes TE only totaling 35 receptions in his final collegiate season. Nevertheless, Arroyo is an exciting receiver who is a field stretcher with the knack for finding space.
Arroyo averaged 16.9 yards per reception in 2024 and has untapped potential and ambition in the NFL.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Emeka Egbuka, WR
There are several mouths to feed on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ offense, but first-round selection Emeka Egbuka should still be a prominent target for Baker Mayfield.
When healthy, the former Ohio State receiver had two seasons of 1,000+ yards and 10 touchdowns. Egbuka’s ability to create separation with innate intelligence and route-running instincts creates a high floor in his rookie season.
Tennessee Titans: Cam Ward, QB
A certain expectation is automatically applied when you are the No. 1 overall selection, and that expectation is only amplified for quarterbacks. And when it comes to the Offensive Rookie of the Year award, you’re the name to beat.
Cam Ward enters his rookie season as the second favorite to win the prestigious award, as he looks to become the third quarterback in succession to achieve the honor.
Ward finished 2024 with a 90.1 grade in QB+, ranking second in college football with the 17th-best season over the previous five years.
Washington Commanders: Jaylin Lane, WR
Jaylin Lane is a pure athlete. The former Virginia Tech Hokies wide receiver lit up the 2025 NFL Combine testing in the top three at his position in every drill. And that explosive movement and energized play style come through.
Despite poor quarterback play in 2024, Lane showcased exceptional playmaking instincts and awareness, making things happen with the ball in hand. Additionally, he was the only collegiate player to run, pass, receive, and return a touchdown last season.
