The 2024 NFL regular season will come to a close this weekend and then make way for the playoffs.
Just before the Super Bowl, the league will hand out its top individual awards. However, for weeks now, the debates over MVP, Rookie of the Year, Coach of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and more have raged on.
Rather than wait until the NFL Honors ceremony, we’re awarding superlatives now, recognizing some of the brightest and best the league has to offer. And along the way, we’ll also drop in a few undesirable designations as we look back on another highly entertaining NFL campaign.
Most Valuable Player: Ravens QB Lamar Jackson
For much of the season, the MVP race has resembled a tug-of-war battle between Buffalo’s Josh Allen and Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson. One week it’s Allen delivering a no-doubt-about-it performance. The next, Jackson answers with an All-World performance of his own.
In a year when Buffalo’s offense appeared destined to regress following the departure of perennial 1,000-yard receiver Stefon Diggs, Allen instead elevated the Bills even further. Allen used his arm and legs to continue to carry his team with even greater efficiency, passing for 28 touchdowns to only six interceptions, and rushing for another 12 TDs while once again leading the Bills to the AFC East title. Buffalo also has locked the No. 2 seed in the AFC playoffs.
But Jackson, the reigning MVP, continues to dazzle as the most dangerous dual-threat quarterback the NFL has ever seen, and he’s only getting better. He’s on pace to become the first quarterback in league history to pass for 4,000 yards and rush for 800 in the same season. Jackson enters the final week of the regular season with 39 touchdown passes (second-most behind Joe Burrow’s 42) and only four interceptions (second-fewest by a full-time starter behind Justin Herbert’s three). He leads the league with an average of 8.9 yards gained per pass attempt and a 121.6 passer rating.
Jackson’s improved comfort in Year 2 with offensive coordinator Todd Monken is evident as he has displayed an even greater command of the system, particularly at the line of scrimmage. And when you consider that Baltimore boasts the league’s leading offense without the luxury of a top-10 wide receiver, Jackson’s heroics are that much more impressive.
Other candidates: Allen, Eagles RB Saquon Barkley, Ravens RB Derrick Henry, Vikings QB Sam Darnold, Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, Bengals QB Joe Burrow, Commanders QB Jayden Daniels.
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Offensive Player of the Year: Eagles RB Saquon Barkley
The argument for Barkley as MVP does carry weight. His arrival in Philadelphia gave the Eagles’ offense another dimension of dominance, and at times, when the pass game struggled with consistency, it was Barkley who carried his new team. Baltimore’s Derrick Henry looked like an MVP candidate at times this season as well. But it’s a quarterback-driven league, as we all know. So while MVP goes to Jackson for a second consecutive season, Barkley’s dominance certainly is deserving of Offensive Player of the Year.
On Sunday, Barkley — already the owner of four 1,000-yard campaigns — became only the ninth player in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards. Eric Dickerson’s 40-year-old single-season record (2,105) also remains within reach for Barkley. It’ll be interesting to see if he goes for the record (he needs only 101 yards to break it), or if he rests up for the playoffs this weekend since Philadelphia already is locked in as the NFC East winner and NFC No. 2 seed. Barkley’s 13 rushing touchdowns also are a career high. If not for utilization of the Eagles’ beloved tush push in goal-line situations, Barkley’s touchdown total (which ranked just behind Henry’s 14) could have been even higher.
Cincinnati wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, who will become the fifth wide receiver in NFL history to record the season receiving triple crown of receptions (117), yards (1,612) and touchdowns (16), certainly gives Barkley a run for his money in this category. But in a league that seems intent on diminishing the value of the running back, Barkley’s dominance carries the most weight.
Other candidates: Chase, Henry, Bills QB Josh Allen.
Defensive Player of the Year: Browns DE Myles Garrett
Very little has gone right for the Cleveland Browns this season, but Myles Garrett has been a bright spot. He remains the standard of excellence and dominance a year after winning his first DPOY honor.
With a pair of sacks in Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins, Garrett increased his season total to 14, which is tied for first with Cincinnati’s Trey Hendrickson. Garrett became the first player in NFL history to record at least 14 sacks in four consecutive seasons. Garrett also has 45 tackles, 21 for a loss, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
There certainly is no shortage of game-changing defensive stars around the league. But Garrett, who this season surpassed the 100-sack mark, boasts a level of consistency that makes him one of the all-time greats, even though he just turned 29 this week.
Other candidates: Steelers OLB T.J. Watt, Broncos CB Pat Surtain II, Packers S Xavier McKinney.
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Commanders QB Jayden Daniels
For a second straight season, the No. 2 pick of the draft has outshined the No. 1 pick. Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels has essentially led this race from start to finish while serving as the catalyst for the Commanders’ revival. Sunday, they punched their ticket to the playoffs.
Daniels has done it all, ranking among the top 10 in passer rating, top five in completion percentage and second in quarterback rushing yards. He enters Week 18 with 25 touchdown passes and only nine interceptions, plus six rushing touchdowns. He has delivered some truly iconic moments while carrying a Washington offense that is among the league leaders in total yards, rushing yards and points.
Riding the arm and legs of their rookie quarterback, the Commanders have gone from 4-13 and organization that hadn’t posted a winning season since 2016 to playoff qualifiers with their highest win total (11) since 1991.
Other candidates: Raiders TE Brock Bowers, Broncos QB Bo Nix.
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Defensive Rookie of the Year: Eagles CB Quinyon Mitchell
It’s not uncommon for a young defensive back to take his lumps while acclimating to the faster, more physical professional game. But not Mitchell, the Eagles’ first-round pick out of Toledo. Mitchell is already one of the best cover guys in the NFL, having surrendered only one touchdown in more than 500 snaps. Mitchell’s first touchdown allowed came against Terry McLaurin in Week 16, and that was after McLaurin went without a catch in their first meeting of the season.
Mitchell is already a top-five shutdown cornerback, boasting an impressive body of work against some of the game’s elite. Mike Evans, Ja’Marr Chase, CeeDee Lamb, Chris Olave, Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua and Zay Flowers combined for a paltry 84 yards and no touchdowns against him.
Other candidates: Rams OLB Jared Verse.
Comeback Player of the Year: Vikings QB Sam Darnold
Darnold won’t win AP Comeback Player of the Year because of rule changes that stipulate a candidate must have overcome injury, illness or other circumstances that caused him to miss playing time the previous season. But given his journey to this point, he certainly qualifies in THIS space.
Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow received strong consideration. Ruptured wrist ligaments cut Burrow’s 2023 season to 10 games and required surgery to repair. But Burrow rebounded with a vengeance this season to lead the league in passing yards and passing touchdowns. Burrow enters the final week of the season with 4,641 yards, 42 touchdown passes and just eight interceptions. His completion percentage (69.8) ranks fifth. Cincinnati’s offense ranks sixth with 28.3 points per game and seventh in total offense (368.8).
But not even Burrow’s heroics could overshadow those delivered by Darnold. The 2018 No. 3 pick by the New York Jets has been one of the biggest stories of the year, resurrecting his career with the Vikings and elevating them to a 14-2 record.
Deemed a bust after disastrous stints with New York and Carolina, Darnold spent last season as a backup with San Francisco and then seemed like nothing more than a shaky bridge acquisition for Minnesota this offseason. Instead, Darnold has passed for 4,153 yards, 35 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions. Sunday, he has a chance to lead Minnesota over Detroit for the top seed in the NFC. It remains to be seen what happens with Darnold beyond this season, but this year, he found the perfect fit with the Vikings, and all parties involved are reaping the benefits.
Other candidates: Burrow, Chargers RB J.K. Dobbins, Browns RB Nick Chubb.
Kevin O’Connell’s Vikings earn the NFC’s No. 1 seed with a win over the Lions on Sunday. (Jeffrey Becker / Imagn Images)
Coach of the Year: Vikings’ Kevin O’Connell
The Vikings raised eyebrows around the league when they signed Darnold as the bridge from Kirk Cousins to first-round draft pick J.J. McCarthy. But after McCarthy suffered a meniscus injury in August, O’Connell proved masterful while guiding Darnold to the best season of his career.
During a conversation at the spring league meetings, I asked O’Connell why he would roll the dice on a quarterback who averaged 13 interceptions during four seasons as a starter for the Jets and Panthers. He said that when evaluating quarterbacks, it’s important to study every interception, try to understand why the interception happened and then determine whether that quarterback can learn how to correct those mistakes.
O’Connell concluded Darnold wasn’t a lost cause at all, brought him aboard and began working with him immediately on his decision-making. Yes, a year with Kyle Shanahan while backing up Brock Purdy certainly helped Darnold unlearn some bad habits. But O’Connell’s tutelage took Darnold the rest of the way.
O’Connell also gave Darnold a strong run game, and the quarterback does have one of the NFL’s best receivers (Justin Jefferson) as his go-to guy. But week by week, Darnold’s feel for the game, his recognition of coverages, his patience, decision-making and confidence has grown.
Other candidates: Lions’ Dan Campbell, Commanders’ Dan Quinn, Chargers’ Jim Harbaugh.
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Executive of the Year: Eagles GM Howie Roseman
After losing to the Chiefs in the Super Bowl to cap the 2022 season, the Eagles got off to a promising start in 2023, opening with a 10-1 record. But then came the 1-5 collapse to end the season and a first-round playoff exit.
Roseman went into the offseason determined to address two of the Eagles’ biggest needs: a more consistent rushing attack and a more reliable secondary. He emerged from free agency with Barkley, then drafted two difference-making defensive backs in Mitchell and Cooper DeJean. Roseman also rid himself of the disgruntled Haason Reddick, trading him to the Jets for a future draft pick. Then, in April, he re-signed star wide receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith to long-term extensions.
Roseman’s work in previous years also ensured the depth necessary to replace longtime cornerstones Jason Kelce and Fletcher Cox along the offensive and defensive lines. The competition certainly was thick, but the Eagles are again among the best teams in the NFC, winning the NFC East a sixth time under Roseman’s watch.
Other candidates: Lions GM Brad Holmes, Bills GM Brandon Beane, Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah.
Best offseason gamble: Vikings QB Sam Darnold
Just $10 million for a top-10 quarterback and MVP candidate? Amazing.
Worst offseason gamble: Falcons QB Kirk Cousins
The Atlanta Falcons’ $180 million roll of the dice didn’t even get them one full season of high-level production from the 36-year-old, who was coming off a torn Achilles tendon. Michael Penix Jr. (drafted eighth overall) has taken over and Cousins will likely hit free agency again in the spring.
Brock Bowers set NFL rookie tight end records this season despite a Raiders QB carousel. (Kirby Lee / Imagn Images)
Rising star: Raiders TE Brock Bowers
The Georgia product broke Mike Ditka’s 63-year-old record for receiving yards by a rookie tight end (1,076). Remarkable on its own, then consider that Bowers did this while catching passes from Gardner Minshew, Aidan O’Connell and Desmond Ridder and that production is downright mind-blowing.
Falling star: Jets QB Aaron Rodgers
Rodgers thought he could pull a Brady and deliver his new team an instant Super Bowl. But after a year lost to a torn Achilles, Rodgers returned this season only to deliver more lowlights than highlights, with more finger-pointing than celebrations.
Most clutch team: Kansas City Chiefs
Early-season injuries to Rashee Rice, Hollywood Brown and Isiah Pacheco made for an uphill climb for Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offense. But a stingy defense and no shortage of late-game heroics by Mahomes translated into a streak of 16 straight wins in one-score games dating to last season. Now, the Chiefs have gotten healthy again, boast a 15-1 record and have locked up the top seed in the AFC.
Most snake-bitten team: San Francisco 49ers
After losing to the Chiefs in the Super Bowl, Kyle Shanahan and the Niners hoped to make another run at the Lombardi Trophy and resolve unfinished business. But contract disputes slowed preparations in training camp and the preseason, and then injuries hit San Francisco hard. A total of 14 players — including stars like Trent Williams, Christian McCaffrey, Brandon Aiyuk and Javon Hargrave — landed on injured reserve this season. Rather than contend for NFC supremacy, the 49ers are in last place in the NFC West.
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Most surprising team: Washington Commanders
Rebuilds normally take time, and the Commanders certainly aren’t a finished product. But Year 1 under Dan Quinn and Adam Peters has brought dramatic change to this long-suffering franchise. From 4-13 in 2023 to winners of 10-plus games and a playoff berth with Daniels leading the way, Washington is way ahead of schedule.
Most disappointing team: New York Jets
The Jets thought they had a Super Bowl-ready roster when they lured Aaron Rodgers to the Big Apple in 2023. Many football analysts and rival talent evaluators agreed. A torn Achilles four plays into the season forced them to wait until this year for their vision to come to fruition. But New York’s 2024 campaign not only fell short of those grand expectations, it turned into a far bigger nightmare than anyone could have imagined. A slow start. Robert Saleh fired after the season’s first five games. GM Joe Douglas fired in Week 12. Poor play by Rodgers, who has managed only one 300-yard game. A five-game losing streak, followed by a four-game losing streak. Rampant dysfunction. Zero accountability. And more losses than the Jets have experienced since 2021. This offseason, the Jets will blow the whole thing up, again.
(Top photos of Lamar Jackson and Jayden Daniels: Luke Hales and Jonathan Bachman / Getty Images)
