Patriots fans were crazy to think Mac Jones had shot at OROY over Ja’Marr Chase
By Mike Luciano
The New England Patriots struck gold in the NFL Draft, as they found a franchise quarterback in Mac Jones who was able to make the Pro Bowl his rookie season. In a normal year, Jones’ accurate passing would’ve been enough to help him take home the Offensive Rookie of the Year award.
Unfortunately, Jones had the misfortune of entering the NFL alongside Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase. Not only did Chase record 1,455 yards receiving and 13 touchdowns, but he helped take the Bengals from a 4-11-1 team to a Super Bowl appearance. Chase went from a preseason question mark to a game-changing star.
The Patriots were hoping that Jones’ performance at quarterback (compared to that of a wide receiver) would be enough to help him take home the award. Not only did Jones lose to Chase, but it wasn’t even particularly close when you look at the final vote totals.
Chase received 42 of the 50 votes for Offensive Rookie of the Year, while Jones came in second place with just five. Chiefs center Creed Humphrey and Chargers tackle Rashawn Slater rounded out the final three. Jones had an amazing season, but Chase had him beat in this race, and it wasn’t particularly close.
NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year vote totals:
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) February 11, 2022
🥇WR Ja'Marr Chase (Bengals) -- 42
🥈QB Mac Jones (Patriots) -- 5
🥉C Creed Humphrey (Chiefs) -- 2
4⃣ OT Rashawn Slater (Chargers) -- 1
Patriots QB Mac Jones was beaten by Ja’Marr Chase for OROY.
Jones’ advanced numbers painted a very rosy picture of his debut season. While Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson struggled thanks to awful rosters around them and Justin Fields had to overcome the coaching of Matt Nagy, Jones was able to win games on the strength of his arm.
However, Chase immediately cemented himself as the No. 1 receiver on a Super Bowl team, and that instant rise to fame has to weigh heavily on the minds of the voters. Breaking Randy Moss‘ rookie record for receiving yards and not winning Offensive Rookie of the Year would be absurd. He was also among the best wideouts in the game whereas Jones wasn’t particularly close in the QB category.
#Bengals WR Ja'Marr Chase is the winner of the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year. The pick that many debated at No. 5 overall turned into a massive homerun for Cincinnati. Chase put up 81 receptions and 13 TDs and set the rookie record for most receiving yards in a season (1,455).
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) February 11, 2022
Jones was instrumental in getting the Patriots back to the postseason, but even the most basic over-sedation of any Bengals game from last season showed that this team needed someone with Chase’s game-breaking ability. It’s helped push them four quarters away from the game’s ultimate prize.
The fact that Jones didn’t end up with any silverware shouldn’t concern the Patriots or their fans. He’s set them up perfectly for the future thanks to him arriving in the pros more polished than most anticipated. Hopefully, Jones will use this as fuel to continue his Pro Bowl trajectory.
We just wish some Patriots fans were a bit more realistic in their OROY assertions.
