Zach Godsey
Stroud, a rookie, has made waves in the NFL this year, leading the Houston Texans to a 10-7 record.
As the 2023-2024 NFL regular season comes to an end, fans are already engaging in debate over who will receive the Offensive Rookie of the Year award for this past season. This season especially has seen the emergence of some electrifying new talent. However, there are two that stand above the rest, each consistently putting up impressive stat lines every Sunday. Los Angeles Rams star wide receiver Puka Nacua and Houston Texans quarterback CJ Stroud have both had historic seasons, breaking records and leading their teams to the playoffs.Â
Stroud has had a remarkable year, continuing to prove doubters wrong time and time again. After he scored dead last out of all quarterbacks in the 2023 draft class on the S2 cognition test, many questioned the hype surrounding this young quarterback out of Ohio State. Still, Stroud got drafted by the Texans with the second overall pick in the draft and never once looked back from there. Stroud finished the season with 4180 passing yards, 23 touchdowns, and just 5 interceptions. He also broke the single-game rookie record by amassing a staggering 470 passing yards and throwing five touchdowns to edge out the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a nail-biting week 9 game. However, what makes his rookie season so impressive is the effect that he has had on the Texans organization. In the 2022-2023 season, the Texans displayed a highly disappointing record of 3-13. In this 2024 season, Stroud has led the team to a 10-7 record to win the AFC South and make the playoffs. He also displayed proficiency in the playoffs, winning his first-ever NFL playoff game comfortably in a 45-17 victory against the Cleveland Browns. The resounding impact that he has had on the Texans organization and the league itself is undeniable and sets him as the frontrunner for this award.Â
However, Puka Nacua is not going down without a fight. The fifth-round pick out of BYU has a knack for finding the open field, as he was the top target for the Rams this season. The wide receiver has been absolutely electric throughout the entire season, accumulating 1,486 receiving yards and ranking fourth in the league among all wide receivers. Additionally, he boasts 105 receptions and 6 touchdowns over his season, breaking the rookie receiving yards and receptions records. He is a force to be reckoned with, with renowned physicality and an innate ability to run after the catch.Â
That said, CJ Stroud's exceptional rookie season has been nothing short of a revelation, making him the rightful favorite for this year’s Offensive Rookie of the Year award. Overcoming initial doubts and wildly surpassing expectations, Stroud's resilience, precision on the field, and composed nature have set him apart. Stroud’s journey reflects what the Offensive Rookie of the Year award seeks to honor—exceptional talent, consistent performance, and a positive overall influence on the game.