MVP: Cooper Kupp (Rams)
There was a lot of upheaval within the Rams offense over the course of the season. The running back position was a revolving door with Darrell Henderson Jr., Sony Michel and Cam Akers all earning starter reps over the course of the season, #2 wideout Robert Woods tore his ACL in mid-November, DeSean Jackson came and left by the time Halloween hit, Odell Beckham Jr. joined the team unexpectedly in November after requested a release from the Browns and Tyler Higbee and Van Jefferson Jr. saw their usage dramatically fluctuate on a weekly basis. The lone thing that Matthew Stafford could rely on every single week was that Kupp was going to go out there and play his ass off. The slot receiver extraordinaire was a reliable top target to his quarterback and consistent thorn in the side of opposing defenses as he put together one of the most dominant WR campaigns (145 REC/1,947 YDS/16 TD's-all league highs) in NFL history.
Honorable Mentions: Aaron Rodgers (Packers), Tom Brady (Buccaneers), Joe Burrow (Bengals)
Offensive Player of the Year: Jonathan Taylor (Colts)
If the Colts hadn't choked away their playoff spot in the final 2 weeks of the season, Taylor would've been my MVP pick. Not only did the 2nd year player from the University of Wisconsin have to solely compensate for a passing attack that was below average on a good week by muscling his way through stacked boxes nearly every time he got a backfield touch, but he also outplayed and outproduced every other back in the league (his league-leading 1,811 rushing YDS and 2,171 scrimmage YDS topped the 2nd place backs by margins of 552 and 504 YDS respectively and his 20 total TD's tied him with Austin Ekeler for the most by an RB) to a degree that is downright comical.
Honorable Mentions: Deebo Samuel (49ers), Davante Adams (Packers), Justin Jefferson (Vikings)
Defensive Player of the Year: T.J. Watt (Steelers)
Watt tied Michael Strahan's single sack season record of 22.5 despite only appearing in 15 games and playing with the single worst overall defense he's been a part of since entering the league back in 2017. This is the type of dumbfounding, extraordinary accomplishment that should finally earn the likely future Hall of Famer his 1st real life Defensive Player of the Year as well.
Honorable Mentions: Myles Garrett (Browns), Aaron Donald (Rams), Kevin Byard (Titans)
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Ja'Marr Chase (Bengals)
While not without its notable low points (a well-documented slump from late October through early December, amassing 9 drops-which tied him with Keenan Allen for the most in the league), Chase shook off his brutal preseason/training camp showings and reminded the world why he was one of the most decorated receiving prospects of the past decade by establishing himself as a versatile playmaker and reestablishing the magic connection that he and Joe Burrow had at LSU at the pro level basically right away. Ultimately, his 2021 campaign (81 REC/1,455 YDS/13 TD's) was good enough to top the rookie receiving YDS and TD records his former LSU teammate Justin Jefferson set in 2020, which only further highlights how incredible he was this year.
Honorable Mentions: Creed Humphrey (Chiefs), Rashawn Slater (Chargers), Jaylen Waddle (Dolphins)
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Micah Parsons (Cowboys)
I'd like to use this space to formally state that I was dead wrong when I said Parsons was the most overrated player in the 2021 Draft. His ability to blow up plays in the backfield and rush the passer from both the middle linebacker spot and off the edge is simply incredible and the deployment of his unique skill set by DC Dan Quinn is a major reason why the Cowboys defense made huge strides forward after a dismal 2020.
Honorable Mentions: Jevon Holland (Dolphins), Patrick Surtain II (Broncos), Nick Bolton (Chiefs)
Comeback Player of the Year: Joe Burrow (Bengals)
Putting together a borderline MVP-caliber season as a 2nd year player coming off a torn ACL is just absurd. Outside of some early trouble with picks (14) as he shook the rust off, Burrow was terrific (4,611 YDS, 34 TD's, a league-high 70.4 CMP% in 16 games) this season-displaying incredible poise, command and efficiency as he led the Bengals to their 1st AFC North title since 2015, 1st playoff victory since 1990 and 1st Super Bowl appearance since 1988.
Honorable Mentions: Nick Bosa (49ers), Dak Prescott (Cowboys), Joe Mixon (Bengals)
Coach of the Year: Mike Vrabel (Titans)
Vrabel has cemented himself as a terrific coach ever since he was hired by the Titans back in 2018, but his work this season was easily his best to date. Despite battling through historic roster turnover on account of injuries and COVD (91 players suited up for them during the regular season) and missing several key pieces including Derrick Henry, A.J. Brown, Bud Dupree, Julio Jones, Taylor Lewan and Amani Hooker for extended periods during the season, he led the Titans to an AFC-best 12-5 record and a 2nd straight division title before getting knocked out by the eventual AFC Champion Bengals in a tough Divisional Round showdown.
Honorable Mentions: Zac Taylor (Bengals), Kyle Shanahan (49ers), David Culley (Texans)
All-Pro Teams:
Quarterback:
1st Team: Aaron Rodgers (Packers)
2nd Team: Tom Brady (Buccaneers)
Running Back:
1st team: Jonathan Taylor (Colts), Joe Mixon (Bengals)
2nd team: Austin Ekeler (Chargers), Nick Chubb (Browns)
Wide Receiver:
1st team: Cooper Kupp (Rams), Davante Adams (Packers)
2nd team: Deebo Samuel (49ers), Justin Jefferson (Vikings)
Tight End:
1st team: Mark Andrews (Ravens)
2nd team: Travis Kelce (Chiefs)
Tackle:
1st team: Trent Williams (49ers), Tristian Wirfs (Buccaneers)
2nd team: Rashawn Slater (Chargers), Lane Johnson (Eagles)
Guard:
1st team: Joel Bitonio (Browns), Zach Martin (Cowboys)
2nd team: Joe Thuney (Chiefs), Shaq Mason (Patriots)
Center:
1st team: Creed Humphrey (Chiefs)
2nd team: Corey Linsley (Chargers)
Defensive End:
1st team: Myles Garrett (Browns), Maxx Crosby (Raiders)
2nd team: Nick Bosa (49ers), Cameron Heyward (Steelers)
Defensive Tackle:
1st team: Aaron Donald (Rams), Christian Wilkins (Dolphins)
2nd team: Chris Jones (Chiefs), Vita Vea (Buccaneers)
Outside Linebacker:
1st team: T.J. Watt (Steelers), Darious Leonard (Colts)
2nd team: Micah Parsons (Cowboys), Robert Quinn (Bears)
Inside Linebacker:
1st team: De'Vondre Campbell (Packers), Lavonte David (Buccaneers)
2nd team: Demario Davis (Saints), Fred Warner (49ers)
Cornerback:
1st team: Jalen Ramsey (Rams), A.J. Terrell (Falcons)
2nd team: Darius Slay (Eagles), J.C. Jackson (Patriots)
Safety:
1st team: Kevin Byard (Titans), Micah Hyde (Bills)
2nd team: Marcus Williams (Saints), Antonie Winfield Jr. (Buccaneers)
Kicker:
1st team: Justin Tucker (Ravens)
2nd team: Daniel Carlson (Raiders)
Punter:
1st team: A.J. Cole (Raiders)
2nd team: Bryan Anger (Cowboys)
Return Specialist:
1st team: Braxton Berrios (Jets)
2nd team: Kene Nwangwu (Vikings)
Special Teamer:
1st team: Ashton Dulin (Colts)
2nd team: J.T. Gray (Saints)
2022 Pro Football Hall of Fame Inductee Predictions:
Devin Hester, kick/punt returner, wide receiver (Teams: Chicago Bears, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Seattle Seahawks)
Torry Holt, wide receiver (Teams: St. Louis Rams, Jacksonville Jaguars)
Richard Seymour, defensive end/tackle (Teams: New England Patriots, Oakland Raiders)
Zach Thomas, inside linebacker (Teams: Miami Dolphins, Dallas Cowboys)
DeMarcus Ware, defensive end (Teams: Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos)
Who I'd Vote for If I Could Cast a Ballot:
Torry Holt
Richard Seymour
Zach Thomas
DeMarcus Ware
Patrick Willis, inside linebacker (Team: San Francisco 49ers)
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