Embed from Getty ImagesMVP: David Johnson and Derek Carr 

           I could have went with the safe picks of Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady, and while I know they'll be in the race for this award I think they will be dueling for another MVP award come February . So I feel that for 1st time since 2003 and only the 3rd time in history we will have co MVPs. With future Hall of Famer Larry Fitzgerald and Carson Palmer on the back end of their careers, I think RB David Johnson will put up monster numbers while carrying the Cardinals this year. We saw how valuable Carr was last year to the Raiders after he went down and was also a strong candidate for the award before the injury. This year he proves why he got the big contract and starts to build on his legend.

Honorable Mentions: Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers

Offensive PoY: Le'Veon Bell

                           I was going back and forth between the Steelers "triplets" but in the end I settled on the one with the most to prove. Bell is arguable the best back in the NFL, but he is also looking to get paid like it. Even though he held out all of camp, I don't think that slows him down and will put up huge numbers in the Pittsburgh offense to justify the money he is seeking. 

Honorable Mentions: Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown, Cam Newton

Defensive PoY: Von Miller

                          For some reason this year I had to think hard about the defensive categories. I wrestled with JJ Watt, then Joey Bosa, the Honey Badger and Luke Kuechly. All will make strong cases which is why I think this will be the toughest category for the voters to chose. I went with Miller in an almost lifetime achievement sense but I think in Millers mind he knows the QB situation in Denver is in shambles and just like in their Super Bowl 50 run the defense will have to carry this team. With pieces gone from that squad he will take on more of a roll that will lead him to finally capturing the award. He was one vote shy of winning it last year. 

Honorable Mentions: JJ Watt, Luke Kuechly, Joey Bosa, Tyrann Mathieu

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Christian McCaffery 

                            Thanks to Ezekiel Elliot, the RB position is back in style and that was evident by this years NFL Draft. Some of the best crop of running backs to enter the league in years. Now to be fair this years QB pool was slim and only 1 of them will be starting on opening weekend.

Leonard Fournette's injury history concerns me or he would be the top contender and Joe Mixon may be the most talented RB out of this class but he is 3rd on the Bengals depth chart and sadly I think his off field issues will still follow him. Deshaun Watson is the only QB I have in the race for the award and would be the front runner if he wasn't #2 behind Tom Savage with no clear timetable of when he will see action. I went back and forth between the McCaffery and Dalvin Cook and eventually with the former. Both will put up great numbers but I think Mcaffery not only provides highlight plays for Carolina but will makes the other pieces in that offense better. 

Honorable Mentions: Dalvin Cook, Joe Mixon, Deshaun Watson, Leonard Fournette

Defensive Rookie of the Year: Derek Barnett

                             Just like with DPoY this one was tough. I could have went with #1 overall pick (and pretty much everyone's pick for this award) Myles Garrett or the 2 great defensive picks from the 49ers in Solomon Thomas and Reuben Foster (who I think will eventually become the best LB in the league) or the Jets DB in Jamal Adams but I had to go with Eagles D lineman Derek Barnett. I mean the comparisons to Reggie White seem justified from what I've seen in the preseason so far and I think that translates to the regular season as well. 

Honorable Mentions: Myles Garrett, TJ Watt, Reuben Foster, Jamal Adams

Embed from Getty ImagesCoach of the Year: Jack Del Rio

                                Unless a coach has a wildly successful season, this award is usually given to a rookie Head Coach. I don't see any of the new coaches this year making noise with their new teams, Anthony Lynn and Vance Joseph have the best shot but they play in the same division in the AFC West and it might be the toughest division in football. That's why I think the head coach of the ream winning that division will take home this hardware, Jack Del Rio.  His biggest competition I think will be Doug Pederson who I believe will lead the Eagles to the NFC East title.

Unfortunately I feel for Bill Belichick he set the bar high for himself so a close to perfect regular season record will be the only way he snatches the award.

Honorable Mentions: Bill Belichick, Doug Pederson, Mike Mularkey

Comeback Player of the Year: JJ Watt

                            Since I have Watt missing out on the DPoY award, I felt his numbers would warrant the Comeback award. JJ wasn't the clear choice though. I gave strong consideration to the Seahawk's Earl Thomas. Sherman and Chancellor get most of the pub but Thomas is the heart and soul of that defense and will return the Boom to the "Legion of BooM in Seattle.

Honorable Mention: Earl Thomas, Marshawn Lynch