The biggest night of the year with regards to individual recognition occurs the night before the Superbowl every year. Tonight, we will get to see who is this year's MVP, Offensive and Defensive Rookies of the year, Offensive and Defensive players of the year and the comeback player of the year.
There has been at least two outstanding nominees in each category. I’m going to breakdown who I think they are and who the eventual winner of each award.
NFL MVP and NFL Offensive Player of the Year
I’ve combined these two awards into one segment for the simple reason that whoever doesn’t win the MVP, will win the Offensive POTY.
The two candidates are pretty clear cut: Patrick Mahomes and Drew Brees. Both find themselves at the opposite end of their careers. Mahomes is simply starting out. This was his second year in the league and his first as a starter. Boy, did he make it count.
Drew Brees had just finished his nineteenth year in the league. He holds a large share of all individual QB records. But one thing which has eluded him his entire career is the MVP award.
I’m going to start by saying that I am a big fan of both quaterbacks. But I have to feel that this award belongs to Mahomes. He has been the most electric, unbelievable player in the league this year. He joined an elite quaterback group of Peyton Manning and Tom Brady as the only quaterbacks to ever throw for 50 TDs in one season. Moreover, himself and Manning are the only quaterbacks ever to throw for 5,000 yards and 50 TDs in one season.
You have to remember as well that this award is meant to be to the player who is most valuable in the league in the context that if their team doesn’t have them, they nearly cease to function. This could be said for Drew Brees also. But Mahomes literally pulled one of the worst defences in the league to the number one seed in the AFC.
In light of that, I am taking nothing away from Drew Brees. It just boils down to the fact that Brees had a very good season, Mahomes had a historic season.
NFL MVP Award - Patrick Mahomes
NFL OPOTY Award - Drew Brees
Defensive Player of the Year
In all reality, this award might as well already be on Aaron Donald’s mantelpiece. You can make a case for JJ Watt here but I think he falls more in line with comeback player of the year.
Donald has legitimate MVP claims but the way that award is now, it is a quarterback's every year. Just look at the stats (right) from the Texans PR twitter account; it is hard to imagine how Watt didn’t win the MVP in 2012 or 2014.
If you really want to see how big an impact one outstanding individual can have on a game, I would encourage you to watch a Rams game -- but just follow Donald. It is incredible the shift he puts in. Number 99 is relentless, disruptive and practically unblockable.
Donald has 20.5 sacks as an interior defensive lineman. That should be near impossible, but again so should a lot of his play.
DPOY Award - Aaron Donald
AP Offensive Rookie of the Year
This award is going to go to either the number 1 or number 2 pick in the 2018 NFL draft: Baker Mayfield or Saquon Barkley. Barkley is already a Top 3 running back in the NFL. Baker has been game-changing since taking over from Tyrod Taylor at the Browns. Their play makes this one of the most exciting rookie awards in years.
I believe both candidates are viable winners. It depends at what way the voters look at the situation. Do they give it to Saquon -- who displayed his incredible talent and has transcendent on the field -- but it didn’t translate to the New York Giants win column? Or give it to Baker, who isn’t in the top echelon of players at his position yet (like Saquon) but allowed a dormant franchise to find life again. Mayfield also set the rookie TD passing record in only 14 games.
I personally think this award will go to Mayfield just because of the situation with the Browns but either are deserving winners.
OROY Award - Baker Mayfield
AP Defensive Rookie of the Year
Again, this award looks between two players: Darius Leonard of the Colts and the Charger’s Derwin James.
I think Leonard narrowly beats James. Like Mayfield, the rookie linebacker’s overall impact on the Colts defense was greater than that of James in this situation. Every time you watch the Colts, Leonard was there. He led the NFL with 163 tackles while also contributing 7.0 sacks on the year. Leonard also added in four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries,and two interceptions. For parts of the year, he was the Colts Defense.
DROY Award - Darius Leonard
Comeback player of the Year
This is a clearer picture than most: I think Andrew Luck is going to win this award. The former number 1 overall pick is imply back to the player he was pre-shoulder injury. It took a while.
The quarterback got better as the year went on which is understandable considering he hasn’t played for 2 years. Luck led the Colts to nine wins in their last ten regular season games. He threw for over 4,500 yards and 39 touchdowns.
This is the man who people were questioning if he would ever throw an NFL ball again. I think he answered them.
Comback Player of the Year Award - Andrew Luck
Enda Smith
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