NFL Power Rankings: Top 5 AFC Offensive Rookie of the Year candidates in 2026

3. Denzel Boston, WR, Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns got themselves a major draft steal in Denzel Boston, the 2nd-round pick out of Washington.

All throughout the pre-draft process, Boston was projected as a 1st-round player, so when he fell to the 2nd round, it was a big shocker. But the Browns aren't complaining.

Even the Browns passed on Boston in the 1st round, instead choosing to select KC Concepcion. That duo is going to be a lot of fun to watch develop this coming season, especially with how awful the receiver position was last year for this Cleveland team.

Right now, the leader in the clubhouse for the Browns to receive the most targets in the passing game this season has to be second-year tight end Harold Fannin Jr., but behind him? It's anyones guess.

Boston should be in line for as many targets as he can handle with the way he's performing early on in training camp. After seeing Tetairoa McMillan win the award for the Panthers last season, Boston has a chance to do the exact same.

2. Carnell Tate, WR, Tennessee Titans

The Tennessee Titans have a fun combination of being a potential breakout team with a breakout quarterback who just got some new weapons in the 2026 offseason.

All Carnell Tate has to do, seemingly, is ride the wave.

Not that Tate is the same exact type of prospect as Malik Nabers, but we saw Nabers get an extremely high volume of targets in his rookie season under head coach Brian Daboll when the two were together in New York. Now that Daboll is calling plays for the Titans, it makes a lot of sense that the Titans would involve Tate in similar ways.

Tate has the feel of a player who can get open at all three levels in the NFL right away, and he's already developed a strong enough chemistry with Cam Ward to be really excited about his future with the team.

1. Fernando Mendoza, QB, Las Vegas Raiders

Even though the Raiders' plan is for Kirk Cousins to start as long as possible, it feels like it's only a matter of time before the #1 overall pick in this year's draft is going to get on the field.

And as we saw last season, even without a full year of starting, quarterbacks like Tyler Shough and Jaxson Dart were able to put their names in the hat for Offensive Rookie of the Year without a full season of starting.

Mendoza can do the same.

If he comes in and is helping the Raiders win games as a rookie, he's going to get plenty of recognition anyway. Mendoza is an accurate quarterback with ice in his veins when it comes to clutch moments. Especially considering the Raiders don't have the best defense (on paper) or the best group of receivers to help him out, if Mendoza can put up numbers and turn the tide for the team, he's going to be the easy front-runner for this award.

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