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Rookie of the Year
Like any award, both the Rookie of the Year awards are up for grabs. This could be touted as one of the best rookie draft classes in recent memory. There are many players from any teams that made an immediate impact for their teams. Not just the top draft picks even the late draft picks and undrafted players made a huge impact in 2018. So, it isn't going to be easy to pick one player for either Rookie of the year awards.
Offence - Baker Mayfield, QB, Cleveland Browns
From Number 1 overall pick Baker Mayfield to Undrafted Rookie Phillip Lindsay there are many players that deserve to be in this conversation. But as it stands it is currently a two-headed race between the Number 1 pick, Baker Mayfield and Number 2 pick Saquon Barkley.
Both players showed how important they both are for their teams. Barkley, as scouted during the draft, is the most talented player of this draft class and he could do everything he was asked to do, catch, rush, anything. He is Todd Gurley, Part 2. He leads the league in total scrimmage yards and was third behind Gurley and Kamara, two former OROY winners, in total touchdowns.
Mayfield, who got his starting gig due to injury to week 1 starter Tyrod Taylor, guided the Browns to a 6-7 record in the games he started by winning 5 of the last 7 games, which begs the question what if the Browns started Mayfield from week 1 instead of week 4 and gave him the full freedom he got after Hue Jackson got fired. It is fair to say that the Browns probably would still be playing in January.
Both players boast very good resume but Mayfield had the Browns in the grasp of a playoff spot which he probably would have got if he started the whole year, therefore, Mayfield will win the award.
Defence - Darius Leonard, LB, Indianapolis Colts
It is going to be very interesting who will end up winning this award but I think it should be Darius Leonard, the Colts Linebacker. Chargers Safety Derwin James has also been disruptive this year. Leighton Vander Esch, Da’Shawn Hand, Denzel Ward, Levi Wallace, Bradley Chubb, Vita Vea, Jaire Alexander and Justin Reid also played crucial roles in their team's success.
But the DPOY race is between Derwin James and Leonard, with James being already named Pro Football Focus' DPOY. James was amazing for the Chargers with 105 combined tackles and 3 interceptions, but he probably isn't the major piece in their defence with the likes of Joey Bosa wreaking havoc in front.
But, for Leonard, he is clearly the team's best defensive player. It tells a lot about the team and the player when a rookie is your best player. He leads the NFL in total tackles with 163 and in solo tackles with 111, also, he had 7 sacks to go with it. He helped the Colts defence win games at the most crucial points. He was named the AFC defensive player of the month in December.
