NFL Awards: Predicting every winner for the 2020 season

NFL Offensive Player of the Year: Christian McCaffrey, RB, Carolina Panthers

Quarterbacks usually dominate the end-of-season awards. Since the turn of the century, only four MVPs and 11 Offensive Player of the Year (OPOY) awards went to non-quarterbacks. Since two single callers already earned awards in these predictions, I’m going with a non-quarterback at this spot.

Christian McCaffrey came close to winning the OPOY award last season. He became the third running back in history with 1,000 rushing and receiving yards in a single season, broke his own record for most receptions in a season by a running back, and led the NFL with 403 touches for 2,392 yards and 19 rushing and receiving touchdowns. Even with Teddy Bridgewater at quarterback, McCaffrey should remain Carolina’s offensive engine.

With Drew Brees returning to New Orleans, Michael Thomas remains a frontrunner for the OPOY award. Thomas set the single-season receptions record last year, despite playing five games without Brees. The league’s other top offensive threats include Saquon Barkley, DeAndre Hopkins, Julio Jones, George Kittle and Travis Kelce.

Defensive Player of the Year: T.J. Watt, OLB, Pittsburgh Steelers

Stephen Gilmore won the Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) award last season, snapping a five-year streak of sack artists taking home the title. While Gilmore remains a threat in 2020, I think pass-rushers won’t get denied for a second year in a row. Out of the NFL’s greatest sack-artists, Watt possesses some of the best versatility.

Last year, Watt amassed 55 tackles, 14.5 sacks, 36 quarterback hits, 59 pressures, eight forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, two interceptions, and eight passes defensed. Defensive ends can’t compete with that sweeping dominance. Even outside linebackers like Chandler Jones, Khalil Mack, and Von Miller don’t match those numbers.

Of course, Aaron Donald should receive some looks for his third DPOY award. Donald claimed the award in 2017 and 2018 before coming back to Earth last season. Bobby Wagner remains one of the league’s most accomplished active defenders without a DPOY award. The 30-year-old linebacker has four consecutive First-Team All-Pro nominations.

Jamal Adams, Joey Bosa, Nick Bosa and Myles Garrett are only a few years into their careers, but they possess talent on par with Watt. It won’t come as a surprise if any of those four win their first DPOY award in 2020.