Breece Hall 9/1 To Win Offensive Rookie Of The Year
Brad’s Take: Quarterbacks or running backs have won the last seven of these awards and eight of the last nine (Odell Beckham Jr.). What I love about this bet is that there is no QB to really worry about. I actually think Mitch Trubisky is going to win games for Pittsburgh so the top-drafted QB, Kenny Pickett, may not play enough games to reasonably qualify. So that leaves a running back as the most likely winner and Hall is clearly the highest-rated rookie running back according to all the draft experts.
Who else can win? I don’t see Kenny Walker doing it in Seattle given their crowded backfield and quarterback issues. The only other guy taken in the top two rounds is James Cook, who is more of a receiving back. I watched a lot of Hall and this guy is just good. He’s big. Fast. Explosive. He rushed for over 1,600 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2021 for Iowa State. He scored at least one rushing TD in 24-straight games. He runs a 4.39 40 and measures athletically very similar to Jonathan Taylor. He’s just a big-time player. And if you’re going to give me 9/1, that’s just because the Jets have no respect. But their line is rated in the top half of the league and this is a 49ers system that is very friendly to running backs, ones not nearly as talented as Hall.
For more of Brad’s Future picks, listen to the full Givin Futures podcast.