NFL 2019-2020 Award Predictions

MVP

3. Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans Saints:

Entering his age 40 season, Brees will be looking to make another playoff run with this talented Saints roster. After another stunning playoff defeat, I think this Saints offense comes into the year firing on all cylinders. I think we will see Brees air the ball out a little bit more than he did last year, eclipsing 4,000 yards and 35 TDs on the season. Expect another big season out of both his main targets, receiver Michael Thomas and running back Alvin Kamara. The additions of Latavius Murray and Jared Cook should help them get even better in the red zone, and Trees will captain it all to perfection this year. A third straight NFC South title and the touchdown progression helps Brees land his spot at #3 on this list.

2. Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs

The talk of the offseason surrounding Mahomes is that although he still has a dominant arsenal of weapons, regression is inevitable due to the record breaking numbers he put up last year. Although I agree that he may not hit 50 touchdowns again, I can easily see him over 5,000 yards and 40 touchdowns on the year. People are forgetting that he is entering only his second season as a starting QB. Returning with Mahomes is Travis Kelce, Tyreek Hill, Damien Williams, and Sammy Watkins. On top of that, they add dynamic rookie receiver Mecole Hartman and impressive rookie running back Darwin Thompson. Expect Mahomes to continue taking this league over.

1. Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers

If there is one player in the NFL with the talent and the showmanship to dethrone Mahomes as MVP, it is the man in Green Bay. Rodgers enters the season healthy, motivated, equipped with a top wide receiver and free from Mike McCarthy. Not only is Aaron Rodgers going to put up better numbers this season, but he is going to have to win games for this football team late in games. I don’t expect Mahomes to have to do as much of that. New head coach Matt Lafleur should bring balance to this offense in a way that makes things easier for Rodgers, who is already the most accurate QB in the league. I expect about 4,500 yards, over 40 touchdowns, and 7 or less interceptions from Rodgers en route to his first MVP award since 2014.

HM: Carson Wentz, QB, Philadelphia Eagles; Aaron Donald, DT, Los Angeles Rams; Jared Goff, QB, Los Angeles Rams

Offensive Player of the Year

3. Saquon Barkley, RB, New York Giants

I think it is pretty clear that this Giants offense is going to struggle for a good majority of this season. With that said, Barkley’s volume and talent should carry him to league-leading numbers once again. I expect him to catch more passes than any other running back this season and lead the league in overall yards from scrimmage. That should be enough to land him at #3 in OPOY voting for this season.

2. Michael Thomas, WR, New Orleans Saints

No one in the history of the NFL has more receptions through their first 3 seasons than Thomas, and I expect his targets to increase even more this year. The Saints made him the highest paid receiver in the league, and brought in no other receivers that would take away from Thomas’ production. Brees is probably more comfortable throwing to Thomas than any other receiver he has ever had, and Thomas is poised to take in as much volume as this team may need from him. I have him slotted to lead the league in receptions once again, and hitting double-digit touchdowns for the first time in his career.

1. Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs

Although I have Rodgers edging out Mahomes for MVP, I feel the league will award him offensive player of the year honors for leading the league in both yards and touchdowns. I think the MVP vote will have a lot to do with how Rodgers puts up his numbers in contrast to Mahomes. Expect Mahomes to get his in dominant fashion, often putting teams away in first halves and leading his offense to tops in the league for a second consecutive season. That will be enough to win his second OPOY award in as many seasons as a starter.

HM: Aaron Rodgers; Odell Beckham Jr., WR, Cleveland Browns; Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans Saints; Le’Veon Bell, RB, New York Jets

Defensive Player of the Year

3. Jalen Ramsey, CB, Jacksonville Jaguars

Jalen Ramsey is going to come into this season highly motivated to have his best year yet due to the fact that his contract situation is getting closer and closer. I think next offseason he is likely to be one of the players holding out for a contract, and potentially even demanding a trade. As is stands right now, there might not be a better defense for him to be on. The defensive front in Jacksonville is going to reek havoc all season long and allow big plays to be made in the secondary. Enter Jalen Ramsey. Expect the fourth-year corner to lead the league in interceptions and once again solidify himself as the top shutdown corner in the NFL.

2. Khalil Mack, OLB, Chicago Bears

Khalil Mack is still poised to have a breakout season in terms of sacks. No one can question the impact he makes on the defensive end, but he has never had a season with over 15 sacks. I think he gets over that number this year, ending somewhere in the 17-20 range. He may not force 6 more fumbles, or return an interception for a touchdown, but he will get after the quarterback like only he can. Expect him to anchor that defense to another top 5 finish and earn himself a spot as #2 on this list for the second year in a row.

1. Aaron Donald, DT, Los Angeles Rams

Khalil Mack will give him a run for his money this year, just as he did last year, but once again Aaron Donald will reign over the NFL as its most dominant player. I think Donald has a chance to break Strahan’s sack record this year as he only continues to improve. If you’ve seen the video of Aaron Donald mic’d up at last year’s Super Bowl, you understand how hard that loss hit him. I bet he worked harder this offseason than any before and will be ready to win his third consecutive DPOY award.

HM: Von Miller, OLB, Denver Broncos; Darius Leonard, ILB, Indianapolis Colts; Myles Garrett, DE, Cleveland Browns

Offensive Rookie of the Year

3. Miles Sanders, RB, Philadelphia Eagles

If Sanders played for another head coach, he very may well have been my selection for winning this award. Doug Pederson is known for using RBBC and that will ultimately devalue Sanders’ production compared to the other two backs on this list. But, I still expect his numbers to be tremendous and to grow as the season progresses. His talent will be undeniable as Jordan Howard proves once again that he doesn’t have it in him to be a 3-down back. Sanders will also be running behind the best O-Line in the league, which never hurts.

2. Josh Jacobs, RB, Oakland Raiders

Jacobs is basically the polar opposite to Sanders in the fact that his coach is going to give him every chance possible to showcase his abilities. Jon Gruden loves having a workhorse back, and Jacobs is a first-round talent ready to take on the load from week 1. He’s going to get almost all the carries and I expect at least 50 targets out of the backfield if he stays healthy. We haven’t seen Jacobs produce over an entire season before, so it will be interesting to see just how productive he can be, but I have him producing enough to hit #2 on this list.

1. David Montgomery, RB, Chicago Bears

David Montgomery is exactly where talent meets opportunity when it comes to this rookie class. He is walking into a role that has 250 vacated carries, and onto an offense that is looking for a 3-down back that can add unpredictability to their attack. Insert David Montgomery and you have a match made in heaven. Montgomery is an elite tackle breaker and is fairly shifty in space. He will be used in all different kinds of ways and can excel everywhere Nagy wants to use him. He also enters the league with a chip on his shoulder to be great and I think that will help him take over this backfield fairly early in the season.

HM: Kyler Murray, QB, Arizona Cardinals; DK Metcalf, WR, Seattle Seahawks

Defensive Rookie of the Year

3. Quinnen Williams, DT, New York Jets

Quinnen Williams is one of most talented defensive tackles I have ever seen enter the league. He was a beast in his one season of playing time at Alabama, and has only been improving since training camp. He is young but has an extremely good skill set for his position and should be able to make an impact right away. I expect him to get better and better throughout the season as he adjusts to the speed of the game, learning how to take on different kinds of blocks and traps at the NFL level.

2. Devin Bush, ILB, Pittsburgh Steelers

Devin Bush is kind of the defensive example of talent meets opportunity in this rookie class. Bush is a fast, side-to-side backer whose skills translate well to today’s NFL. Couple that with the fact that Steelers have been needing an athletic playmaker to replace Shazier since his injury and you have a match made in football heaven. I don’t expect Darius Leonard-type production out of Bush, but expect him to lead all defensive rookies in total snaps and to be top 3 in tackles.

1. Josh Allen, OLB, Jacksonville Jaguars

I think Josh Allen is going to show right off the bat who the best defensive rookie in the country is. I think as long as he stays healthy, he will run away with this award. Josh Allen fits so well onto the Jacksonville Jaguars because of his ability to get after the quarterback with speed and power. When you have a defensive front as talented as the guys in Jacksonville, you will have opportunity to showcase your 1 on 1 skills. Allen will prove himself as one of the best 1 on 1 pass rushers in the league, but he also will make plays all around the field and isn’t limited to only being a great pass rusher.

HM: Clelin Ferrell, DE, Oakland Raiders; Ed Oliver, DT, Buffalo Bills; Devin White, ILB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Comeback Player of the Year

3. Earl Thomas, S, Baltimore Ravens

Earl Thomas may just come back and remind people just how damn good he is. Few players in the NFL can bring to the table what Thomas does in terms of intelligence, playmaking, and toughness. Thomas is going to do whatever the defense needs to be done, something Baltimore is going to need out of him this year. I expect him to help a lot coming down to stop the running game as Baltimore tries to work in a new starting middle linebacker. I expect a borderline All-Pro season from Thomas and a top 3 finish for CPOTY.

2. Le’Veon Bell, RB, New York Jets

I think there are a lot of football fanatics out there that are truly interested to see the success Le’Veon Bell can have outside that Pittsburgh offense. I don’t think anyone denies Bell’s talent, but in this league you have to continue to prove yourself, especially moving into a different situation. But I think Bell is cut out for this and wanted this, and I expect a young Sam Darnold to lean on him for the entire year. I think Bell finishes in the top 5 for total yards from scrimmage gained and comes in at #2 on this list.

1. Carson Wentz, QB, Philadelphia Eagles

Wentz is my most confident pick on this entire column. As long as he stays healthy, Wentz is going to be a monster this season. He has pass catchers that are good at every aspect of the game - deep balls, getting the sticks, catching touchdowns, you name it. He also is playing behind the best offensive line in football. Carson Wentz isn’t going to be asked to do as much as he was in the 2017 season before he got hurt, because their offense is just that much more solid. I think he comes in focused and determined to prove himself as an MVP candidate. For 2019-2020, he will settle for the Comeback Player of the Year.

HM: Travis Frederick, C, Dallas Cowboys; Cooper Kupp, WR, Los Angeles Rams; Deion Jones, LB, Atlanta Falcons

Coach of the Year

3. Freddie Kitchens, Cleveland Browns

It seems half of football fans expect the Browns to make the playoffs off sheer talent and the other half is giving them no chance due to inexperience. A lot of the inexperience people are concerned with is Kitchens and his lack of coaching experience. While I do think this is a huge factor, I think Kitchens proves that he can get it done and be the coach for this football team. It is extremely difficult to come into the NFL and win as a first year head coach. But I bet having the duo of Odell Beckham and Jarvis Landry makes it easier. Browns make the playoffs and Kitchens makes this list.

2. Sean McVay, Los Angeles Rams

McVay being #2 on this list should speak volumes to the season he will have, because a lot of people are getting “used” to his genius. I think he will have to go beyond what he has shown us already to land a spot on this list, and I think that is exactly what he will do. Defense coordinators will be staying up countless nights trying to figure out how to stop the Rams offense for yet another season. I expect McVay to add in plenty of intricacies we haven’t yet seen after being completed out schemed by Belichick in the Super Bowl. Unbelievable play calling as well as his forward thinking on how to deal with a veteran roster will cement him as the #2 COTY candidate this season.

1. Frank Reich, Indianapolis Colts

This was quite the easy decision after I decided that the Colts were going to make the playoffs. I think Reich is one of the best coaches in the league right now, and I think he can open up enough plays in that offense for Brissett to be successful. They still have an above average O-Line, great weapons, and an emerging defense. The Colts are going to be playing with so much momentum this season when they get things going. I can only imagine how motivated that Colts team is to show people they are still a playoff team, and I think they have the perfect coach in the locker room to lead them.

HM: Sean McDermott, Buffalo Bills; Sean Payton, New Orleans Saints; Matt LeFleur, Green Bay Packers