The NFL season is inching closer, and as the offseason drags on, the preseason predictions follow. Here are projections of the NFL award winners for the 2024-25 NFL season.
Comeback Player of the Year – Atlanta Falcons QB Kirk Cousins
Cousins has been a solid NFL starter his whole career. The 35-year-old signal-caller is finally being appreciated on a very talented Falcons team. Cousins was injured in the middle of the season last year with a torn Achilles while on the Vikings. Now, he looks to win Comeback Player of the Year while leading Atlanta to its first playoff bid since 2017. Cousins will have all the weapons to do so with TE Kyle Pitts, RB Bijan Robinson and WR Drake London.
Coach of the Year – Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell
Campbell was close to winning this award last season, but Browns HC Kevin Stefanski led Cleveland to the playoffs with a backup QB in Joe Flacco. This season, Campbell will not only be a Coach of the Year favorite but will also coach a team that could win the Super Bowl. Campbell changed the trajectory of the Lions very quickly, and this impressive feat will not go unawarded when he does it again this coming season.
Rookie of the Year – Washington Commanders QB Jayden Daniels
The Rookie of the Year Award has been given to a QB most of the time. This season, the best rookie QB will be Daniels. His running ability will set him apart from every other first-year signal-caller. Daniels also has an underrated arm, throwing for 40 touchdowns last season at LSU. The Commanders also did a decent job of giving the rookie weapons to work with in RB Austin Ekeler and TE Zach Ertz. Washington also has WR Terry McLaurin, who will likely become Daniels’ favorite target.
Offensive Player of the Year – San Francisco 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey
McCaffrey is the safe bet to have another historical season this year. While it will be tough to go back-to-back, winning the award last season, McCaffrey is talented enough to do so. 49ers HC Kyle Shanahan is a master at getting playmakers in space, and he has proved time and time again that he and McCaffrey are a recipe for success. Expect another stellar season from the RB on his way to yet another OPOTY Award.
Defensive Player of the Year – Pittsburgh Steelers LB T.J. Watt
Watt was snubbed last season, losing the award to Browns DE Myles Garrett. This time around, the NFL will make up for the mistake and give the award to the rightful winner. Watt has been an extremely productive LB since his rookie season in the league, with 96.5 sacks in his NFL tenure. Steelers fans should expect more of the same from Watt as he looks to win a DPOTY next season.
NFL MVP – Cincinnati Bengals QB Joe Burrow
The biggest award in the NFL will go to one of the best QBs in the league, Joe Burrow. He is coming off a devastating wrist injury that ended his season, and Burrow is ready to show fans why he is considered a top-three QB in the NFL. When healthy, opposing defenses better watch out for the Cincinnati gunslinger. Burrow has also reportedly gained 15 pounds this offseason, which means he will be better prepared to withstand the brutality that the AFC North brings. If Burrow can stay upright next season, expect him to win the first NFL MVP of his career.
