Coach of the Year
John Harbaugh, New York Giants
Jesse Minter, Baltimore Ravens
Kellen Moore, New Orleans Saints
WINNER: Kellen Moore, New Orleans Saints
Harbaugh gets the nomination solely because he leaves a top 10 team in Baltimore for New York and almost getting them to the playoffs while Minter inherits Harbaugh's team and improves tremendously to the point where the Ravens look completely different from what Harbaugh had them last year. But Kellen Moore ultimately wins for taking a team with 6 wins to roughly 9 or 10 wins and a NFC South division champion along with probably a top offense and an improved defense.
Defensive Rookie of the Year
Rueben Bain Jr, Edge, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Mansoor Delane, CB, Kansas City Chiefs
Caleb Downs, S, Dallas Cowboys
WINNER: Caleb Downs, S, Dallas Cowboys
I think this is a race that can go either way and the other two will still find reasoning to say why they should had won. All three will be instant factors for what I predict to be playoff contenders. I am giving the edge to Downs right now as I think he will have the better 17 game stretch out of the three, but I still think this is a close race.
Offensive Rookie of the Year
KC Concepion, WR, Cleveland Browns
Jeremiyah Love, RB, Arizona Cardinals
Carnell Tate, WR, Tennessee Titans
WINNER: Carnell Tate, WR, Tennessee Titans
This feels much easier to predict than the Defensive Rookie of the Year does. Concepion and Love are both going to be instant factors for bottom tier teams and will be utilized more, but Carnell Tate is in a situation where not only is he an instant factor but in a situation keeping his team competing for what I predict to be a wide open AFC South. The spotlight is more on Tate, which voters will gravitate more to.
Comeback Player of the Year
Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengals
Aaron Donald, DT, Los Angeles Rams
Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs
WINNER: Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs
I don't see a world where Mahomes loses this unless Aaron Donald over exceeds my expectations and play more than 50% of the defensive snaps. Burrow is only on here because it seems like he is always nominated after being injured the year before.
Defensive Player of the Year
Nik Bonitto, Edge, Denver Broncos
Myles Garrett, Edge, Los Angeles Rams
Aidan Hutchinson, Edge, Detroit Lions
WINNER: Myles Garrett, Edge, Los Angeles Rams
This is the year of the edge, and I think others will give Garrett a run for his money. Hutchinson is the most likely out of the two that I think could win it over Garrett and then Bonitto gets in over Zach Allen and former DPOY Pat Surtain as I expect him to have an insane year that separates him from his teammates.
Offensive Player of the Year
Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Detroit Lions
CeeDee Lamb, WR, Dallas Cowboys
Jonathan Taylor, RB, Indianapolis Colts
WINNER: Jonathan Taylor, RB, Indianapolis Colts
Gibbs and Lamb deserve credit if both return to the playoffs like I predicted, but Jonathan Taylor will most likely be the reason the Colts make it to the playoffs and will most likely lead the NFL in rushing yards.
Most Valuable Player
Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens
Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs
Jonathan Taylor, RB, Indianapolis Colts
WINNER: Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs
Coming out of an ACL injury than leading his team back to the playoffs and almost winning the division, I think Mahomes will be recognized for such that along with playing like he was 27 again.