The AP NFL Honors are broken, so I’m going to fix them! Hereby presenting my proposal. The current honors gives out eight awards. Eight awards is nice, but you know what’s better than eight? That’s right, twelve. We are going to give out twelve awards. The addition of four new awards allows us to recognize deserving candidates whose accomplishments may not be rewarded by the current system. Furthermore, I’m clearly defining the criteria for each award. The current discourse around the award discussion is nauseating. That feature may not be fixable, but better defined award criteria could at least create some consistency around the discussion. So without further ado, here are the new and improved NFL Honors!
Okay I lied. There will be some further ado. What good is fixing the NFL Honors if I’m not going to fix the most recent season? To make this exercise more fulfilling, we’re moving to a utopia where I am the sole decider for all awards. I’m going to select a winner from the 2024 season using my criteria. That’s enough further ado, let’s get into it.
Most Valuable Player
Criteria: The Most Valuable Player Award shall be awarded to the most spectacular player in the league during the given season. This is a player who’s impact and performance stands above their peers.
The MVP should be the NFL’s Heisman. This award should be given to the player whose performance most clearly stands above their peers. Is it still going to be largely quarterback driven? Probably, but that’s driven by the importance of the quarterback position. A spectacular quarterback performance is likely going to stand out above a spectacular performance at any other position.
2024 Nominees: Josh Allen, QB, Bills; Saquon Barkley, RB, Eagles; Lamar Jackson, QB, Ravens
2024 Winner: Lamar Jackson, QB, Ravens
Josh Allen and Saquon Barkley had phenomenal seasons, but what Lamar Jackson did in 2024 was spectacular. He accumulated over 5,000 total yards to go along with 45 total touchdowns and just 8 turnovers. His impact on the offense cannot be understated, as his rushing ability created a sort of gravitational pull that elevated the entire offense. Lamar built off his 2023 campaign to turn in an even more impressive season in 2024.
Quarterback of the Year (NEW)
Criteria: The Quarterback of the Year award should be given to the player with the league’s most impressive quarterback season.
The first of four new awards, this award should go to the league’s most impressive quarterback. This is a player with an exemplary performance at the league’s most important position. This award exists so the MVP does not have to be a QB award.
2024 Nominees: Josh Allen, QB, Bills; Joe Burrow, QB, Bengals; Lamar Jackson, QB, Ravens
2024 Winner: Lamar Jackson, QB, Ravens
My personal pick for MVP, Lamar Jackson also wins the Quarterback of the Year award. It’s a novel concept where the league’s “best” quarterback is also the league’s MVP. Shocking really.
Offensive Player of the Year
Criteria: The Offensive Player of the Year Award shall be awarded to the league’s most dominant offensive player during the given season.
Some may consider this award to be the offensive version of the MVP, but this award should be about sheer dominance. The OPOY should be awarded to a player who instilled fear in the souls of defensive coordinators as they tried everything to stop them.
2024 Nominees: Saquon Barkley, RB, Eagles; Ja’Marr Chase, WR, Bengals; Derrick Henry, RB, Ravens
2024 Winner: Saquon Barkley, RB, Eagles
Saquon Barkley’s dominance in 2024 is deserving of the OPOY. He eclipsed 100 yards from scrimmage in 13/16 games he played in on his way to accumulating over 2,000 yards from scrimmage, along with 15 total touchdowns. Ja’Marr Chase and Derrick Henry were impressive, but Barkley was the league’s most dominant offensive player last season.
Defensive Player of the Year
Criteria: The Defensive Player of the Year Award shall be awarded to the league’s most dominant defensive player during the given season.
Similar to OPOY, this award should also be about sheer dominance. The DPOY should be a player who wreaked havoc against opposing offenses week in week out. This is a player that offenses made sure to identify before every play just so they could double team or avoid them.
2024 Nominees: Myles Garrett, Edge, Browns; Trey Hendrickson, Edge, Bengals; Pat Surtain II, CB, Broncos
2024 Winner: Myles Garrett, EDGE, Browns
Myles Garrett was the most dominant defensive player in the NFL throughout the 2024 season. He had a league leading 22 TFL’s to go along with 83 pressures, 14 sacks, and 3 forced fumbles. Hendrickson and Surtain II both had deserving years, but Garrett’s sheer dominance and impact cannot be understated despite playing for a disappointing Browns team.
Offensive Rookie of the Year
Criteria: The Offensive Rookie of the Year Award shall be awarded to the league’s most spectacular offensive rookie.
This award is pretty self explanatory. The OROY is essentially the offensive rookie MVP. Like the MVP award, spectacular seasons from rookie quarterbacks are likely to stand out above other positions. 2024 is no exception.
2024 Nominees: Brock Bowers, TE, Raiders; Jayden Daniels, QB, Commanders; Bo Nix, QB, Broncos
2024 Winner: Jayden Daniels, QB, Commanders
Brock Bowers was incredible this season, as was Bo Nix. However, what Jayden Daniels did this season stood above the rest. He looked like a poised veteran on the field. Daniels accumulated 31 touchdowns and over 4,400 yards en route to a Top 5 offense and a playoff appearance.
Defensive Rookie of the Year
Criteria: The Defensive Rookie of the Year Award shall be awarded to the league’s most spectacular defensive rookie.
The DROY should be given to a player who made an impact that would not be expected from a rookie. Oftentimes, pass rushers are going to have an advantage.
2024 Nominees: Edgerrin Cooper, LB, Packers; Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Eagles; Jared Verse, Edge, Rams
2024 Winner: Jared Verse, EDGE, Rams
Jared Verse made a veteran-like impact on games during his rookie season. Verse finished the season with 77 total pressures, good enough for 4th in the NFL and far and away the best among rookies. Edgerrin Cooper deserves a shoutout for finishing with 13 TFL’s on less than 500 snaps.
Coach of the Year
Criteria: The Coach of the Year award shall be awarded to the league’s most impressive coaching job.
This award should not be a “we thought they were bad but they ended up good” award. That’s how we get coaches like Brian Daboll and Matt Nagy winning the award despite coaches like Kyle Shanahan and Matt LaFleur hardly sniffing it. This award should be given to the coach that, given the circumstances of the season, accomplished the most.
2024 Nominees: Dan Campbell, Lions; Kevin O’Connell, Vikings; Andy Reid, Chiefs
2024 Winner: Dan Campbell, Lions
What Dan Campbell and the Detroit Lions were able to accomplish in 2024 is incredible. Despite having 21 players on Injured Reserve at a point in time, the Lions finished the season 15-2 with an undefeated record against division rivals. Reid deserves a shoutout for the Chiefs perseverance in close games this season.
Assistant Coach of the Year
Criteria: The Assistant Coach of the Year award shall be awarded to the league’s most impressive assistant coaching job.
This is like COY but for assistants. The ACOY is the assistant coach who overcame the most adversity within their unit on their way to an impressive season.
2024 Nominees: Aaron Glenn, DC, Lions; Ben Johnson, OC, Lions; Vic Fangio, DC, Eagles
2024 Winner: Aaron Glenn, DC, Lions
As with his boss, Aaron Glenn overcame an immense amount of injuries to his defensive unit. Despite injuries, the Lions finished with the 7th ranked unit by EPA/Play and 8th in success rate. Glenn deserves an immense amount of credit for keeping this unit on track.
Playcaller of the Year (NEW)
Criteria: The Playcaller of the Year award shall be awarded to the league’s most impressive playcaller.
The second of four new awards, this award is meant for the coach who’s playcalling prowess stood above the rest. This can be a playcaller who overcame talent deficiencies or a playcaller who innovated new schematic ideas.
2024 Nominees: Ben Johnson, OC, Lions; Vic Fangio, DC, Eagles; Brian Flores, DC, Vikings; Todd Monken, OC, Ravens; Kevin O’Connell, HC, Vikings
2024 Winner: Kevin O’Connell, HC, Vikings
Kevin O’Connell deserves an immense amount of credit for what he did with the Vikings offense quarterbacked by Sam Darnold. Sam had a career year, despite losing stud LT Christian Darrisaw for the season. KOC built an offense that allowed Sam to succeed and took advantage of his physical talents.
Comeback Player of the Year
Criteria: The Comeback Player of the Year award should be given to a player who has overcome significant adversity that led to missed time in the previous season to turn in a spectacular rebound season.
This award is NOT the “he used to suck” award. This award is for a player who overcame adversity from the previous season to have a great rebound season. The comeback player of the year is a player who rebounded in an elite fashion.
2024 Nominees: Joe Burrow, QB, Bengals; JK Dobbins, RB, Chargers; Aaron Rodgers, QB, Jets
2024 Winner: Joe Burrow, QB, Bengals
In 2023, Joe Burrow just couldn’t stay healthy. The season started with a non-contact calf injury that caused an immense scare and ended with a wrist injury not commonly seen in quarterbacks. Despite concerns about his grip, Burrow rebounded to have an elite season in 2024, with a league leading 4,918 yards and 43 touchdowns.
Most Improved Player of the Year (NEW)
Criteria: The Most Improved Player of the Year award should be given to a player who’s performance represents the greatest improvement from previous seasons.
Okay, now this is the “he used to suck” award. The third of four new awards, this award was created so voters could honor players who come back from sucking without discrediting any players who came back from other, more unfortunate circumstances.
2024 Nominees: Sam Darnold, QB, Vikings; Jerry Jeudy, WR, Browns; Andrew Van Ginkel, Edge, Vikings
2024 Winner: Sam Darnold, QB, Vikings
It’s time to give the Orange County product some kudos. Sam Darnold overcame a tumultuous start to his career to turn in an amazing 2024 season. Darnold threw for 35 touchdowns and over 4,000 yards after being written off as a bust. These figures eclipsed his previous career bests by 16 touchdowns and over 1,000 yards.
Offensive Line of the Year (NEW, Team Award)
Criteria: The Offensive Line of the Year award shall be given to the league’s most dominant Offensive Line unit.
Here it is, the most prestigious award of all. This final award recognizes the players that rarely get the love they deserve. Any good offense is only as good as their offensive line. I considered making this an offensive lineman of the year award, but do we really trust sports writers to properly select the most dominant individual offensive lineman? I don’t, but I expect them to be able to select the most dominant unit.
2024 Nominees: Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles
2024 Winner: Detroit Lions
The heart and soul of this team, the 2024 Detroit Lions offensive line was the most dominant in the NFL. This unit starts with their bookend tackles, Penei Sewell and Taylor Decker, and ends with longtime Lions center Frank Ragnow. This unit was so dominant that even Sewell managed to make it into the end zone! I don’t care if they called it back, it counts in my book!
There it is, the new and improved NFL Honors. Let me know what you would do to fix the awards, who you believe should have won, and any new awards you would like to see. ‘Til next time, I bid adieu.
