This year’s NFL Honors Award Ceremony offered both a multitude of surprises and expected results. Although I may not have watched the ceremony, waking up in the morning and seeing some of the surprise choices was astonishing. So, I’m here to talk about who should have won specific awards on the special night.
NFL MVP: Bills QB Josh Allen / My pick: Bills QB Josh Allen
Although many analysts, players, and fans throughout the NFL expected the two-time MVP Lamar Jackson to win, Josh Allen was a better candidate for the award. Allen achieved a superlative PFF QB Grade of 91.8/100, along with passing for 28 touchdowns (fourth among quarterbacks) and 3,738 passing yards (14th among quarterbacks). Even though this may not have compared to Lamar Jackson’s 4000+ passing yards and 800+ rushing yards, Allen led a Bills team whose starting wide receiver had never seen a 700+ receiving yard season to a 13-4 season, beating the Superbowl favorite Ravens and coming within 3 points of a Superbowl. So contrary to popular belief, I think Josh Allen deserved this award.
Coach of the Year: Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell / My pick: Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell
In my opinion, the most obvious winner in the whole award ceremony was O’Connell for COTY. O’Connell not only led a Vikings team to a 14-3 season and a 5-seed in the playoffs, but he also did it in a rebuilding year. The Minnesota Vikings were projected to win less than 6.5 games in 95% of 2024-25 season standings projections. After star quarterback Kirk Cousins left for the Falcons on a $100,000,000+ contract and the rookie backup was out for the season with a knee injury, the quarterback position was left up to arguably one of the biggest draft busts of all time, Sam Darnold. Darnold not only had a prodigious season, but he kept the Vikings team undefeated until week five. Although the Vikings played poorly in their Wildcard matchup versus the Rams, it was still one of the most astonishing seasons accomplished by a coach and team.
Comeback Player of the Year: Bengals QB Joe Burrow / My pick: Vikings QB Sam Darnold
Yes, Joe Burrow had an amazing comeback season, but you have to give it to Sam Darnold. After star quarterback Kirk Cousins left for the Falcons on a $100,000,000+ contract, McCarthy, the rookie backup, was out for the season with an ACL tear, the quarterback position was left up to arguably one of the biggest draft busts of all time, Sam Darnold. Darnold was drafted with the 3rd overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft, played 13 games and had 15 INTs, and averaged over one a game. Darnold would continue this trend of 10+ interceptions until his first year, not in a Jets uniform, throwing seven touchdowns and three interceptions over a 6-game span. Darnold found himself as the QB2 on the Vikings roster, sitting behind an inexperienced rookie in McCarthy. Darnold threw nine touchdowns to four interceptions in their 5-game undefeated span and finished the season with 4,319 passing yards (5th among quarterbacks) and 35 touchdown passes (also 5th among quarterbacks.) Yes, I understand Joe Burrow had an amazing comeback season after his wrist injury, but you have to give it up for the story this quarterback has had.
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Rams EDGE Jared Verse / My pick: Rams EDGE Jared Verse
One of the pairs of Rams in this year’s class came home with the trophy, and that was Linebacker Jared Verse. Jared Verse came into the NFL with tons of pressure, as he was the Rams’ first first-round pick in seven years— yes, seven years. McVay’s aggressive trading strategies in the Stafford, Ramsey, and Miller trades landed them the longest NFL streak without a first-round pick since the Redskins’ 11 years in the 20th century. Overall, Verse was not a dark horse for this award; a 19th overall pick in the draft out of Florida State, Jared Verse had 4.5 sacks and 66 tackles, first among rookies, and ninth among Linebackers. Verse received a stupendous 86.2 PFF Defensive Grade, and led the Rams’ defense. Barring the Divisional Round loss to the Eagles, Verse had one of the greatest rookie linebacker seasons in recent history and deserves this award.
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Commanders QB Jayden Daniels / My pick: Commanders QB Jayden Daniels
In the last 68 years of the OROY award, Jayden Daniels is the only person to ever receive more than 47+ votes. In an almost unanimous decision, Jayden Daniels won by a landslide in a 49 to 1 vote, with one AP Journalist casting his vote for rookie Tight End, Brock Bowers. Daniels became one of six rookie quarterbacks to lead their team within one game of the Super Bowl. Daniels left his alma mater, LSU, after a Heisman-winning season and threw 3,568 passing yards (16th among quarterbacks) and 25 passing touchdowns (tied tenth among quarterbacks). He also rushed for more yards than any other rookie quarterback in NFL history, racking up 891 yards over 17 games. Daniels achieved an 89.1 PF Grade this year, which is 6th among quarterbacks. But most of all, Daniels led a broken-down Commanders franchise to their first NFC Championship since 1991. Daniels arguably had one of the most dominant and astonishing rookie quarterback seasons of all time and deserves this award more than anyone else in the NFL.
Defensive Player of the Year: Broncos DB Pat Surtain ll / My pick: Broncos DB Pat Surtain ll
Pat Surtain made his case for DPOY this year, becoming the first cornerback to win the award since Gilmore in 2019. Locking down almost every receiver that he was matched with, Patrick Surtain only allowed 38 completions for 326 yards and only two touchdown passes. However, the cherry on top was his insane 58.9 QBR when quarterbacks threw his way. Although Surtain totaled a career-low 45 tackles, his 11 pass deflections (25th among cornerbacks), four interceptions (tenth among cornerbacks), and one forced fumble all compensated for that. I believe that at only 24 years old, Surtain has become one of the best if not the best cornerback in this league, and the award he received Thursday night showed for that.
Offensive Player of the Year: Eagles RB Saquon Barkley / My pick: Eagles RB Saquon Barkley
If Barkley hadn’t won MVP, this award clearly would have gone to Allen or Jackson, but I think Saquon was the clear choice for OPOY. Barkley had one of the best rushing seasons of all time, breaking the rushing yards record (including playoffs) previously held by Terrell Davis. Although Barkley was quiet in the Eagles’ dominant Super Bowl victory over the 2x defending champion, Kansas City Chiefs, he strongly contributed to the Eagles’ 14-3 record by collecting 100+ rushing yards over 14 wins. Barkley finished with the eighth most rushing yards of all time and also holds the record for the most 60+ yard rushing touchdowns in a season (seven 60+ Rush TDs). Some may have believed that Barkley should have won the MVP, but I believe he was a clear choice for this award.
Assistant Coach of the Year: Lions OC Ben Johnson / My pick: Eagles DC Vic Fangio.
I understand that the Lions had their best season in NFL history, compiling 15 wins to two losses, but the reconstruction that happened with the Eagles’ defense was all because of the great Vic Fangio. Not only did he turn an Eagles’ defense that gave up 38 points to a depleted receiving core, but the defense also held a shutout until late in the third quarter to a two-time defending champion. What happened in Philly should be remembered as one of the greatest off-seasons and turnarounds in NFL history, and Fangio is the one to show for it.
The NFL honors had a fair share of surprises and expectations, but one thing is clear: this season was loaded with amazing performances by many different teams and players. This was truly an unforgettable year.
