Here are my picks for next year’s NFL Honors as preseason begins.
Football is back! Thursday night the Baltimore Ravens will square off against the Chicago Bears in the annual Hall of Fame Game at Canton, Ohio.
That said, here are my predictions for the four main NFL Awards for this upcoming season.
Comeback Player of the Year: Andrew Luck
No one has had more mystery created by the media last season than Colts quarterback Andrew Luck. He missed the entirety of 2017 NFL season in large part to his right shoulder surgery earlier that year. That shoulder caused a lot of speculation as no one seemed to understand the full extent of the injury. Reports went as severe as saying Luck was unable to throw a college-sized football, which is news you don’t want to hear from a franchise quarterback.
Courtesy: sandiegouniontribune.com
That’s why this year Luck can prove to the league that he still has it. He has begun practicing with the Colts and seems to be almost back to 100%. In his time off the field, the team has created an aurora of new offensive weapons that are now at Luck’s disposal.
In the backfield, he has one of the more underrated talents in Marlon Mack. Mack had an impressive season last year, totaling 503 yards in both receiving and rushing behind back Frank Gore. The Colts also drafted quick and flashy NC State product Nyheim Himes in this year’s draft.
The team added key additions on the receiving end, too, through veteran Eric Ebron and potential sleeper pick, Deon Cain, out of Clemson. Finally, and most importantly, the Colts added a perennial offensive guard, Quenton Nelson, to help Luck on the frontline.
If his shoulder injury doesn’t resurface, then Luck has new pieces around him in his quest to win Comeback Player of the Year.
Coach of the Year: Bill O’Brien
The Texans had a great start in 2017. They were able to force offensive shootouts with the historically intimidating Patriots and Seahawk defenses. They also scored a whopping 57 points against the Titans.
The first seven games were headlined by rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson. The Clemson product threw for 1,700 yards while scoring nineteen touchdowns to only eight interceptions.
But then things took a turn for the worst. Watson tore his ACL in November and the team ended up 4-12 with mediocre quarterback play.
Here’s why this season won’t be the same. The Texans signed defensive stud Tyrann Mathieu to scope the secondary alongside another safety in Justin Reid. The once #1 defense now has two ball-hawking players who can prevent deep balls.
With a healthy Deshaun Watson at the helm, the Texans look poised to return to the playoffs.
Rookie of the Year: Saquon Barkley
This shouldn’t be a surprise. According to ESPN Draft Analyst Todd McShay, Barkley was regarded as the best overall prospect in the 2017 NFL draft.
Barkley might just be at that level of talent. During his time at Penn State, Barkley displayed a skill set that resembled a mix of Le’Veon Bell and Barry Sanders. His quiet, yet powerful, running approach allowed him to shine in just about any situation. He can run through B gaps, take a pitch outside, and catch the ball downfield.
Courtesy: giantswire.usatoday.com
Another reason he could win ROY is his situation. After a forgettable 2017 season–headlined by stubborn coach Ben Mcadoo–the New York Giants are poised to return to the playoffs. Between the likes of Odell Beckham Jr. and Eli Manning, Saquon should strive as the team’s main second option on offense.
But my ‘sleeper pick’ for this award is Josh Rosen. Rosen was the best “ready-now” quarterback in the 2018 NFL draft. He has the IQ and skillset to understand and grasp Mike McCoy’s playbook. The only real question is whether he’ll get an opportunity to start. He’s currently playing behind veterans Sam Bradford and Mike Glennon.
MVP: Aaron Rodgers
This is the year that Aaron Rodgers will once again prove his worth as the NFL’s top player. A generational talent, he can beat opposing defenders in many ways. That’s why I predict he’ll win his third MVP Award.
The first and most obvious change from last year is the departure of Jordy Nelson. Nelson, a nine-year receiver with the team, started to show signs of age last year. He had career-low 60 percent catch-rate. With Nelson gone, the team will now look to more athletic players to go long. No worries, though–a combination of Randall Cobb, Davante Adams, and Geronimo Allison creates a well-above-average receiving core for Rodgers.
The backfield will also need to step up its game…and I think it will. Ty Montgomery has a year of experience at the running back position, and the addition of late-round pick, Aaron Jones, brings much-needed depth to that position.
But the most important additions may be at tight end. During its incredible 2010 run to win Super Bowl 45, the Packers relied heavily on tight end sets: Jermichael Finley and Andrew Quarless helped the team in both blocking and receiving. Today a new era of Packers tight ends is about to begin thanks to the off-season signings of Jimmy Graham and Marcedes Lewis. Both players are reliable blockers and are two of the best catching tight ends in the league.
Rodgers has a chip on his shoulder, the result of suffering a season-ending injury last year. Don’t bet against him!
There you have it; my list for the 2019 NFL Awards. Did I miss anyone? Let me know in the comments below!
