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    • Taking a midseason shot at predicting the 2024 NFL award winners
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    Taking a midseason shot at predicting the 2024 NFL award winners

    Online Niel Posted on

    Kyler Murray, Budda Baker and Jonathan Gannon of the Arizona Cardinals could be in the hunt

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    We’ve reached the end of the 2024 NFL season – 10 weeks away, eight more to go, but there’s still a lot to be decided before the playoffs arrive.

    That doesn’t mean we can’t look ahead and examine who could win the league’s major awards.

    Here is an offer from those who TO be in line for top honors, which should some of the “forget-me-not” candidates who I might surprise.

    NFL Most Valuable Player

    Since 2000, a defender has won or shared this award 21 times. Peyton Manning and Steve McNair were co-winners in 2003. Running backs have won it four times in that span (Marshall Faulk in 2000, Shaun Alexander in 2005, LaDainian Tomlinson in 2006 and Adrian Peterson in 2012).

    A tight end or wide receiver has never won MVP in the award’s history, dating back to 1957, but a kicker has won once (Mark Moseley in 1982) and a defensive player has won twice (tackle Alan Page in 1971 and linebacker Lawrence Taylor in 1986).

    Who could win: QB Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills; WR Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals; QB Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders; QB Jared Goff, Detroit Lions; RB Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens; QB Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles; QB Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens; QB Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs; QB Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals.

    Who Should Win: Lamar Jackson.

    Why: He seems to have taken his game to another level this year. Thursday night’s dramatic win over the Bengals provided further proof. Jackson ranks first in passing yards (2,669), touchdown throws (24 against just two interceptions) and leads all quarterbacks in rushing yards (538) while leading the Ravens to a 7-3 start. He won MVP honors last year and if he does it again, it will be the third time in his seven-year career.

    Who might surprise: Jared Goff.

    Why: Because he’s in a position to threaten the NFL record for completion percentage of 74.44 (set in 2018 by Drew Brees) despite an offseason win Sunday night against the Texans in which he was intercepted five times and completed just 50 % of throws. Goff (74.9 percent accuracy) continues to fuel one of the league’s toughest and most popular teams, now 8-1. If he can help Detroit finish strong, the Lions could reach the Super Bowl after falling just short a year ago.

    NFL Coach of the Year

    Only one coach has ever won the award four times (Don Shula with the Colts in 1964, 1967-68 and the Dolphins in 1972). The only ones to win it at least three times are Chuck Knox (with the Rams in 1973, the Bills in 1980 and the Seahawks in 1984) and Bill Belichick (with the Patriots in 2003, 2007, 2010).

    Who could win: Dan Campbell, Leo; Jim Harbaugh, Chargers; Matt LaFleur, Packers; Sean McDermott, Bills; Raheem Morris, Falcons; Kevin O’Connell, Vikings; Sean Payton, Broncos; Andy Reid, Chiefs; Mike Tomlin, Steelers; Dan Quinn, Commanders.

    Who Should Win: Dan Quinn.

    Why: Things could change, obviously, but when you take over a team that finished 4-13, had the worst point differential in the league (minus-189), and you have a very good chance of going from the worst to the first in your division. a year later, when you’re the new head coach (Quinn) — and you have a star rookie quarterback (Jayden Daniels) — you’re going to get a lot of votes. Quinn remains the favorite despite Sunday’s one-point loss to the Steelers.

    Who might surprise: Jonathan Gannon, Cardinals.

    Why: Don’t sleep on Gannon and the Red Birds, though the Lions’ Campbell could fire ahead. Arizona has won four in a row, five of its last six, and enters the game in a very happy place. With a favorable schedule, Gannon has a chance to win over a lot of voters if things continue to go well. Despite the star’s lack of power in an underrated defense, which he specializes in, you wonder if the Cardinals might lose some of their edge entering an off week.

    NFL Offensive Player of the Year

    There have been eight multiple winners of this award since it was created in 1972 and two running backs are the only ones to win it at least three times – Earl Campbell (with the Oilers in 1978-80) and Marshall Faulk (with the Rams) . in 1999-2001).

    Who could win: QB Josh Allen, Bills; RB Saquon Barkley, Eagles; WR Ja’Marr Chase, Bengals; QB Jayden Daniels, captains; QB Jared Goff, Lions; RB Derrick Henry, Ravens; WR Justin Jefferson, Vikings; QB Lamar Jackson, Ravens; Kyler Murray, Cardinals.

    Who Should Win: Derrick Henry or Ja’Marr Chase.

    Why: We shouldn’t leave Saquon Barkley out of the equation, but in my book, it will come down to Henry or Chase if one of the other candidates here can make a quantum leap. Henry is the sentimental pick because he is 30 years old and the league seemed to have given up on running backs prematurely even when they proved their worth. The same goes for Chase, considering only three receivers have ever won this award (Jerry Rice twice in 1987 and 1993) along with Michael Thomas (2019) and Jefferson (2022).

    Who might surprise: QB Joe Burrow, Bengals.

    Why: The Bengals might finish third in the AFC North, but Burrow is putting together the stats leading the NFL in passing yards (2,672) and tied with Jackson in touchdown passes (24 against just four interceptions) with the third-best QBR ( 74, 4). If the Bengals finish strong and surprise, so could Burrow, though a running back or receiver is likely the favorite.

    NFL Defensive Player of the Year

    Three players have won the honor a record-tying three times – LB Lawrence Taylor (with the Giants in 1981-82 and 1986), DE JJ Watt (with the Texans in 2012, 2014-15) and defensive tackle Aaron Donald (with the Rams (2017 -18, 2020).

    Who could win: DE Will Anderson Jr., Texans; BY Myles Garrett, Browns; BY Trey Hendrickson, Bengals; DT Chris Jones, Chiefs; S Kerby Joseph, Leo; DT Dexter Lawrence, Giants; S Xavier McKinney, Packers; LB Roquan Smith, Ravens; LB Fred Warner, 49ers; LB TJ Watt, Steelers.

    Who Should Win: Xavier McKinney.

    Why: It looks like it will be close, but if McKinney can finish as strong as he did in his rookie season with the Packers — catching five of his six interceptions in the first five games — he could wrest that honor from Watt, the Pittsburgh favorite. .

    Who might surprise: Safety Budda Baker, Cardinals.

    Why: The Cardinals should make the playoffs, but the heartbeat of Arizona’s defense is on pace for a career-high 170-plus tackles, and if he continues at his current pace, he could become the first NFL defensive back to lead the league in tackles since 1996 , when Jets safety Victory Green finished with 165. Since 2000, a safety has won the award twice (Ed. Reed with the Ravens in 2004 and Troy Polamalu with the Steelers in 2010). I admit though: this is a long shot.

    NFL Comeback Player of the Year

    Who could win: QB Joe Burrow, Bengals; RB Nick Chubb, Browns; QB Kirk Cousins, Falcons; RB JK Dobbins, Chargers; S Damar Hamlin, Bills; QB Kyler Murray, Cardinals; QB Aaron Rodgers, Jets.

    Who Should Win: Kirk Cousins.

    Who might surprise: No one else, especially given the new rules regarding this award.

    NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year

    Who could win: TE Brock Bowers, Raiders; QB Jayden Daniels, captains; QB Caleb Williams, Bears; WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Cardinals; QB Drake Maye, Patriots; WR Malik Nabers, Giants; QB Bo Nix, Broncos; WR Brian Thomas Jr., Jaguars.

    Who Should Win: Jayden Daniels.

    Who might surprise: No one else at this point because it’s Daniels’s to lose.

    NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year

    Who could win: DT Braden Fiske, Rams; OF Laiatu Latu, Colts; CB Kamari Lassiter, Texans; CB Quinyon Mitchell, Eagles; DT Byron Murphy II, Seahawks; DT T’Vondre Sweat, Titans; OLB Jared Verse, Rams.

    Who Should Win: Jared Verse.

    Who might surprise: Undrafted DB Beanie Bishop Jr., Steelers.

    And finally

    Offensive Coach of the Year: Ben Johnson, Leo; Defensive Coach of the Year: Steve Spagnuolo, Chiefs; Special Teams Coach of the Year: Jeff Rodgers, Cardinals.

    Reach McManaman at bob.mcmanaman@arizonarepublic. Follow X ex-Twitter: @azbobbymac and hear him live every Tuesday at 3:30pm on Roc and Manuch on Fox Sports 910-AM.

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