Former LSU Football WR Justin Jefferson was robbed of an award

Former LSU football wide receiver Justin Jefferson was robbed of an award this weekend.

Jefferson, who was selected in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings, was up for the offensive rookie of the year award on Saturday evening.

The former LSU standout finished his rookie season with 88 receptions for 1,400 yards and seven touchdowns. Insanely good numbers for a wide receiver. Even better for a rookie (Jefferson was fourth in the NFL in receiving yards).

I thought Jefferson was a lock to win the offensive rookie of the year award after such an incredible rookie season.

I was wrong.

Justin Jefferson loses the award to Justin Herbert

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert, the third quarterback selected in the 2020 NFL Draft, walked away with offensive rookie of the year honors on Saturday night.

Herbert certainly had a great season, passing for 4,336 yards, 31 touchdowns, and only 10 interceptions. There’s no doubt the former Oregon Duck signal-caller is a budding superstar in the NFL.

But let’s be honest — quarterbacks putting up gaudy numbers isn’t nearly as impressive in 2020 as it was 10 or 20 years ago. It’s a passing league now.

That same logic could certainly apply to wide receivers, too. But we typically don’t see rookie wide receivers flourish as Jefferson did in their rookie seasons.

What Jefferson did in 2020 was the most impressive rookie season for a wide receiver we’ve seen since Odell Beckham Jr in 2014 (Beckham won the offensive rookie of the year award that season, by the way).

Quarterbacks are all the rage. I get it. But Jefferson was the best offensive rookie by a mile in 2020. He should’ve been rewarded for what he did (especially after he was doubted by analysts leading up to the draft).

Ultimately, these awards are nothing but hardware on a shelf. But it still would’ve been nice to see the former Tiger walk away with the much-deserved honor.