With the 2021 ¹ú²úÍâÁ÷Íøseason just around the corner, NFL.com's analysts predict who they think will win some of the league's most prestigious individual awards, including:
Participating analysts: , , , , , , , , , Cynthia Frelund, Chase Goodbread, , , Dan Hanzus, , Shaun O'Hara, , , Scott Pioli, , Chad Reuter, , Marc Ross, , , Nick Shook, Matt Smith, , Lance Zierlein.
NOTE: All betting lines -- listed alongside each player's name -- are courtesy of Caesars Sports Book and are current as of 1 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Sept. 1.
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
(16 votes: Battista, Bergman, Brandt, Goodbread, Grant, Hanzus, Jones-Drew, O'Hara, Parr, Pioli, Rank, Reuter, Rosenthal, Ross, Sessler, Shook)
2. Josh Allen ( +1200) | 6 votes: Filice, Frelund, Patra, Schein, Smith, Zierlein
T-3. Tom Brady (+1200) | 2 votes: Chadiha, Hall
T-3. Matthew Stafford (+2000) | 2 votes: Carr, Cersosimo
T-5. Aaron Donald (+12500) | 1 vote: Blair
T-5. Aaron Rodgers (+1000) | 1 vote: Thomas
T-5. Russell Wilson (+1800) | 1 vote: Bhanpuri
Why David Carr chose Matthew Stafford: I've raved all offseason about the Rams-Stafford marriage. The veteran passer is a perfect fit for Sean McVay's system, and we'll see the evidence all over the stat sheet. The longtime Lion will excel on play-action, tight-window throws, deep passes and under pressure. Stafford's numbers have been great -- elite, at times -- throughout his career. But now, playing on a contender, he'll finally get the credit he deserves.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
(5 votes: Cersosimo, Filice, Grant, Jones-Drew, Parr)
T-2. Josh Allen | 4 votes: Brandt, Hall, O'Hara, Ross
T-2. Nick Chubb | 4 votes: Patra, Rank, Smith, Thomas
T-4. Patrick Mahomes | 3 votes: Blair, Pioli, Reuter
T-4. Aaron Rodgers | 3 votes: Frelund, Goodbread, Schein
T-6. Davante Adams | 1 vote: Chadiha
T-6. Tom Brady | 1 vote: Battista
T-6. Dalvin Cook | 1 vote: Zierlein
T-6. Derrick Henry | 1 vote: Shook
T-6. Justin Herbert | 1 vote: Sessler
T-6. Alvin Kamara | 1 vote: Bergman
T-6. Kyler Murray | 1 vote: Hanzus
T-6. Dak Prescott | 1 vote: Bhanpuri
T-6. Darren Waller | 1 vote: Carr
Why Maurice Jones-Drew chose Christian McCaffrey: The last time CMC played a full season in 2019, he eclipsed 1,000 yards rushing and receiving. He may not account for 52.5 percent of offensive touches like he did in that season, but I still expect the dynamic running back to be prominently featured in Joe Brady's offense. Another 1,000/1,000 campaign could be in play.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
(10 votes: Battista, Bergman, Blair, Brandt, Filice, Grant, Hanzus, Parr, Pioli, Shook)
T-2. Aaron Donald (+400) | 6 votes: Carr, Frelund, Jones-Drew, Rank, Reuter, Schein
T-2. T.J. Watt (+650) | 6 votes: Chadiha, Hall, O'Hara, Patra, Ross, Thomas
4. Derwin James (+2800) | 3 votes: Bhanpuri, Sessler, Smith
5. Chase Young (+1600) | 2 votes: Cersosimo, Zierlein
T-6. Chris Jones (+5000) | 1 vote: Rosenthal
T-6. Jalen Ramsey (+3000) | 1 vote: Goodbread
Why Gil Brandt chose Myles Garrett: Garrett has long been on the precipice of breaking out. COVID-19 kept him from contending for DPOY in 2020, when he logged a blistering nine sacks in his first seven games -- and I really feel like this is the year for him to claim the hardware that would cement his place among the NFL's premier defenders. Cleveland has assembled a strong defense that should make it even more difficult for opponents to focus on stopping Garrett, meaning he should have plenty of opportunities to pile up stats. The former No. 1 overall pick is incredibly talented and hardworking, and now he's finally surrounded by a supporting cast that is primed to help him shine.
OFFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
(7 votes: Battista, Bhanpuri, Blair, Filice, Frelund, Pioli, Ross)
2. Zach Wilson (+700) | 5 votes: Carr, Hanzus, Jones-Drew, Rank, Smith
T-3. Najee Harris (+1000) | 4 votes: Brandt, Grant, Parr, Reuter
T-3. Trevor Lawrence (+350) | 4 votes: Cersosimo, Goodbread, Shook, Zierlein
T-5. Mac Jones (+450) | 3 votes: O'Hara, Schein, Thomas
T-5. Trey Lance (+700) | 3 votes: Patra, Rosenthal, Sessler
T-5. Kyle Pitts (+1100) | 3 votes: Bergman, Chadiha, Hall
Why Judy Battista chose Justin Fields: He may not be the Bears' starter out of the gate, but it won't be long until the rookie passer supplants Andy Dalton. Fields' dynamic playmaking and improvisational skills, and the Bears' better overall team, should give him the edge over Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson.
DEFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
(15 votes: Battista, Blair, Goodbread, Hanzus, O'Hara, Parr, Patra, Rank, Reuter, Rosenthal, Schein, Sessler, Smith, Thomas, Zierlein)
2. Patrick Surtain (+800) | 11 votes: Bhanpuri, Brandt, Cersosimo, Chadiha, Filice, Frelund, Grant, Hall, Jones-Drew, Pioli, Shook
T-3. Jamin Davis (+900) | 1 vote: Ross
T-3. Trevon Moehrig (+3000) | 1 vote: Carr
T-3. Joe Tryon-Shoyinka (+2000) | 1 vote: Bergman
Why Gregg Rosenthal chose Micah Parsons: This was the easiest prediction of the entire exercise. Middle linebackers are great candidates for this award because they are so easy for voters to notice. And even the dumbest football mind could see Parsons' preseason work and realize that he's faster and more explosive than anyone else on the field.
COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR
(15 votes: Battista, Bhanpuri, Blair, Brandt, Chadiha, Filice, Grant, Hall, Jones-Drew, Parr, Pioli, Sessler, Shook, Thomas, Zierlein)
2. Christian McCaffrey (+750) | 5 votes: Cersosimo, Frelund, Hanzus, Rank, Reuter
T-3. Saquon Barkley (+750) | 2 votes: Goodbread, O'Hara
T-3. Nick Bosa (+1200) | 2 votes: Bergman, Rosenthal
T-3. Derwin James (+1800) | 2 votes: Patra, Schein
T-6. Odell Beckham Jr. (+2500) | 1 vote: Ross
T-6. Sam Darnold (+2000) | 1 vote: Smith
T-6. Carson Wentz (+1000) | 1 vote: Carr
Why Marc Ross chose Odell Beckham Jr.: Although Dak is a more obvious choice, I'm getting personal and rooting for one of our former Giants draft picks. With an already-loaded offense in Cleveland, the return of a healthy OBJ will boost Baker Mayfield and the Browns attack to top-five status. Simultaneously, Beckham will re-establish himself as a unique talent and playmaker with a campaign surpassing even his historical first three seasons.
COACH OF THE YEAR
(6 votes: Grant, Pioli, Ross, Shook, Thomas, Zierlein)
T-2. Kyle Shanahan (+1500) | 5 votes: Bergman, Patra, Rank, Rosenthal, Sessler
T-2. Brandon Staley (+1500) | 5 votes: Brandt, Cersosimo, Chadiha, Jones-Drew, Smith
4. Sean McDermott (+1800) | 4 votes: Blair, Filice, Frelund, Reuter
5. Sean Payton (+2000) | 3 votes: O'Hara, Parr, Schein**
T-6. Bruce Arians (+2000) | 2 votes: Bhanpuri, Hall
T-6. Robert Saleh (+2000) | 2 votes: Carr, Hanzus
T-8. Brian Flores (+1500) | 1 vote: Battista
T-8. Andy Reid (+1800) | 1 vote: Goodbread
Why Nick Shook chose Kevin Stefanski: Stefanski won the award last season by turning the Browns from pretenders into contenders, and he repeats in 2021 by achieving what was previously considered impossible. Stefanski leads Cleveland to its first division title since 1989, then pulls off a postseason upset of the Chiefs en route to a place no Browns coach has gone before: the Super Bowl.
EACH ANALYST'S BALLOT
Analyst | MVP | OPOY | DPOY | OROY | DROY | Comeback | Coach |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Judy Battista | Patrick Mahomes | Tom Brady | Myles Garrett | Justin Fields | Micah Parsons | Dak Prescott | Brian Flores |
Jeremy Bergman | Patrick Mahomes | Alvin Kamara | Myles Garrett | Kyle Pitts | Joe Tryon-Shoyinka | Nick Bosa | Kyle Shanahan |
Ali Bhanpuri | Russell Wilson | Dak Prescott | Derwin James | Justin Fields | Patrick Surtain | Dak Prescott | Bruce Arians |
Tom Blair | Aaron Donald | Patrick Mahomes | Myles Garrett | Justin Fields | Micah Parsons | Dak Prescott | Sean McDermott |
Gil Brandt | Patrick Mahomes | Josh Allen | Myles Garrett | Najee Harris | Patrick Surtain | Dak Prescott | Brandon Staley |
David Carr | Matthew Stafford | Darren Waller | Aaron Donald | Zach Wilson | Trevon Moehrig | Carson Wentz | Robert Saleh |
Brooke Cersosimo | Matthew Stafford | Christian McCaffrey | Chase Young | Trevor Lawrence | Patrick Surtain | Christian McCaffrey | Brandon Staley |
Jeffri Chadiha | Tom Brady | Davante Adams | T.J. Watt | Kyle Pitts | Patrick Surtain | Dak Prescott | Brandon Staley |
Gennaro Filice | Josh Allen | Christian McCaffrey | Myles Garrett | Justin Fields | Patrick Surtain | Dak Prescott | Sean McDermott |
Cynthia Frelund | Josh Allen | Aaron Rodgers | Aaron Donald | Justin Fields | Patrick Surtain | Christian McCaffrey | Sean McDermott |
Chase Goodbread | Patrick Mahomes | Aaron Rodgers | Jalen Ramsey | Trevor Lawrence | Micah Parsons | Saquon Barkley | Andy Reid |
Marcas Grant | Patrick Mahomes | Christian McCaffrey | Myles Garrett | Najee Harris | Patrick Surtain | Dak Prescott | Kevin Stefanski |
DeAngelo Hall | Tom Brady | Josh Allen | T.J. Watt | Kyle Pitts | Patrick Surtain | Dak Prescott | Bruce Arians |
Dan Hanzus | Patrick Mahomes | Kyler Murray | Myles Garrett | Zach Wilson | Micah Parsons | Christian McCaffrey | Robert Saleh |
Maurice Jones-Drew | Patrick Mahomes | Christian McCaffrey | Aaron Donald | Zach Wilson | Patrick Surtain | Dak Prescott | Brandon Staley |
Shaun O'Hara | Patrick Mahomes | Josh Allen | T.J. Watt | Mac Jones | Micah Parsons | Saquon Barkley | Sean Payton |
Dan Parr | Patrick Mahomes | Christian McCaffrey | Myles Garrett | Najee Harris | Micah Parsons | Dak Prescott | Sean Payton |
Kevin Patra | Josh Allen | Nick Chubb | T.J. Watt | Trey Lance | Micah Parsons | Derwin James | Kyle Shanahan |
Scott Pioli | Patrick Mahomes | Patrick Mahomes | Myles Garrett | Justin Fields | Patrick Surtain | Dak Prescott | Kevin Stefanski |
Adam Rank | Patrick Mahomes | Nick Chubb | Aaron Donald | Zach Wilson | Micah Parsons | Christian McCaffrey | Kyle Shanahan |
Chad Reuter | Patrick Mahomes | Patrick Mahomes | Aaron Donald | Najee Harris | Micah Parsons | Christian McCaffrey | Sean McDermott |
Gregg Rosenthal | Patrick Mahomes | No entry | Chris Jones | Trey Lance | Micah Parsons | Nick Bosa | Kyle Shanahan |
Marc Ross | Patrick Mahomes | Josh Allen | T.J. Watt | Justin Fields | Jamin Davis | Odell Beckham Jr. | Kevin Stefanski |
Adam Schein | Josh Allen | Aaron Rodgers | Aaron Donald | Mac Jones | Micah Parsons | Derwin James | Sean Payton |
Marc Sessler | Patrick Mahomes | Justin Herbert | Derwin James | Trey Lance | Micah Parsons | Dak Prescott | Kyle Shanahan |
Nick Shook | Patrick Mahomes | Derrick Henry | Myles Garrett | Trevor Lawrence | Patrick Surtain | Dak Prescott | Kevin Stefanski |
Matt Smith | Josh Allen | Nick Chubb | Derwin James | Zack Wilson | Micah Parsons | Sam Darnold | Brandon Staley |
Joe Thomas | Aaron Rodgers | Nick Chubb | T.J. Watt | Mac Jones | Micah Parsons | Dak Prescott | Kevin Stefanski |
Lance Zierlein | Josh Allen | Dalvin Cook | Chase Young | Trevor Lawrence | Micah Parsons | Dak Prescott | Kevin Stefanski |