NFL Rookie of the Year Finalists Announced: Cooper, Winston Candidates

With the NFL regular season now completed, it’s time to start looking at which players will be up for the major awards. One of those honors is the Pepsi Rookie of the Year Award. This year, the following five rookies have been selected as candidates for the 2015 season: Jameis Winston, Todd Gurley, Amari Cooper, Marcus Peters, and Tyler Lockett.

Also, a reminder that this is the Pepsi Rookie of the Year Award. The NFL will also present its own Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year awards in the coming weeks.

Here’s a quick look at some of their stats this year:

• Winston, QB: 4,042 yds, 22 TD, 15 INT, six rushing TD
• Gurley, RB: 1,106 yds, 10 TD, 4.8 YPC
• Cooper, WR: 72 rec, 1,070 yds, six TD
• Peters, CB: 60 tackles, eight interceptions, one forced fumble
• Lockett: 51 rec, 664 yds, six receiving TD, two return TD, 852 KRY, 379 PRY

Certainly an impressive group of rookies. Interestingly, all but one of those players (Lockett) was a first round pick.

Here are our selections for the 2015 Pepsi Rookie of the Year Award.

Brady Lunt: Since the award was introduced and sponsored by Pepsi in 2002, only one defensive player has managed to win (Ndamukong Suh – 2010) and three of the last four winners have been quarterbacks. With that being said, I think Todd Gurley ends up getting his name called. His production has been unmatched by other rookies at the position and he brings a little star factor as well.

Sayre Bedinger: The most consistent player on this list was Tyler Lockett. From preseason to now, he’s been a stud.

Eric Robinson: As much as I want to see Peters win, Gurley missed the first two weeks, held to nine yards in his first outing in week three and still ended the season third in rushing yards. Best thing about all of that is Gurley faced eight defenders in the box constantly. He earned those yards and he earned Rookie of the Year. We’re probably going to see Gurley lead the league in rushing several times over the course of his career.

Matt Holowiak: I think it’s a no brainer for Gurley at this point. Multiple missed games and still 3rd in the league in rushing. Has a clear nose for the end zone and has proven to be a true 3 down running back already, something that has been lost on many teams in recent years.

David Holmes: I’d have to go Gurley. Like the others have mentioned, despite missing multiple games he still ended up third in the league in rushing. Also ended the season with 10 rushing TDs good enough for second in the league.

It certainly seems like Gurley is the favorite among our staff. He would be the first Ram to be nominated for this award since Sam Bradford lost it to Ndamukong Suh.

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