We have now had a chance to see all of the top rookies play on an NFL field while wearing an NFL uniform and in an NFL preseason game. And certainly, we don’t want to overreact to preseason performances against a number of players who will be out of the league in a few weeks, but it was still fun to watch.
It also was informative on who are the best bets to win Rookie of the Year. Be sure to check the latest Rookie of the Year odds at the sportsbook and get down on your favorites before the season officially kicks off.
Offensive Rookies
Trevor Lawrence (+225)
In his debut against the Browns, Trevor Lawrence looked like a rookie with loads of talent. He made a couple of bad plays, mostly holding the ball too long, but he also made some throws worthy of being the favorite to win the award.
Justin Fields (+500)
If anyone improved his stock on the Rookie of the Year betting market, it was Justin Fields. Once he got settled, he was dynamic and an obvious upgrade over Andy Dalton. He fumbled the ball and made some bad throws, but he never became rattled. Bears fans have every reason to be excited about the future.
Trey Lance (+500)
The flash of talent that was shown on his 80-yard touchdown pass was impressive. The ceiling for Trey Lance is enormous, and he is going to push Jimmy Garoppolo sooner than first thought. But there was also plenty of rust, and at times he looked like someone who has only played one game since 2019.
Zach Wilson (+700)
As with Trevor Lawrence, we know that Zach Wilson is the starter in Week 1. We also saw some really good throws from him during his preseason debut. But we also got a sense of what the Jets’ offense will be like, and they will lean heavily on the running game this year.
Najee Harris (+800)
We’ve seen Najee Harris twice now, and both times he’s looked like the real deal. He had 22 yards in the Hall of Fame Game, and while he only got two carries against the Eagles this weekend, he runs hard and breaks tackles. If the quarterbacks listed above stumble, Harris is primed to have an award-winning rookie season.
Defensive Rookies
Micah Parsons (+450)
We don’t want to overreact in the preseason, but my goodness Micah Parsons looks great. He’s been on the field for 25 snaps in two preseason games, and he is always near the ball. He is going to be a big-time playmaker in Dallas this season.
Kwity Paye (+800)
An ankle injury kept the Colts Kwity Paye from making his debut on Sunday against the Panthers, but the word from camp is that he has been terrific in making the adjustment to the NFL. He is changing his stance and working on new techniques, and coaches are expecting big things from him when the season starts.
Jaelan Phillips (+800)
Jaelen Phillips had been missing from Dolphins camp for the two weeks prior to their weekend of joint practices with the Bears, prior to their preseason game. He looked good in practice and looked like he would be a force on the outside. However, he did not play in Saturday’s game.
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (+800)
Second-round hybrid defender Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah was very impressive in his debut against the Jaguars, and injuries had him taking snaps with the Browns’ first team.
He showed great athleticism on an inside blitz that resulted in a sack. Also he displayed good instincts as a stack linebacker working against the run. He was even in coverage on the slot receiver and showed good recognition of the route and the ability to make open-field sure tackles.
The Browns’ defense is stacked, so his snaps may be limited. But Owusu-Koramoah has tons of ability.
Jamin Davis (+850)
Another stacked defense can be found in Washington, but rookie middle linebacker Jamin Davis has already risen to the top of the depth chart. He was on the field for a total of 22 plays in Washington’s first preseason game, finishing with four tackles and showing off the speed that made him the 19th overall selection in the draft.
