Historically speaking, the only players who have a chance of winning the Offensive Rookie of the Year award are quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers.
Of the 58 awards given out by the Associated Press over the years, those are the only three positions to take home the hardware. In recent years, quarterbacks have been en vogue, with C.J. Stroud and Jayden Daniels winning it with the Houston Texans and Washington Commanders, respectively.
However, with few rookie quarterbacks in line to be starters right away, perhaps 2025 breaks the mold. Let’s look at five candidates who could win the award, including two quarterbacks, two running backs and a tight end hoping to make history.
5. Shedeur Sanders, QB, Cleveland Browns
It’s fair to wonder how Sanders, a fifth-round pick and the second quarterback taken in the draft by the Browns, is on the list. However, he’s a signal-caller on a team without an obvious starter and someone some in the league thought was worth a top-50 pick.
Sanders was terrific at Colorado, finishing eighth in Heisman Trophy voting after leading the Big 12 with 4,134 passing yards and 37 touchdown passes while pacing the nation with a 74.0% completion rate. If Sanders wins the open competition in Cleveland, he’ll have all eyes on him in September.
