“Why not Brock?”
That’s what was on the T-shirt Raiders rookie offensive lineman Jackson Powers-Johnson was wearing postgame of the Raiders season finale on Sunday. Part of the campaign by the Raiders to get their record-setting rookie tight end more recognition in the race for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.
“Brock Bowers is the Offensive Rookie of the Year,” JPJ said of the meaning behind the T-shirt. “That’s my opinion. He balls out. He goes out there and he gives it a hundred percent. You can look at other rookies in terms of their successful positions and that’s great for them, but I give more credit to the guy that’s in the least successful position but still goes out there and does what he does. You can be discouraged and don’t want to go out and put up those numbers, but he does. He’s an incredible man, he’s an incredible person, he’s an incredible player. So, I stand by this shirt.”
It seems a forgone conclusion that Jayden Daniels will take home the award after leading the Washington Commanders to the playoffs and setting a rookie QB rushing record along the way.
But some believe what Brock has done is more historic and therefore deserves more consideration for the award.
The unfortunate thing is, though, that no tight end has ever won the award. And so, despite Bowers breaking a 63-year-old record for tight end receiving yards or (twice) breaking the rookie receptions record, or setting a new Raiders franchise single-season receptions record, those who make the decisions are always going to lean toward the glamorous positions like quarterback, wide receiver, and running back.
Hence why those are the only positions that have ever won Offensive Rookie of the Year. That’s something JPJ thinks should change.
“You can ask any offensive lineman they’re always going to say that they want someone who hasn’t won it before to win it,” JPJ added.
So, what Powers-Johnson can do is wear a T-shirt, speak his piece, and stand behind his rookie draft classmate.