2025 NFL Honors Predictions

It’s awards season, and that includes sports awards, too!

The finalists for the AP 2024 NFL awards have been revealed. These players were chosen through a voting system, where AP asked voters to rank their top five most valuable player candidates and top three candidates for the other awards.

Winners will be announced at the 14th annual NFL Honors ceremony on Thursday, where the league comes together to recognize and celebrate the top performers from the season.

Here are predictions of who will walk away with some hardware:

Most Valuable Player: Josh Allen

The “MVP” chants after almost every game Josh Allen played in this season showed that the fans recognize an MVP when they see one.

Allen changed the Buffalo Bills’ franchise when he was drafted in 2018, and he continues to improve every year.

He threw for 28 touchdowns and only six interceptions this season while being sacked fourteen times, tied for the lowest of starting quarterbacks this season.

Compared to other teams using their wideout weapons, specifically the loss of wide receiver Stefon Diggs this past offseason, the Bills relied a lot on Allen as both a quarterback and running back.

He also rewrote the history books in multiple ways, including becoming the first player to have a passing, receiving and rushing touchdown in a game.

After one of the most notable seasons of Allen’s career, it is difficult to imagine how successful the Bills would have been without him.

Offensive Player of the Year: Saquon Barkley

This was the performance from Saquon Barkley that everyone was waiting for.

After signing with the Philadelphia Eagles this offseason, Barkley joined a squad that was already solid, but his presence helped solidify them as one of the most dominant teams in the NFL.

The seven-year veteran became the ninth player in history to rush for over 2,000 yards in the regular season. He also recorded a career-high 13 touchdowns.

Barkley ran his way through the record books several times, including setting a record of six rushing touchdowns of 60-plus yards in a season.

He is the only non-quarterback as a finalist for Most Valuable Player and was selected to his third Pro Bowl while helping lead his team back to the Super Bowl.

A Lombardi Trophy would be the icing on the cake for Barkley’s historic season, and it’s definitely making the New York Giants regret letting him walk away.

Defensive Player of the Year: Pat Surtain II

There is a new number one in defensive players.

Denver Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain had a season he will remember for a long time, helping lead his team to their first playoff game since 2015.

He ranked fifth in the league in interceptions with four, and he did not miss a single tackle all season. This was also his fourth consecutive season with double-digit pass breakups.

After earning the 101 Awards’ AFC Defensive Player of the Year, winning DPOY would be the perfect ending to Surtain’s best year yet.

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Jayden Daniels

Jayden Daniels was drafted by a 4-13 team with new owners and an entirely new staff looking to rebuild. And it's safe to say they did just that.

The rookie quarterback ended the regular season with over 3,500 passing yards and 25 total touchdowns. He also put up over 800 yards and five touchdowns in three postseason games.

Daniels led his team to their first playoff win since 2005 by defeating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Wild Card round.

One game later, he broke former Colts quarterback Andrew Luck’s offensive yards record by a rookie.

After trading their previous starting quarterback, Sam Howell, this past offseason, the Commanders have finally found their franchise quarterback.

Defensive Rookie of the Year: Jared Verse

Jared Verse proved how well-versed he is in this league.

The 19th overall draft pick led all rookies in pressures (77), hurries (56) and quarterback hits (18). He also developed the second-most tackles for loss (11) and sacks (4.5).

Verse produced six total tackles in two postseason games and sacked Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts twice in their Divisional Round match-up.

He was one of five rookies named to the Pro Bowl and was the only member from his team selected after helping his team rise back to the top of the NFC West.

When future hall-of-famer Aaron Donald announced his retirement this past offseason, there were questions about who would lead this defense. Verse’s strong season gave them an answer.

Comeback Player of the Year: Joe Burrow

Having two seasons where you suffered season-ending injuries is not ideal, and it can sometimes be difficult to return.

But not for Joe Burrow!

The fifth-year veteran underwent season-ending surgery on his left wrist last November, came back and had his best season yet.

Burrow led the league in passing yards (4,918) and touchdowns (43) while throwing only nine interceptions. This was also his highest completion attempt percentage (70.6) and passer rating (108.5).

He is one of the five nominees for both Most Valuable Player and Offensive Player of the Year while also making his third Pro Bowl.

Even though the Bengals missed the playoffs, Burrow returned like he never left and had an unforgettable season.

Coach of the Year: Kevin O’Connell

Before the start of the season, the Minnesota Vikings were projected to have a rough season, but that was certainly not the case. However, it could have been if Kevin O’Connell was not the main man in charge.

Sam Darnold signed with the Vikings after rookie J.J. McCarthy suffered a season-ending knee injury during preseason. He had been on three teams where he found little success.

O’Connell was able to take Darnold and give his football career a new life, and Minnesota finished the season 14-3.

He also helped running back Aaron Jones and linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel, who both signed with the team this past offseason, find their places within the squad.

That’s the definition of a good football coach.

O’Connell signed a multi-year deal to stay with the Vikings to guarantee they would not lose the guy who helped them stay afloat in a sea of troubles.

Now that he has recognition from his team, it only makes sense that he gets recognition from the league as one of the best.

Assistant Coach of the Year: Ben Johnson

Yes, the Detroit Lions’ offense is filled with talent, but there is a more significant reason why they were so successful.

Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson led one of the most powerful offenses this season, with his team ranking first in offensive points per game (28.2), yards per game (395), touchdowns per drive (33%) and red zone touchdown percentage (67%).

Johnson created some out-of-pocket plays that fooled almost every defense the Lions were against. Even though other teams tried to match his plays, they were not nearly as effective.

He also elevated Jared Goff to have his best season yet and helped other offensive weapons, including running back Jahmyr Gibbs, reach new heights.

There was a reason Johnson was hired by the Chicago Bears as their new head coach, and he will look to transfer these numbers to his new offense in the Windy City.

The NFL Honors premiere Thursday, Feb. 7 at 9 p.m. on FOX and NFL Network, where the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025 and the Walter Payton Man of the Year presented by Nationwide winner will also be announced.

Ashley Mascaro is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, please email aem6398@psu.edu.