NFL Honors: New York Jets duo take home offensive and defensive rookie of the year awards
- Harrison Discombe
- 10 February 2023
New York Jets’ 2022 draft class has a case for one of the best in recent years with wide receiver Garrett Wilson and corner Ahmad ‘Sauce’ Gardner named Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year.
This is just the third time a team has had players win both the offensive and defensive rookie of the year awards in the same year and the first since the New Orleans Saints saw Marshon Lattimore and Alvin Kamara earn honours in 2018.
Gardner was named to this year's All-Pro team after a season in which he led the league in passes defended (20) and had two interceptions and 75 tackles.
According to Next Gen Stats, he also earned a -28.8 target EPA, second-best among corners, as well as allowing a 48.1 completion percentage and a -8.4 completion percentage over expected, both better than any other rookie corner.
Wilson scored four touchdowns and earned rookie-high marks of 83 receptions and 1,103 yards, the most by a first-year player in Jets franchise history.
Despite poor quarterback play and a season-ending injury suffered by rookie running back Breece Hall in week seven, Wilson was able to stay consistent and produce explosive plays throughout the year.
The former Ohio State wideout won this year's offensive rookie of the year by a 156-129 vote.
