Former GM, NFL Insiders debate favorites for Offensive Rookie of the Year

18 offensive players were first-round picks in the 2025 NFL Draft. That leaves a lot of options, at least as favorites early on, to be Offensive Rookie of the Year next season.

‘Get Up’ broke down the leading candidates for Offensive Rookie of the Year, per their odds at ESPN Bet Sportsbook, on Tuesday. That included a graphic of seven players on-air with Raiders RB Ashton Jeanty (+275), Titans QB Cam Ward (+350), Jaguars ATH Travis Hunter (+900), Saints QB Tyler Shough (+1000), Panthers WR Tetairoa McMillan (+1000), Chargers RB Omarion Hampton (+1300), and Browns QB Shedeur Sanders (+1500).

Of them all, with seven on the graphic they looked at on-air, Mike Tannenbaum went with the favorite with Jeanty in Las Vegas. That’s based on the workload he’s expecting him to get in Sin City.

“Ashton Jeanty ran for 75 yards last night,” Tannenbaum joked. “He’s going to run yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Pete Carroll, as Hembo reminded me, seven times in Seattle had a 1,000-yard rusher. This is really easy. Hydrate, get ready to go, have a recovery room. You’re going to run between now and Christmas and you’re going to keep going. Game over.”

Jeanty is a favorite for a reason considering the production he could have right away in the league. That’s with him coming off of a nearly record-breaking season where he, as the runner-up for The Heisman Trophy, posted 2,601 yards, at an average of 7.0 per carry and 185.8 per game, and 29 touchdowns in rushing.

That said, Mike Greenberg had to note Hunter, the reigning winner of The Heisman Trophy, in third. He isn’t even sure if this is the award he’s most likely to win, with his dual-threat talents, as an option for both Offensive Rookie of the Year and Defensive Rookie of the Year.

“The only one I think would be interesting? I’m fascinated to see what Travis Hunter exactly does. I mean, if he genuinely plays significantly on both sides of the ball, and is obviously and noticeably good on both sides of the ball, that’s going to be hard to ignore,” said Greenberg. “For all his great offense? He (catches) nine touchdowns and he’s the Defensive Rookie of the Year!”

Again, statistically, there’s no telling what Hunter is going to put up now at the next level depending on how much he plays on either side of the ball. However, he’ll be in the mix for this offensive award based on his career-best receiving season last fall with 96 catches for 1,258 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Quarterbacks, though, will have their chance at this award, having won 11 of the 21 since 2004 and four winning in 2019. That would suggest good chances for Ward in Tennessee, Shough in New Orleans, and, to some extent, whichever rookie could end up winning out or playing in Cleveland between Sanders or Dillon Gabriel.

Several teams added some key offensive names with their selections back at the end of April. Now, depending on their role and then their numbers, a few could separate themselves to be AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, with Jeanty and Ward, as well as Hunter, leading as the favorites early on.