C.J. Stroud Wins 2023-24 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award over Puka Nacua, More | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors

The inevitable became reality on Thursday as Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud took home the Associated Press' NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award.

Bleacher Report @BleacherReport

CJ STROUD IS YOUR OFFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR 🔥<br><br>Just the beginning for QB1 in H-Town 🌟 <a href="">

Stroud was a near-unanimous winner:

Rob Maaddi @RobMaaddi

AP Offensive Rookie of the Year<br> C.J. Stroud 48-2-0 = 246<br> Puka Nacua 2-48-0 = 154<br> Sam LaPorta 0-0-40 = 40<br> Jahmyr Gibbs 0-0-4 = 4<br> Bijan Robinson 0-0-3 = 3<br> Zay Flowers 0-0-1 = 1<br> Jayden Reed 0-0-1 = 1<br> Rashee Rice 0-0-1 = 1<br>* 1st place: 5 points<br> 2nd place: 3…

The announcement took place at the NFL Honors ceremony in Las Vegas, where Stroud's teammate and fellow first-year player, defensive end Will Anderson Jr., won the AP's Defensive Rookie of the Year award.

Stroud was the overwhelming favorite for this award when the regular season ended, and it's abundantly clear why.

In the season before his arrival, the Texans went just 3-13-1, finishing with three or four wins for the third straight campaign.

However, Houston went 10-7 overall (9-6 in Stroud's starts) in 2023.

A new regime led by first-year head coach DeMeco Ryans in addition to recent great draft picks from general manager Nick Caserio certainly helped matters. But Stroud's play shone above all as the ex-Ohio State star guided a once-moribund franchise into the playoffs for the first time since 2019.

Stroud finished the season completing 63.9 percent of his passes for 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns and just five interceptions. His 273.9 passing yards per game also led the NFL. Stroud earned Pro Bowl honors for his efforts as well.

AP Rookie of the Year is a regular-season award, but Stroud would have been even more of a lock if the playoffs were considered. He dominated in a 45-14 win over the Cleveland Browns during the AFC Wild Card round, completing 16-of-21 passes for 274 yards and three touchdowns.

Ultimately, it's no surprise Stroud won Rookie of the Year, and he's on track to win a host of accolades and honors during a potentially prosperous career.

Still, Stroud had to beat some tough competition for this prize.

No rookie tight end in NFL history has caught more passes than LaPorta, who made 86 catches for 889 yards and 10 touchdowns. The former Iowa star posted some fantastic games, including a three-touchdown outing against the Denver Broncos and a career-high nine catches for 140 yards (on nine targets) and a touchdown versus the New Orleans Saints.

He and fellow Lions rookie, running back Jahmyr Gibbs, helped the Lions win the NFC North for the first time in 30 years en route to an NFC Championship Game appearance.

Gibbs amassed 1,261 total yards and 11 touchdowns and proved equally adept at excelling on the ground and in the air. The ex-Alabama star rushed for 5.2 yards per carry (182 carries, 945 yards) and caught 52 passes for 316 yards as well.

Both Lions rookies earned Pro Bowl honors, and the same went for Los Angeles Rams wideout Puka Nacua, an absolute sensation after landing in L.A. as a fifth-round pick.

Nacua finished the year with 105 receptions, 1,486 yards and six touchdowns. His catch mark ranked ninth in the NFL, while he finished fourth in yards. The ex-BYU star excelled in the playoffs as well with nine receptions for 181 yards and a touchdown in the Rams' 24-23 loss to the Lions in the NFC Wild Card round. Nacua was ultimately a big reason why the Rams doubled their win total from five to 10 and made the postseason.

Bijan Robinson entered the NFL as the most star-studded non-quarterback name in this year's rookie class, and the Atlanta Falcons running back delivered with 1,463 total yards and eight touchdowns. Robinson rushed for 976 yards while adding 58 catches and 487 yards through the air.

The ex-Texas star fared better in the second half of the year, managing 100 or more total yards in four of his last eight games. He posted a season-high 172 on Sept. 17 against the Green Bay Packers.

All five players had sensational seasons, but Stroud's efforts on a Texans team that went from second-worst in the entire league to AFC South champion and playoff winners reigns supreme.