[mm-video type=video id=01fk180eypeyq2fw7jbg playlist_id=01eqbw0bft20de1r4d player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01fk180eypeyq2fw7jbg/01fk180eypeyq2fw7jbg-42336ce12defd7b7ebc558b112017718.jpg]
Over the first half of the season, the historic start by Ja’Marr Chase with the Cincinnati Bengals made it seem like he was a lock for the Offensive Rookie of the Year award.
And maybe he still is. But it would appear New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones, the 15th pick this year, might be starting to gain ground.
Jones just went out over the weekend and threw for 198 yards and three scores in a 45-7 blowout of the Cleveland Browns.
Right after, someone like Yahoo Sports’ Dan Wetzel wrote the following after saying it’s clear Jones should’ve been drafted much higher:
“Too early to make that call? Maybe, but Jones is the leader for Offensive Rookie of the Year and there may be only one or perhaps two teams who needed and/or still need a quarterback that aren’t wishing for a do-over from last April.”
Jones only has 13 touchdown passes against seven interceptions this season, but he has led the Patriots to four consecutive wins now as the coaching staff has gradually opened up the offense to him.
That’s not to undersell Chase. We know he’s been going bonkers, though he does now have two consecutive games with less than 50 receiving yards to his name.
The season-long numbers are amazing, of course — 835 yards, seven scores and 19.0 yards per catch. But with the league’s major emphasis on quarterbacks, all it was going to take was one rookie passer looking competent to cast doubt on Chase’s chances.
This is also the league where a Steelers running back can swipe a monthly award from Chase for no overly viable reason. So if Jones keeps it up or improves in Foxboro, Chase might have a big problem on his hands when it comes to rookie-year hardware at the end of the season.
[pickup_prop id=”15449″]
[listicle id=48839]