New York Jets Poised To Sweep NFL Rookie Of The Year Awards

The New York Jets enter Week 16 at 7-7 but on a three-game losing streak. They would not make the AFC playoffs as things stand and are not favored to do so. However, it already can be called a successful season because Gang Green has won more games than it did the past two seasons combined (six).

A big reason for the improvement has been the rookie class drafted by General Manager Joe Douglas, and it might go down as one of the very best classes this decade. At No. 4 overall, Douglas selected Sauce Gardner, an All-American cornerback out of the University of Cincinnati.

New York also had the No. 10 overall pick from the Seattle Seahawks thanks to the lopsided trade that sent Pro Bowl safety Jamal Adams to the Pacific Northwest in July 2020. Adams is a good player but has been hugely injury-prone with Seattle and lasted just one game this year before going down for the season. The Jets hugely won that trade and used the No. 10 pick on Ohio State receiver Garrett Wilson.

Two teams in NFL history have had an Offensive Rookie of the Year and Defensive Rookie of the Year in the same season: The 2017 New Orleans Saints (running back Alvin Kamara and cornerback Marshon Lattimore), and the 1967 Detroit Lions (running back Mel Farr and cornerback Lem Barney).

The 2022 Jets are poised to join that group.

Hall Injury Opened Door For Wilson

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson (9) runs after making a catch against the Los Angeles Rams during an NFL football game Sunday, Dec.19, 2022, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke)

Wilson is the -150 favorite at Bovada for OROY, well ahead of No. 2 Christian Watson (+500), a second-round receiver for Green Bay. Wilson has 67 catches for 966 yards and four TDs. He has at least 78 yards in four straight games and six of the past seven. Wilson leads all rookies with those catches and yards, both the most ever by a Jets rookie.

What’s somewhat ironic is that Wilson might have lost out on this award to running back and teammate Breece Hall, a second-round pick out of Iowa State. Hall had been the betting favorite before suffering a season-ending torn ACL in Week 7.

The Jets have never had an OROY but have had four defensive winners, last end Sheldon Richardson in 2013. Gardner is all but a lock at this point, priced -500 with Lions defensive end and No. 2 overall pick Aidan Hutchinson a distant second at +550.

Despite teams often simply staying away from his side of the field, Gardner leads the NFL with 16 passes defensed to go along with 40 tackles and two interceptions. In a Week 15 loss to Detroit, the Lions didn’t throw a single pass to a receiver Gardner was covering. That’s respect.