Season Predictions

2021 NFL season award predictions at the midpoint: Tom Brady, Kyler Murray among 5 MVP vote-getters

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

Rank
1
Tom Brady
Tampa Bay Buccaneers · QB

(13 votes: Battista, Bergman, Chadiha, Goodbread, Grant, Hall, Jones-Drew, McGinest, Patra, Rank, Reuter, Rosenthal, Sessler)


2. Kyler Murray7 votes: Baldinger, Blair, Brandt, Hanzus, Parr, Shook, Thomas

T-3. Josh Allen4 votes: Filice, Frelund, Smith, Zierlein

T-3. Lamar Jackson4 votes: Bhanpuri, Cersosimo, Ross, Trotter

5. Derek Carr1 vote: Carr


Why Gregg Rosenthal chose Tom Brady: MVP is often a narrative award, and Brady won't have the same storyline sizzle as guys like Dak Prescott, Lamar Jackson and Kyler Murray. MVP is also often a team award, however, and I suspect the Bucs finish with the NFC's No. 1 seed while Brady remains the best down-to-down passer in football at the age of 44 on the way to his fourth MVP.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Rank
1
Cooper Kupp
Los Angeles Rams · WR

(15 votes: Bergman, Bhanpuri, Blair, Brandt, Cersosimo, Chadiha, Grant, Hall, Hanzus, Parr, Patra, Reuter, Sessler, Shook, Thomas)


2. Matthew Stafford | 5 votes: Baldinger, Carr, Jones-Drew, Smith, Zierlein

T-3. Tom Brady | 2 votes: Rank, Trotter

T-3. Kyler Murray | 2 votes: Battista, Ross

T-5. Davante Adams | 1 vote: Goodbread

T-5. Nick Chubb | 1 vote: Frelund

T-5. Lamar Jackson | 1 vote: Filice

T-5. Dak Prescott | 1 vote: McGinest


Why Jeffri Chadiha chose Cooper Kupp: No receiver has been more productive than Kupp. He's on pace for 1,900 yards and 19 touchdowns, and there isn't a non-quarterback who is close to being that dominant at his position.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Rank
1
Myles Garrett
Cleveland Browns · DE

(16 votes: Battista, Bergman, Blair, Cersosimo, Filice, Goodbread, Grant, Hanzus, McGinest, Parr, Patra, Reuter, Ross, Sessler, Shook, Thomas)


2. Trevon Diggs | 6 votes: Baldinger, Brandt, Chadiha, Hall, Jones-Drew, Zierlein

T-3. Aaron Donald | 2 votes: Frelund, Rank

T-3. T.J. Watt | 2 votes: Rosenthal, Smith

T-5. Kevin Byard | 1 vote: Trotter

T-5. Maxx Crosby | 1 vote: Carr

T-5. Jalen Ramsey | 1 vote: Bhanpuri


Why Nick Shook chose Myles Garrett: Garrett is averaging 1.3 sacks per game, a pace that puts him right in line with the single-season NFL record of 22.5. If he hits that mark, he'll lock this award up, no matter how many fumbles T.J. Watt forces.

OFFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

Rank
1
Ja'Marr Chase
Cincinnati Bengals · WR

(25 votes: Baldinger, Battista, Bhanpuri, Blair, Brandt, Carr, Cersosimo, Chadiha, Filice, Goodbread, Grant, Hall, Hanzus, Jones-Drew, McGinest, Patra, Reuter, Rosenthal, Ross, Sessler, Shook, Smith, Thomas, Trotter, Zierlein)


2. Mac Jones | 2 votes: Bergman, Frelund

T-3. Justin Fields | 1 vote: Rank

T-3. Najee Harris | 1 vote: Parr


Why DeAngelo Hall chose Ja'Marr Chase: Chase has transformed the Bengals' offense into an electric unit when he's in sync with Joe Burrow. In a draft class full of offensive talent, the Bengals wideout gets the edge over QBs and other playmakers because he has consistently made life hell for defensive backs and D-coordinators.

DEFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

Rank
1
Micah Parsons
Dallas Cowboys · LB

(26 votes: Baldinger, Battista, Bergman, Blair, Brandt, Carr, Cersosimo, Chadiha, Filice, Frelund, Goodbread, Hanzus, Jones-Drew, McGinest, Parr, Patra, Rank, Reuter, Rosenthal, Ross, Sessler, Shook, Smith, Thomas, Trotter, Zierlein)


2. Patrick Surtain | 3 votes: Bhanpuri, Grant, Hall


Why Willie McGinest chose Micah Parsons: An immediate impact player on Dan Quinn's defense. Parsons' presence at the second level led to the release of Jaylon Smith a month into the season. The Penn State product continues to develop untapped parts of his game and is producing like crazy with five sacks, 14 QB hits and 10 tackles for loss in eight games. No other rookie has been a game-wrecker like Parsons.

COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Rank
1
Dak Prescott
Dallas Cowboys · QB

(26 votes: Battista, Bergman, Bhanpuri, Blair, Brandt, Carr, Cersosimo, Chadiha, Filice, Frelund, Goodbread, Hall, Hanzus, McGinest, Parr, Patra, Rank, Reuter, Rosenthal, Ross, Sessler, Shook, Smith, Thomas, Trotter, Zierlein)


2. Joe Burrow | 2 votes: Grant, Jones-Drew

3. Andrew Whitworth | 1 vote: Baldinger


Why David Carr chose Dak Prescott: There was a laundry list full of concerns around the Dallas QB leading up to Week 1, but all he's done since then is put the Cowboys in winning situations. He's even cemented himself in the MVP conversation with his team sitting comfortably at the top of the NFC East. 

COACH OF THE YEAR

Rank
1
Texas Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury watches play from the sidelines during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Kansas in Lawrence, Kan., Saturday, Oct. 5, 2013. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)
Kliff Kingsbury
Arizona Cardinals

(14 votes: Baldinger, Battista, Blair, Brandt, Carr, Frelund, Grant, Hall, McGinest, Reuter, Sessler, Shook, Smith, Thomas)


2. Mike Vrabel | 4 votes: Bhanpuri, Rank, Trotter, Zierlein

3. Sean Payton | 3 votes: Filice, Parr, Patra

4. Matt LaFleur | 2 votes: Bergman, Rosenthal

T-5. Bill Belichick | 1 vote: Hanzus

T-5. Rich Bisaccia | 1 vote: Jones-Drew

T-5. John Harbaugh | 1 vote: Ross

T-5. Mike McCarthy | 1 vote: Chadiha

T-5. Sean McDermott | 1 vote: Goodbread

T-5. Brandon Staley | 1 vote: Cersosimo


Why Marc Sessler chose Kliff Kingsbury: In August, we were wondering if Kingsbury would spend this autumn attached to the hot seat. Arizona felt figured out, Kingsbury's system just another pro football flash in the pan. Utter nonsense. The Cardinals' rise proved their coach to be something else: an inventive, resourceful leader whose balanced team operates as an overwhelming force on offense and a swallow-you-up behemoth on defense. Kliff is king.

EACH ANALYST'S BALLOT

Table inside Article
AnalystMVPOPOYDPOYOROYDROYComebackCoach
Brian BaldingerKyler MurrayMatthew StaffordTrevon DiggsJa'Marr ChaseMicah ParsonsAndrew WhitworthKliff Kingsbury
Judy BattistaTom BradyKyler MurrayMyles GarrettJa'Marr ChaseMicah ParsonsDak PrescottKliff Kingsbury
Jeremy BergmanTom BradyCooper KuppMyles GarrettMac JonesMicah ParsonsDak PrescottMatt LaFleur
Ali BhanpuriLamar JacksonCooper KuppMyles GarrettJa'Marr ChasePatrick SurtainDak PrescottMike Vrabel
Tom BlairKyler MurrayCooper KuppMyles GarrettJa'Marr ChaseMicah ParsonsDak PrescottKliff Kingsbury
Gil BrandtKyler MurrayCooper KuppTrevon DiggsJa'Marr ChaseMicah ParsonsDak PrescottKliff Kingsbury
David CarrDerek CarrMatthew StaffordMaxx CrosbyJa'Marr ChaseMicah ParsonsDak PrescottKliff Kingsbury
Brooke CersosimoLamar JacksonCooper KuppMyles GarrettJa'Marr ChaseMicah ParsonsDak PrescottBrandon Staley
Jeffri ChadihaTom BradyCooper KuppTrevon DiggsJa'Marr ChaseMicah ParsonsDak PrescottMike McCarthy
Gennaro FiliceJosh AllenLamar JacksonMyles GarrettJa'Marr ChaseMicah ParsonsDak PrescottSean Payton
Cynthia FrelundJosh AllenNick ChubbAaron DonaldMac JonesMicah ParsonsDak PrescottKliff Kingsbury
Chase GoodbreadTom BradyDavante AdamsMyles GarrettJa'Marr ChaseMicah ParsonsDak PrescottSean McDermott
Marcas GrantTom BradyCooper KuppMyles GarrettJa'Marr ChasePatrick SurtainJoe BurrowKliff Kingsbury
DeAngelo HallTom BradyCooper KuppTrevon DiggsJa'Marr ChasePatrick SurtainDak PrescottKliff Kingsbury
Dan HanzusKyler MurrayCooper KuppMyles GarrettJa'Marr ChaseMicah ParsonsDak PrescottBill Belichick
Maurice Jones-DrewTom BradyMatthew StaffordTrevon DiggsJa'Marr ChaseMicah ParsonsJoe BurrowRich Bisaccia
Willie McGinestTom BradyDak PrescottMyles GarrettJa'Marr ChaseMicah ParsonsDak PrescottKliff Kingsbury
Dan ParrKyler MurrayCooper KuppMyles GarrettNajee HarrisMicah ParsonsDak PrescottSean Payton
Kevin PatraTom BradyCooper KuppMyles GarrettJa'Marr ChaseMicah ParsonsDak PrescottSean Payton
Adam RankTom BradyTom BradyAaron DonaldJustin FieldsMicah ParsonsDak PrescottMike Vrabel
Chad ReuterTom BradyCooper KuppMyles GarrettJa'Marr ChaseMicah ParsonsDak PrescottKliff Kingsbury
Gregg RosenthalTom BradyNo entryT.J. WattJa'Marr ChaseMicah ParsonsDak PrescottMatt LaFleur
Marc RossLamar JacksonKyler MurrayMyles GarrettJa'Marr ChaseMicah ParsonsDak PrescottJohn Harbaugh
Marc SesslerTom BradyCooper KuppMyles GarrettJa'Marr ChaseMicah ParsonsDak PrescottKliff Kingsbury
Nick ShookKyler MurrayCooper KuppMyles GarrettJa'Marr ChaseMicah ParsonsDak PrescottKliff Kingsbury
Matt SmithJosh AllenMatthew StaffordT.J. WattJa'Marr ChaseMicah ParsonsDak PrescottKliff Kingsbury
Joe ThomasKyler MurrayCooper KuppMyles GarrettJa'Marr ChaseMicah ParsonsDak PrescottKliff Kingsbury
Jim TrotterLamar JacksonTom BradyKevin ByardJa'Marr ChaseMicah ParsonsDak PrescottMike Vrabel
Lance ZierleinJosh AllenMatthew StaffordTrevon DiggsJa'Marr ChaseMicah ParsonsDak PrescottMike Vrabel

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