# Zachary Pereles: 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. **Claimed:** Sep 8, 2026 **Pundit:** Zachary Pereles — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/zachary-pereles **Outlet:** CBS Sports — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/cbs-sports **How it reached us:** published in writing **Original:** https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/cbs-sports-2026-nfl-award-predictions-mvp/ 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. > Mahomes winning Comeback Player of the Year was the most popular pick across all of the categories. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Lamar Jackson to win MVP** - Kind: Award Picks · About: Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens - Verdict: not settled yet - **Ja'Marr Chase to win Offensive Player of the Year** - Kind: Award Picks · About: Ja'Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals - Verdict: not settled yet - **T.J. Watt to win Defensive Player of the Year** - Kind: Award Picks · About: T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Bijan Robinson to win Offensive Player of the Year** - Kind: Award Picks · About: Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons - Verdict: not settled yet - **De'Zhaun Stribling to win Offensive Rookie of the Year** - Kind: Award Picks · About: De'Zhaun Stribling, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Rueben Bain to win Defensive Rookie of the Year** - Kind: Award Picks · About: Rueben Bain, Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jesse Minter to win Coach of the Year** - Kind: Coach Award Picks - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jadarian Price to win Offensive Rookie of the Year** - Kind: Award Picks · About: Jadarian Price, Seattle Seahawks - Verdict: not settled yet - **Patrick Mahomes to win Comeback Player of the Year** - Kind: Award Picks · About: Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs - Verdict: not settled yet - **Puka Nacua to win Offensive Player of the Year** - Kind: Award Picks · About: Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams - Verdict: not settled yet - **Joe Burrow to win MVP** - Kind: Award Picks · About: Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals - Verdict: not settled yet - **Joe Brady to win Coach of the Year** - Kind: Coach Award Picks - Verdict: not settled yet - **Will Anderson Jr. to win Defensive Player of the Year** - Kind: Award Picks · About: Will Anderson Jr., Houston Texans - Verdict: not settled yet - **Josh Allen to win MVP** - Kind: Award Picks · About: Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills - Verdict: not settled yet - **Penei Sewell to win Protector of the Year** - Kind: Award Picks · About: Penei Sewell, Detroit Lions - Verdict: not settled yet - **Caleb Downs to win Defensive Rookie of the Year** - Kind: Award Picks · About: Caleb Downs, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: not settled yet - **David Bailey to win Defensive Rookie of the Year** - Kind: Award Picks · About: David Bailey, New York Jets - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jahmyr Gibbs to win Offensive Player of the Year** - Kind: Award Picks · About: Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions - Verdict: not settled yet - **Myles Garrett to win Defensive Player of the Year** - Kind: Award Picks · About: Myles Garrett, Los Angeles Rams - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jeremiyah Love to win Offensive Rookie of the Year** - Kind: Award Picks · About: Jeremiyah Love, Arizona Cardinals - Verdict: not settled yet - **Liam Coen to win Coach of the Year** - Kind: Coach Award Picks - Verdict: not settled yet - **Brian Schottenheimer to win Coach of the Year** - Kind: Coach Award Picks - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Lamar Jackson — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/lamar-jackson - Baltimore Ravens — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/ravens - Ja'Marr Chase — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/ja-marr-chase - Cincinnati Bengals — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/bengals - T.J. Watt — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/t-j-watt - Pittsburgh Steelers — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/steelers - Bijan Robinson — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/bijan-robinson - Atlanta Falcons — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/falcons - De'Zhaun Stribling — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/de-zhaun-stribling - San Francisco 49ers — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/49ers - Rueben Bain — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/rueben-bain - Tampa Bay Buccaneers — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/buccaneers - Jadarian Price — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jadarian-price - Seattle Seahawks — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/seahawks - Patrick Mahomes — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/patrick-mahomes - Kansas City Chiefs — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/chiefs - Puka Nacua — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/puka-nacua - Los Angeles Rams — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/rams - Joe Burrow — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/joe-burrow - Will Anderson Jr. — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/will-anderson-jr - Houston Texans — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/texans - Josh Allen — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/josh-allen - Buffalo Bills — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/bills - Penei Sewell — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/penei-sewell - Detroit Lions — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/lions - Caleb Downs — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/caleb-downs - Dallas Cowboys — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/cowboys - David Bailey — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/david-bailey - New York Jets — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/jets - Jahmyr Gibbs — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jahmyr-gibbs - Myles Garrett — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/myles-garrett - Jeremiyah Love — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jeremiyah-love - Arizona Cardinals — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/cardinals ## What others said about the same people - Chris Clark on Nikko Remigio: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/99521265-d5c0-4db1-b2a0-fe77908ea0b3 (scored 0) - Parker Hurley on Khalid Kareem: Hurley predicts the 49ers will release Khalil Kareem when Nate Hobbs is activated and cut Brandin Cooks when C.J. West returns, while arguing Sebastian Valdez won't be the one let go and no cornerback will be cut. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/5a729417-69ee-493a-9bec-d905fd1a7082 (scored 0) - Gilberto Manzano on Josh Downs: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/67d5af78-94ea-4ee2-a277-5e68347022de (scored 100) - Joshua Poniatowski on Josh Downs: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d1752582-a799-48b9-984b-39bf7cb8b709 (scored 100) - Andrew Erickson on Josh Downs: Erickson floated Kansas City as the landing spot for Josh Downs and said a trade there would make them at least a WR3 rest of season; they also expect Rashee Rice to leave the Chiefs after this season as a free agent. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/e97e28f2-31fc-4702-915c-63c38477e97d (scored 100) - Jordan Dajani on Josh Downs: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/f5af1657-8608-4071-a63e-0e7d6124e627 (scored 100) ## More award picks The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Eric Mangini on Drake Maye: Mangini picked the Patriots 23-20 with Drake May as Super Bowl MVP, and earlier named Kayshon Boutte ("Kaeshawn Booty") as their dark horse MVP. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/332dce8c-f71c-4f26-a976-8f4615a9f9bd (scored 0) - Chris Broussard on Drake Maye: Broussard picked New England to beat Seattle 24-21, with Drake May winning Super Bowl MVP, and named Cooper Kupp as their dark horse MVP. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/1247ee30-3338-4940-8fc9-977cc215ff59 (scored 0) - Willie Colon on Hunter Henry: Willie (Kyle Brandt's colleague, the panelist who argued Hunter Henry would be the key) predicted a 28-21 result and floated Hunter Henry as a possible Super Bowl MVP with two or three touchdowns. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d9547f0f-2af4-40b0-90c3-73901fdd165f (scored 0) - Chris Brockman on Saquon Barkley: Brockman picked the Eagles to beat the Chiefs 31-23 with Saquon Barkley as Super Bowl MVP, and said Barkley has a chance to reach 3,000 total yards of offense. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/cd1faf91-f6b5-4e48-b8c8-608235188d87 (scored 0) - Seton O'Connor on Jalen Hurts: Picked the Eagles over the Chiefs in a close game, 31-28, with Jalen Hurts as MVP. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/59584637-a46a-4023-81c0-9bd5bfaa6e24 (scored 100) - Paul Pabst on Jalen Hurts: Picked the Eagles to win the Super Bowl 27-24 in overtime with Jalen Hurts as MVP. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/85052683-73bd-4f67-af3c-9cf5e1ad1384 (scored 100) --- Accuracy is 0-100 against what actually happened. The naive guess is what a strategy requiring no knowledge would have scored on the same call — the difference is the skill, and it is what the MissedTakes Score averages. Full method: https://missedtakes.co/methodology We summarize what a pundit said and quote a short span for attribution; we never republish their article. If this is wrong, tell us: https://missedtakes.co/corrections?pundit=zachary-pereles