NFL award rankings: Who's making a late push for MVP, top rookie, more

Races for the league's most prestigious individual awards, including the MVP and Defensive Player of the Year honors, are approaching the finish line with only four weeks remaining.

Here's a look at the five best candidates for the main awards.

Coach of the Year

5. Jim Harbaugh, Chargers

Harbaugh has faced the Super Bowl champion Chiefs twice this season, including Sunday night. The games were decided by a combined nine points. Though they were not victorious in either, it shows the type of mental fortitude and culture change Harbaugh has brought to Los Angeles. The Chargers are 8-5, and barring a total collapse, should be on their way to the postseason. It hasn't been pretty or a fireworks show in L.A. under Harbaugh, but it's winning football and that's all that matters.

4. Sean Payton, Broncos

Payton knew he had a bit of a cleanup project ahead of him when he joined the Broncos. Last year was the start, and now his efforts are bearing fruit in 2024. His decision to select rookie passer Bo Nix in the first round also has paid off incredibly well with the 8-5 Broncos already matching their eight-win output from last season. Winners of three in a row, Denver is one of the hottest teams in the AFC and are on track to make the playoffs for the first time since 2015.

3. Kevin O'Connell, Vikings

Some might have expected the Vikings to be good. Few, if any, thought they would be this good. O'Connell has the Vikings marching to an impressive 11-2 mark with Sam Darnold under center. In O'Connell's offense, Darnold is having a career year to the tune of 28 touchdowns to 10 interceptions while Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison have combined for 1,878 receiving yards. O'Connell's 2024 showing has silenced any lingering questions over whether his 13-4 record in his first season was a one-off.

2. Mike Tomlin, Steelers

Tomlin has a special way of making the uneasy appear easy. For the 18th consecutive season, the Steelers head coach is guaranteed a non-losing season. That's the third longest streak all-time, trailing only Bill Belichick and Tom Landry, and the longest streak to start a coaching career. Better yet, the Steelers are 10-3 and appear destined for another playoff berth with Tomlin's belief in Russell Wilson's revival a major reason why.

1. Dan Campbell, Lions

There are some exceptional candidates but none can hold a candle to what Campbell is doing in Detroit. The Lions have won a franchise-record 11 games in a row and are already booked for a playoff appearance with a 12-1 record. That's not a record built upon beating poor teams either. Campbell and the Lions are 6-1 against teams that have a winning record. No other coach in the NFL has more. It's hard to beat a strong team like Detroit when the roster embodies the same fearless mentality its head coach has.

Defensive Rookie of the Year

5. Cooper DeJean, Eagles

DeJean is making a bigger impact as the year has progressed. His 7.4 yards per reception is best among all rookie cornerbacks with at least 250 coverage snaps, per PFF. His highlight-reel tackle on Derrick Henry from two weeks ago won't be reflected properly in the box score, but it was also the kind of play that will stick in the mind of voters for Defensive Rookie of the Year.

4. Chop Robinson, Dolphins

You can't judge every book by its cover, and you can't judge Robinson's effectiveness just based off his total of 3.5 sacks. His 40 pressures are second most among rookies while his 20.3 pass-rush win rate is the highest among all first-year players with at least 200 pass-rushing snaps, per PFF.

3. Braden Fiske, Rams

No rookie in the league this season has taken down the quarterback more often than Fiske, whose six sacks lead all first-year players. His 35 pressures are also third most among rookies, per PFF. Fiske is putting forth a tremendous effort; it's just a shame he's playing alongside another rookie teammate having a terrific year.

2. Jared Verse, Rams

Verse and the next man are neck-and-neck, but the Rams' rookie pass-rusher is in the midst of a four-game stretch without a sack. Overall though, his numbers still vouch strongly for him. Verse has 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and his 55 pressures lead all rookies, per PFF.

1. Quinyon Mitchell, Eagles

It's a tightly contest bunch near the front for the DROY accolade, but Mitchell is making a strong push. The Eagles' rookie cornerback has allowed only 58.2% of his targets to be completed, per PFF. Additionally, he's yet to allow a touchdown either.

Offensive Rookie of the Year

5. Brian Thomas, Jaguars

Thomas' exceptional rookie campaign has largely flown under the radar, but it looks like the Jaguars found a franchise receiver in the past draft. His 851 receiving yards leads all rookie wideouts. His explosive ability has been his trump card, however, with 12 catches of 20-plus yards tying him with Brock Bowers for most among rookies.

4. Caleb Williams, Bears

It's been a frustrating season for Williams, though mostly because some of his promising performance recently has been overshadowed by some poor coaching decisions or play from the Bears. Over his past three games, Williams has a 7-0 touchdown-to-interception ratio despite an 0-3 record in that span.

3. Bo Nix, Broncos

Nix's late charge for Offensive Rookie of the Year seems to be only getting stronger. Since Week 8, Nix has thrown 12 touchdowns to only three interceptions for a 102.4 passer rating while also leading the Broncos to a 4-2 mark in that span. Better yet, his EPA per dropback is tied for eighth in the NFL during that time, tied with Patrick Mahomes and Jordan Love, according to TruMedia.

2. Brock Bowers, Raiders

Bowers hasn't just been the top rookie receiving pass-catcher in 2024, he's been one of the best in the NFL, period. The Raiders tight end is second in receptions (87) and fifth in receiving yards (933). Bowers already holds the record for most receptions by a rookie tight end, but with four games still to go, you get the feeling he has bigger goals in mind. Puka Nacua's rookie record of 105 catches and 1,486 yards are well within reach.

1. Jayden Daniels, Commanders

Though Daniels and the Commanders' offense has fallen back down to Earth recently, the No. 2 overall pick is still the front-runner to take home this top honor. Daniels leads all quarterbacks in EPA per dropback, according to TruMedia, and it's by some margin. Dating back to 2014, Daniels' EPA per dropback would currently place second among all first-year quarterbacks in that span, trailing only Dak Prescott's 2016 campaign. At this pace, it seems certain he will be named the 2024 OROY.

Defensive Player of the Year

5. Myles Garrett, Browns

It's another banner year for Garrett, who eclipsed double digit sack totals for the seventh consecutive season. Cleveland's star pass-rusher is at 11 on the year and his pressure efficiency has once again been top of the charts. Garrett's pressure rate just fractionally beats out Trey Hendrickson for best among players with at least 10 sacks, per PFF.

4. Xavier McKinney, Packers

McKinney has been a revelation for a Packers defense that is top 10 in fewest points allowed. The safety's seven interceptions are tied for most in the NFL through 14 weeks. He's also recovered one fumble, making him involved in eight takeaways. For comparison, that's the same number of takeaways the Jaguars and Raiders each have this season.

3. Pat Surtain, Broncos

Being a great cornerback unfortunately means you sometimes don't get the recognition you deserve. Let's make sure that's not the case with Surtain. The Broncos cornerback is the highest-graded player at his position, per PFF. And that's no surprise when he's backing it up with three interceptions and a 61.6 passer rating when targeted. Surtain has frequently wiped opposing No. 1 receivers out of the game's balance and been a cornerstone for a strong Denver defense.

2. Trey Hendrickson, Bengals

Hendrickson isn't getting the recognition he deserves. Whether it's because he's not a household name, the Bengals having a poor season, or other star power surrounding him on the team, it shouldn't matter. Hendrickson leads the NFL in sacks and his pressure percentage (17.9%) is just a hair away from Garrett (18%), per PFF. The league leader in sacks wasn't named DPOY last season, but let's hope that's not the case again as Hendrickson has the traditional and advanced numbers to back him up.

1. T.J. Watt, Steelers

Watt remains the favorite to win his second DPOY trophy. His 9.5 sacks are just three off the league lead while his five forced fumbles are most in the NFL. While Watt isn't jumping off the stat sheet in sacks like in years past, it's his impact plays carrying him this time around. In addition to his sacks and forced fumbles, his 17 tackles for a loss are also best in the league. It might be a step down in pass-rush production, but Watt is having a brilliant all-around year.

MVP

5. Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs

The MVP trophy has been mocked as the quarterback on the best team award on more than a few occasions. If that holds true, Mahomes will be in the conversation. But make no mistake about it, this is a deserved mention. The Chiefs appear as weak as the league has seen in the seven seasons since he's taken the reins, and yet he's guided them to the best record in the AFC at 12-1. To put it simply, the Chiefs appear human. Even at that level, the presence and play of Mahomes is still too much for most mortals to defeat over 60 minutes.

4. Jared Goff, Lions

Goff is having a career year leading the Lions to an NFC-best 12-1 record. In most years, he might have been the top MVP candidate, but he's in a crowded field this season. He also has the unfortunate mistake of having a five-interception game in prime time. Despite the lone blemish, the former first-round passer is setting personal bests in completion percentage (72.4%) and passer rating (109.1). He also holds a 25-10 touchdown-to-interception ratio and is third among all qualified quarterbacks in EPA per dropback, according to TruMedia.

3. Lamar Jackson, Ravens

Many thought the 2023 season was Jackson at his peak. Forget that. The Ravens passer took a sledgehammer to his ceiling and is playing even better this year. Jackson owns a 29-3 touchdown-to-interception clip and leads the NFL in yards per pass attempt (8.7) and passer rating (116.3). No quarterback has a higher EPA per dropback than Jackson. In fact, he's in a league of his own.

2. Saquon Barkley, Eagles

Could this be the first season since 2012 that a non-quarterback wins MVP? Philadelphia certainly thinks so with Barkley in the midst of a record-breaking first year with the Eagles. Barkley is averaging 6.1 yards per carry and has amassed 1,623 yards on the ground. At his current pace (124.8 rushing yards per game), Barkley would smash Eric Dickerson's NFL record of 2,105 yards in a season. If that happens, the voters won't have a choice but to name Barkley the league MVP.

After 13 games:

1. Josh Allen, Bills

An amazing season became a historic one for Allen on Sunday. The Bills quarterback became the first player to throw and rush for three touchdowns in a single game. It was a losing effort, but that superhuman production sums up the type of effort Buffalo is getting from Allen. He's positioned himself as the favorite for MVP and with 3,000 passing yards, 23 passing touchdowns, 416 yards on the ground and nine rushing scores, who is going to take it from him?