Predicting the Award Winners for the 2025 NFL Season

The 2025 NFL season is quickly approaching; that means only one thing... IT'S PREDICTIONS SEASON! There will be plenty of plots, shocks, and standout performances this year, and in this article, I will dive into my award winner and ballot predictions for the upcoming season. Let's get into it!

MVP: Josh Allen Goes Back-to-Back

Allen winning a second straight league MVP would be somewhat historic considering a player going back-to-back has only happened six times since 1957 and 3 times in the 2000s, with Peyton Manning doing it twice (2003-2004 and 2008-2009) and Aaron Rodgers doing it in 2020 and 2021, but I think the stars align this year for the Bills quarterback to pull off the rare feat.

The Bills’ toughest games, such as ones against the Ravens, Chiefs, Bengals, and Eagles, will all be played at home, and I would not be shocked if they swept all of those tough opponents. If Allen and the Bills win their marquee matchups and say perhaps Buffalo secures the number one seed in the AFC, I believe Josh Allen wins league MVP for a second straight year, tying him with Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes at two apiece.

MVP Ballot Prediction:

1. Josh Allen (QB, Bills)

2. Lamar Jackson (QB, Ravens)

3. Patrick Mahomes (QB, Chiefs)

4. Baker Mayfield (QB, Buccaneers)

5. Joe Burrow (QB, Bengals

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Cam Ward Proves He's Legit

Going into this season, I cannot remember a number one overall pick who has been discussed less than Cam Ward. However, I think by the end of the season, plenty of people will be talking about him as one of the best young quarterbacks in football.

Truth be told, I do not love the weapons around Ward going into his first season as the wide receiver and tight end rooms leave a lot to be desired, but I do think the offensive line will do a good job at protecting him with anchors such as Peter Skoronski and JC Latham manning that unit. Additionally, I do think the Titans defense is somewhat underrated and could be strong enough to keep them competitive in a decent number of games. If Ward can pull off, say, 6-7 wins or, in the best-case scenario, have a C.J. Stroud- or Jayden Daniels-type rookie year where he helps change the team's culture and somehow sneak them into the playoffs, I think Ward walks away with the Offensive Rookie of the Year.

OROY Ballot Prediction:

1. Cam Ward (QB, Titans)

2. TreVeyon Henderson (RB, Patriots)

3. Ashton Jeanty (RB, Raiders)

4. Emeka Egbuka (WR, Buccaneers)

5. Omarion Hampton (RB, Chargers)

Defensive Rookie of the Year: Abdul Carter Takes The Giants Pass Rush to Another Level

While I don't love going chalk considering Carter is the heavy favourite to win the Defensive Rookie of the Year award, sometimes you just have to recognize the talent and game that is in front of you.

Last season at Penn State, Carter was the best defensive player in college football, leading the country in TFLs (23.5) and sacks (12), which led to him going in the top three picks of this past year's draft. However, unlike sometimes when a player goes high in the draft, Carter is joining a team whose strength is their pass rush, and he could be the icing on the very top.

This season, it is plausible that the Giants could end the year with a top-5 defense in the NFL considering their defensive front talent alongside Carter in Dexter Lawrence, Brian Burns, and Kayon Thibodeaux. I fully expect the Giants defense to win games for them single-handedly this season, and because of the talent upfront, offensive lines will likely not be able to double Carter like he probably would have seen if he had gone to a team like the Patriots or Titans near the top of the draft. Expect Carter to be a major force on one of the better defenses in the NFL in his rookie season, which should allow him to be the Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2025.

DROY Ballot Prediction:

1. Abdul Carter (EDGE, Giants)

2. Mason Graham (DT, Browns)

3. Nick Emmanwori (DB, Seahawks)

4. Mykel Williams (DT, 49ers)

5. Travis Hunter (CB, Jaguars)

Offensive Player of the Year: Bijan Robinson Goes Off All Year Long

Listen, I am not an Atlanta Falcons believer at all. I think the franchise is constantly all over the place, but that said, I do love their quarterback, Michael Penix Jr. and their running back Bijan Robinson. Because Penix is not exactly the most mobile quarterback, I do think Robinson will have his biggest workload to date in the NFL and will shoulder a significant workload in the Falcons offense, far more than he has in the past. And I do not just mean in the run game where has a solid backup in Tyler Allgeier, but I think Robinson could featured even more in the pass game through screens and check downs.

Having Robinson behind a strong offensive line will be crucial to help Penix into his first full season as a starter, and even if I don't trust Atlanta as a whole, I do think Penix will develop into a solid quarterback considering the Falcons offensive personnel.

In my projected scenario, I think Robinson will put up eye dropping numbers, especially early in the season, and solidify his place in the race for Offensive Player of the Year.

OPOY Ballot Prediction:

1. Bijan Robinson (RB, Falcons)

2. Derrick Henry (RB, Ravens)

3. Ja'Marr Chase (WR, Bengals)

4. Justin Jefferson (WR, Vikings)

5. Saquon Barkley (RB, Eagles)

Defensive Player of the Year: Nick Bosa Brings The 49ers Back to Contention

I believe that many people are either sleeping or simply forgetting how elite Nick Bosa is, mostly because of the 49ers' poor 2024 season, during which he struggled with injuries and was on and off the field for a majority of the year. With Robert Saleh returning as defensive coordinator and Bosa healthy, I anticipate that he will once again be unstoppable if he can remain upright. If San Francisco is going to bounce back and establish itself as a real Super Bowl contender, Bosa and the defense will need to be at the top of their game, and I wouldn't be shocked to see him win the award for the second time in his career.

DPOY Ballot Prediction:

1. Nick Bosa (EDGE, 49ers)

2. T.J. Watt (OLB, Steelers)

3. Will Anderson Jr. (EDGE, Texans)

4. Jalen Carter (DT, Eagles)

5. Micah Parsons (EDGE, Cowboys)

Comeback Player of the Year: Aidan Hutchinson Shows no Signs of Slowing Down

Prior to suffering a horrific leg injury in October, Aidan Hutchinson was on track to possibly be named Defensive Player of the Year last season. As the Lions prepare for a run at the Super Bowl, I expect Hutchinson to come back with a vengeance and to show that he is still one of the top pass rushers in the NFL. If he can stay healthy, put up the numbers, and the Lions stay among the NFL's top teams, I think it has all the makings for number 97 to win Comeback Player of the Year in 2025.

CPOY Ballot Prediction:

1. Aidan Hutchinson (EDGE, Lions)

2. Christian McCaffrey (RB, 49ers)

3. Stefon Diggs (WR, Patriots)

Protector of the Year: Lane Johnson Makes History

The NFL is giving out an award for the best offensive lineman for the first time this year, and I believe they will want to give it to someone who would have already received a couple if the award had been given out sooner... That's why I think this is Lane Johnson's award to lose. Johnson has been a mainstay of the Eagles' offensive line and a consistent All-Pro throughout his career, and he would be wholeheartedly deserving of this award. The 35-year-old is unquestionably still one of the best tackles in football, even though he has started to battle with injuries over the last few seasons, but if he does win this, add it onto his future Hall of Fame resume.

POTY Ballot Prediction:

1. Lane Johnson (OT, Eagles)

2. Joe Alt (OT, Chargers)

3. Penei Sewell (OT, Lions)

Coach of the Year: Mike Vrabel Takes the Patriots to the Playoffs

This season, I expect a huge improvement from the New England Patriots. This is obviously in large part due to their young quarterback Drake Maye, who I think few people are higher on than me, but of course I believe Mike Vrabel will be the culture resetter the Patriots sorely need after a couple dark years.

I think Vrabel will lead one of the NFL's best turnarounds this season, leading the Patriots back to the postseason in his first season as head coach, after they were one of the worst teams in football last season. If he can take these Patriots to the postseason in year one, expect him to be among the handful of names who could be Coach of the Year.

COTY Ballot Prediction:

1. Mike Vrabel (Patriots)

2. Sean Payton (Broncos)

3. Pete Carroll (Raiders

4. Mike MacDonald (Seahawks)

5. Dan Campbell (Lions)