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Steelers WR Roman Wilson Sleeper Pick for Rookie of the Year

Originally posted on Steelers Now | By Alan Saunders | Last updated 5/14/24

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Roman Wilson could be one of the top sleeper picks to become NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Wilson, the team’s third-round pick at No. 84 overall out of Michigan, was the 14th wide receiver taken in the 2024 NFL Draft, in addition to several high-profile quarterbacks, so he will certainly have significant competition for the award.

According to odds at FanDuel Sportsbook, the Steelers wide receiver is listed at +7,500 to win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year as of Tuesday morning. That means a $10 bet on Wilson would net a win of $750.

No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams of the Chicago Bears is the favorite at +170, followed by Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels at +600, Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. at +700, and New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers and Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy at +1,400.

Wilson is tied for the 20th-best odds, and there’s plenty of good reason for that. Wilson wasn’t even that productive at Michigan, where he caught 48 passes for 789 yards and 12 touchdowns last season. Those numbers repeated might not win him the rookie of they year award in the NFL, but he appears to be slotted alongside players with much less obvious paths to significant roles in their teams’ offenses in 2024.

Also at +7,500 are Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr., who is expected to back up Kirk Cousins; Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Jermaine Burton, who will be the third receiving option behind Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins; running back Blake Corum, who will start second on the Los Angeles Rams depth chart behind Kyren Williams; Malachi Corley, who will be the third WR option behind Mike Williams and Garrett Wilson with the New York Jets, and Ja’Lynn Polk, who will be the No. 2 wide receiver in New England for Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye. (Maye is +1,100)

Unlike the rest of the +7,500 gang, Wilson appears to be in line to be the Steelers’ No. 2 receiving threat, and he will do so for an established NFL quarterback, no matter who wins the competition between Russell Wilson and Justin Fields for the top spot.

As long as the Steelers continue to stand pat in the free agent market, Wilson could be in line for a big rookie season of targets, and it’s far from unprecedented for a later-round wide receiver to come up big.

Last season, Los Angeles Rams fifth-round pick Puka Nacua finished second to Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud in the final voting. In 2019, second-round wide receiver A.J. Brown finished third in the voting.

This article first appeared on Steelers Now and was syndicated with permission.

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