MVP: Cincinnati Bengals QB Joe Burrow (+650)
It’s time. This upcoming season feels like Joe Burrow’s time to elevate his play and win league MVP. Cincinnati revamped their offensive line with Orlando Brown Jr. and have held onto Tee Higgins. Burrow has an extensive array of players to get the ball to along with good bookend tackles. I’m not sure why I’m picking Burrow over Mahomes, Hurts, or Allen, but something in my gut is telling me that it’s his time. It’s safe to pick a quarterback as the last ten MVP’s have been won by quarterbacks, but I’m putting all my chips in on Joe Burrow.
OPOY: Minnesota Vikings WR Justin Jefferson (+1200)
Back-to-back LSU alum. With there not being an extremely dominate running back in the league right now, the Offensive Player of the Year award feels like it’s going to a receiver or tight end and there’s no better option than the wideout who has been dominating since he entered the league.
Jefferson won the award last season after catching 128 passes for 1,809 yards, and 8 touchdowns and there’s no reason he can’t go back-to-back. With Kirk Cousins still playing at a high level and the addition of T.J. Hockenson and Jordan Addison to take the heat off Jefferson, he’s set up to succeed. In the history of the NFL only two players have won back-to-back OPOY honors. Well, we’re going to see three when Jefferson wins again.
DPOY: Las Vegas Raiders DE Maxx Crosby (+1200)
Eight of the last 11 Defensive Players of the Year have been defensive linemen. For the 2023-2024 season, I think we’ll see another defensive lineman take the crown and win Defensive Player of the Year, except it won’t be someone who’s on the top of everyone’s list like Myles Garrett, Nick Bosa, or Joey Bosa. I’m picking Maxx Crosby as next season’s Defensive Player of the Year.
Over his career, Crosby has gotten progressively better and better. He entered the league in 2019 and tallied 10 sacks then in 2020 made 7 sacks. Since 2020, he’s upped his pass rushing ability making 8 sacks in 2021 and 12.5 this past season. He also made a drastic jump in tackles from 2021 to 2022 going from 56 to 89 tackles and added 3 forced fumbles. Crosby is shooting to the moon with his improvement each season and in 2023 is gearing up to have a huge season due to his illusive pass rush moves and above average athleticism.
OROY: Atlanta Falcons RB Bijan Robinson (+300)
Drafting a running back as high as Atlanta took Robinson is always risky. But with how much Atlanta plans to use him, it could pay off. Robinson has been working at running back and wideout which will send his numbers through the roof. The Falcons don’t really have a true RB1 and Robinson can be that guy for them right away.
Another aspect of Robinson with the Falcons I like is that he can work with Cordarrelle Patterson on playing everywhere on the field. At Texas last season, he rushed for over 1,800 yards and scored 20 touchdowns. He won’t have that type of efficiency as a rookie, but he could be close. Arthur Smith loves to lean on a running back like he did in Tennessee with Derrick Henry and I wouldn’t be surprised if he did that with Robinson.
DROY: Houston Texans OLB Will Anderson Jr. (+350)
Ever since the start of last college season, I’ve been very high on Anderson. He’s an elite pass rusher that transitions from speed to power in the blink of an eye which keeps tackles on their toes. Houston runs a 3-4 which’ll give Anderson a lot of opportunities to do various things from different alignments whether he’s at defensive end rushing the passer or outside linebacker dropping to the flat. With Houston drafting both Anderson and Stroud, they’re going to see ample media attention. This will put Anderson in the eye of NFL fans as he tallies ten plus sacks as a rookie.
COY: Detroit Lions HC Dan Campbell (+800)
Since hiring Dan Campbell, Detroit has added a gritty attitude that players have adopted. In his first season with Detroit, Campbell went 3-13, but last season he got Detroit inches from the playoffs with a 9-8 record. After retaining important pieces and adding players like Jahmyr Gibbs, Cam Sutton, and Jack Campbell, the Lions are setting themselves up to make a playoff run. If they do reach the playoffs, then Campbell has this award in the bag.
CBPOY: Buffalo Bills S Damar Hamlin (-250)
To secure this award, Hamlin just has to play a snap in 2023-2024 and deservingly so. After going what we went through where he nearly died on the field and going through a full recovery, if he steps on the field he deserves his flowers.