I know, the season hasn’t even started yet, but if all the best NFL predictions experts are already hard at work working their magic to predict each team’s future record, who will make it to the playoffs, who will miss out and who has the best odds to ultimately win the Super Bowl, I think we can start talking about candidates for the 2021 MVP award and Rookie of the year award as well. This season is filled up to the brim with elite players all making their bids to get the coveted Most Valuable Player award for the season at the end of it, as well as with rookies all coming into the league from one of the best and most-QB heavy drafts in recent years.
With all this said, here are 2 sure fire predictions for NFL MVP and for Rookie of the Year for the upcoming 2021 season. Hint, yes, they’re all quarterbacks, because at the end of the day, quarterbacks usually top everyone else in the league.
Honorable Mentions
Two players automatically come to mind when thinking about two non-QB qualified candidates to win the 2021 NFL Season MVP Award, Titans RB Derrick Henry and Rams DE Aaron Donald. With Henry, the story is right there for the telling. The man is a beast running the football, it’s not farfetched to say that opposing defenses fear him and his stiff arm, and while Ryan Tannehill’s job as Titans QB has been great, this offense is what it is and this team’s success is what it is because of what Derrick Henry has done with it. If he is able to rush for 2000 yards or more once again like he did last season, give the man the award without any questions asked.
On the other hand, is there a more dominant defensive player in the NFL than Rams superstar Aaron Donald? No, there isn’t. There are some very good players, but nobody is in Donald’s level of dominance. This man can tear through any offensive line without breaking a sweat and can become any QB’s automatic worst nightmare by just stepping onto the field against him. Given that the Rams are poised to have a season where title contention is in the plans, it can easily be assumed that a lot of this team’s success will come off how good their defense plays, and with Aaron Donald leading it, you know they’ll be great.
Surefire MVP Pick No.1: Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs
Are you really surprised to see that Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes is the all-around favorite to take the MVP award for the 2021 season? This man is on his way to becoming the face of the NFL, after Tom Brady retires of course. Now, all that could be derailed if Brady continues playing until after Mahomes retires, and seeing how good Brady is it could happen. But in all seriousness, Patrick Mahomes has the numbers, has the playing style, the swag, the stats, the supporting cast and the coaching staff to make him an obvious favorite to win the award.
If he mounts up one of his typical over the top seasons and leads the Chiefs once again at least to the AFC Championship game, then he will definitely be getting the MVP Award.
Surefire ROY Pick No.1: Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Let me start off by stating an obvious point here, while Trevor Lawrence will surely do wonders for the Jaguars organization down the line, expecting him to make this team a Super Bowl contender from season 1 is quite a stretch, because at the end of the day we’re still talking about the Jacksonville Jaguars. But with that said, that shouldn’t be much of an issue to get in Lawrence’s way of putting up a stellar season at QB.
While his preseason play has made some experts start to wonder if the hype was too much, with what Lawrence showed in Clemson and with the guidance of Urban Meyer at coach, this man will do amazing things for Jacksonville. Let’s just pray his offensive line steps up to the challenge as well.
Surefire MVP Pick No.2: Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers
If this is going to be Aaron Rodgers’ last year in Green Bay, then of course we can all expect it to be a year in which Rodgers goes all out. His leadership skills are beyond amazing for this team and the effect he can have on how the game is played is not to be messed with. If he was able to put up MVP caliber numbers last season, which led him to winning the award and taking the Packers to the NFC Championship game, this season, again, if it ends up being his last in Wisconsin, could end up being his best season ever, culminating with the 2021 NFL MVP award and maybe meeting Mahomes and the Chiefs in the Super Bowl.
Surefire ROY Pick No.2: Zach Wilson, QB, New York Jets
While Trevor Lawrence has struggled to get going with Jacksonville, number two pick in the draft, QB Zach Wilson has looked all shades of great with the New York Jets. Be it that his connection with HC Robert Saleh was immediate and unbreakable, the fact that he looks ever so pro ready, or just that he can live without the stigma of knowing he went first in the draft, Wilson is ready to ball out like there’s no tomorrow.
The upside for Wilson is immense, with the fact that he is not expected to lead this team into ultimate success right now. Wilson will be an automatic upgrade for a Jets team who have been looking endlessly for a new franchise QB for the future. Wilson will dazzle Jets fans with his style of play, he will make the team look great and he will put up numbers worthy of receiving the 2021 Rookie of the Year nod.
