The New York Jets have only had one player in franchise history win the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year honors.
It sounds like it’s going to stay that way. ESPN’s Ben Solak categorized wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr as a “long shot” to come away with the award in 2026.
“The Jets traded up in the Round 1 to secure Cooper as their every-down WR2 behind Garrett Wilson. He has almost no incumbent challenge as targets at receiver, as Adonai Mitchell is the best candidate to steal some of his snaps. However, the tight end duo of Mason Taylor and Kenyon Sadiq, and the presence of running back Breece Hall, do put a damper on his expected volume. Cooper is a tier below players such as Concepcion and Lemon as far as talent goes, and it’s hard to see him producing the big games necessary to steal this award from a starting quarterback or productive back,” Solak wrote.
The Only OROY in Jets Franchise History Is…
He is still on the team. It’s Garrett Wilson who collected that hardware in 2022.
During his rookie campaign, he appeared in all 17 games and made 12 starts. Wilson was targeted 147 times, caught 83 receptions for 1,103 receiving yards, and scored four touchdowns.
In that season, Wilson led the Jets in catches, targets, receiving yards, receiving touchdowns, 20+ yard receiving plays, and receiving first downs, per ESPN.
In a best-case scenario, Cooper could be the No. 2 target getter in this offense, but he could end up being lower on that totem pole.
That reality makes it difficult to project Cooper making history as the second Jets player to win the OROY award.
Solak ranked the 12 most likely players who will be in the race for the Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. Cooper was No. 9 in those power rankings.
Eliminated From the Race Before It Even Begins…
Someone who didn’t crack that list is rookie Jets tight end Kenyon Sadiq. Solak explained, “If a player is not included, it means they have zero chance of winning the award. It simply will not happen. Do not screenshot this.”
“Outside of the top-five picks, seven skill position players went in the first round. We can easily scratch QB Ty Simpson, who will be a backup in Los Angeles and will only play if Matthew Stafford is injured. We can also scratch Kenyon Sadiq, since a tight end has not won the award since Mike Ditka in 1961, which was before the AFL/NFL merger. I mean, Brock Bowers didn’t win it in 2024 (though he likely would have in a down quarterback year). I will be pleased to look extremely stupid in the event that Sadiq wins the award, as I love the player. But it will be legitimately unprecedented,” Solak added.
Everything that was explained for Cooper is why it’ll be difficult for Sadiq to win the award. He has competition coming to him for targets from the tight end, wide receiver, and running back spots. How much football is there to go around?
Just because you don’t win that award doesn’t mean you can’t have a really good season. Sadiq is expected to be a key cog in the Jets’ passing game in 2026.
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