American Football
2026 NFL awards predictions: MVP, DPOY, OPOY, rookie winners and more
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As the new NFL season gets underway, it is time to play the annual guessing game over who walks away with the sport's 2026 individual honours.
A Buccaneers rookie has taken the place of another in our latest edition, proving that even impressive performances in training camp and the preseason can influence the race.
Here's our too-early take on who takes home the MVP, DPOY, OPOY, OROY, DROY, Comeback Player of the Year, and Coach of the Year awards.
Most Valuable Player
Prediction: Matthew Stafford, QB, Los Angeles Rams
With 18 of the last 19 MVPs being awarded to quarterbacks, it's a safe bet that a gunslinger will take home the top prize again in 2026.
Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, and Drake Maye were all considered, but we cannot look beyond a repeat of the 2025 winner.
Why Stafford?
Continuity, for the most part. The Rams have one of the best offensive lines, and the personnel in all of the skill positions are much the same, with Puka Nacua, Davante Adams, and Kyren Williams the key threats.
If he avoids injury and this prediction holds, Stafford will become the first player to win back-to-back MVPs since Aaron Rodgers in 2020 and 2021.
Offensive Player of the Year
Prediction: Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Detroit Lions
Stephen Maturen / Stringer
Recent history suggests it should be either a wide receiver or a running back, with the two positions dominating voting in the last seven years.
Why Gibbs?
Talent and opportunity play heavily in Gibbs' favour.
He is one of the most dynamic dual-threats in the league, held back from posting even more impressive numbers in recent years only by the timeshare in the backfield with David Montgomery.
With Montgomery now gone to Houston and no other Lions running back capable of performing quite on the same level as "Knuckles," a huge season is in the offing for the Lions' new "bell cow" in what remains a potent offense.
Gibbs also has the extra motivation of proving his mammoth payday is deserved.
Defensive Player of the Year
Prediction: Will Anderson Jr., EDGE, Houston Texans
Jane Gershovich / Stringer
It's tough to look beyond Myles Garrett repeating, but if anyone can do it, it's Anderson.
Why Anderson?
Anderson posted a 19.5% pressure rate last year, the highest mark among qualified edge defenders, and he achieved that feat in only his third season in the league.
His 33.1% pass rush win rate, or in other words, how often he beat the blocker(s) in front of him, was also the best in the league, beating even DPOY Garrett.
Motivated by his huge extension, and with Danielle Hunter commanding attention on the other side of the defensive line, it's frightening to think how good Anderson could become in 2026.
Then there's the elite secondary, which will once again provide Anderson and Co. with ample time to wreak havoc in the backfield.
Offensive Rookie of the Year
Prediction: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Las Vegas Raiders
Ethan Miller / Staff
Mendoza will be warming the bench while Kirk Cousins starts the early games on the Raiders' schedule.
For that reason, it's tempting to suggest Jeremiyah Love, Carnell Tate, or even Jadarian Price will win the award instead, but we stand firm with the rookie gunslinger.
Why Mendoza?
He has struggled during the preseason, but he won't be sitting for long. Raider Nation and the national media will be screaming out for him to take charge the moment Cousins slips up.
New head coach Klint Kubiak will put Mendoza in position to succeed. If not in the win column, then at least in terms of how he's able to produce even when results are not going their way.
The wideout group is weak, but Brock Bowers and Ashton Jeanty give Mendoza outlets he can lean on early and often.
And with Tyler Linderbaum and Kolton Miller helping to give Mendoza time to settle into his throws, it may be hard for other rookies in this race to keep pace down the stretch.
Defensive Rookie of the Year
Prediction: Rueben Bain, EDGE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Mike Carlson / Stringer
This is where we've pivoted, swapping out the Commanders' linebacker Sonny Styles for Tampa's new edge rusher Rueben Bain.
Without getting too carried away with training camp and preseason games, it's hard to miss how impressive Bain has been so far.
And with the two players separated by a razor's edge in our earlier predictions, moving Bain into pole position made sense.
History suggests that simply being a safety works against the uber-talented Caleb Downs, as nobody in his position has won the award since 1990.
Arvell Reese is a threat, and it will only take one hot streak for David Bailey or Styles to threaten this prediction, but the smart money is on Bain.
So, why Bain?
He was a force of nature in his final year in Miami, posting a 15.2% pressure rate, 30.3% win rate, and nine sacks.
Bain was also dominant against the run, earning the fifth-highest PFF run grade while amassing 54 tackles.
A Consensus All-American in 2025, he is already displaying the kind of work ethic that will help him start fast.
The rookie is already listed as a starter on the Buccaneers' depth chart, and while he'll split time with Yaya Diaby, Al-Qadin Muhammad, and perhaps David Walker, he should earn sufficient snaps to allow his talent to shine.
Comeback Player of the Year
Prediction: Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs
Kyler Murray, Micah Parsons, Malik Nabers, and George Kittle were all considered here, but none of them have the same platform as Mahomes to take home this honour.
Why Mahomes?
Concerns about Mahomes' knee have been largely put to bed.
The weapons at his disposal are not as strong as those in his Super Bowl-winning campaigns, even with rookie Cyrus Allen having a standout camp, but there's enough there to work with.
Eric Bieniemy's return, the addition of Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker, and Travis Kelce's presence - even if he's more of a red zone threat than a field stretcher at this point - were enough to make Mahomes the favourite.
Coach of the Year
Prediction: John Harbaugh, New York Giants
ustin Casterline / Stringer
Why Harbaugh?
The squad looks stronger on paper, assuming the injury luck improves.
Jaxson Dart, Cam Skattebo and Malik Nabers all missed significant time last season, and with Francis Mauigoa, Arvell Reese and Tremaine Edmunds among the new arrivals, there's a solid case that the Giants are being underestimated.
If it all comes together as it should, Harbaugh takes the credit.
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