(Photo By: Katie Stratman/USA TODAY Sports)
Written By: Matt Di Domenico
Twitter: @didomenicomatt5
LinkedIn: Matt Di Domenico | LinkedIn
NFL MVP:
QB Tom Brady, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
66.2 CMP %, 1,767 Passing Yards, 15 Passing TDs, 2 INTs, 108.5 Passer Rating, 36 Rushing Yards, 1 Rush TD
I see all this talk about Justin Herbert, Josh Allen, and even Lamar Jackson being the front runner for the NFL MVP this season. To me, it has to be the 44-year-old QB down in Tampa Bay. Tom Brady has his team playing at a super-elite level and it is showing that he is the front runner for the NFL MVP. Brady has the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at a record of 5-1 with a win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday night. Brady has shown no signs of slowing down and will look to defend the Buccaneers Super Bowl title by the end of the year. Right now Brady has 17 passing TDs and over 2,000 passing yards which is leading the league in both categories. I do know that numbers do not tell the entire story but since Brady is doing this at the age of 44 and the Buccaneers are arguably still the best team in the NFL, the MVP has to be Bradys for right now.
Offensive Rookie of the Year:
WR Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals
23 Receptions, 456 Receiving Yards, 5 Receiving TDs, LG 70 Yards,
Certainly, all the worry that Ja’Marr Chase was going to have trouble adjusting to the NFL because of the amount of drops he had early on in the preseason has gone away in a flash. Since getting drafted out of LSU with the 5th pick in the draft, Chase has already been lighting up secondaries. Chase so far has 23 receptions for 456 receiving yards and has 5 receiving TDs. You can tell that Bengals QB Joe Burrow has a lot of trust in Chase and wants to get the ball to him. Chase and Burrow have shown that they are going to be a dynamic duo for years to come in this league. I expect Chase to keep at the rate he is going at to take home the Offensive Rookie of the Year award.
Defensive Rookie of the Year:
LB Micah Parsons, Dallas Cowboys
25 Total Tackles, 17 Solo, 8 Ast, 2.5 Sacks
The freak of nature that was drafted out of Penn State with the 12th pick by the Dallas Cowboys has shown that he is going to be one heck of a defensive player in this league. Parsons has given this Cowboys defense a lot of juice with his 2.5 sacks, 25 total tackles, 17 solo, and 8 assisted. The Cowboys are playing very well right now with a record of 4-1 and the defense has improved from the previous year because of Parsons. Parsons is a do it all linebacker that can rush the passer and fly around the field making big-time tackles. Parsons has an incredible motor which is why I feel his numbers will still be great by the end of the year and he will take the Defensive Rookie of the Year award.
Comeback Player of the Year:
QB Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
73.9 CMP %, 1,368 Passing Yards, 13 Passing TDs, 3 INTs, 116.9 Passer Rating, 60 Rushing Yards
After his horrific ankle injury last season, many did not know if QB Dak Prescott would return to full form again. Prescott was able to rehab well in the offseason and has the Dallas Cowboys playing at a very high level with a record of 4-1. Prescott has thrown for over 1,300 yards and has 13 passing TDs. Prescott also has a very high completion percentage of 73.9%. This is a story that you want to root for and Prescott is one of those players that can bounce back from a horrible injury like this. If Prescott remains healthy, the Cowboys should continue to play well and this award will already be locked up before the season even ends.
Offensive Player of the Year:
WR Davante Adams, Green Bay Packers
41 Receptions, 579 Receiving Yards, 2 Receiving TDs, LG 59 Yards
The Green Bay Packers all-world receiver Davante Adams does not get enough credit in this league. The rate that Adams is playing at right now is unreal. Adams is leading the NFL in receptions with 41 and receiving yards with 579. Sure, Adams only has 2 receiving TDs but I expect that number to improve as the year goes on. The chemistry that Adams has with the Packers QB Aaron Rodgers is just unreal. So many times, when the game is on the line, Rodgers goes to Adams to win the game. If Adams remains healthy then I expect him to take the Offensive Player of the Year award for 2021.
Defensive Player of the Year
DE Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns
21 Total Tackles, 13 Solo, 8 Ast, 7.0 Sacks
This one I am going to go out on a limb, and I am going to say that Myles Garrett will win the Defensive Player of the Year award over the Dallas Cowboys young CB in Trevon Diggs. Sure Diggs is playing at a very high level with 6 INTs but Garrett has also been having a very good start to the season. The Browns DE has 21 total tackles with 7.0 sacks and has done all this in 5 games. I expect these numbers to rise in the next few weeks and Garrett to make more of a claim for the Defensive Player of the year award. The Browns are at a record of 3-2 right now however and need to start racking up more wins to give Garrett an even better shot at the award.