Predicting who receives 49ers player awards for 2022 season
By Peter Panacy
49ers Offensive Rookie of the Year: Tyrion Davis-Price
San Francisco used five of its nine picks in the 2022 NFL Draft on offensive players, yet only two of them stand out as legitimate candidates for the team’s Offensive Player of the Year award: wide receiver Danny Gray and running back Tyrion Davis-Price.
Gray, whose blazing-fast 4.33 40-yard time makes him a unique gadget player, nevertheless finds himself buried on a deep wide receiver depth chart entering his rookie season.
Davis-Price’s role, however, could be much more impactful.
Read More: Tyrion Davis-Price won’t be a washout draft pick
The 49ers may have reached for the former LSU tailback, grabbing him late in Round 3 when it wasn’t exactly viewed as a need, but the pick makes some sense. Presumed No. 1 running back Elijah Mitchell dealt with injures for much of 2021, and the Niners weren’t particularly potent in short-yardage situations.
That’s likely where Davis-Price’s impact will be felt most, both as a short-yardage specialist and as someone who’ll likely start games before giving way to Mitchell in the second half when opposing defenses have been tired out.
The rookie’s numbers may not be gaudy or overly impressive, but if he’s able to rush for 400 yards this season, that’ll be enough for him to be named San Francisco’s best offensive rookie.