Identifying the strongest candidates for the NFL’s awards for top rookies is more than a matter of just pointing to draft capital.
Though the honors are, by definition, recognition of individual accomplishments, each one is inextricably tied to the team’s positioning as well. With front offices typically taking the long view when it comes to making their investment strategy in the annual event, an uneven landscape for players’ short-term contributions is inevitable. And with positional considerations weighing heavily into the matter, some of the league’s newbies will be far better positioned than others to receive recognition.
With this year’s NFL draft complete, here are the leading contenders for top rookie honors.
NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year candidates
1. Cam Ward, QB, Tennessee Titans
Yes, there was no stretch required to make this choice. The No. 1 pick is a natural front-runner for an award that typically gets claimed by quarterbacks whenever there’s one worthy of it. Ward’s attacking approach should be on full display early on, particularly if Tennessee’s reworked offensive line can equip him with sufficient time to operate. But not every top quarterback can enjoy a Jayden Daniels-esque immediate star turn, or even a Bo Nix-like steady ascension as a rookie. The 6-2, 219-pounder will be counted on to emphasize his poise as a pocket passer and push down his instincts to go big-game hunting, as Brian Callahan likely won’t tolerate the rampant turnovers that plagued his first year when Will Levis was at the helm. But there are plenty of promising signs that Ward can help spark a turnaround that will command a good bit of attention.
2. Ashton Jeanty, RB, Las Vegas Raiders
Maybe it’s early to narrow the chase considerably, but this sure seems like it sizes up as a two-man race between the two players who were the unquestioned top choices at each of their respective positions. In making Jeanty the highest running back selected since Saquon Barkley went No. 2 in 2018, the Raiders signaled a clear intent to transform the league’s worst rushing attack. That no doubt will entail a massive workload for the 5-9, 211-pounder, which is something to which the Heisman Trophy runner-up is accustomed after logging an astronomical 374 carries last year – more than any ball carrier in the NFL in 2024. Jeanty ultimately might face the same ceiling that any running back does in only being able to do so much to make up for a suspect setup up front and a non-threatening receiving corps, but he’ll clearly turn heads if he can elevate the Silver and Black’s ground game considerably in his first year.
3. Travis Hunter, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Could the draft’s most dynamic player end up a victim of the binary created by these awards? Hunter’s singular talent as a two-way threat might not be able to be fully captured by either one. New general manager James Gladstone has embraced the hype around the player for whom he gave up his 2026 first-round pick, saying the Heisman Trophy winner ‘changes the air around him.’ With the Jaguars making clear their commitment to becoming more explosive, Hunter should have a full plate of opportunities to tilt games with the kind of highlight-reel plays that help lock down this award. But with the balance for his double duty still to be determined, it’s unclear whether he’ll see sufficient volume of touches to really put his stat line over the top, particularly with Brian Thomas Jr. sure to command a massive number of targets after his stellar debut.
4. Tyler Shough, QB, New Orleans Saints
This is not so much an endorsement of Shough’s readiness to leave an imprint in Year 1 as recognition of the dynamic of this award. With Jaxson Dart set to sit behind Russell Wilson to start his career and no other quarterback beyond Ward having a certain path to first-string reps, the late bloomer out of Louisville stands above the other options here given the apparent likelihood he could take the reins in New Orleans. The 6-5, 219-pounder boasts ample arm strength to take advantage of Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed’s speed downfield, but his willingness to make turnover-worthy throws in the face of pressure could irk new-coach Kellen Moore. It seems like a long shot that Shough could make enough magic happen to leapfrog Ward and Jeanty, but the massive opportunity and spotlight he’ll be afforded do give him a leg up on the rest of the competition.
5. Omarion Hampton, RB, Los Angeles Chargers
He won’t get the full Jeanty treatment, as a potential timeshare with Najee Harris looms in the Bolts’ backfield. But Jim Harbaugh surely won’t be shy about wielding his new battering ram of a back. The 6-0, 221-pound Hampton has more juice as a runner than he gets credit for, and that element of his game – as well as his value as a receiver – could keep Harris somewhat at bay. But a true bell-cow role likely isn’t in store right away, which limits his upside here.
6. Matthew Golden, WR, Green Bay Packers
Green Bay didn’t break its first-round receiver drought to keep Golden under wraps as a rookie. The speedy target from Texas figures to be a salve for the aerial attack’s woes against man coverage. Between Matt LaFleur’s creative playcalling and Jordan Love’s willingness to be aggressive in attacking downfield, Golden could see a handful of splash plays out of the gates. But LaFleur has also made his distaste for the No. 1 receiver setup known. With Green Bay’s proclivity for sharing the wealth in the receiving corps – four different players had between 70-76 targets last season – the 5-11, 191-pounder could struggle to see enough looks week in and week out to rack up the stats necessary to take home this honor.
7. Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Carolina Panthers
Eschewing a first-round investment in the league’s worst defense served as a statement of intent for the Panthers’ plan for McMillan. Accelerating Bryce Young’s ascent is the clear priority in Carolina, and the organization’s brain trust saw a need to arm the former No. 1 pick with another major weapon. In some ways, McMillan might be an odd fit for Young, as his lack of precision and urgency as a route runner as well as concerns about his ability to beat press coverage don’t bode well for a signal-caller who strongly prefers to play on schedule. But if Young is to unlock new levels in his own game and the Panthers’ aerial attack, he’ll need to keep up the growth he showed a downfield passer late last season. The 6-4, 219-pound McMillan can provide him with more margin of error there with his massive catch radius, and he can also make life easier for Young on short-to-intermediate throws with his ability to turn upfield and rack up yards. And in a position group that lacks a true alpha, he could poised to post the best statistics of any pass catcher in this year’s class.
NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year candidates
1. Abdul Carter, OLB, New York Giants
In a flip from last year, which had no clear-cut leading candidate for this award after a record 14 consecutive offensive players kicked off the first round, Carter is the overwhelming favorite to take home the hardware. The No. 3 overall pick was a step above his pass-rushing peers in a deep class, and his rare array of ways to beat blockers before closing in on quarterbacks augurs well for his transition to the pros. The biggest early concerns hinges on his utilization as he joins a group off the edge that already features Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux. But Carter’s versatility should allow him to be deployed from numerous different vantage points, and a steady stream of big plays in the backfield could be in store early on.
2. Jalon Walker, OLB, Atlanta Falcons
With several other first-round defenders either sizing up as a project pass rushers or big bodies unlikely to rack up sacks, it’s difficult to identify formidable competition for Carter. Though he’s far from a finished product, Walker might be the best bet for someone who can make a run at the honor. At 6-1 and 243 pounds, he’ll require creative utilization for Atlanta to unleash the full scope of his disruptiveness. But here’s defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich’s opportunity to make good on his pledge to be adaptive as he looks to unleash a unit that can provide lots of different looks. And given the Falcons’ longstanding pass rush issues, the team has plenty of motivation to make the most of Walker’s considerable athleticism from the get-go.
3. Mykel Williams, DE, San Francisco 49ers
The former five-star recruit never fully rounded into a consistent pass rusher in his time at Georgia despite showing some flashes. So why should Williams be expected to make the leap once he faces more gifted blockers? To put himself in the mix for this award, he might not need to. With Nick Bosa commanding a good deal of attention opposite him, Williams could boost his stat line with a healthy dose of clean-up sacks. Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh’s pressure packages, which count on putting the front four in favorable spots to create chaos, also will help prop up the 6-5, 260-pounder.
4. James Pearce Jr., DE, Falcons
After parting with its 2026 first-round pick to move up for Pearce, Atlanta is clearly counting on the speedy edge rusher to find his form in short order. The 6-5, 245-pounder throws blockers off balance at the snap with his rapid first step, and he can jolt them backward en route to the quarterback once he has them out of sorts. But his wild playing style that produces plenty of pressure might still leave him short on sacks, as he too often struggles to regain his composure and finish plays. Still, the Falcons will go to great length to disrupt opposing passers, so Pearce will have a shot to make his mark.
5. Travis Hunter, CB, Jaguars
Yes, he’s listed again for another award he might be in the running for. It’s only right that the premier big-play threat in this draft class get consideration here given how he can close in on the ball in an instant when opponents test him. But what if quarterbacks simply decide not to risk it? Savvy passers might simply look for other ways to attack a defense that ranked last against the pass in 2024, and that could severely inhibit Hunter’s chances to rack up ball production, which will be necessary for him to join Sauce Gardner as just the second cornerback since 2018 to win the award.