Most Valuable Player – Lamar Jackson
Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens have been fantastic this year, earning a 7-4 record. There have been a few dropped games, for example, they could’ve beaten the 8-1 Chiefs to start the season but Isaiah Likely was just a hair out of bounds on the final play of the game. Jackson is averaging 261 passing yards per game while also averaging 53 on the ground. Josh Allen is putting up a fight for this award but as of right now it belongs to Action Jackson.
Offensive Player of the Year – Derrick Henry
Derrick Henry is the OPOY through this season so far. This powerful running back has been destroying NFL defenses, averaging over 100 yards per game and averaging a touchdown per game. Derrick Henry leads in total yards (1,185) and touchdowns (13). The Baltimore Ravens have been unstoppable so far this season, (unless you’re the Pittsburgh Steelers). The back field duo of Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson has been electric.
Defensive Player of the Year – TJ Watt
TJ Watt’s numbers might not jump off the page too much, but he is leading the league in forced fumbles and is in the top 10 for sacks. What makes Watt so special is how he is leading one of the best defenses in the league. When a team faces the Pittsburgh Steelers, they aren’t worried about their offense, they are worried about their defense and planning their game around TJ Watt. How he controls one side of the ball, he has a game that you need to see with your own eyes. With how he adds pressure constantly, he looks like he is unblockable. Watt has helped this team overachieve with a current record of 8-2.
Offensive Rookie of the Year – Jayden Daniels
Every rookie quarterback could only dream of starting their career like Jayden Daniels did—through the first four games of the season they only punted four times and once in three games. Daniels and the Commander’s offense went on a streak of 16 scoring drives in a row (excluding kneeling). He was one of the most efficient quarterbacks through the first half of the year, though he has cooled off a little since then. It would be impossible to keep that kind of excellence up. Washington had little to no expectations to start this season. Daniels and his teammates have destroyed those low expectations with their 7-4 record so far—right behind the 8-2 NFC East leading Philadelphia Eagles.
Defensive Rookie of the Year – Quinyon Mitchell
Mitchell has just come off a great game going against star receiver Terry McLaurin who said, “he doesn’t play like a rookie,” after completely shutting him down. Out of the 20 routes McLaurin ran against Mitchell, he didn’t complete a single catch. The way Mitchell stays hugged on these receivers is incredible, he’s excelling in the hardest positions in all of sports. Mitchell’s numbers don’t pop out at you with only one interception, but his track record is impressive. He locked Jamar Chase for two catches and 19 yards, Chris Olave for two catches and 24 yards, and Drake London for one catch and 5 yards. When comparing his numbers to All Pro and 2023 DROY Sauce Gardner, they come up pretty close. Gardner allowed 22 catches through his first ten games and Mitchell allowed 23.
Coach of the Year – Dan Quinn
As I said earlier about the Commanders, they had low expectations coming in and adding the rookie quarterback, Jayden Daniels, but Dan Quinn as head coach of this team has been rolling. Last year, Quinn was seen as the best defensive coordinator in the league and some argued he should be the Dallas Cowboys head coach. As his contract ended, he decided to go to the Commanders for his first NFL head coaching job and it has been nothing short of excellent. He is helping star receiver Terry McLaurin have a career year and has had this defense looking far better than last year when Washington had only four wins. This year, under the coaching of Dan Quinn, they have the opportunity to complete the season with only four losses.
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