With the NFL awards set to be announced on Feb. 6, conversations are swirling about who should receive the award for the most outstanding offensive freshman of the 2024-25 NFL season. Bo Nix and Jayden Daniels greatly exceeded preseason expectations and put up astonishingly similar numbers, while in the process, rejuvenating somewhat lifeless franchises.
The emphasis on the regular season is important because when evaluating an award like this, it is difficult not to carry any of Daniels’ stunning postseason performances into account. Unfortunately, a shared award is not a possibility, so who has the edge?
A New Stallion Leading the Broncos
After an extremely disappointing Broncos tenure, Russell Wilson was released from the team and picked up by the Steelers, where he served as a leader and mentor to young quarterback Justin Fields. From there, the Broncos seemed to be in the midst of an awkward stage, with Wilson’s overly large contract hanging over their heads.
The Broncos then shifted toward Nix to be their starting quarterback. The 12th overall pick out of Oregon was labelled as a great athlete with limited downfield explosiveness and inconsistent footwork. Heading into the 2024 season, the Broncos’ expectations were quite low, with many experts picking them to finish with an underwhelming five to six wins.
A New Commander in Washington
Entering the 2024 regular season, the Washington Commanders had not finished above .500 in seven seasons and were fresh off of a 4-13 record. After firing head coach Ron Rivera and hiring former Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, the Commanders looked to change their direction as a franchise and begin a quest for newfound success.
With their second overall pick in the draft, they selected Daniels, the Heisman-winning quarterback out of LSU. Similar to the Broncos, the Commanders’ expectations were quite low, as growing pains for an organization with a rookie QB and a new face as head coach are expected.
Rookie Stardom
On an individual level, both quarterbacks put up exceptional numbers. Nix eclipsed Daniels in passing yards (3,775 to 3,568) and passing touchdowns (29 to 25), while Daniels saw better results in rushing yards (891 to 430) and completion percentage (69 to 66.3). Daniels brought energy back to Washington, leading the team to a 12-5 record and their first playoff appearance in half a decade.
Aided by a late-season surge, Nix led the Broncos to a 10-7 record, enough for a wild-card birth. Although Daniels clearly outperformed Nix in the playoffs by winning multiple games and defeating the number one seed in the NFC, the Detroit Lions, this award is strictly determined by regular-season performance. With that being said, Daniels should be the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, as his ability to improve the squad around him and perform in intense situations gives him the edge over Nix.
Jayden Daniels: Undisputed ROTY
Entering the NFL fresh off of a Heisman trophy most certainly comes with some downside, as hype and expectations can get overblown and far too excessive for an athlete before they even play their first game. However, Daniels defied historic patterns of rookie performances, or lack thereof, and rose to stardom the second he touched the field. Not only did Daniels have to overcome common rookie growing pains, but he lacked the playmakers needed to compete in his first year.
The Commanders’ rush defence was ranked 29th in the league, and total defence was six spots below Nix and the Broncos, at 13. The emergence of star receiver Terry Mclaurin is also a major indicator of elite quarterback play, as “Scary Terry” saw greatly improved numbers in touchdowns, yards, and receptions despite receiving 15 fewer targets than the year prior.
Overall, Daniels repeated ability to show up when the stakes were at their highest and carry a spiritless franchise into the playoffs is what decisively gives him the nod over Nix, despite both having spectacular seasons.