Welcome back to the New York Jets UK Fan Awards for the 2022 season, as we move on to our second award - Rookie of the Year!

Last week’s MVP vote was won by defensive star Quinnen Williams with over 40% of the poll - congrats to Q!

Two rookies were in that poll, which spoke to the exceptional level of our first year players last season, so let’s take a closer look at our candidates for this week’s award.

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

Candidate #1 - Sauce Gardner

Pro Bowl, All-Pro and, with any luck, Defensive Rookie of the Year at next month’s NFL Honors event in Phoenix.

It was a remarkable debut season for Sauce Gardner, who put the clamps on a number of the sport’s premier wide receivers, including Ja’Marr Chase, Stefon Diggs and Justin Jefferson.

Equally comfortable in man and zone coverage, the sky's the limit for Sauce heading into year two as he looks to cement his place as one of the game’s very best defenders.

Candidate #2 - Garrett Wilson

Indeed, with a resume like Sauce’s, you wouldn’t expect there to be much competition for the Rookie of the Year award - but a superstar in the making on the other side of the ball appears guaranteed to make this a close-run race.

Garrett Wilson racked up 1,103 receiving yards in his rookie season - the most by a Jets receiver since Brandon Marshall’s exceptional 2015 campaign. Indeed, Wilson might be the most talented receiver to suit up in a Jets uniform since Marshall, which is a scary proposition for a player who was finding his way in the offence to start the year.

A route-running phenomenon who makes defenders miss in the open field - Wilson’s 22 missed tackles forced was second-best in the league among wide receivers - he showed an ability to move the chains with tough catches as well as break the explosive plays that change the game completely. He’s a true number one wideout.

Candidate #3 - Breece Hall

Can you be Rookie of the Year if you only play in seven games?

It’s a tough argument - especially considering Hall’s competition for the award - but if anyone is qualified to make it then it’s Breece Hall.

In those seven games, Hall racked up 463 rushing yards (the Jets leading rusher on the season), 218 receiving yards and five total touchdowns and looked to be on an Offensive Rookie of the Year trajectory.

Beyond the numbers, it was clear what his dynamism did to open up the offence, which looked drastically different once he went down with his season-ending injury. On that basis alone, Hall is worth a shout for Rookie of the Year.

Candidate #4 - Jermaine Johnson

Choosing our fourth candidate between Jermaine Johnson and Micheal Clemons is tough. Both first year rookies played limited snaps but made big impacts at times, racking up key tackles in the run games, sacks at crucial moments and even a blocked punt each on special teams duty.

In the end, our nod goes to Johnson, the Jets’ third first round pick from the 2022 draft, who had three sacks on the year including a pivotal takedown of Josh Allen in the open field during the Jets famous November win over the Bills.

Expect his role to grow heading into his sophomore season.

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Honourable mentions also to Jeremy Ruckert and Max Mitchell, both of whom showed exciting flashes in their limited playing time and are sure to be a part of the future of this draft class!

Have your say in the poll and we will announce the winner at the end of the week - and of course, come back next Monday when our next award vote, for Game of the Year will go live!

Who was your New York Jets Rookie of the Year in 2022?