Last season saw C.J. Stroud win NFL Rookie of the Year on offense. Teammate Will Anderson earned the NFL Rookie of the Year award on defense.
With the 2024 NFL season in full swing, there are obvious favorites to come away with the hardware. That includes rookie No. 2 pick Jayden Daniels. On defense, it’s a much bigger guessing game. After all, the top 14 picks of the 2024 NFL Draft were offensive players. This makes the DROY race very interesting to start with.
Without further ado, let’s check in on our top NFL Rookie of the Year candidates in Week 18.
Related: 2024 NFL MVP odds
2024 NFL Rookie of the Year candidates (offense)
Honorable mention
- Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Arizona Cardinals
- Caleb Williams, QB, Chicago Bears
- Drake Maye, QB, New England Patriots
5. Malik Nabers, WR, New York Giants (LW: 5)
There’s no debating whether the Giants made the right selection here. Malik Nabers has been an instant superstar, providing the elite playmaker the Giants have been missing since they traded Odell Beckham Jr. He managed to rack up 1,204 receiving yards and seven touchdowns, but imagine if the former LSU star had a reliable QB too?
Related: Top-selling NFL jerseys 2025: Who has the NFL’s best-selling jersey?
4. Brian Thomas, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars (LW: 4)
Ranking second in receiving yards among rookies despite losing his starting quarterback due to injury, Brian Thomas already looks like a future star, helping Jaguars fans quickly move on from Calvin Ridley. Not only did Thomas finish in the top five of receiving yards, he also had ten touchdowns, showing his ability to make plays in all areas of the field.
Related: Weekly NFL expert picks
3. Bo Nix, QB, Denver Broncos (LW: 3)
Bo Nix is doing just enough to help the Denver Broncos avoid losing. Of course, Denver having a top-five defense has helped too. Nix had 34 touchdowns compared to just 12 interceptions, making him an outside candidate to win Offensive Rookie of the Year, but he was never catching up to Jayden Daniels.
Related: Ranking all 32 NFL starting quarterbacks
2. Brock Bowers, TE, Las Vegas Raiders (LW: 2)
Brock Bowers had a historical rookie season for a tight end, racking up over 1,100 receiving yards and five touchdowns while playing for a Raiders offense that ranks 28th in scoring. He also set the rookie reception record, surpassing Puka Nacua’s previous record. But he still didn’t have as strong of a season as Daniels.
Read more: NFL Playoff and Super Bowl predictions
1. Jayden Daniels, QB, Washington Commanders (LW: 1)
As a dual-threat weapon, Jayden Daniels is a favorite to win Offensive Rookie of the Year. He’s broken the all-time single-season rushing yard record for a rookie QB while leading the Commanders to the playoffs. Having a 68.9% completion rate to go along with 31 touchdowns and just nine interceptions makes him a heavy favorite.
Related: Super Bowl odds
2024 NFL Rookie of the Year candidates (defense)
Honorable mention
- Tarheeb Still, CB, Los Angeles Chargers
- Cooper DeJean, DB, Philadelphia Eagles
- Laiatu Latu, EDGE, Indianapolis Colts
- Kamari Lassiter, CB, Houston Texans
Related: Latest Minnesota Vikings news and rumors
5. Calen Bullock, S, Houston Texans (LW: 5)
The latest member of the Houston Texans’ rookie class to take the league by storm is a third-round pick, safety Calen Bullock. At 6-foot-3, the 21-year-old has great size, even for safety, and as opponents are quickly learning, he also has a strong nose for the football.
Bullock leads all rookies with five interceptions and also has 54 tackles plus 11 pass deflections and a fumble recovery. Clearly, DeMeco Ryans is having a hard time keeping him off the field. Seventy-seven players were selected before him, but Bullock’s proving that those GMs made a mistake.
Related: NFL defense rankings 2024
4. Chop Robinson, EDGE, Miami Dolphins (LW: 4)
He’s started just one game, but the star potential is easy to see with Chop Robinson. He’s tallied six sacks, which has included two games with 1.5 sacks. Otherwise, Robinson has just 26 tackles on the season, but that’s also included seven tackles for loss plus four pass deflections.
Related: Updated NFL power rankings
3. Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Philadelphia Eagles (LW: 3)
Since being selected 22nd overall, Quinyon Mitchell has started every game for the Philadelphia Eagles’ defense. The 23-year-old has already recorded 46 tackles and 12 pass deflections, and he’s allowed just one touchdown in coverage. Though, Mitchell is still seeking his first career NFL interception.
Related: Top NFL sack leaders 2024
2. Braden Fiske, DL, Los Angeles Rams (LW: 2)
The Rams hit home runs with both of their first two picks in the 2024 NFL Draft. Jared Verse is a leading candidate to win the DROTY award, but his teammate Braden Fiske isn’t far behind. The 39th overall pick in the draft leads all rookies with 8.5 sacks but has also compiled 44 tackles (10 TFL), two forced fumbles, and two recoveries in what’s been a very impressive debut season.
Related: 2025 NFL mock draft: Latest Round 1 projections
1. Jared Verse, EDGE, Los Angeles Rams (LW: 1)
Aaron Donald’s retirement created an urgent need for more pass-rush help on the Los Angeles Rams. But Jared Verse is ready to fit the bill. The Florida State edge rusher has been a fixture in the starting lineup, where he’s already tallied 66 tackles (11 TFL), two pass deflections, two forced fumbles, and 4.5 sacks. Verse is the frontrunner to win Defensive Rookie of the Year, but Mitchell and Verse weren’t far behind.
Related: Latest Los Angeles Rams news and rumors
Past NFL Rookie of the Year winners
- 2023: C.J. Stroud, Will Anderson
- 2022: Garrett Wilson, Sauce Gardner
- 2021: Ja’Marr Chase, Micah Parsons
- 2020: Justin Herbert, Chase Young
- 2019: Kyler Murray, Nick Bosa
- 2018: Saquon Barkley, Shaquille Leonard
- 2017: Alvin Kamara, Marshon Lattimore
- 2016: Dak Prescott, Joey Bosa
- 2015: Todd Gurley, Marcus Peters
- 2014: Odell Beckham Jr., Aaron Donald
When is the NFL Rookie of the Year announced?
The 2024-25 NFL Rookie of the Year will be announced during the league’s annual awards show on the weekend of the Super Bowl, February 8.
Who will emerge as the early ROTY candidates during the 2024 NFL season?
Related: 2024 NFL offense rankings