With the 2021 ¹ú²úÍâÁ÷Íøseason at its midpoint, NFL.com's analysts update their predictions on who they think will win some of the league's most prestigious individual awards, including:
Participating analysts: Brian Baldinger, , , , , , , , , , Cynthia Frelund, Chase Goodbread, , , Dan Hanzus, , Willie McGinest, , , , Chad Reuter, , Marc Ross, , Nick Shook, Matt Smith, Joe Thomas, Lance Zierlein.
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
(13 votes: Battista, Bergman, Chadiha, Goodbread, Grant, Hall, Jones-Drew, McGinest, Patra, Rank, Reuter, Rosenthal, Sessler)
2. Kyler Murray | 7 votes: Baldinger, Blair, Brandt, Hanzus, Parr, Shook, Thomas
T-3. Josh Allen | 4 votes: Filice, Frelund, Smith, Zierlein
T-3. Lamar Jackson | 4 votes: Bhanpuri, Cersosimo, Ross, Trotter
5. Derek Carr | 1 vote: Carr
Why Gregg Rosenthal chose Tom Brady: MVP is often a narrative award, and Brady won't have the same storyline sizzle as guys like Dak Prescott, Lamar Jackson and Kyler Murray. MVP is also often a team award, however, and I suspect the Bucs finish with the NFC's No. 1 seed while Brady remains the best down-to-down passer in football at the age of 44 on the way to his fourth MVP.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
(15 votes: Bergman, Bhanpuri, Blair, Brandt, Cersosimo, Chadiha, Grant, Hall, Hanzus, Parr, Patra, Reuter, Sessler, Shook, Thomas)
2. Matthew Stafford | 5 votes: Baldinger, Carr, Jones-Drew, Smith, Zierlein
T-3. Tom Brady | 2 votes: Rank, Trotter
T-3. Kyler Murray | 2 votes: Battista, Ross
T-5. Davante Adams | 1 vote: Goodbread
T-5. Nick Chubb | 1 vote: Frelund
T-5. Lamar Jackson | 1 vote: Filice
T-5. Dak Prescott | 1 vote: McGinest
Why Jeffri Chadiha chose Cooper Kupp: No receiver has been more productive than Kupp. He's on pace for 1,900 yards and 19 touchdowns, and there isn't a non-quarterback who is close to being that dominant at his position.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
(16 votes: Battista, Bergman, Blair, Cersosimo, Filice, Goodbread, Grant, Hanzus, McGinest, Parr, Patra, Reuter, Ross, Sessler, Shook, Thomas)
2. Trevon Diggs | 6 votes: Baldinger, Brandt, Chadiha, Hall, Jones-Drew, Zierlein
T-3. Aaron Donald | 2 votes: Frelund, Rank
T-3. T.J. Watt | 2 votes: Rosenthal, Smith
T-5. Kevin Byard | 1 vote: Trotter
T-5. Maxx Crosby | 1 vote: Carr
T-5. Jalen Ramsey | 1 vote: Bhanpuri
Why Nick Shook chose Myles Garrett: Garrett is averaging 1.3 sacks per game, a pace that puts him right in line with the single-season ¹ú²úÍâÁ÷Íørecord of 22.5. If he hits that mark, he'll lock this award up, no matter how many fumbles T.J. Watt forces.
OFFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
(25 votes: Baldinger, Battista, Bhanpuri, Blair, Brandt, Carr, Cersosimo, Chadiha, Filice, Goodbread, Grant, Hall, Hanzus, Jones-Drew, McGinest, Patra, Reuter, Rosenthal, Ross, Sessler, Shook, Smith, Thomas, Trotter, Zierlein)
2. Mac Jones | 2 votes: Bergman, Frelund
T-3. Justin Fields | 1 vote: Rank
T-3. Najee Harris | 1 vote: Parr
Why DeAngelo Hall chose Ja'Marr Chase: Chase has transformed the Bengals' offense into an electric unit when he's in sync with Joe Burrow. In a draft class full of offensive talent, the Bengals wideout gets the edge over QBs and other playmakers because he has consistently made life hell for defensive backs and D-coordinators.
DEFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
(26 votes: Baldinger, Battista, Bergman, Blair, Brandt, Carr, Cersosimo, Chadiha, Filice, Frelund, Goodbread, Hanzus, Jones-Drew, McGinest, Parr, Patra, Rank, Reuter, Rosenthal, Ross, Sessler, Shook, Smith, Thomas, Trotter, Zierlein)
2. Patrick Surtain | 3 votes: Bhanpuri, Grant, Hall
Why Willie McGinest chose Micah Parsons: An immediate impact player on Dan Quinn's defense. Parsons' presence at the second level led to the release of Jaylon Smith a month into the season. The Penn State product continues to develop untapped parts of his game and is producing like crazy with five sacks, 14 QB hits and 10 tackles for loss in eight games. No other rookie has been a game-wrecker like Parsons.
COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR
(26 votes: Battista, Bergman, Bhanpuri, Blair, Brandt, Carr, Cersosimo, Chadiha, Filice, Frelund, Goodbread, Hall, Hanzus, McGinest, Parr, Patra, Rank, Reuter, Rosenthal, Ross, Sessler, Shook, Smith, Thomas, Trotter, Zierlein)
2. Joe Burrow | 2 votes: Grant, Jones-Drew
3. Andrew Whitworth | 1 vote: Baldinger
Why David Carr chose Dak Prescott: There was a laundry list full of concerns around the Dallas QB leading up to Week 1, but all he's done since then is put the Cowboys in winning situations. He's even cemented himself in the MVP conversation with his team sitting comfortably at the top of the NFC East. 
COACH OF THE YEAR
(14 votes: Baldinger, Battista, Blair, Brandt, Carr, Frelund, Grant, Hall, McGinest, Reuter, Sessler, Shook, Smith, Thomas)
2. Mike Vrabel | 4 votes: Bhanpuri, Rank, Trotter, Zierlein
3. Sean Payton | 3 votes: Filice, Parr, Patra
4. Matt LaFleur | 2 votes: Bergman, Rosenthal
T-5. Bill Belichick | 1 vote: Hanzus
T-5. Rich Bisaccia | 1 vote: Jones-Drew
T-5. John Harbaugh | 1 vote: Ross
T-5. Mike McCarthy | 1 vote: Chadiha
T-5. Sean McDermott | 1 vote: Goodbread
T-5. Brandon Staley | 1 vote: Cersosimo
Why Marc Sessler chose Kliff Kingsbury: In August, we were wondering if Kingsbury would spend this autumn attached to the hot seat. Arizona felt figured out, Kingsbury's system just another pro football flash in the pan. Utter nonsense. The Cardinals' rise proved their coach to be something else: an inventive, resourceful leader whose balanced team operates as an overwhelming force on offense and a swallow-you-up behemoth on defense. Kliff is king.
EACH ANALYST'S BALLOT
Analyst | MVP | OPOY | DPOY | OROY | DROY | Comeback | Coach |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Brian Baldinger | Kyler Murray | Matthew Stafford | Trevon Diggs | Ja'Marr Chase | Micah Parsons | Andrew Whitworth | Kliff Kingsbury |
Judy Battista | Tom Brady | Kyler Murray | Myles Garrett | Ja'Marr Chase | Micah Parsons | Dak Prescott | Kliff Kingsbury |
Jeremy Bergman | Tom Brady | Cooper Kupp | Myles Garrett | Mac Jones | Micah Parsons | Dak Prescott | Matt LaFleur |
Ali Bhanpuri | Lamar Jackson | Cooper Kupp | Myles Garrett | Ja'Marr Chase | Patrick Surtain | Dak Prescott | Mike Vrabel |
Tom Blair | Kyler Murray | Cooper Kupp | Myles Garrett | Ja'Marr Chase | Micah Parsons | Dak Prescott | Kliff Kingsbury |
Gil Brandt | Kyler Murray | Cooper Kupp | Trevon Diggs | Ja'Marr Chase | Micah Parsons | Dak Prescott | Kliff Kingsbury |
David Carr | Derek Carr | Matthew Stafford | Maxx Crosby | Ja'Marr Chase | Micah Parsons | Dak Prescott | Kliff Kingsbury |
Brooke Cersosimo | Lamar Jackson | Cooper Kupp | Myles Garrett | Ja'Marr Chase | Micah Parsons | Dak Prescott | Brandon Staley |
Jeffri Chadiha | Tom Brady | Cooper Kupp | Trevon Diggs | Ja'Marr Chase | Micah Parsons | Dak Prescott | Mike McCarthy |
Gennaro Filice | Josh Allen | Lamar Jackson | Myles Garrett | Ja'Marr Chase | Micah Parsons | Dak Prescott | Sean Payton |
Cynthia Frelund | Josh Allen | Nick Chubb | Aaron Donald | Mac Jones | Micah Parsons | Dak Prescott | Kliff Kingsbury |
Chase Goodbread | Tom Brady | Davante Adams | Myles Garrett | Ja'Marr Chase | Micah Parsons | Dak Prescott | Sean McDermott |
Marcas Grant | Tom Brady | Cooper Kupp | Myles Garrett | Ja'Marr Chase | Patrick Surtain | Joe Burrow | Kliff Kingsbury |
DeAngelo Hall | Tom Brady | Cooper Kupp | Trevon Diggs | Ja'Marr Chase | Patrick Surtain | Dak Prescott | Kliff Kingsbury |
Dan Hanzus | Kyler Murray | Cooper Kupp | Myles Garrett | Ja'Marr Chase | Micah Parsons | Dak Prescott | Bill Belichick |
Maurice Jones-Drew | Tom Brady | Matthew Stafford | Trevon Diggs | Ja'Marr Chase | Micah Parsons | Joe Burrow | Rich Bisaccia |
Willie McGinest | Tom Brady | Dak Prescott | Myles Garrett | Ja'Marr Chase | Micah Parsons | Dak Prescott | Kliff Kingsbury |
Dan Parr | Kyler Murray | Cooper Kupp | Myles Garrett | Najee Harris | Micah Parsons | Dak Prescott | Sean Payton |
Kevin Patra | Tom Brady | Cooper Kupp | Myles Garrett | Ja'Marr Chase | Micah Parsons | Dak Prescott | Sean Payton |
Adam Rank | Tom Brady | Tom Brady | Aaron Donald | Justin Fields | Micah Parsons | Dak Prescott | Mike Vrabel |
Chad Reuter | Tom Brady | Cooper Kupp | Myles Garrett | Ja'Marr Chase | Micah Parsons | Dak Prescott | Kliff Kingsbury |
Gregg Rosenthal | Tom Brady | No entry | T.J. Watt | Ja'Marr Chase | Micah Parsons | Dak Prescott | Matt LaFleur |
Marc Ross | Lamar Jackson | Kyler Murray | Myles Garrett | Ja'Marr Chase | Micah Parsons | Dak Prescott | John Harbaugh |
Marc Sessler | Tom Brady | Cooper Kupp | Myles Garrett | Ja'Marr Chase | Micah Parsons | Dak Prescott | Kliff Kingsbury |
Nick Shook | Kyler Murray | Cooper Kupp | Myles Garrett | Ja'Marr Chase | Micah Parsons | Dak Prescott | Kliff Kingsbury |
Matt Smith | Josh Allen | Matthew Stafford | T.J. Watt | Ja'Marr Chase | Micah Parsons | Dak Prescott | Kliff Kingsbury |
Joe Thomas | Kyler Murray | Cooper Kupp | Myles Garrett | Ja'Marr Chase | Micah Parsons | Dak Prescott | Kliff Kingsbury |
Jim Trotter | Lamar Jackson | Tom Brady | Kevin Byard | Ja'Marr Chase | Micah Parsons | Dak Prescott | Mike Vrabel |
Lance Zierlein | Josh Allen | Matthew Stafford | Trevon Diggs | Ja'Marr Chase | Micah Parsons | Dak Prescott | Mike Vrabel |