The official NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year won’t be announced until the NFL Honors ceremony just before the Super Bowl. But ProFootballTalk is ready to stop the count right now.
On Tuesday, PFT announced that Houston Texans rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud was their pick for the Offensive Rookie of the Year. Mike Florio wrote that while Stroud and Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua were in a dead heat until Stroud led the Texans to the playoffs with his final pass to Nico Collins in Week 18.
“The PFT offensive rookie of the year is Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud,” Florio wrote.
“Like all 2023 awards, it was based on a vote of the five writers… And this one wasn’t easy. Rams receiver Puka Nacua had a historic season, breaking the 63-year-old record for rookie receiving yardage.
“But Stroud propelled a beleaguered franchise to the playoffs, with incredible performances. And just as it was looking like Puka might take it from Stroud, Stroud threw a long touchdown pass to Nico Collins on Houston’s first play from scrimmage in the Week 18 game that clinched a highly unlikely playoff berth.”
Stroud finished the season with 4,108 passing yards and 23 touchdowns with only five interceptions and the lowest interception percentage in the league.
When the Associated Press casts its votes before the NFL Honors it will be pretty surprising if Stroud doesn’t come away with the award.
Do you agree with PFT’s pick?