The 2024 NFL Draft featured a record-breaking 14 consecutive offensive players selected to begin the festivities. By the conclusion of Thursday's opening round, a record-setting 23 offensive players were drafted. That's going to make this year's chase for Offensive Rookie of the Year honors particularly exciting.
DraftKings responded by updating their OROY odds. Several exciting contenders are listed throughout. The odds are as follows:
Caleb Williams (+200)
Marvin Harrison Jr. (+600)
Jayden Daniels (+650)
J.J. McCarthy (+800)
Malik Nabers (+1200)
Xavier Worthy (+1600)
Bo Nix (+1600)
Drake Maye (+1800)
Rome Odunze (+2200)
Brian Thomas Jr. (+2500)
THE FAVORITE AND MY PICK: CALEB WILLIAMS
Caleb Williams was a borderline generational prospect at quarterback. The dual-threat signal-caller should immediately rewrite the Chicago Bears' record books. Williams should set various new franchise-bests, including the pathetic rookie single-season passing yards record (Mitch Trubisky, 2,193) and single-season passing touchdowns record for a rookie (Charlie O'Rourke, 11 in 1942!).
The Bears have surrounded Williams with an impressive supporting cast. The wide receiver trio of Keenan Allen, D.J. Moore, and No. 9 overall pick Rome Odunze projects as one of the better 11-personnel groupings around the league. Other weapons on offense include Cole Kmet, D'Andre Swift, and Gerald Everett.
Williams should take advantage of his surroundings. A 4,000-yard passing season (which would set another single-season Bears record) with 25-plus touchdown passes and 400-plus rushing yards feels within the realm of possibility. Williams is my overwhelming favorite for OROY honors.
A WORTHY NO. 1 CONTENDER: MARVIN HARRISON JR.
The Cardinals wisely resisted the temptation to trade down and selected Marvin Harrison Jr. with the fourth overall pick. Kyler Murray is absolutely going to pepper Harrison Jr. with targets throughout the 2024 campaign. He sits atop a questionable depth chart that miscasts Chris Moore and Michael Wilson into starring roles.
Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase came close to setting new single-season rookie receiving yards records in 2020 and 2021, but it was Puka Nacua that finally shattered Bill Groman’s (1960) record in 2023. I foresee Harrison Jr. becoming the first rookie receiver in NFL history to surpass 1,500 receiving yards. That would give him a strong claim to the OROY award no matter what the quarterbacks do.
DON’T FORGET ABOUT: JAYDEN DANIELS
New Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels is available at +650 odds. Those are favorable odds worth taking a flier on.
The dynamic dual-threat Daniels rushed for a career-high 1,134 yards last season. That would have led all NFL quarterbacks in that department in 2023. With Justin Fields no longer serving as a starting quarterback, Daniels poses the biggest threat to Lamar Jackson in the rushing yards department.
Robert Griffin III owns the single-season rookie rushing yards record among all quarterbacks with 815 in 2012. Griffin won Offensive Rookie of the Year as a result, beating Andrew Luck to the award. Daniels could achieve the same if he beats Griffin's decade-plus record.
