2025 NFL Rookie of the Year Predictions: Who Will Win on Offense and Defense?

By: Jonathan Howard, Staff Writer
May 13, 2025

With the NFL Draft behind us, we’ve got a long, long wait until meaningful training camps and the beginning of the NFL season. In the meantime, we can always try to predict the future … much like the Versus Sports Simulator does on a daily basis. And with the draft still fresh on everyone’s minds, predicting which fresh faces will have the best shot to win the offensive and defensive Rookie of the Year awards is worth the try. First, let’s take a look at some data from drafts gone by.

First Round Offensive Candidates

Using the logic of past awards, we have removed all tight ends and offensive linemen from consideration. Because the award is given to a first rounder three out of four times, we’ll start with them first.

First Round picks: Cam Ward, Tennessee, QB; Travis Hunter, Jacksonville, WR*; Ashton Jeanty, Las Vegas, RB; Tetairoa McMillan, Carolina, WR; Emeka Egbuka, Tampa Bay, WR; Omarion Hampton, Los Angeles, RB; Matthew Golden, Green Bay, WR; Jaxson Dart, New York Giants, QB

First Round Offensive Candidates I Like

• Cam Ward, Tennessee, QB: The Titans were a disaster a year ago and there was no position that exemplified it more than quarterback. Will Levis threw 12 interceptions, fumbled 10 times, was sacked 41 times and finished with a total QBR of 27.8 in 12 starts last season. Ward can play average ball, which Mason Rudolph essentially did in five starts in relief of Levis, and become in contention for the award based on replacement value alone.

• Omarion Hampton, Los Angeles, RB: Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh absolutely loves to run the ball. He didn’t draft Hampton in the first round to have him sit on the bench, so unless training camp goes poorly, he’ll get the nod of Najee Harris. He’ll be on the field for all three downs, giving plenty of opportunities to eat up carries, but also catch balls out of the backfield.

• Matthew Golden, Green Bay, WR: I imagine Aaron Rodgers punching a wall following Green Bay’s decision to draft a wide receiver in the first round since Javon Walker was taken in 2002. Green Bay already has young talent in the receiver core, but what they’re looking for is consistency. We’ve seen flashes from Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks, but not enough to stop the ascent of Golden, who could start from day one.

First Round Offensive Candidates I Don’t Like

• Travis Hunter, Jacksonville, WR*: This isn’t a knock on Hunter’s talent, but we don’t know exactly what sort of role he’ll play for the Jaguars on each side of the ball. He’s got some bulking up to do, and if Jacksonville plans on playing him both ways, he might not get enough snaps to justify his inclusion.

• Emeka Egbuka, Tampa Bay, WR: This is just a numbers game here. Barring injuries, Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Jalen McMillan and Cade Otten, not to mention Bucky Irving out of the backfield, are just going to eat up too many touches for Egbuka to have a big year.

• Jaxson Dart, New York Giants, QB: With Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston and Tommy DeVito already on the roster, I don’t see a situation where Dart gets playing time unless the season is a complete disaster. It’s New York, so that’s very possible, but is he going to be Superman? Probably not, especially if he still has to learn an NFL cadence.

Offensive Outsiders to Consider

• Kaleb Johnson, Pittsburgh, RB (3rd round): Najee Harris is gone in Pittsburgh, leaving Jaylen Warren and newly-signed Cordarelle Patterson as the Steelers best running back options. Johnson is going to be given a chance to lead the backfield from day one. His success, however, could be linked to Aaron Rodgers. Without a quarterback that can truly threaten a defense, he could face a lot of stacked boxes.

• Jalen Milroe, Seattle, QB (3rd round): Some might call for Shreuder Sanders, but I’m going with the Alabama grad here. Seattle signed Sam Darnold in the off-season after the quarterback had a career resurgence in Minnesota a year ago. But if he is unable to duplicate last year’s results, or worse … goes back to this nightmare … only Drew Lock stands in front of Milroe seeing the field.

First Round Defensive Candidates

First Round Picks: Travis Hunter, Jacksonville, DB*; Abdul Carter, New York Giants, DL; Mason Graham, Cleveland, DL; Mykel Williams, San Francisco; DL; Kenneth Grant, Miami, DL; Jalon Walker, Atlanta, LB; Walter Nolen, Arizona, DL; Shemar Stewart, Cincinnati, DL; Jahdae Barrown, Denver, DB; Derrick Harmon, Pittsburgh, DL; James Pearce, Atlanta, DL; Malaki Starks, Baltimore, DL; Tyleik Williams, Detroit, DL; Maxwell Harrison, Buffalo, DB; Jihaad Campbell, Philadelphia, LB

First Round Defensive Candidates I Like

• Shemar Stewart, Cincinnati, DL: A lot has already been made of Stewart’s lack of sacks in his three years at Texas A&M (4.5 in 37 games). But with Trey Hendrickson possibly on the way out, Stewart will have an opportunity to to be the primary pass rusher for the Bengals.

• Travis Hunter, Jacksonville, DB*: If Hunter is going to make an instant impact in Jacksonville, it’s more likely to be on the defensive side of the ball, and offensive coordinators and quarterbacks will undoubtedly test the rookie immediately to see if he’s working on instincts alone. However, playing in a division with sketchy quarterback play will also give him plenty of opportunities to show his skill.

• Abdul Carter, New York Giants, DL: As bad as the Giants have been, their defense is actually pretty good. The defensive line is stout and Carter will have an opportunity to come off the edge opposite Brian Burns, who will get plenty of attention from blockers.

First Round Defensive Candidates I Don’t Like

• Jihaad Campbell, Philadelphia, LB: Count me as a believer that Campbell, who was an injury concern away from being a mid-round pick at worst, will contribute for Philadelphia early in his career. However, the Eagles haven’t committed to a timeline for Campbell to get involved with workouts, which leads me to believe they’ll bring him along slowly and have him ready to be a major player later in the season.

Defensive Outsiders to Consider

• Mike Green, Baltimore, LB (second round): One of the best pass rushers in the country coming out of Marshall. He compiled 17.5 sacks last season and walks into a franchise known for developing defensive talent.

• Donovan Ezeiruaku, Dallas, DL (second round): Another elite pass rush specialist. The Cowboys have been searching for someone to compliment Micah Parsons, and they might have finally found one.