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Joseph Zucker is the featured Columnist IV for the New England patriots.
Andy Lyons is a photographer.
The head of the rookies in the eyes of NFL executives was New England quarterback Mac Jones.
A group of 23 team officials gave Jones 11 votes for the offensive rookies of the year award. Ja'Marr Chase was second with nine votes.
An executive of Jones said that he was poised beyond his years. He has less "rookie moments" than the others but he really processes quickly within their offense. He doesn't turn the ball over a lot. He plays like a vet.
Jones is an outlier among his peers.
The San Francisco 49ers are taking a gradual approach with Trey Lance, and there wasn't another quarterback who received a single vote for offensive ROY.
The lowest drafted among the five, Jones has thrown for 3,168 yards, 18 touchdown and 10 interceptions while completing 69.0 percent of his passes in 14 starts. The 15th overall pick out of Alabama has exceeded expectations.
Jones is the favorite to win the offensive rookies of the year award. He's -700 at DraftKings Sportsbook with Chase at +400 and Jaylen Waddle at +6500.
Chase will have a lot of people arguing with him. The 21-year-old has 61 catches for 1,038 yards and 10 touchdown. They picked up where they left off at LSU.
Jones will have a hard time beating his resume if the Pats win the AFC East.
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