NFL AWARDS
The 2026 NFL awards are coming up. Predicting the results is never perfect, but I’ve got a pretty good idea of who wins each award. Based on performance trends, statistical dominance, and how these awards are historically decided, here’s an early look at who is best positioned to take home the NFL’s top honors in 2026.
Coach of the Year
Mike Vrabel – New England Patriots
Vrabel enters the 2026 season as the clear standard for what voters reward in Coach of the Year voting. In 2025, he engineered one of the league’s most dramatic turnarounds, taking a Patriots team that won four games in 2024 and turning it into a 14-win playoff contender. New England finished seventh in scoring offense and seventh in scoring defense after ranking 30th and 22nd the year prior.
Beyond the raw improvement, Vrabel’s impact showed up in situational football. The Patriots were among the league leaders in third-down conversion rate, red-zone efficiency, and record in one-score games. With quarterback Drake Maye emerging as a franchise centerpiece, Vrabel’s culture shift and game management put him in position to remain the favorite if New England sustains that level of success in 2026.
MVP
Drake Maye – New England Patriots
Maye’s 2025 season placed him firmly in the MVP conversation, and the trajectory points upward. He led the NFL in completion percentage at 70.9%, threw for over 4,300 yards and kept turnovers to a minimum while piloting one of the league’s most efficient offenses. His command of the offense showed most clearly on third down and against the blitz, where he ranked near the top of the league in passer rating.
Quarterbacks who combine efficiency with team success tend to dominate MVP voting, and Maye checks both boxes. Entering 2026, he has continuity with Vrabel, a strong supporting cast, and the confidence of a quarterback who has already proved he can win at a high level. If New England wins the AFC, Maye will be the frontrunner.
OROY
Tet McMillan
McMillan’s rookie season separated him from the rest of the class early. He led all rookies in receiving yards with 924, added seven touchdowns, and ranked first among first-year players in explosive catches of 10 or more yards. His role expanded as the season went on, and he scored five touchdowns over Carolina’s final five games as the Panthers surged into contention.
Voters typically favor rookies who produce immediately without needing scheme protection, and McMilan consistently drew top coverage while still producing. His combination of volume, scoring, and late-season momentum makes him the clear Offensive Rookie of the Year choice heading into 2026 voting.
DROY
Carson Schwesinger – Cleveland Browns
Schwesinger delivered one of the most complete rookie defensive seasons in recent years. He finished the 2025 season with 137 tackles, ranking seventh in the NFL overall, not just among rookies. He also led all first-year defenders in tackles for loss with 11 while adding two interceptions, 2.5 sacks, and nine quarterback hits.
What separates Schwesinger is usage. He played every down, wore the green dot, and handled communication responsibilities in a veteran defense.
OPOY
Puka Nacua – Los Angeles Rams
Offensive Player of the Year often goes to the non-quarterback who dominates touches, production, and defensive attention. Nacua fits that description perfectly. In 2025, he finished among the league leaders in receptions and receiving yards while remaining one of the NFL’s most efficient players after the catch.
Even with defenses prioritizing him in coverage, Nacua remained the focal point of the Rams’ offense week after week. His ability to produce regardless of matchup makes him a strong candidate to separate himself statistically again in 2026, which is usually enough to win this award.
DPOY
Myles Garrett – Cleveland Browns
Garrett’s 2025 season was as dominant as any defensive performance in the modern era. He led the NFL with 22 sacks, added 32 tackles for loss, and ranked near the top in quarterback hits and pressures despite facing constant double teams. He accomplished this on a team that struggled offensively, which only increased his defensive workload.
Defensive Player of the Year voting often comes down to disruption, and no player disrupts offenses more consistently than Garrett. Entering 2026, he remains the benchmark for pass rush excellence and the safest bet for this award.
CPOY
Christian McCaffrey – San Francisco 49ers
McCaffrey reestablished himself in 2025 as one of the NFL’s most versatile weapons. He finished near the top of the league in yards from scrimmage and was a central piece of San Francisco’s offense in both the run and pass game. His usage rate and efficiency returned to elite levels after prior setbacks.
Comeback Player of the Year voters typically reward players who return to peak form rather than simply returning to the field. McCaffrey’s production and importance to a playoff-caliber team put him squarely in position to claim the award in 2026.