We’re finally through most of the off-season, and now everyone with a keyboard is posting their bold predictions. Fans of all thirty-two franchises believe that 2016 will be the year for their team. Not only that, but they also believe that their star players will achieve individual success. Here are some of the players who could be NFL award winners next February.
Predicting The 2017 NFL Award Winners
Comeback Player of the Year- Andrew Luck, Quarterback, Indianapolis Colts
This one is obvious. Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck was suffering from a torn abdominal and a lacerated kidney in 2015, and it ruined his season. Months after throwing 40 touchdowns and over 4,700 yards, Luck only played in seven games, and threw 12 interceptions to go with his 15 touchdowns. It was an ugly season, and it led many to give up on the young passer.
Of course, performing even the simplest of tasks with as much as a bruised rib can prove to be unbearable for most people. Attempting to play a game as physical as football with the aforementioned injuries seems impossible. This off-season, the Colts invested in protecting Luck, drafting four offensive linemen in this year’s draft.
When Luck returns to full strength, it will be hard to deny him this award. With the likes of Russell Wilson, Derek Carr, and Cam Newton vying to fill Peyton Manning‘s shoes, Luck will have to remind everyone why he was the first overall pick.
Offensive Rookie of the Year- Ezekiel Elliot, Running back, Dallas Cowboys
Picking the young rusher from Ohio State isn’t exactly a bold pick. Ezekiel Elliot was easily the best running back in the draft, and now he’ll be taking snaps behind the best offensive line in the game. Two years ago, DeMarco Murray, an average rusher to that point, led the league behind this version of the great wall of Dallas. Behind an offensive line led by Zack Martin and Tyron Smith, Murray rushed for 1,800 yards and 13 touchdowns. Elliot is already a better back than Murray, and he’s a real threat to Adrian Peterson‘s rushing title.
Defensive Rookie of the Year- Jalen Ramsey, Defensive Back, Jacksonville Jaguars
Unlike the offensive version of this award, there’s no clear favorite for defensive rookie of the year. More than half of the first thirty-two picks in this year’s draft were defensive players. In this year’s draft, the San Diego Chargers became the first team to draft a defensive player when they drafted defensive end Joey Bosa from Ohio State. Despite being a talented prospect, Bosa is at a disadvantage.
The rookie of the year, like most of the awards, doesn’t always go to the most deserving player. In 2015, an argument could be made that Ronald Darby had a better rookie season than Marcus Peters, but Peters won the award. This is probably because he had more interceptions. The sad reality is that good play often takes a back seat to statistics when it comes to analysis. So even if Bosa managed to have a good rookie season, a rarity for pass rushers, it might not be enough.
Jalen Ramsey is an exceptional athlete joining the right team at the right time. The Jacksonville Jaguars are going to be much better in 2016. The offense will be more consistent and the defense looks completely different. Ramsey will be given many chances to make big plays this season, and if he’s half as good as he’s supposed to be, he’ll bring home the hardware.
Offensive Player of the Year- Antonio Brown, Wide Receiver, Pittsburgh Steelers
Antonio Brown of the Pittsburgh Steelers should have won this award last season. His 136 catches, 1,834 yards, and 10 touchdowns made for an incredible season, and he shouldn’t have been overshadowed by a great Cam Newton run. Over the last three years, the Steelers have struggled with injuries across the board. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, running back Le’Veon Bell, and several offensive linemen have been injured often, but Brown has still managed to catch 369 passes for 5,031 yards and 31 touchdowns. Unless he is still feeling the sting of last year’s concussion, Brown should do it again. A wide receiver hasn’t won the award since Jerry Rice did it back in 1993, and that needs to change.
Defensive Player of the Year- Khalil Mack, Pass Rusher, Oakland Raiders
Frankly, it’s just not professional to say that J.J. Watt is the favorite to win this award. In three of the last four seasons, Watt has won the award in a landslide. It doesn’t take an expert to predict that Watt will win the award for a record fourth time. However, finding a suitable challenger isn’t hard either.
After finishing second in the league with 15 sacks last year, Mack has been receiving a ton of positive press. Many people expect him to continue impressing in 2016, especially with the additions of Bruce Irvin and rookies Shilique Calhoun and Jihad Ward in the front seven. If Mack continues to improve, there’s no reason he shouldn’t be able to shoot to infinity and beyond.
Coach of the Year- Bill Belichick, New England Patriots
This one is undeserved. Bill Belichick will likely win the coach of the year award because his team will have a first round bye despite the absence of Tom Brady during their first four games. With games against the Arizona Cardinals and Houston Texans during Brady’s absence, it’s unlikely that the Patriots will start the season 4-0. The Patriots will struggle to start the season, but then a furious Tom Brady will return to an offense featuring Rob Gronkowski, Martellus Bennett, Chris Hogan, Julian Edelman, and Nate Washington and will bring them back.
In what is becoming a sad tradition, the AFC East is the subject of some unrealistic hype yet again. Even if the Patriots start the season 0-4, they’ll end up with their eighth straight division title. When the Patriots dominate everyone on their way to the playoffs, Belichick will receive credit for Brady’s brilliance yet again.
Most Valuable Player- Aaron Rodgers, Quarterback, Green Bay Packers
Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers has to be the obvious favorite for the league’s most prestigious individual accolade. With Brady suspended for the first four games and Peyton Manning retired, there is a strange void in the race for the most valuable trophy award. Adrian Peterson won the award a few years ago, but he just turned 31, and time waits for no man. Cam Newton is the incumbent, but who knows if he’ll be able to repeat his 2015 season.
This just leaves the two-time most valuable player, Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers threw for 31 touchdowns and only eight interceptions last season, and there’s no reason he’ll slow down in 2016. In fact, there’s reason to believe his numbers will skyrocket. After missing all of last season with a torn ACL, wide receiver Jordy Nelson will return to the offense this season, and he’ll join a talented group.
Along side Rodgers and Nelson will be Randall Cobb, Jeff Janis, Davante Adams, and a healthier Eddie Lacy. While Teddy Bridgewater and the Minnesota Vikings will look to repeat as NFC North champions, but Rodgers and the Pack won’t be far behind. If Rodgers could put up elite numbers with a depleted roster, the league should be afraid of what he can do with this healthy one.
Main Photo:
