We are officially at the midway point of the 2025-26 NFL regular season. While there is still much football left to be played, and a lot left to determine who deserves to be on center stage at the annual NFL Honors, nine weeks is enough to take a swing at who is leading the race for each of the league’s most prestigious awards. You may be surprised at some of the choices.
Offensive Player of the Year
Nic’s Pick: Jaxon Smith-Njigba
Shocking, right? After nine weeks of hearing all about Jonathan Taylor and his historic, arguably MVP-caliber season, it would make sense that he would be running away with this award. Although Taylor would be a perfectly reasonable ballot for this honor, I saw this a bit differently after taking a closer look.
Jaxson Smith-Njigba is having a spectacular season at wide receiver under less favorable circumstances. His impeccable route running and fluidity after the catch make him one of the most dangerous weapons this sport has to offer. Through nine weeks, his 4.41 yards per route run average is 0.89 higher than the next-best wide receiver with at least 20 targets. He is on pace for the NFL’s first 2,000-yard receiving record.
While plenty of running backs are on pace for wildly impressive seasons, most notably Taylor, if JSN smashes the yardage record while acing the eye test, that gives him an automatic bid to win this award.
Honorable Mentions: Johnathan Taylor, James Cook, Christian McCaffery
Defensive Player of the Year
Steph’s Pick: Myles Garrett
The easy choice, and the right choice. Garrett, as usual, has been a game-wrecker on defense, recording 10 sacks and a league-leading 15 tackles for loss. Sure, these aren’t generational numbers, but we’re in an odd moment where no defensive player is having a standout year.
The Browns stand at 2-6, and it’s starting to feel like Cleveland is wasting a generational defensive talent. It’s hard to feel bad for Garrett, though, because he chose a massive payday from the struggling Browns over a chance to play for a contender. It’s hard to imagine the Browns becoming competent enough to make full use of his talent anytime soon.
Honorable Mentions: Nik Bonitto, Brian Burns, Devin Lloyd
Offensive Rookie of the Year
Nic’s Pick: Tyler Warren
Don’t worry, Colts fans, I didn’t completely ignore you. While Offensive Player of the Year could go either way between the Indianapolis running back and Seattle’s WRk1, Offensive Rookie of the Year isn’t even close, in my opinion.
Tyler Warren looks like an All-Pro veteran week in and week out. Every time you look up at the TV watching RedZone, he is running downfield wide open or shoving defenders to the dirt. Warren leads all rookie receiving threats in receptions, receiving yards and first downs.
The Colts’ offensive attack asks him to do so much every game, and he delivers every time. When you take on the responsibility Warren has for such a diverse skill group in Indianapolis, it’s hard to overlook that.
Honorable Mentions: Emeka Egbuka, Quinshon Judkins, Jaxson Dart
Defensive Rookie of the Year
Steph’s Pick: Nick Emmanwori
Seahawks head coach Mike MacDonald referred to Emmanwori as a defensive “chess piece” before the season, and the young safety has validated that claim through the first half of the season. Emmanwori has quietly become one of the most versatile and impactful players on Seattle’s defense, lining up anywhere from a deep quarter to the box and even in the slot.
While he may not boast the national spotlight or impressive stats of other favorites like Abdul Carter and Carson Schwessinger, Emmanwori’s value lies in his versatility and veteran-esque football IQ. Carter is still the heavy favorite to win the award, and while he does deserve it, Emmanwori’s impact goes beyond the box score, reshaping how we value schematic flexibility like his in modern defense.
Honorable Mentions: Abdul Carter, Carson Schwesinger, Jihaad Campbell
Coach of the Year
Nic’s Pick: Kyle Shanahan
This was a tough one. Coach of the Year is typically awarded to the coach whose team shows the most improvement compared to the previous season. And yes, while a team going from worst to first, like Mike Vrabel’s New England Patriots, is a good indicator for a worthy COTY candidate, I looked at it a little differently.
Coaching has always been about serving the best dish based on the ingredients at your disposal. While Vrabel has done a great job rebuilding the Patriots, some of their success can be attributed to the rise of Drake Maye (more on him later) and the offseason additions New England made in free agency and the draft.
Kyle Shanahan, on the other hand, has been handed rat poison with San Francisco and turned them into a five-course meal. His entire roster is so banged up it could be sponsored by Urgent Care, his quarterback was an established bust before his recent mini-resurgence, and they have had to go through the tough NFC. Despite all of that, the 49ers are 6-3 at the halfway point in the regular season.
They go into each matchup with guys suited up who just walked off the street, and still, find ways to win. And they win the way we’ve come to expect: physical, creative, and disciplined.
Honorable Mentions: Mike Vrabel, Shane Steichen, Mike Macdonald
Protector of the Year
Steph’s Pick: Quenton Nelson
Does anybody else find it weird how Daniel Jones turns into a top quarterback after he inherits an elite offensive line? For all the praise that Jones, Jonathan Taylor and Tyler Warren get for being great this season, it’s hard to imagine where the Colts’ offense would be without their big guys up front, most notably Quenton Nelson.
The future Hall of Famer is already a seven-time Pro-Bowler and three-time All-Pro. He’s more than qualified to be the first recipient of this award, and his on-field play is more impressive than his accolades. Nelson’s ability to open lanes and drive off defenders for his offense is unmatched.
While he’s less dominant at pass blocking than run blocking, Nelson rarely allows pressure and is a dependable bodyguard for Danny Dimes. Nelson’s time to win the award is now, since Indianapolis’s offensive prowess and overall success will most likely not be replicated next season.
Honorable Mentions: Penei Sewell, Lane Johnson, Dion Dawkins
Most Valuable Player
Nic’s Pick: Drake Maye
Sigh, yes, as a Bills fan, this is my pick. Drake Maye is sick. If he were not playing for a division rival, he would be one of my favorite players in the league. And even though I knew he was going to develop into a big-time quarterback, never in a million years would I have guessed he would be a viable MVP pick by November of this season.
Maye is No. 1 in total Expected Points Added (EPA) among all quarterbacks. He is doing that with a receiving corps that, while better than initially predicted, is still middle-of-the-pack production and talent-wise. He has tons of explosive passing plays every game, his accuracy is elite for a second-year starter and he can extend plays with his legs.
If we take this award at its definition, most valuable player, Maye satisfies that definition the best through nine weeks. He is the offense; he accounts for well over half of his team’s yardage, and has the Patriots first in the AFC East, a division that has been ruled by Buffalo for this entire decade.
Steph’s Pick: Matthew Stafford
More than due, and more than worthy of the honor. At the ripe age of 37, Stafford is on pace to have the best statistical season of his career, leading the league with 21 touchdowns.
The thing that’s prevented Stafford from winning the MVP in previous seasons was his problem with throwing interceptions. This season, he has only thrown two, relying on his veteran decision-making and poise to limit turnovers.
His stats are good, and the on-field play is somehow even better. I’m not sure how Stafford still has a golden arm after 16 years in the NFL, but he’s making throws this season that seem impossible. Having a top receiving duo and a wonderkid head coach helps, but come on, Stafford looks like prime Aaron Rodgers out there. He can throw anywhere on the field, threading passes into the tightest windows.
Stafford deserves the award for his stats alone, but he needs to win his division to seal his victory. The Seahawks and 49ers are both teams with strong defenses. If Stafford can perform well against those fronts down the stretch and claim the NFC West, there’s no question who the MVP is.
This might be the last ride for Stafford, and it would be fitting for his renowned career to end with the most illustrious honor a player can receive.
