2026 NFL Awards predictions: MVP, DPOY, OPOY and more

Before dust has even begun to gather on the awards won by the 2025 cohort of NFL honours winners, we turn our attention to discussing who's in the conversation to succeed them in the 2026 season.

Here's our best guess, with justifications, as to who will take 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 to suggest 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, returning entirely intact from 2025. The personnel in all of the skill positions are much the same, with Puka Nacua, Davante Adams, and Kyren Williams the key threats.

And let's not forget, Stafford was the best quarterback in 2025 on a team that will once again be in contention for the postseason, which always helps.

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?

This comes down to talent and opportunity.

Gibbs has become one of the most dynamic dual-threats in the league, held back from putting up even more impressive numbers only by the timeshare in the backfield with touchdown vulture David Montgomery.

With Montgomery now gone to Houston and his replacement, Isiah Pacheco, not 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.

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 led the league with a 19.5% pressure rate last year, in only his third season in the league.

His 32.6% win rate, or in other words, how often he beat the blocker(s) in front of him, ranked second to Myles Garrett, but only by 0.1%.

Motivated by his mammoth new extension, it's frightening to think how good Anderson could be with Danielle Hunter returning on the other edge and now Ohio State's Kayden McDonald added to the interior.

Then there's the elite secondary, who 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

It's tempting to offer up the Titans' newest running back, Jeremiyah Love, in this spot. He'll be in a featured role from the get-go, and his dual-threat capabilities mean he'll put up impressive numbers even if the run game is contained.

Carnell Tate, Jordyn Tyson, and even Jadarian Price may also start faster than Mendoza, with the Heisman winner likely warming the bench while Kirk Cousins starts the early games on the Raiders' schedule.

So, why Mendoza?

He won't be sitting for long. Raider Nation and the national media will be screaming out for him to take charge as soon as Cousins slips up.

New head coach Klint Kubiak will put his rookie QB in position to succeed. If not in the win column, then at least in terms of how he's able to produce despite results not going their way.

The supremely talented Brock Bowers and Ashton Jeanty will do their part, of course, and they'll have to, given the Raiders' mediocre group of wideouts.

But with Tyler Linderbaum combining with Kolton Miller up front to give Mendoza the time he needs to settle into his throws, it will be hard for other rookies in this race to keep pace down the stretch.

Defensive Rookie of the Year

Prediction: Sonny Styles, LB, Washington Commanders

Emilee Chinn

As things stand, Styles sits behind David Bailey, Rueben Bain, Arvell Reese, and Caleb Downs in the odds to win this race.

History suggests that simply being a safety works against Downs, as nobody in his position has won the award since 1990.

Reese is a threat, especially in his role as both an off-ball linebacker and edge rusher, and it will only take one hot streak for Bailey or Bain to threaten this Styles prediction.

So, why Styles?

He's locked into what should be a full-time role from the start, is a more accomplished off-ball linebacker than Reese at this point, and I suspect he'll rack up excellent tackle production behind Washington's porous defensive line.

Bobby Wagner finished fifth in the league with 162 combined tackles last year. It would be a stretch to expect the same from Styles, but a Carson Schwesinger-type year is well within reach.

Comeback Player of the Year

Prediction: Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs

As I considered the other candidates, including Kyler Murray, Micah Parsons, Malik Nabers, and George Kittle, it dawned upon me that none have the same platform as Mahomes to take home this honour.

Why Mahomes?

I had my doubts that he would recover from his knee injury quickly enough to start Week 1, but those fears were largely put to bed this week.

I still have reservations about the weapons at Mahomes' disposal in the passing game, 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 sway me.

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.