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My annual early awards survey was completed this week by high-ranking executives from 30 NFL teams, including 21 general managers. All 30 individuals participated on the condition of anonymity for competitive reasons and to provide an honest assessment.
Who are the big winners in seven notable categories? Here’s a rundown, with help from statistics compiled by NFL Media researcher Ben Peake.
Most Valuable Player
Stafford outdistanced the field with 18 votes as he closes out perhaps the best season of his illustrious career. At age 37, Stafford leads the NFL in passing yards (4,179), touchdown passes (40) and passer rating (112.1) for the 11-4 Rams. He has thrown just five interceptions — the type of ratio that helped Aaron Rodgers win four MVPs in Green Bay. Stafford’s passer rating of 132.0 on deep throws (20-plus air yards) and 127.9 against the blitz are both best in the NFL. And he’s gotten even hotter down the stretch, throwing at least two passing touchdowns in nine straight games — a Rams record and the longest such streak in his career.
Patriots quarterback Drake Maye was the runner-up with five votes. Still just 23 years old and in his second NFL season, Maye leads the NFL with a 70.9% completion percentage — topping Tom Brady’s franchise-record 68.9% in 2007 — and would be the youngest player ever to the lead the NFL in that category. (Joe Montana was 24 when he completed 64.5% of his passes in 1980.) Along with the arrival of head coach Mike Vrabel, Maye’s growth is a big reason the Patriots have made the biggest jump in total wins from last season (4-13 in 2024 to 12-3 with two games to go this season).
Bills quarterback Josh Allen , the reigning AP NFL MVP, got four votes. Browns defensive end Myles Garrett got two. Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert received one.
Offensive Player of the Year
Smith-Njigba received 15 votes on the strength of his league-leading 1,637 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns on 104 receptions — his second straight season in triple-digits. He has done it on a Seahawks team that passes just 51% of the time, third-fewest in the NFL. Still only 23 years old, JSN is responsible for 44% of the Seahawks’ receiving yards this season, which would be the highest single-season share since Brandon Marshall had 45.7% with the Bears in 2012.
Matthew Stafford received six votes in this category as well, making him the runner-up. Allen and Falcons running back Bijan Robinson got two each. Bills running back James Cook , Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold , Maye , Rams receiver Puka Nacua and Colts running back Jonathan Taylor each got one.
