A.J. Brown betting Elijah Moore will be NFL’s top offensive rookie

Elijah Moore has garnered a lot of praise during his first training camp with the Jets. Now one of his former Ole Miss teammates thinks he could be the best rookie in the league this season.

Titans receiver A.J. Brown – who played with Moore for one season in college – told The Raw Room podcast that he would bet money on the Jets’ speedy wideout winning the Offensive Rookie of the Year award.

“He’s going to go crazy with the Jets this year,” Brown said. “Real talk, he’s a real sleeper. I’ll put my money on him – Offensive Rookie of the Year. Without a doubt. Over anybody. I ain’t even discrediting the guys that went ahead of him, ain’t nobody messing with him.”

Brown doubled-down on Twitter, saying he would bet all of his game checks on Moore winning the award.

I’ll Bet my all my game checks on @e_moore03 winning ROY! I’ll live and die with my brother! https://t.co/sbYwYAEmNc

— AJ Brown (@1kalwaysopen_) August 11, 2021

Brown and Moore built a tight friendship during their time at Ole Miss in 2018. They were so close that Brown broke down in tears after the Jets drafted Moore with the 34th overall pick this past spring.

“I knew there was something different about you, brother,” Brown told Moore. “I never told you this, but you’re way better than me, bro. The sky’s the limit for you. You can go as far as you want to go, bro. You’re blessed.”

Moore has credited Brown with helping him develop his skillset in college. Brown taught him how to use his speed and size to beat defenders in space, which helped Moore put together a sensational junior season. Moore tallied 1,193 receiving yards and eight touchdowns on 86 receptions.

While Brown’s optimism is admirable, history is not on Moore’s side when it comes to winning the award.

A quarterback has won the award six times since 2010. The last receiver to win the award was Odell Beckham Jr. in 2014 when he tallied 91 receptions for 1,305 yards and 12 touchdowns. Even in a record-breaking year, Vikings wideout Justin Jefferson lost to Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert in 2020. Moore will likely be up against at least three quarterbacks – including his own in Zach Wilson – as well as the five receivers picked before him and Steelers running back Najee Harris.

No matter how that race shakes out, Brown won’t have to wait long to watch his former teammate in person. Brown’s Titans travel to New York to face the Jets on Oct. 3 in Week 4.