The 2023 NFL regular season's conclusion means two things: It's playoff time, and it's award season. I recently made my picks for Wild Card Weekend. As these awards aren't influenced by the postseason, it's now it's time to make my picks for MVP, Coach of the Year, Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, Offensive and Defensive Rookies of the Year and Comeback Player of the Year.
MVP: Lamar Jackson (QB - Ravens)
It was a tumultuous NFL season that never felt like it had a true runaway MVP favorite. That feeling may have changed over the last few weeks. After Lamar and the Ravens dominated then-MVP-favorite Brock Purdy and the 49ers in San Francisco (on Christmas), the race clearly became Lamar's to win. He ended his regular season on a six-game winning streak before sitting out the season finale against the Steelers. After seeing how the Ravens performed without him (and some other starters), Lamar can focus on the Divisional Round knowing a second MVP is essentially his.
Honorable Mention: Dak Prescott (QB - Cowboys)
Coach of the Year: Kevin Stefanski (Browns)
Former Coach of the Year Kevin Stefanski entered 2023 with Deshaun Watson as his new quarterback and the reliably dominant Nick Chubb at running back. It was thought that the run-heavy Browns would prioritize Chubb's ground game and allow Watson to shake off his rust. Plans changed in Week 2 when Chubb suffered a season-ending knee injury. Plans would continue to change as Watson would suffer a midseason shoulder injury, forcing Stefanski to start PJ Walker and Dorian Thompson-Robinson at quarterback for much of the later midseason. Stefanski rallied his league-best defense and found 38-year-old veteran Joe Flacco as a new quarterback. Flacco and Stefanski took the 7-4 Browns to 11-5 before Flacco sat for a Week 18 loss to the Bengals. Stefanski's ability to adapt to a season of immense change is what earns him this award.
Honorable Mention: Demeco Ryans (Texans)
Offensive Player of the Year: Christian McCaffrey (RB - 49ers)
Christian McCaffrey is a perfect fit for Kyle Shanahan's offense, and he made that apparent during his first full season with in San Francisco. He ran for 1,459 yards and 14 touchdowns on an impressive 5.4 yards per carry, and also tallied 564 receiving yards and 7 receiving touchdowns. His 21 total touchdowns tied for a league best. He also came into the season with a touchdown streak that would stop in November at 17 games, tying Hall of Famer Lenny Moore's all-time record. Oh, and he had 142 total yards in the 34-3 win that snapped his streak. People questioned whether his quarterback was the MVP or was just buoyed by McCaffrey's insane spread of abilities, which is a statement to McCaffrey's impact this year.
Honorable Mention: Tyreek Hill (WR - Dolphins)
Defensive Player of the Year: TJ Watt (OLB - Steelers)
While many have Myles Garrett circled for the award this year, I think that TJ Watt was more impactful. He had an incredible 19 sacks to Garrett's 14, 68 total tackles to Garrett's 42 and 19 tackles for loss to Garrett's 17. Garrett was also a part of a superior defense, though there's an argument that being surrounded by better players leads to worse individual stats. However, Garrett's mere 9 assisted tackles indicate otherwise. I think TJ Watt was more important to the Steelers' defense than Garrett was to the Browns'.
Honorable Mention: Myles Garrett (DE - Browns)
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Puka Nacua (WR - Rams)
Stroud's status as QB and #2 overall draft pick will likely lift him above Nacua when the real awards are handed out. And while Stroud had an incredible rookie season and looks like a franchise QB, Nacua's record-breaking season is too spectacular for me to ignore. Selected with pick 177, Puka Nacua was immediately impactful for the Rams offense. He notched 105 receptions for 1,486 yards, both of which are NFL rookie records, and also scored six touchdowns. He's looked poised, experienced and fluid all season long and has been established as a surprise star.
Honorable Mention: CJ Stroud (QB - Texans)
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Devin Witherspoon (DB - Seahawks)
Devon Witherspoon, the only defensive rookie to be selected to this year's Pro Bowl, entered Seattle with a mountain of pressure on his shoulders. He responded by making the exact explosive plays that he was drafted for. He was PFF's top rated rookie defender (min. 600 snaps) as well as PFF's top rated Seahawk. He finished the year with 16 pass deflections, 8 tackles for loss, 3 sacks and a 97-yard pick six. Witherspoon fought through injury and delivered some huge hits. We'll see if his physical style carries over to his first Pro Bowl flag football game.
Honorable Mention: Jalen Carter (DT - Eagles)
Comeback Player of the Year: Joe Flacco (QB - Browns)
This award has been tied to Damar Hamlin's name ever since it was announced that he was returning from the near-fatal cardiac arrest that he suffered on January 2 against the Bengals. While Hamlin's ability to return to the team is incredible, the scope of Flacco's impacts push the Browns' quarterback into the top spot. Flacco was 38 and hadn't started in more than a year when Kevin Stefanski and the Browns came calling. He promptly won 4 of his next 5 games and got the Browns into the playoffs while looking like the same man that won a Super Bowl a decade ago. His playoff journey could be one of the most incredible storylines sports has seen in a long time.
Honorable Mention: Damar Hamlin (DB - Bills)
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