NFL Predictions: Early Award Winners

The 2023 NFL Draft has wrapped up. There’s plenty of new faces on teams with new ways for them to be utilized. Some rookies will bring their team to the brink of contention, while other veterans could be doing the heavy lifting this year. Little do you know, I can see the future of all of these players, and with that information I will be predicting who I think will be the 2023-24 NFL award winners.

MVP – Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengals

This is the year that Joe Burrow destroys the NFL, putting up career numbers in 2023. Burrow has been a beast these last two years and he is only getting better. He can sling it like no other, and he has arguably the best WR duo in the league to throw to. Burrow’s touchdown numbers keep increasing and he even excelled without Ja’Marr Chase for four games last season.

The Bengals know Burrow is a franchise quarterback that can bring them Super Bowl titles. They brought in Orlando Brown Jr. to beef up the offensive line and give Burrow some help. Burrow has everything to win the MVP award. I believe with all the weapons he has, this is the year that he claims he is the most valuable player in the league.

OPOTY – Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota Vikings

I can’t see how Justin Jefferson could not have a better year than he did last year. I really think he will win the offensive player of the year award in back-to-back season. He is coming off of a 128/1809/8 stat line. And believe it or not, there is still room for improvement.

Jefferson had six games where he was held under 50 receiving yards. The Vikings lost Adam Thielen, but drafted Jordan Addison 23rd overall in the 2023 NFL draft. He will need time to get used to the NFL, so expect Jefferson to put up monster numbers to begin the season. That was only Jefferson’s first season with Kevin O’Connell. Expect those dud weeks to be fixed with more experience in the system. We could easily witness Jefferson break the 2,000 yard mark this season.

DPOTY – T.J. Watt, OLB, Pittsburgh Steelers

Last season was a lost season for T.J. Watt. After playing in Week 1, he missed the next seven due to injury, playing only ten games total. The Steelers went 1-6 in his absence, allowing 24 or more points in four of those games. Once he returned in Week 9, the Steelers went 7-2. It is clear the Steelers needed Watt, and when he came back they started to win again. During that span they held eight out of nine teams under 20 points.

Watt is one of the best defensive players in the league. I believe that he will bounce back this season. While I don’t expect him to hit his 22.5 sack season again, I expect him to have 15+ in 2023.

CPOTY – Damar Hamlin, S, Buffalo Bills

This should not come as a shocker to anyone. Damar Hamlin almost lost his life on the football field. The medical staff had to perform CPR on the field with everyone at the stadium, teammates, and people at home watching. Normally when you see that happen to a player you think their career is over with; but Hamlin was cleared to return to the football. After seeing what he had to go through it is shocking that he will be able to return to the game that almost took his life away. Hamlin deserves this award and he wouldn’t be able to get it without the medical staff saving his life.

OROTY – Bijan Robinson, RB, Atlanta Falcons

Bijan Robinson. What is there to hate about this dude? Bijan comes into the NFL as a bruiser, at 6”0′, 215 lbs. He should wreak havoc in the NFL for a very long time. He was picked 8th overall in the 2023 NFL Draft to the Atlanta Falcons, I am excited to watch him play. It has been five years since an RB was taken inside the Top-10. And as fate would have it, as I’m writing this article I was notified of this gem you’ll see below.

If that does not get you excited, I don’t know what will. He landed with the Falcons and Arthur Smith – and they love to run the football. Tyler Allgeier had 210 attempts last season. Now with Bijan as the lead back, the sky’s the limit for him. I think that he will come out of the gate hot. I can go on and on about Bijan in this offense and what he will be able to do for years to come, but man this guy should walk away with this award.

DROTY – Tyree Wilson, DE, Las Vegas Raiders

Tyree Wilson is a stud. I think he landed in the best spot for his skillset and the players around him. Wilson has the power, speed, and size for him to terrorize offensive lines for the next ten years. Wilson can disrupt the entire pocket with ease, and just be a menace at the line of scrimmage. I think Wilson can have a great career.

Another very important thing to look at is he will also be playing with Chandler Jones and Maxx Crosby. As an offensive line, those two guys are already scary to go against. Now throw in Tyree Wilson and that defense can be a scary one. You can’t simply double team one of them because now Wilson is there. With that he is set up to have a monster of a season with the Las Vegas Raiders.

To wrap things up, the big names from free agency and the draft all finished now. Now we wait for NFL football to be back. These are the guys that I think will dominate this year. I cannot wait to if these turn out to be true.