The NFL UK Media Awards winners are in. The NFL UK Media Awards voting is made up of 50 voters in the UK NFL Media. Here is how they have voted for.
The offensive and defensive rookie of the year award. It’s customary to build suspense, talk about potential candidates, discuss the pros and cons of all of them. And no disrespect to the rest of this years rookie class, but I’m going to skip past that as this years winners won by a long shot.
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Ja’Marr Chase
A fantastic rookie season by the 5th overall pick, Chase was a key component in the Bengals making the Superbowl. Despite criticism of the pick Chase has risen above all expectations and cemented himself as one of the leagues best receivers. Chase’s 1455 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns not only leads the Bengals and all rookies this year. And place him 4th and 3rd in the whole league, respectively.
It’s hard to imagine the Bengals making the Superbowl without Chase. He alone accounted for 23.6% of their total offensive yards (6145, 13th in the league) and a quarter of their total offensive touchdowns (13 of 52). He’s added 1 touchdown this post season and stayed Joe Burrow’s top target with 279 of the Bengals 1012 yards through the air, on route to the Superbowl.
RECORD BREAKER
Chase overtook Justin Jefferson’s record for most receiving yards for a rookie from last year by 55 and put him 2nd to the Houston Oilers Bill Groman, from the 1960 season, by 18 yards. And only the great Randy Moss had more rookie reception touchdowns than Chase (13) with 17 back in 1998.
His 266 yards against the Chiefs on the 2nd of January is the most yards in a single game ever by a rookie. Only one year in, Chase’s 1455 yards sit as the most ever by a Bengals receiver, in their 54 year history.
| Ja’Marr Chase | 33 |
| Rashawn Slater | 3 |
| Creed Humphrey | 2 |
| Davis Mills | 1 |
| Mac Jones | 1 |
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Micah Parsons
Another no-brainer like Chase. 12th overall draft pick Parsons has been favorite for this award since mid season. The athletic linebacker showed he could do it all for the Cowboys, in a number of positions. Parsons lead all rookies with 13 sacks and was 2nd in rookie tackles to the Chiefs Nick Bolton (64 to Boltons 70). His 13 sacks was 6th overall and his 20 tackles for loss was 2nd only to T.J. Watt, who finished with 21.
A key part of the cowboy’s defensive improvement. From 28th in 2022 to 7th in 2021 (29.6 points against down to 21.1/game). Parsons played a range of positions on Cowboys’ defence, his “natural” linebacker position, all across the defensive front and even some snaps in slot coverage.
Parson’s 13 sacks lead all Rookies and was 3rd all time for rookie sacks behind Jayvon Kearse from the Titans (14.5 in 1999) (14.5) and Aldon Smith from the 49ers (4 in 2011). His 64 Tackles was 2nd for this years rookies to only Nick Bolton (70) of the Chiefs.
| Micah Parsons | 37 |
| Patrick Surtain II | 2 |
| Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah | 1 |
Check out all the NFL UK Media Award Winners Here.
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