Lamar Jackson won the 2019-20 and 2023-24 NFL most valuable player (MVP), will he win his third this time around?
On Thursday, February 6, 2025, the NFL will announce the winners of the following awards: MVP, offensive player of the year (OPOY), defensive player of the year (DPOY), offensive rookie of the year (OROY) and defensive rookie of the year (DROY). Throughout the season I have been tracking who I believe will win the award based on the media’s view, fans’ views and betting odds. This will be my final prediction on who will win each award.
MVP: Josh Allen | Quarterback | Buffalo Bills
Allen time and time again proved he was deserving of the NFL MVP. After the NFL announced the All-Pros, Allen became the first quarterback in NFL history to earn All-Pro honors while having zero other players on his team make the All-Pro roster. That achievement alone showed how much Allen has carried his team and how valuable he was.
This award has gone back and forth all season between who should win MVP. The other contender and who will probably be the runner-up is Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson. He made a strong case this season with one of the best QB seasons in NFL history but Jackson already taught the voters last year that stats are not everything. Funnily enough, while Allen broke history if Allen were to win MVP, Jackson would be the first player voted first-team All-Pro to not win MVP.
Stat-line: 63.6 completion percentage | 3731 passing yards | 28 passing touchdowns (TD) | six interceptions (INT) thrown | 531 rushing yards | 12 rushing TDs | five fumbles | one fumble lost | 14 sacks taken
Runner-up: Lamar Jackson | QB | Baltimore Ravens
Odds via Vegas Insider: -250 (1st)
OPOY: Saquon Barkley | Running Back | Philadelphia Eagles
What a season by the first year Eagle. Barkley went from one of the worst teams in the NFL (the New York Giants) to arguably the best in the Eagles. In his first year with the Eagles he not only took their rushing offense to the next level but proved to the league that he still has it. Barkley had a historical season earning the rushing title in the NFL and most rushing yards by a RB’s first year on a new team.
The only competition to Barkley this season is Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver (WR) Ja’Marr Chase who earned the receiving triple crown leading in catches, yards and TDs. While yes Chase’s season was very impressive, there is a slim chance the voters award it to him considering Barkley’s season and story.
Stat-line: 345 carries | 2005 rushing yards | 13 rushing TDs | two fumbles | 33 catches | 278 receiving yards | two receiving TDs
Runner-up: Ja’Marr Chase | WR | Cincinnati Bengals
Odds via Vegas Insider: -1700
DPOY: Trey Hendrickson | Edge Rusher | Cincinnati Bengals
Where one Bengal could not win an award, another is taking one home. Hendrickson has been one of the most underrated defenders in football over the past few seasons and took over this year. He was one of the best bright spots on an awful Bengals defense this year.
Oddly enough, Hendrickson is not the favorite to win this award. That belongs to Denver Broncos cornerback (CB) Pat Surtain II. Have to give credit where credit is due, Surtain has also been amazing this year and the best CB in football this year by a wide margin. Overall one could not be upset either way with who wins this award.
Stat-line: 33 solo tackles | 17.5 sacks | two forced fumbles | six pass defends | 10 stuffs
Runner-up: Pat Surtain II | CB | Denver Broncos
Odds via Vegas Insider: +700
OROY: Jayden Daniels | QB | Washington Commanders
What a year by the second overall pick. He did what Houston Texans QB C.J. Stroud did last year but to a completely new level. He took a team from 4-13 to 12-5 and a NFC championship appearance while winning not one but two road playoff games.
The biggest competition Daniels is facing is arguably the best tight end (TE) in football in Las Vegas Raiders Brock Bowers who also broke several rookie and tight end records. Unlike Daniels though Bowers was not able to carry his team as high, though that was expected considering the position differences.
Stat-line: 69 completion percentage | 3568 passing yards | 25 passing TDs | nine INTs thrown | 148 carries | 891 rushing yards | six rushing TDs | three fumbles | 47 sacks taken
Runner-up: Brock Bowers | TE | Las Vegas Raiders
Odds via Vegas Insider: -10000
DROY: Jared Verse | EDGE | Los Angeles Rams
Verse did what is known as the dirty work this year. He did not show in the stat sheet when it came to things like sacks, tackles and others but where he did show up was his 77 pressures, the most by a rookie defender in the last five years. This part of the game goes under the radar some but is a great trait and ability to have.
Strangely enough, Verse’s most competition comes from a fellow Ram teammate, defensive end (DE) Braden Fiske. Fiske had a good season himself but he did what most would consider the clean-up work. Verse had the pressures, Fiske had the sacks.
Stat-line: 36 solo tackles | 4.5 sacks | two forced fumbles | two fumble recovers | two pass defends | 12 stuffs
Runner-up: Braden Fiske | DE | Los Angeles Rams
Odds via Vegas Insider: -280
