NFL Mid-Season Award Predictions
Offensive rookie of the year- JA’MARR CHASE | cincinnati bengals
The LSU standout had a shaky preseason but since week 1 of the regular season has been nothing short of spectacular. The rookie WR is top 5 in the NFL in receiving yards, yards per catch and touchdowns and only seems to be scratching the surface of his potential, especially paired with QB and fellow LSU Tiger, Joe Burrow.
RUNNER UP- KYLE PITTS | ATLANTA FALCONS
Defensive rookie of the year- MICAH PARSONS | DALLAS COWBOYS
After opting out of his last year in college with Penn State due to COVID, Micah Parsons started off his career with a bang the minute he put on the Cowboys helmet. Parsons has amassed 50+ tackles & 5 sacks so far this season and is a swiss army knife type defender for Dallas from standup LB to DE and rushing the QB. Don’t be shocked if Parsons becomes a legit defensive player of the year candidate in the next few years.
RUNNER UP- PATRICK SURTAIN II | DENVER BRONCOS
COACH of the year- KLIFF KINGSBURY | ARIZONA CARDINALS
Some questioned the Arizona Cardinals hiring of Kliff Kingsbury after an up and down tenure with Texas Tech but this year seems to be the emergence of the Cardinals led by their young coach. The offense is top 10 in the league in passing yards, rushing yards and points per game and their defense is top 3 in points allowed and not to mention have the best record in the league at 8-1. The Cardinals look like a legit Superbowl team and Kingsbury is certainly a big part of their success.
RUNNER UP- MIKE VRABEL | TENNESSEE TITANS
Comeback player of the year- DAK PRESCOTT | DALLAS COWBOYS
The Cowboys suffered a crippling loss last year when QB Dak Prescott went down early in the season with an ankle injury, effectively ending any chance of them making the playoffs. Now that Prescott is healthy and back on the field, he looks like he did before his injury and shows almost no signs of rust leading one of the most exciting offenses in the league along with a lead in the NFC East.
RUNNER UP- JOE BURROW | CINCINNATI BENGALS
Offensive player of the year- COOPER KUPP | LOS ANGELES RAMS
Cooper Kupp may be a surprising name for consideration for best offensive player in the league but this year he is certainly worthy of the accolade. Kupp leads all skill position players (RB, WR & TE) in receptions, yards and touchdowns and is on pace for almost 2,000 receiving yards and 140 receptions. Some may consider RB Derrick Henry for this award but after his recent injury, Kupp looks to be the most explosive playmaker in the league and is deserving of this award.
RUNNER UP- JONATHAN TAYLOR | INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
Defensive player of the year- TJ WATT | PITTSBURGH STEELERS
The Pittsburgh pass rusher has been a wrecking machine for the Steelers this season, trailing only Brown’s Myles Garrett Myles Garrett in sacks & Cardinal’s Markus Golden in forced fumbles, all while doing it in 2 FEWER GAMES. Based on probabilities, had Watt played the same amount of games, he would likely lead the league in both and this conversation would be a lot easier. While he will have some tough competition for this award, I believe Watt can continue to dominate on this pace and eventually win this coveted award.
RUNNER UP- MYLES GARRETT | CLEVELAND BROWNS
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER- MATTHEW STAFFORD | LOS ANGELES RAMS
This award was the hardest to decide not only because its the biggest award among the group but there are several players who are worthy of this award. it came down to two players and I settled on Rams QB Matthew Stafford over you guessed it, Buccaneers QB Tom Brady. Stafford currently leads the league in passing yards and second in touchdowns behind Brady, and the Rams offense seems to have new life after moving on from Jared Goff. While the Buccaneers offense is just as powerful as the Rams, the difference is in expectations and how Stafford has shattered his expectations in his first season with coach Sean McVay and the Rams. This award will likely come down to the end and will be a tough decision but in the end Stafford has shown more than enough to not only lead the Rams to the Superbowl but to also be called the league’s MVP.
RUNNER UP- TOM BRADY | TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS