My NFL Honors Picks

The NFL Honors ceremony, which recognizes the best players in their respective positions during the 2025 NFL season, is set to take place on February 5, 2026. Below are my picks for the awards—to note, these are not who I believe will win, but rather who I personally believe should win. My picks take into account both raw and advanced stats, wins, and the players’ value to their respective teams.

Protector of the Year

The “Protector of the Year” award will make its debut at this year’s NFL Honors, recognizing the top offensive lineman of the year. In my eyes, this year’s award should go to Detroit Lions right tackle Penei Sewell. Sewell was ranked number one amongst offensive linemen in his overall blocking ability with an overall grade of 95.2 out of 100. He minimized mistakes, allowing his defensive matchup to sack the quarterback just twice, whilst also only committing two penalties. Sewell was a crucial part of a Lions’ offense that ranked 5th in scoring this season, averaging 28.3 points per game.

Comeback Player of the Year

In the 2024 season, San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey was limited to just four games as he suffered from Achilles tendonitis and a PCL sprain. This season, McCaffrey bounced back: second in total yards (2,126) and third in total touchdowns (17) among running backs this season. From an injury-plagued year to a historic one, it is surely a comeback for the ages. As the life and soul of a dominant 49ers offense, McCaffrey continues to show why he is considered the best dual-threat running back in the league.

Coach of the Year

After a dismal 4-13 performance, New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel has clearly turned the page. With just half a year of turnaround, he took his team to vying for the top lottery pick, the Super Bowl—one of the most impressive coaching feats in a while. Under Vrabel’s leadership and guidance, New England has already developed a winning culture akin to Vrabel’s own dominant Tom Brady-led franchise, and played their best season in nearly a decade. Other head coaches coming off remarkable seasons also have strong cases. One is Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald, who, in just his second year, managed to clinch the first seed in the NFC and coach his team to a Super Bowl berth. Another is the offensive-minded Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen, who coached the explosive Jaguars’ offense that was sixth in points per game. However, Vrabel’s incredible turnaround is by far the most impressive.

Defensive Rookie of the Year (DROY)

Cleveland Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger was drafted in the second round of the 2025 NFL draft—not where stars are normally found. In fact, nine of the last 10 DROYs have been selected in the first round. However, Schwesinger’s first season consisted of a solid 2.5 sacks, two interceptions, and a rookie-leading 67 tackles. Schwesinger was a versatile aspect of Cleveland’s dominant defense. He also showcased a high football IQ by anticipating offensive plays before they developed and showing incredible awareness of the field. Schwesinger’s first year was one of much promise, and fans should be excited to see how his play progresses alongside teammate and NFL great Myles Garrett.

Offensive Rookie of the Year (OROY)

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan was the number eight overall pick of the 2025 NFL draft. McMillan was the clear first option for the title on the Panthers in his first year with a statline of 1,014 receiving yards and seven receiving touchdowns, both of which led rookie wide receivers this season. His size, great hands, and route-running ability made him a reliable target for Panthers quarterback Bryce Young, and many see him being a top-tier receiver in upcoming seasons. Another candidate for OROY was New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough, but he only started nine games, making it difficult to put him above McMillan.

Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY)

The selection for DPOY this year is likely the easiest one. Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett had one of the greatest defensive end seasons of all time, setting the new single-season sack record with 23 sacks. The star edge rusher had a stellar 24.6 percent pass-rush win rate, which was first in the league. Garrett was a bright spot on a Browns team experiencing many difficulties, and is by and large the deserved winner of this year’s DPOY.

Offensive Player of the Year (OPOY)

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba had a record-setting year, leading the league in receiving yards with 1,793 yards (eighth of all-time in NFL history) and boasting 10 touchdown receptions. Njigba was by far Seattle’s biggest offensive weapon, as he held 36 percent of the team’s target share. One factor to note is that Njigba did all of this despite being on a run-heavy team. Seattle ranked 31st in passing play percentage with just 50 percent of their offensive plays being passes. On the other hand, a player like Puka Nacua, another wide receiver in contention for OPOY, operates in a much more pass-heavy scheme, as the Los Angeles Rams rank 13th in passing play percentage. Despite this, Njigba has the edge in yards and is tied in touchdowns. His body control and incredible route-running made him incredibly effective, and the Seahawks’ 14-3 season, along with their Super Bowl appearance, was largely enabled by their elite receiver.

Most Valuable Player (MVP)

Last but certainly not least is the MVP award, this year’s closest. This year’s MVP race is between two players, Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford and New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye. Current betting odds favor Stafford, but my selection would go to Maye. Maye, in just his second year, led the league in completion percentage at 72 percent, led all quarterbacks in total yards at 4,846 yards, and put up an impressive 31 passing touchdowns to just eight interceptions. He commanded his team to a 14-3 regular season record, and will play in Super Bowl LX on Sunday. Many have discredited his season performance due to New England’s weak schedule; however, when comparing Maye and the leading candidate Stafford against common opponents, Maye played better—by some margin. Maye boasted a record of 6-0 to Stafford’s 4-2, and had a Total Quarterback Rating of 77.0 to Stafford’s 57.7. This is also without mentioning the talent difference in New England’s receiver room as opposed to that of Los Angeles, as Maye threw to players like an older Stefon Diggs and Kayshon Boutte, who, despite their talent, are not on the level of Los Angeles Rams wide receivers Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. 

There were a large number of unforgettable season performances in the NFL this year, but the players (and coaches) mentioned above stood out from the rest of the league. They frequently put their teams in positions to succeed, whether that be scoring touchdowns or getting much needed stops on the defensive end. Their performances on the field makes them deserving of recognition with the NFL Honors awards.