Way Too Early NFL Honors Predicitions

Photo by Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

PSF - As the days move by the quicker we get to the NFL season starting, why not go ahead and give my predictions for the NFL Honors awards three months early? These awards consist of the seasons MVP (Most Valuable Player), DPOY (Defensive Player of the Year), OPOY (Offensive Player of the Year), DROY (Defensive Rookie of the Year), OROY (Offensive Rookie of the Year), CPOY (Comeback Player of the Year) and lastly, COTY (Coach of the Year).

MVP-

I think this years MVP race will be a very tight race until the end with all of the elite quarterbacks usually in them. Obviously, the two time MVP and reigning MVP Patrick Mahomes will finish as a finalist but with him on Super Bowl cruise control, I don’t think he will be as dominant as he was last year. I think Jalen Hurts and Josh Allen will finish as finalists again with dominant years from each of them again. My MVP pick this season will be Joe Burrow. Burrow finished as a finalist last season but didn’t come close to winning it, but next season I think Burrow will explode with his wide receivers Jamarr Chase and Tee Higgins both putting up monster numbers to help him. I have high expectations for the Bengals in 2023, so the first step could be Burrow winning MVP.

DPOY-

I think the DPOY this season will be the usual finalists of Nick Bosa, Micah Parsons and T.J. Watt. I will give the nod to Micah Parsons this year as I am expecting him to put up historical numbers in Dan Quinns revamped defense heading into next season. With the first round selection of defensive tackle Mazi Smith for Dallas, this gives Parsons the ability to line up all over the field and go crazy, whether it’s sacking the quarterback or being a run stuffing edge, Parsons will be all over the field next season giving offenses nightmares.

OPOY-

For the OPOY, I think we will see a back to back winner for this award, as Justin Jefferson will put up identical historical numbers from last season, showing why he is the best receiver in the league.

DROY-

The rookie of the year awards are always the toughest to predict before the season because there’s always a day two or three pick that takes the rookie class by storm every year. Although that is a possibility, I think Patriots first round cornerback Christian Gonzalez will freely walk away with this award. Gonzalez is the perfect fit in Belichick’s defense and with the recent incident with other Patriots corner Jack Jones, Gonzalez might be starting week 1 ready to lock up everyone in the league.

OROY-

For me, the OROY race will not be close as we will have a unanimous winner in Bijan Robinson. A lot of NFL fans questioned the top 10 pick of a running back for Atlanta, but Bijan is clearly NFL ready, and rookie running backs have their best legs in their first years.

CPOY-

This award also isn’t close. If Damar Hamlin takes a single snap next year he is winning this award. After last years tragedy with Hamlin, there’s no way the NFL doesn’t give him this award.

COTY-

As I said earlier, I have high expectations for the Cincinnati Bengals next season. If they finish as a top two seed in the AFC, I expect Bengals head coach Zac Taylor to win this award.