by Jazz Ray
Monday, Feb 02, 2026NFL awards will be announced on Thursday, Feb. 5
MVP
Last year’s winner – Josh Allen, Bills
This year’s odds
Matthew Stafford, Rams -190
Drake Maye, Patriots +160
Maye has the Patriots in the Super Bowl, and Stafford’s Rams fell one game short of a head-to-head battle between the two favorites. Both have MVP-like numbers. Stafford led the league in both passing yards with 4,707 and touchdown passes with 46. Plus, he stepped up big in the NFC title gam,e throwing for three TDs and 374 yards in the season-ending loss to Seattle. Maye revived a dead-in-the-water Patriots franchise with electric play (passing and running). But this award seems headed in Stafford’s direction. In a case of reverse age discrimination, even Tom Brady says Stafford’s age (37) might prevent him from having another season like this one, while at 23 Maye will have many more chances.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Last year’s winner – Saquon Barkley, Eagles
This year’s odds
Jackson Smith-Njigba, Seahawks -1600
Puka Nacua, Rams +1200
This award is to reward non-quarterbacks and will likely go to the Seattle receiver who had more receiving yards than anyone else (1,793). Smith-Njigba escaped serious injury, playing in all 17 games plus two playoffs. He edged out Nacua in total yards and in yards per catch (15.1 to 13.3), but there really isn’t a lot of wiggle room between the two.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Last year’s winner – Patrick Surtain II, Broncos
This year’s odds
Myles Garrett, Browns -20,000
This award belongs to Garrett, so there’s no point in listing anyone else. Garrett had a historic season for another terrible (5-12) Cleveland team, with the Browns' quarterback controversies taking away from just how good Garrett actually is. Start with his setting the NFL single-season sack record at 23, then throw in 60 total tackles (23 unassisted). Quite simply, he was virtually unblockable – even when double-teamed.
OFFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Last year’s winner – Jayden Daniels, Commanders
This year’s odds
Tetairoa McMillan, Panthers -135
TreVeyon Henderson, Patriots +185
RB Henderson showed blinding speed and big-play capability from the moment he suited up, running back a kickoff for a TD the first time he touched the ball (exhibition game). But except for a stretch when Rhamondre Stevenson was hurt, Henderson was clearly the backup. McMillan, meanwhile, was the centerpiece of a Panthers offense that for a while had Carolina fans thinking playoffs. Seventy catches, 1,014 yards, 7 TDs and 14.5 YPC should get him the trophy.
DEFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Last year’s winner -- Jared Verse, Rams
This year’s odds
Carson Schwesinger, Browns -550
James Pierce Jr., Falcons +370
Schwesinger became a tackling machine for the Browns – 156 total and 67 solo. He had 11 tackles for loss and two interceptions. Not bad for a kid who was a walk-on at UCLA. His signature game came in a Week 11 surprise victory over the Steelers – 14 tackles and an interception. Pierce, Atlanta’s best edge rusher, had some of his best games against top NFL tackles.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Last year’s winner – Kevin O’Connell, Vikings
This year’s odds
Mike Vrabel, Patriots -400
Mike Macdonald, Seahawks +950
Liam Coen, Jaguars +950
Vrabel is the favorite, and rightly so after taking a moribund team coming off two consecutive 4-13 seasons and leading it to the Super Bowl. If Bill Belichick were the Wicked Witch of the West, Vrabel is Glinda. Somehow, he was able to be both a tough guy AND a player’s coach, and his approach paid huge dividends in Foxboro. Maybe he and Macdonald can make a side bet -- Super Bowl winner gets COTY?
MVP
Last year’s winner – Josh Allen, Bills
This year’s odds
Matthew Stafford, Rams -190
Drake Maye, Patriots +160
Maye has the Patriots in the Super Bowl, and Stafford’s Rams fell one game short of a head-to-head battle between the two favorites. Both have MVP-like numbers. Stafford led the league in both passing yards with 4,707 and touchdown passes with 46. Plus, he stepped up big in the NFC title gam,e throwing for three TDs and 374 yards in the season-ending loss to Seattle. Maye revived a dead-in-the-water Patriots franchise with electric play (passing and running). But this award seems headed in Stafford’s direction. In a case of reverse age discrimination, even Tom Brady says Stafford’s age (37) might prevent him from having another season like this one, while at 23 Maye will have many more chances.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Last year’s winner – Saquon Barkley, Eagles
This year’s odds
Jackson Smith-Njigba, Seahawks -1600
Puka Nacua, Rams +1200
This award is to reward non-quarterbacks and will likely go to the Seattle receiver who had more receiving yards than anyone else (1,793). Smith-Njigba escaped serious injury, playing in all 17 games plus two playoffs. He edged out Nacua in total yards and in yards per catch (15.1 to 13.3), but there really isn’t a lot of wiggle room between the two.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Last year’s winner – Patrick Surtain II, Broncos
This year’s odds
Myles Garrett, Browns -20,000
This award belongs to Garrett, so there’s no point in listing anyone else. Garrett had a historic season for another terrible (5-12) Cleveland team, with the Browns' quarterback controversies taking away from just how good Garrett actually is. Start with his setting the NFL single-season sack record at 23, then throw in 60 total tackles (23 unassisted). Quite simply, he was virtually unblockable – even when double-teamed.
OFFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Last year’s winner – Jayden Daniels, Commanders
This year’s odds
Tetairoa McMillan, Panthers -135
TreVeyon Henderson, Patriots +185
RB Henderson showed blinding speed and big-play capability from the moment he suited up, running back a kickoff for a TD the first time he touched the ball (exhibition game). But except for a stretch when Rhamondre Stevenson was hurt, Henderson was clearly the backup. McMillan, meanwhile, was the centerpiece of a Panthers offense that for a while had Carolina fans thinking playoffs. Seventy catches, 1,014 yards, 7 TDs and 14.5 YPC should get him the trophy.
DEFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Last year’s winner -- Jared Verse, Rams
This year’s odds
Carson Schwesinger, Browns -550
James Pierce Jr., Falcons +370
Schwesinger became a tackling machine for the Browns – 156 total and 67 solo. He had 11 tackles for loss and two interceptions. Not bad for a kid who was a walk-on at UCLA. His signature game came in a Week 11 surprise victory over the Steelers – 14 tackles and an interception. Pierce, Atlanta’s best edge rusher, had some of his best games against top NFL tackles.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Last year’s winner – Kevin O’Connell, Vikings
This year’s odds
Mike Vrabel, Patriots -400
Mike Macdonald, Seahawks +950
Liam Coen, Jaguars +950
Vrabel is the favorite, and rightly so after taking a moribund team coming off two consecutive 4-13 seasons and leading it to the Super Bowl. If Bill Belichick were the Wicked Witch of the West, Vrabel is Glinda. Somehow, he was able to be both a tough guy AND a player’s coach, and his approach paid huge dividends in Foxboro. Maybe he and Macdonald can make a side bet -- Super Bowl winner gets COTY?
