3 NFL Draft picks most likely to win Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2022
RB, Breece Hall – New York Jets
Breece Hall isn’t the only rookie playing on the offensive side of the ball for the Jets next season, and arguably, not even the most talented. Since the team also took the first receiver off the board with Ohio State’s Garrett Wilson. Who projects to be a superstar in the NFL.
Though Wilson too presents some value to take home the Offensive Rookie of the Year award, I suspect that New York will lean a lot more on the run game than the pass game in 2022.
The truth is that the Jets are still trying to figure out if second-year quarterback, Zach Wilson, is indeed the guy to lead their franchise for the next decade. After being the second overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Wilson struggled mightily last season. Finishing with just 2,334 passing yards, 9 passing touchdowns, and an abysmal11 interceptions in 13 games played, completing just 56% of his passes.
So, it feels safe to assume that the team will lean a bit more on their running backs next season, particularly after obtaining the incredibly powerful, explosive, and well-rounded ball carrier that is Breece Hall.
During his three years at Iowa State, Hall made a massive impact in helping the Cyclones become a perennial Big 12 contenders. Combining for 3,941 yards and a whopping 50 touchdowns on the ground alone. As well as 734 yards and 6 touchdowns through the air.
With the busy offseason the Miami Dolphins have had, the hype surrounding the Buffalo Bills and their future success as well as the ever-dangerous, Belicheck-led New England Patriots. The New York Jets are debatably in the most competitive division in the AFC, maybe even the entire NFL.
As a result, not much is expected from them in 2022. While I do believe that Zach Wilson’s struggles will in all likelihood bleed into next season, which won’t help Garrett Wilson at all. This could present the perfect opportunity for Hall to become the center of the team’s offense.
Handling the bulk of the carries and playing a reliable supporting role in the passing game, Hall could rack up a lot of yards next season. Whether or not this will help to turn around the Jets’ offense or not, it should at least make him a contender for the 2022 Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Plus, much like Pickett, history bodes well for Breece Hall. Even though not quite as many RBs have won the award in the last two decades, four have won the award in the last ten years alone. Including Saquon Barkley, Alvin Kamara, Todd Gurley, and Eddie Lacy. So, recent years have shown that the running back position has just as much of a chance to win the Offensive Rookie of the Year as any.