Roundtable: Who Should Win 2015 NFL Rookie of the Year?
By Erik Lambert
Sep 13, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) and Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) hug after their game at Raymond James Stadium. The Titans defeated the Buccaneers 42-14. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports
There are always predicted favorites, but the 2015 NFL Rookie of the Year award could be one of the more hotly contested in recent memory.
Several from the current slate of first-year youth have put together some strong arguments. So the NFL Mocks crew was asked who they thought should be considered a favorite for the honor. Here are their answers.
Rodney Stokes:
A guy who has shown some poise and really turned his team around is Jameis Winston. His preseason and first few games in the league were forgettable but he’s starting to form his winning identity that he had while at Florida State. If he can pull the Bucs to .500 (if not more) on the year I don’t see why he doesn’t deserve it.
Joe Wedra:
I’m going to go against the grain and say by the end of the year, Thomas Rawls will be the best rookie contributor to come out of the 2015 class. He’s a special talent who seamlessly made the impressive NFL leap. There’s no reason to believe Seattle won’t ride with him down the stretch, potentially leading them to a playoff berth.
Matthew Holowiak:
My vote for rookie of the year is going to be TJ Yeldon. Now that your done laughing, this young man has given the Jaguars their first real running back in years, and is keeping defenses honest. This is allowing the passing game to thrive and opening lanes to run through. He may not be the flashiest, but he is running with power and burst and keeping this Jaguars team Alive late into the season for the first time in years.
Erik Lambert:
Since there is a little leeway with the question, I’ll venture out into the “should” portion and say cornerback Marcus Peters. He hasn’t just been good, he’s been outstanding. He has four interceptions this season, a defensive touchdown and 20 passes defended. Those are Pro Bowl numbers. It’s not hard to consider he might be the best defensive back in that secondary.
Quarterbacks are completing just 53.8% of their passes in his direction and since giving up six touchdowns in the first five games of the season, he’s allowed just one since. It’s not a coincidence that right around the same time was when the Chiefs started winning.