New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner. Chris Pedota, NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK

Oddsmakers liking Jets players in Rookie of the Year race

By Nathaniel Griffee | Last updated 9/6/22

The Jets have four rookies who Vegas believes could contend for an NFL Rookie of the Year award.

Cornerback Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner (+1100) and defensive end Jermaine Johnson (+900) are in the top eight players viewed as likely to win Defensive Rookie of the Year. Meanwhile, running back Breece Hall (+900) and wide receiver Garrett Wilson (+1100) are in the top eight as likely to win Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Only two other teams have more than one rookie in the top eight on either list: the Green Bay Packers (2) and Pittsburgh Steelers (2).

The Jets' rookie class has been celebrated since draft day, when experts praised general manager Joe Douglas for his selections.

This was followed by a strong run-up to the regular season by the rookies, particularly Gardner, who wasn’t targeted by quarterbacks during the preseason.

Sauce Gardner was locks in coverage against the Falcons (via @Michael_Nania) pic.twitter.com/NaJLLGqxJV
— NFL Rookie Watch (@NFLRookieWatxh) August 23, 2022

If two Jets win Rookie of the Year, it would be only the third time in NFL history that players from the same team won Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year in the same season. The last came in 2018, when Saints RB Alvin Kamara and CB Marshon Lattimore earned the award.

The last Jet to earn Defensive Rookie of the Year was defensive end Sheldon Richardson in 2013. The Jets have never had a player win Offensive Rookie of the Year.

More must-reads: