Zachary PerelesSep 8, 2026
CBS Sports' panel of NFL experts published its 2026 individual award picks, with Joe Burrow the leading MVP choice, Ja'Marr Chase for Offensive Player of the Year, Will Anderson Jr. an overwhelming Defensive Player of the Year pick, Jeremiyah Love for Offensive Rookie of the Year, David Bailey and Rueben Bain Jr. tied for Defensive Rookie of the Year, Patrick Mahomes for Comeback Player of the Year, Penei Sewell for Protector of the Year, and a four-way tie for Coach of the Year.
Published in writing · CBS SportsRead the original
What Zachary Pereles said
Mahomes winning Comeback Player of the Year was the most popular pick across all of the categories.
- Where it was published
- CBS Sports
- The piece
- CBS Sports 2026 NFL award predictions: Experts have clear No. 1 choice for MVP, pick other top honors
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
Box score, by kind
HitCloseMissWaiting| Group | Hits | Close | Misses | Waiting | Calls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Award Picks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | |
| Coach Award Picks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | |
| All | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 |
How each call scored
22 checkable claims — 18 award picks and 4 coach award picks — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 33 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Each call is scored 0 to 100 against what happened, on its own, by the published methodology. The naive guess is what knowing nothing would have scored on the same calls; the gap, weighted by how hard the call was, is the skill.
Award Picks18 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
Lamar Jackson to win MVP
“Ravens QB Lamar Jackson, Bills QB Josh Allen (2 each)”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Ja'Marr Chase to win Offensive Player of the Year
“Offensive Player of the Year Bengals WR Ja'Marr Chase (5 votes)”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
T.J. Watt to win Defensive Player of the Year
“Rams EDGE Myles Garrett, Steelers EDGE T.J. Watt (2 each)”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Bijan Robinson to win Offensive Player of the Year
“Falcons RB Bijan Robinson, Rams WR Puka Nacua (2 each)”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
De'Zhaun Stribling to win Offensive Rookie of the Year
“49ers WR De'Zhaun Stribling (4 votes)”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Rueben Bain to win Defensive Rookie of the Year
“Jets EDGE David Bailey, Buccaneers EDGE Rueben Bain Jr. (5 votes each)”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jadarian Price to win Offensive Rookie of the Year
“Seahawks RB Jadarian Price (2 votes)”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Patrick Mahomes to win Comeback Player of the Year
“Comeback Player of the Year Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes (10 votes)”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Puka Nacua to win Offensive Player of the Year
“Falcons RB Bijan Robinson, Rams WR Puka Nacua (2 each)”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- —Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Will Anderson Jr. to win Defensive Player of the Year
“Defensive Player of the Year Texans EDGE Will Anderson Jr. (9 votes)”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- —Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Penei Sewell to win Protector of the Year
“Protector of the Year Lions RT Penei Sewell (9 votes)”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Caleb Downs to win Defensive Rookie of the Year
“Cowboys DB Caleb Downs (3)”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
David Bailey to win Defensive Rookie of the Year
“Jets EDGE David Bailey, Buccaneers EDGE Rueben Bain Jr. (5 votes each)”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jahmyr Gibbs to win Offensive Player of the Year
“Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs (4)”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Myles Garrett to win Defensive Player of the Year
“Rams EDGE Myles Garrett, Steelers EDGE T.J. Watt (2 each)”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jeremiyah Love to win Offensive Rookie of the Year
“Offensive Rookie of the Year Cardinals RB Jeremiyah Love (7 votes)”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Coach Award Picks4 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
Jesse Minter to win Coach of the Year
“Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer, Ravens coach Jesse Minter, Bills coach Joe Brady, Jaguars coach Liam Coen (2 votes each)”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Joe Brady to win Coach of the Year
“Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer, Ravens coach Jesse Minter, Bills coach Joe Brady, Jaguars coach Liam Coen (2 votes each)”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Liam Coen to win Coach of the Year
“Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer, Ravens coach Jesse Minter, Bills coach Joe Brady, Jaguars coach Liam Coen (2 votes each)”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Brian Schottenheimer to win Coach of the Year
“Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer, Ravens coach Jesse Minter, Bills coach Joe Brady, Jaguars coach Liam Coen (2 votes each)”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens, Ja'Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals, T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers, Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons, De'Zhaun Stribling, San Francisco 49ers, Rueben Bain, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Jadarian Price, Seattle Seahawks, Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs, Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams, Joe Burrow, Will Anderson Jr., Houston Texans, Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills, Penei Sewell, Detroit Lions, Caleb Downs, Dallas Cowboys, David Bailey, New York Jets, Jahmyr Gibbs, Myles Garrett, Jeremiyah Love, Arizona Cardinals
Others on the same people
Chris Clark · Trade and Signing Calls · Nikko Remigio · Miss 0
Clark expects the Chiefs to bring back exclusive-rights receiver Nico (Remigio) and long snapper James Winchester, to re-sign JuJu Smith-Schuster as a cheap veteran fifth receiver, and not to bring back Hollywood Brown, Josh Dobbs-type depth, Gardner Minshew, Janarius Robinson or Mike Caliendo; they also say the Chiefs will not use a franchise tag and believes Bryan Cook won't return.Gilberto Manzano · Trade and Signing Calls · Josh Downs · Hit 100
Previewing the trade deadline, he expects Justin Herbert to stay in Los Angeles despite the Chargers' 0–7 start, thinks the Jets will keep Garrett Wilson and pair him with their young weapons, expects a receiver-hungry Kansas City to be aggressive with Josh Downs the likeliest target, and suggests expiring Eagles contracts Moro Ojomo and Riq Woolen could be dealt for mid-round picks.Joshua Poniatowski · Trade and Signing Calls · Josh Downs · Hit 100
Poniatowski names several trade targets, predicting Malik Willis underperforms this week against New England, that Omarion Hampton could become a viable RB2 if Adam Gase takes over play-calling, that Josh Downs gets traded (ideally to Kansas City, where they'd be a top-24 WR), that Brian Thomas Jr. could be dealt to the Rams or 49ers, and that Travis Kelce remains a consistent weekly TE.Jordan Dajani · Trade and Signing Calls · Josh Downs · Hit 100
After reporting that Colts receiver Josh Downs requested a trade, they identify five clubs as plausible landing spots for them: the Rams, Patriots, Falcons, Chiefs and Raiders, and suggests Las Vegas could also give them a long-term extension.
More award picks
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Seton O'Connor · Award Picks · Jalen Hurts · Hit 100
Picked the Eagles over the Chiefs in a close game, 31-28, with Jalen Hurts as MVP.Paul Pabst · Award Picks · Jalen Hurts · Hit 100
Picked the Eagles to win the Super Bowl 27-24 in overtime with Jalen Hurts as MVP.