The NFL introduced finalists for eight of its main 2022 awards on Wednesday, together with MVP, Defensive Player of the Year and Coach of the Year. But which huge names are almost certainly to take house trophies on the NFL Honors present Feb. 9? And which gamers deserve extra recognition throughout awards season?
Here’s a full rundown of each main award, our predicted winners, plus notable snubs:
MVP
Finalists:
Projected winner: Mahomes
Jefferson cemented his standing as the sport’s finest go catcher, however he went quiet one too many occasions for an overachieving group with an early playoff exit. We’d personally vouch for Burrow and Hurts right here; the previous has been the NFL’s smoothest clutch quarterback, and Hurts broke out as an unflappable twin risk. But Mahomes already has the MVP resume, he stayed on the sector all yr, and he made post-Tyreek Hill offense look simple, coasting to NFL-best manufacturing on the place.
Snubs: 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey
Yes, Kyle Shanahan will get outcomes from nearly anybody in his backfield, however splitting 2022 between two groups, CMC was nothing wanting sterling as each a runner and receiver, ending the common season with 1,880 scrimmage yards (third-most within the NFL), plus 13 TDs as a security valve for each Jimmy Garoppolo and Brock Purdy beneath middle.
Offensive Player of the Year
Chiefs QB Patrick MahomesEagles QB Jalen HurtsDolphins WR Tyreek HillVikings WR Justin Jefferson
Projected winner: Hurts
If Mahomes wins MVP as anticipated, this one’s certain to honor the next-best factor. And whereas Jefferson could be the betting favourite because of his newest monster marketing campaign (128 catches, 1,809 yards) because the Vikings’ catalyst, we’re specializing in TDs right here: Hurts racked up 35 as each a passer and runner in simply 15 video games, together with an NFL-best 13 as a speeding QB.
Snubs: Bears QB Justin Fields, Chargers RB Austin Ekeler, Raiders RB Josh Jacobs, Browns RB Nick Chubb
While inefficient as a passer, Fields was completely electrical on the bottom, main all QBs with 1,143 yards to make Chicago watchable in 2022. Jacobs and Chubb each topped 1,500 speeding yards on old-school ground-and-pound squads. And Ekeler? We’ve heard too little concerning the non-QB who led the NFL with 18 TDs. The veteran totaled 1,637 yards (eighth-most within the NFL) whereas racking up a career-high 107 catches to assist L.A. into the postseason.
Defensive Player of the Year
Projected winner: Bosa
Parsons is a freak of nature on the coronary heart of Dallas’ protection, and this award will fall in his lap sometime. Jones additionally stays a power on the inside, matching his profession excessive in sacks (15.5). But Bosa was by far probably the most dominant off the sting, simply main the league in each sacks (18.5) and QB hits (49) as the ditch warrior for the NFL’s stingiest protection.
Snubs: Eagles LB Haason Reddick, Raiders DE Maxx Crosby, Steelers S Minkah Fitzpatrick
Reddick has loved a profession yr as a stand-up rusher in Philly, practically matching Bosa in sacks whereas main the NFL with 5 compelled fumbles. Crosby was the king of stress for an in any other case middling Raiders “D,” logging extra QB hits than all however Bosa. And Fitzpatrick was a clutch playmaker through the Steelers’ sturdy end, tying for the NFL lead with six picks.
Offensive Rookie of the Year
Projected winner: Wilson
Purdy’s story is as spectacular as any, as evidenced by the very fact he is a finalist regardless of making simply 5 regular-season begins off the bench. We would not be shocked if he takes it, as a result of no matter how gifted the 49ers are, his poise to go 5-0 as Garoppolo’s emergency fill-in had a significant hand in San Francisco’s run. Still, Wilson has been producing for longer, rising as a WR1 for a group with out a clear reply at QB.
Snubs: Saints WR Chris Olave, Falcons RB Tyler Allgeier, Packers WR Christian Watson, Texans RB Dameon Pierce
Olave was simply as productive as Wilson on a group with related offensive points. Allgeier quietly eclipsed 1,000 yards because the emergent featured again for Atlanta. And Pierce was a bulldozer earlier than happening with a late-season damage. Watson was a late bloomer, ending with simply over 600 receiving yards, however was a TD machine for Aaron Rodgers down the stretch.
Defensive Rookie of the Year
Projected winner: Gardner
It’s fairly uncommon {that a} rookie cornerback — even an elite prospect — can present shutdown protection out of the gate, however Gardner actually elevated New York’s secondary, main the NFL with 20 go deflections. Woolen was opportunistic with six picks, and Hutchinson had highlight-reel highs for an upstart Detroit “D,” however Sauce had probably the most constant affect on his group.
Snubs: Texans S Jalen Pitre, Bears S Jaquan Brisker, Lions LB James Houston, Patriots CB Jack Jones, Patriots CB Marcus Jones
Pitre logged 5 picks for a Houston “D” that stayed feisty down the stretch. Brisker was a bodily starter for a rebuilding Bears group. Houston got here on late with eight sacks through the Lions’ playoff push. And the Jones corners injected promise into New England secondary, with Marcus additionally logging some explosive reps as an offensive utility man.
Comeback Player of the Year
Projected winner: Smith
McCaffrey and Barkley loved true bounce-back campaigns as featured ball-carriers, recovering from accidents to drive San Francisco and New York to their respective playoff runs. But no participant had a extra outstanding underdog emergence than Smith, who had lengthy toiled as a backup, written off after a sloppy begin to his profession with the Jets. His 2022 end wasn’t excellent, however for a lot of the season, the QB’s sudden progress as a fluid decision-maker stored Seattle afloat.
Snubs: Jaguars RB Travis Etienne Jr.
After lacking all of his rookie season with a Lisfranc damage, Etienne exploded as the highest again in Jacksonville, the place he totaled greater than 1,400 yards as a weapon-in-the-making for Trevor Lawrence and Co.
Coach of the Year
Bills’ Sean McDermottEagles’ Nick Sirianni49ers’ Kyle ShanahanGiants’ Brian DabollJaguars’ Doug Pederson
Projected winner: Shanahan
Kyle Shanahan
Getty Images
The NFL loves them some Shanahan, who received 2019 Coach of the Year honors when he guided a 13-3 end and Super Bowl bid. This yr, the revered schemer ought to draw much more respect for the best way he navigated not one however two season-ending accidents at QB, seamlessly going from Trey Lance to Jimmy Garoppolo to Brock Purdy whereas remaining the category of the NFC. All the candidates are worthwhile, although: McDermott stored Buffalo within the combine amid the Damar Hamlin incident, Sirianni shepherded Hurts to an MVP marketing campaign, Daboll maximized the Giants’ lineup, and Pederson utterly restored the Jaguars’ struggle.
Snubs: Lions’ Dan Campbell, Vikings’ Kevin O’Connell
Campbell did not get Detroit to the playoffs, however his 8-2 file over the ultimate 10 weeks justified hope for the Lions’ improvement. O’Connell, in the meantime, could not overcome his membership’s porous protection on huge phases, however deserves tons of credit score for rejuvenating Minnesota’s locker room and unlocking a extra modern passing assault in a 13-4 debut.
Assistant Coach of the Year
Projected winner: Ryans
Tabbed as a future head coach for years, Ryans has overseen one of many NFL’s high defenses ever since taking up as coordinator in 2021. This yr specifically, his unit has stepped up on virtually each one of many uncommon events Shanahan’s offense has not. Steichen and Johnson do deserve credit score for overseeing among the league’s most balanced offenses.
DeMeco Ryans
Getty Images
Snubs: Giants OC Mike Kafka, Seahawks OC Shane Waldron
Kafka helped rework Daniel Jones into one of many NFL’s best QBs in New York, whereas Waldron oversaw Smith’s Comeback Player of the Year bid after Russell Wilson’s departure.
