{"id":96755,"date":"2022-01-05T22:02:33","date_gmt":"2022-01-06T03:02:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.clnsmedia.com\/?p=96755"},"modified":"2022-01-07T10:31:26","modified_gmt":"2022-01-07T15:31:26","slug":"lazar-making-patriots-qb-mac-joness-case-for-offensive-rookie-of-the-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.clnsmedia.com\/?p=96755","title":{"rendered":"Lazar: Making Patriots QB Mac Jones’s Case for Offensive Rookie of the Year"},"content":{"rendered":"

The never-ending debate with NFL awards: is it the \u201cbest\u201d or \u201cmost valuable\u201d player in a given season?<\/p>\n

In the case of the Offensive Rookie of the Year, most agree Bengals wide receiver Ja\u2019Marr Chase is the best rookie in the 2021 class.<\/p>\n

Chase\u2019s outstanding first season includes 79 catches for 1,429 yards and 13 touchdowns. The Bengals wideout is top five in receiving yards, receiving touchdowns, and leads the NFL in yards per reception.<\/p>\n

The fifth overall pick in the 2021 draft is instantly playing like a top-five player at his position and is now BetOnline.AG\u2019s favorite to win Offensive Rookie of the Year.<\/p>\n

However, there\u2019s no debate about who is the most valuable offensive rookie after a season that stacks up with the best first-year quarterbacks over the last decade.<\/p>\n

Patriots rookie quarterback Mac Jones blows Chase away in terms of pure value to his team.<\/p>\n

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According to Pro Football Focus, Jones has produced substantially more wins above replacement (WAR) than Chase and is PFF\u2019s ninth-ranked quarterback only 16 games into his NFL career. In fact, Chase is ninth among all rookies in PFF WAR.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, Pro Football Focus concludes that Jones is producing at a level consistent with a quarterback who makes $22 million more than his current salary in the first year of his rookie contract.<\/p>\n

Jones has also generated substantially more total expected points added than Chase and his rookie season is consistent with past OROY winners.<\/p>\n

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For example, Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert\u2019s rookie season was slightly better than Jones\u2019s in some categories, while the Pats\u2019 rookie edges Herbert in completion percentage over expectation (CPOE) and PFF grade.<\/p>\n

\"Image\"<\/p>\n

(via Ben Baldwin<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Plus, Jones\u2019s season stacks up with the best rookie quarterbacks in recent history, grading in the top quadrant since 2011 among first-year QBs.<\/p>\n

There are also subtle nuances to Jones\u2019s game on film that show a quarterback who is wise beyond his years and explain how he has led the Pats back to the postseason in his first year under center.<\/p>\n

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Good stuff on this levels concept by the #Patriots<\/a>:<\/p>\n

1st play – Mac to Meyers with Okereke dropping into deep hole<\/p>\n

2nd play – Mac to Bourne with Okereke jumping Meyers<\/p>\n

3rd play – Mac deep to Harry 1-on-1 when Okereke jumps Meyers & deep safety jumps Bourne pic.twitter.com\/dMABUgitr2<\/a><\/p>\n

— Evan Lazar (@ezlazar) December 20, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n