The 2022 NFL Draft gave dozens of players a chance to live their dream of becoming professional football players. Now that the draft is in the rearview mirror, fans are looking forward to watching these first-year athletes compete for the 2022 NFL Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year awards.
Many talented players from this year's draft class could make the argument for being named either the OROY or DROY. However, there are always players who already stand above others before a game is even played.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback and 20th overall pick Kenny Pickett sits atop the Offensiv e Rookie of the Year odds race. There's no guarantee that he'll even open as the Steelers' starter, but the fact is that six of the last 12 OROY winners have been quarterbacks and Pickett was the first one off the board last month.
Meanwhile, Detroit Lions EDGE Aidan Hutchinson is the Defensive Rookie of the year favorite. The 21-year-old was favored to go first overall at times but plans to make a career of terrorizing offenses in his hometown Lions.