Will Amari Cooper or Jameis Winston Win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year?

Amari Cooper (Photo credit: Scot Tucker/SFBay)

Rookies Amari Cooper and Jameis Winston will play in their first regular season NFL games this Sunday. Cooper looked good in the preseason for the Oakland Raiders and the Wide Receiver had 8 catches for 124 yards in three games. The University of Alabama product will be the number one Receiver on the Raiders depth chart and Quarterback Derek Carr favorite target. This is Carr second-year in the league and now he has an elite Receiver that should have 1,000 yards or more receiving this year. The Raiders selected Cooper with the number pick in the 2015 NFL Draft and the first receiver taken in the draft.

Quarterback Jameis Winston was the number one overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft and could turn the Tampa Bay Buccaneers into winners this season. The Bucs had two Wide Receivers (Vincent Jackson, Mike Evans) that had over 1,000 yards receiving last season. Evans had a great Rookie year with a team-high 12 touchdowns and should continue to improve in his second season. Winston has two good Wide Receivers and a Running Back that has the potential to rush over 1,000 yards this season. The Bucs two QB’s that started last season combined for 21 touchdowns and 20 interceptions. Winston should be able to throw for 20 touchdowns or more this season.

Jameis Winston (Photo credit: Lynne Sladky/AP)

Cooper or Winston both have a good chance of winning the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award. Three of the last five winners were QB’s and last year winner was a Wide Receiver. The Raiders probably won’t improve much this season and Cooper success depends on Carr getting him the ball. If Winston receivers can duplicate 1,000 yard seasons, the running game is consistent and Tampa Bay defense is reliable, the Bucs might make the playoffs. If Winston can lead the Bucs to the playoffs in a weak NFC South Division, he most likely will win Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Winston was a winner at Florida State University with a 26-1 record and helped FSU win the 2014 BCS National Championship. Cooper caught two touchdowns when Alabama won the 2013 BCS National Championship and both players come from winning programs. Oakland and Tampa Bay hope their winning pedigrees will turn their franchises into winners and Super Bowl Champs before they retire.