[Redskins8588]

Marques Colston was drafted out of Hofstra in the seventh round 252 pick overall of the 2006 NFL draft by the New Orleans Saints. A team that many felt would not win many games let alone get a first round by in the playoffs this season. Colston makes a good candidate due to his production at a position that is believed to take at least 3 years to make a contribution to the team. Playing wide receiver in the NFL is no easy task for veterans let alone a rookie wide out. In his first season in the NFL Colston managed to have 70 catches for 1038 yards and 8 touchdowns. After scoring touchdowns in each of his first 2 games, Colston busted on to the scene week 4 against the Carolina Panthers when he gashed the Panthers secondary with 5 receptions for 132 yards and 1 touchdown. Then, starting after New Orleans bye week, Colston went on a 3 week tear averaging 152 yards and 1 touchdown per game. Pretty impressive for a rookie wide receiver that was the 4th pick from being 2006’s Mr. Irrelevant.

Another rookie that was not picked in the first round of the draft that has a legitimate shot at bringing home the OROY award is Jacksonville’s rookie running back Maurice Jones-Drew. This is a player that I watched, thanks to the NFL Network, at the NFL combine. Watching him work out and seeing how he is built with his tree trunk thighs I felt that he would make a good running back in the NFL no matter which team drafted him. Some experts felt that Jones-Drew was too short to play in the NFL measuring in at a massive 5’7”. Splitting carries with Fred Taylor, Jones-Drew still managed to gain 1377 yards in total offense, 941 rushing yards and 436 receiving yards and 9 touchdowns. All of this production and still took care of the kick return duties gaining 860 yards and 1 touchdown. Jones-Drew break out game in the NFL came as early as week 3 against the Colts where he had his 1st 100 yard rushing game with 32 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown to go along with his 100 yard kick return game. Ten games later Jones-Drew took part ownership of the Colts defense when he ripped them for 166 yards rushing, 2 rushing touchdowns, 1 reception for 15 yards and 122 yards a touchdown in kick return duties.

My last offensive rookie player that should be in serious contention for the OROY award is the Tennessee Titans rookie quarterback Vince Young. Playing quarterback in the NFL is no easy task, especially when you are rookie QB taking over at week 4 and after a bumpy start he was in large the reason for the Titans 6 game winning streak from week 11 to week 16. Young’s first win came on the road against the Washington Redskins where he was 13 of 25 for 161 yards and 1 touchdown with a quarterback rating of 85.6. Vince Young’s best game of the season came in week 16 in a win against the Buffalo Bills. Vince was 13 of 20 for 183 yards with 2 passing touchdowns a quarterback rating of 127.7 and rushed for a 36 yard touchdown. This is a pretty amazing feat what Young has accomplished this season in the NFL playing a position that is the most scrutinized and watched under a microscope. The quarterback position is hard for most veterans in the NFL only to have a rookie play as if he is a 5 year vet.

I wasnt pulling for any player, just the three best, IMO...