The start of the 2024 NFL Season is only a few short weeks away, so let's try to predict some major award winners for the upcoming year. I am amped for the start of the NFL regular season. It's almost here, and this year could bring a ton of new stories and new players that cement their status as top-dogs in the league.
Could there be some familiar faces who come away with some of the major individual awards? Let's dive into predicting major award winners for the 2024 NFL Season.
2024 NFL Predictions: Predicting major award winners for the upcoming season
MVP - CJ Stroud, QB, Houston Texans
Let's get the big one out of the way. CJ Stroud is going to win the NFL MVP award in the 2024 NFL Season, and you could argue he was among the most valuable players in the NFL during his rookie season, which is just an insane statement that I typed out. Frankly, the Texans are going to run all over the AFC in 2024 and will indeed win the Super Bowl.
It's going to be a banner year for them as the elite Stroud will come away with one of many awards in what could be an extremely successful career. As a rookie, Stroud threw for over 4,000 yards and had 23 touchdowns against just five interceptions.
Offensive Player of the Year - Tyreek Hill, WR, Miami Dolphins
Tyreek Hill has finished inside the top-10 of the MVP voting in each of the last two seasons, and in that same time has finished inside the top-5 of the Offensive Player of the Year voting as well. Tyreek Hill may simply be too good to not win one of these awards, but being that the MVP is basically the best QB award at this point, I like Hill to win the OPOY award in the 2024 NFL Season.
Across a 17-game season, Hill has averaged 123 receptions for 1,808 yards and 10 touchdowns during his two years with the Miami Dolphins, and in 2023, he was on pace for 1,911 receiving yards.
Tyreek Hill could end up being the first ever 2,000-yard wide receiver in the NFL in 2024.
Defensive Player of the Year - Micah Parsons, EDGE, Dallas Cowboys
Micah Parsons has never finished worse than third in the Defensive Player of the Year voting in his three-year NFL career. That is just astounding work from Parsons, who may be the best all-around player in the NFL today. In 2023 with the Dallas Cowboys, Parsons racked up 14 sacks, 18 tackles for loss, and 33 QB hits.
Parsons is a menace and is still firmly in the prime of his career.
Offensive Rookie of the Year - Bo Nix, QB, Denver Broncos
Call me a homer, but I do not see a better fit for any rookie in 2024 than Bo Nix on the Denver Broncos. Through two preseason games, Nix has gone 23/30 fo 205 yards and two touchdowns. He's not thrown an interception and has not take a sack, so there is just a lot to like here.
Nix can operate the offense the way Sean Payton likes, and it's clear how much of an upgrade Nix already is over their former QB, Russell Wilson. Bo Nix seems to be someone who has a very high ceiling as a rookie, but if you are worried about his ceiling overall, I can see there being valid concerns there, as he has played a ton of collegiate football, so that could have maxed him out a bit in the NFL.
Defensive Rookie of the Year - Laiatu Latu, EDGE, Indianapolis Colts
Laiatu Latu is the best pure pass-rusher to come out of the 2024 NFL Draft, and he's on an Indianapolis Colts team that already features DeForest Buckner, Kwity Paye, and Grover Stewart. Latu may not fill up the stat sheet a ton, but I see a year where he can just rack up the sacks.
Coach of the Year - DeMeco Ryans, Houston Texans
DeMeco Ryans finished in second place last year in the Coach of the Year voting. Being that I believe the Houston Texans will win the Super Bowl, DeMeco Ryans is going to win the COTY award. He was able to lead his Texas team to 10 wins in his rookie season, and I am not sure there are many head coaches in the NFL right now who are better at their jobs than Ryans is.
Comeback Player of the Year - Kirk Cousins, QB, Atlanta Falcons
The Comeback Player of the Year voting may come down to Kirk Cousins or Aaron Rodgers, arguably the two biggest names who ended the season with injuries. You could also throw Joe Burrow into this mix as well, but in some odd way, I actually trust Cousins more to come back 100% than I do Burrow.
Burrow's season-ending wrist injury was the second season-ender of his career, and Cousins Achilles tear was the first major injury of his NFL career. In my opinion, of the three, Cousins has the highest floor and may have the best chance to pick up where he left off. The Atlanta Falcons are also a ready-made roster on offense featuring a very tough offensive line and quite the lineup of play-makers.
Can Kirk Cousins win the Comeback Player of the Year? I think so.