Ranking the top 5 candidates for Offensive Rookie of the Year

It's prediction season.

As first-year players around the league continue to settle in with their new teams, now fully immersed in the OTA schedule, we evaluate those best positioned for top rookie awards.

Here's a look at five players, and a few honorable mentions, who could be in the running for Offensive Rookie of the Year.

OFFENSE | DEFENSE

1. Deshaun Watson

The Texans took care of their most glaring weakness by trading up in the first round to land Watson. While he'll have to earn the starting spot in training camp, let's settle this one here in May. Houston isn't heading into a pivotal year with Tom Savage leading the offense. Watson likely won't light up the league as a rookie, but he doesn't have to.

Simply taking care of the ball and letting his supporting cast go to work - much like Dak Prescott did last season in Dallas - would make him a favorite for this honor. Even a passable level of play would be a major upgrade over last year's catastrophe under center and have a Super Bowl-ready roster primed for a playoff run. And nothing rakes in the awards like #QBwinz. This could be a runaway if Watson starts all year.

2. Leonard Fournette

Fournette was a polarizing prospect throughout the pre-draft process. For as many evaluators as there were in awe of his combination of speed and power, there were seemingly just as many remaining cautious about his fit in today's NFL. Both viewpoints are entirely fair, but Fournette landed in a perfect spot for early-career production.

The former LSU star will have every opportunity to fill up the stat book as part of a Jaguars offense that's certain to lean on the ground game as a means of taking pressure off Blake Bortles. Playing all 16 games will have him in position for a spot among the league's leading rushers, making him a clear front-runner for this award.

3. Christian McCaffrey

Carolina needed to surround Cam Newton with offensive playmakers in the worst way, and using a first-round pick on McCaffrey was a great start to that end. Calling the Stanford product a running back just doesn't do justice to everything he's capable of on the football field.

Whether it's simple handoffs, working as a safety valve out of the backfield, or lining up out wide as a receiver, the Panthers' newest weapon should be moved all over the field in an effort to get him as many touches as possible. Don't forget his ability as a return man, either. The opportunities for McCaffrey to get his hands on the ball in all phases of the game should lead to an impressive amount of rookie production.

4. Kareem Hunt

A third-round pick in this year's draft, Hunt will fly under the radar looking ahead to the Offensive Rookie of the Year race. But why? Jordan Howard may not have come away with the award last season, but his sensational performance was the latest in a long line of smooth transitions for running backs.

Hunt is instantly the most talented player in the Chiefs' backfield, and it should come as a surprise to no one if he beats out Spencer Ware and Charcandrick West for the lead job in camp. His ability to contribute both as a runner and as a receiver out of the backfield should be put to particularly good use in Andy Reid's offense.

5. Corey Davis

Davis, the fifth overall pick in this year's draft, finally gives young quarterback Marcus Mariota a potential No. 1 target on the outside. Tennessee should continue to rely on its power running game, but that's not to say there isn't still room for major production from at least one receiver.

A far more talented and polished receiver, Davis could quite easily surpass the 945-yard, nine-touchdown output Rishard Matthews put together last season. It will only help his case for Offensive Rookie of the Year honors if his arrival helps Mariota to take the next step in his development and lead the Titans back to the playoffs for the first time since 2008.

Honorable mention

Joe Mixon

Mixon may well prove to be the most talented running back in this class. The only question is whether joining a backfield that already features Jeremy Hill and Giovani Bernard, working behind a bad offensive line, will limit his Year 1 impact.

Dalvin Cook

Cook has tremendous upside as Minnesota's long-term feature back. As is the case with Mixon, though, there's reason to be concerned about his situation. The offensive line may still be an issue, and Latavius Murray and Jerick McKinnon will get their carries.

Samaje Perine

A particularly intriguing sleeper in this race, Perine lands with the Redskins with the opportunity to earn a lead backfield role behind a strong offensive line. The Oklahoma product can give Washington the kind of power running game its been seeking for years.