The NFL regular season is behind us and all attention in the coming weeks will rightly be focused on the 14 teams that have punched their ticket to the playoffs. On an individual level, the best players are honored on the eve of the Super Bowl as part of the evening of honor. Before the winners are announced on February 8th in Las Vegas, here are my picks.
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MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
Lamar Jackson, quarterback (Ravens)
Ravens fans aren't allowed to vote in the Most Valuable Player race, but that doesn't stop them from having their say. Getty Images via AFP
The 2023 season wasn't like some years where there was a clear frontrunner in the MVP race. Some will say that Lamar Jackson is just 15th in passing yards (3,678) and 10th in passing touchdowns (24), but we should never overlook his 821 more yards rushing and five additional touchdowns . We saw in Week 18 the extent to which the Ravens' offense was unrecognizable without him. What really stands out for Jackson is that he has excelled despite a very difficult schedule. The Ravens played 13 games with him against teams with winning records and his record was 10-3. Few of them have experienced such a calendar.
Recognitions:
– Josh Allen (quarterback, Bills): Yes, Josh Allen, it’s a roller coaster ride. But there are few players who have as much impact on a team as evidenced by his 44 touchdowns (29 passing and 15 rushing).
– Brock Purdy (quarterback, 49ers): Purdy ranked fifth in passing yards (4,280) and third in passing touchdowns (31) in his first full season as a starter.
– Dak Prescott (quarterback, Cowboys): Prescott had his best career season with 4,516 yards, 36 touchdowns and just nine interceptions. After his ratio of 23 to 15 a year ago, it's great.
Offensive player
Christian McCaffrey, carrier (49ers)
Christian McCaffrey always had the upper hand over the competition. Getty Images via AFP
The 49ers running back would be selected among the candidates for the Most Valuable Player position, which certainly wouldn't be a scandal. He is the only player in the NFL to have more than 2,000 yards from the line of scrimmage (rushing and receiving). McCaffrey finished the campaign with almost 300 more rushing yards than his closest competitor, Derrick Henry. His 21 touchdowns (14 rushing and seven passing) are also a record, tied with the Dolphins' Raheem Mostert. Most notably, he was the only person since Jim Brown to win the Triple Crown (most carries, most touchdowns and most yards) for the second time.
Recognitions:
– Tyreek Hill (Receiver, Dolphins): Hill didn’t reach his 2,000-yard goal, but what a season! With 119 receptions for 1,799 yards and 13 touchdowns, he has nothing to be ashamed of.
– CeeDee Lamb (Receiver, Cowboys): Lamb was the second-leading receiver in yards (1,749) and no one caught more passes than him (135).
– Kyren Williams (Carrier, Rams): Carrier is someone to keep an eye on for the offensive lineman title next season. He finished third with 1,144 rushing yards in just 12 games and the Rams have won since he was the centerpiece of the offense.
DEFENSE PLAYER
TJ Watt, winger/linebacker (Steelers)
TJ Watt is still one of the most energetic players in Pittsburgh. Getty Images via AFP
This is a category where it is very difficult to decide… quarterback sacks should not be taken for granted and are sometimes considered too important, but in this case it becomes difficult to ignore TJ Watt. He won the NFL award for the third time with 19 sacks, a first in league history. However, he slipped to seventh place with 86 pressures, which could harm his candidacy. In comparison, Aidan Hutchinson (101) and Micah Parsons (103) have more. He is therefore less disruptive, but has the ability to finish his games. Not to mention his six passes thrown down and four forced fumbles, two highs at his position.
Recognitions:
– Micah Parsons (Linebacker, Cowboys): Parsons is the leader in pressures, finishing with 14 sacks. Another great season for the versatile linebacker!
– Myles Garrett (Defensive End, Browns): Garrett is the driving force behind the Browns' great season. He is complete with 14 sacks and 17 tackles for loss.
– DaRon Bland (Cornerback, Cowboys): He was the star of the defense this season with nine interceptions, five of which were returned for touchdowns.
RETURN OF THE YEAR
Joe Flacco, quarterback (Browns)
Joe Flacco didn't play much, but he saved the Browns' season with a great finish to the season. Getty Images via AFP
Here, too, there are several candidates who could receive the honor of comeback of the year. It's hard to choose, but Joe Flacco's unexpected comeback is too good a story to ignore. What speaks against him is that he only appeared in five games as the Browns' starting quarterback, but at 38 years old his record of 4-1 with 13 touchdown passes comes straight from the couch, which is bordering on a Disney scenario. Since 2019, Flacco had a record of three wins and 14 losses with the Broncos and Jets, with 11 interceptions and an anemic average of 195 yards per game. With the Browns, he averaged 323 yards per game.
Recognitions:
– Damar Hamlin (safety, Bills): This is definitely the sentimental decision. If a player almost loses his life on the field and comes back even after playing very little, that's worth considering.
– Tua Tagovailoa (quarterback, Dolphins): After struggling with concussions last season, Tagovailoa excelled this season with 4,624 yards and 29 touchdowns.
– Matthew Stafford (quarterback, Rams): We quickly forget that Matthew Stafford only played nine games last year due to a serious elbow injury and many thought he was done.
Offensive recruit
CJ Stroud, quarterback (Texans)
CJ Stroud led the Texans to their first playoff appearance since 2019. Getty Images via AFP
What a vintage 2023! At the end of many seasons, players like Puka Nacua and Sam LaPorta would have walked away proud with accolades, but it's impossible to ignore the tremendous impact that CJ Stroud had on the Texans. They went from 3-13-1 to 10-7 in a year and won their division. The Texans became the first team in history to become division champions with a first-year coach and quarterback. Stroud was the centerpiece of this renaissance with 4,108 passing yards, 23 touchdowns and five interceptions. All this despite missing two games. The Texans have a real problem on their hands.
Recognitions:
– Puka Nacua (Receiver, Rams): Nacua set records for a rookie receiver with 1,486 yards and 105 receptions. That's a big revelation for a 5th round pick.
– Sam LaPorta (Tight End, Lions): LaPorta caught 86 passes, an unprecedented mark for a rookie tight end. Only two others at his position had 10 touchdowns in their first season.
– Bijan Robinson (Carrier, Falcons): Robinson came close to the 1,000-yard plateau with 976 and added 487 through the air with eight touchdowns.
DEFENSE RECRUITMENT
Will Anderson, winger/linebacker (Texans)
The Texans could do as the Jets did last year and select offensive and defensive rookie of the year if Will Anderson is selected. Getty Images via AFP
Will Anderson is undoubtedly on an upward trajectory, as he has recorded five of his seven sacks in his final six games of the season. On the other hand, he has always had the ability to breathe on quarterbacks' necks even before his efforts bore fruit. He has 59 pressures, the best total among first-year players. For most of the season, the Eagles' Jalen Carter seemed to walk away with this honor, but a very quiet second half of the season will hurt him. This isn't a year where there's a notable candidate that can't be overlooked, so anything is possible.
Recognitions:
– Kobie Turner (Tackle, Rams): He's the least known of the group, but what an end to the season he had! With nine sacks and eight tackles for loss as a tackle, he is a monster in the making.
– Jalen Carter (Tackle, Eagles): Despite a disappointing end to the season like the Eagles, he finished with six sacks and two forced fumbles.
– Devon Witherspoon (Cornerback, Seahawks): Witherspoon claims an interception and, most importantly, 10 pass knockdowns. He was also reliable with 40 tackles.
Head Coach of the Year
Kevin Stefanski (Browns)
The competition is strong, but Kevin Stefanski deserves to be named Head Coach of the Year despite all the obstacles standing in the Browns' way. Getty Images via AFP
This is definitely the most heartbreaking decision of all. All candidates listed in the honorable mentions are deserving of the award. Kevin Stefanski stands out in our hearts for the extreme adversity that has peppered the Browns' journey. They lost their best offensive player and a great leader in Nick Chubb. They used their fourth and fifth blockers. They had to use five different quarterbacks. Despite all of these and several other obstacles, the Browns won eleven games in a highly competitive division in which all four clubs finished with a winning record.
Recognitions:
– DeMeco Ryans (Texans): In “real life,” Ryans will most likely gain popular favor for the colossal job with the young Texans. It would also be deserved.
– Dan Campbell (Lions): When a coach leads a team to its first league title in 30 years, he has definitely done something right…
– Sean McVay (Rams): This is a candidate who won't be considered as much as others, but he was able to quickly reinvent the Rams and they will be one to keep an eye on in the coming months.
DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE YEAR
Brad Holmes (Lions)
Brad Holmes hit the mark in the draft and in his transactions with the Lions. AFP
Brad Holmes has managed to put together one of the best drafts in the entire NFL in recent years. It's somewhat rare to get the tandem of Sam LaPorta and Jahmyr Gibbs, two rookies who have scored 10 touchdowns. However, he didn't stop there with the selection of defender Brian Branch, who had some very good moments. Linebacker Jack Campbell still has a long way to go, but he has contributed, especially against the ground game. He also made a good move by bringing in running back David Montgomery (1,015 rushing yards).
Recognitions:
– Nick Caserio (Texans): Everything has been said about the Texans' revival and, after being challenged, Caserio needs to get credit for rebuilding his roster from the ground up.
– Eric DeCosta (Ravens): The Ravens are always well-run and this year was no exception. Under-the-radar players like Kyle Van Noy and Jadeveon Clowney are producing. This also applies to young receiver Zay Flowers.
– Chris Grier (Dolphins): The acquisitions of Jalen Ramsey and David Long Jr. were important for the defense. Rookie carrier De'Von Achane is super dangerous.