Welcome to the 2025-26 NFL Honors series. This series will run through the NFL season, with editions after weeks six, ten, 14 and 18.

Six weeks into the season, some players are set for awards while others have underperformed. Co-sports editors Nate Szarzynski and Connor Butts will each make their own picks for who should win each of the following awards: Most Valuable Player (MVP), Offensive Player of the Year (OPOY), Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY), Offensive Rookie of the Year (OROY), Defensive Rookie of the Year (DROY) and Coach of the Year (COTY). Each photo you see before the honor is of the 2024 winner.

Note, neither of us picked Comeback Player of the Year (CPOTY) or Protector of the Year (POTY) because CPOTY is vague–whether it is players returned from injury or a massive increase in performance, and POTY is a brand new honor in 2025, with the selection criteria unknown.

*All stats are provided by PFF via NFL and ESPN via NFL.*

MVP 2024 winner: Josh Allen, Quarterback, Buffalo Bills

Nate’s pick: Buffalo Bills Quarterback, Josh Allen

“To be the man, you have to beat the man,” the legendary Ric Flair famously said. Allen has played at an elite level through six weeks. Even with back-to-back losses, Allen has arguably looked better than in his 2024 MVP season. While this race is far from over, Allen, in my opinion, has yet to be surpassed by his competitors.

• Statline: 68.5 completion percentage | 1,397 passing yards | 11 passing touchdowns | four thrown interception | 103.2 passer rating | 46 carries | 254 rushing yards | three rushing touchdowns

Connor’s pick: Tampa Bay Buccaneers Quarterback, Baker Mayfield

Mayfield’s ability to never give up has put the Buccaneers in the position they are at through Week 6–the number one seed and arguably the best team in football. Without Mayfield, this team could easily be in the running for a top-five draft pick. Yes, Mayfield has the weapons that others may not have, but he came through most in clutch situations. 

• Statline: 73.2 completion percentage | 1,539 passing yards | 12 passing touchdowns | one interception | 108.5 passer rating | 22 carries | 158 rushing yards

OPOY 2024 winner: Saquon Barkley, Running Back, Philadelphia Eagles

Nate’s pick: Seattle Seahawks Wide Receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba

In his third season in the NFL, Smith-Njigba has found his footing in Klint Kubiak’s system. Sam Darnold has done a good job distributing the football, and Smith-Njigba has taken full advantage so far. The arrow is pointing up, and there is no reason to believe it will not continue.

• Statline: 42 receptions | 696 receiving yards | three receiving touchdowns

Connor’s pick: Indianapolis Colts Running Back Jonathan Taylor 

Taylor has built on what he left off from last season. Taylor rushed for over 1,400 yards last season and is on pace to rush for more than 1,700 yards this season. Taylor completely transforms that Colts offense and has looked like the best running back in football, though there is an argument for the best offensive player–if quarterbacks are not counted.

• Statline: 115 carries | 603 rushing yards | seven rushing touchdowns | 20 receptions | 147 receiving yards | one receiving touchdown 

DPOY 2024 winner:  Patrick Surtain II, Corner Back, Denver Broncos

Nate’s and Connor’s pick: Denver Broncos Edge Rusher Nik Bonitto

After an elite breakout season in 2024 with 13.5 sacks, Bonitto is well on his way to breaking the single-season sack record–22.5. According to ESPN, Bonitto has a 25 percent pass rush win rate–tied with Houston Texans edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. for second. Bonitto has also drawn so much attention from blockers that it has allowed other Broncos defenders to get to the quarterback, as the Broncos lead the NFL in sacks with 30.

We do not disagree here. 

• Statline: 23 tackles | eight sacks | 2.5 stuffs | 25% pass rush win rate | 29  pressures

OROY 2024 winner: Jayden Daniels, Quarterback, Washington Commanders

Nate’s and Connor’s pick: Tampa Bay Buccaneers Wide Receiver Emeka Egbuka 

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson and Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase. That is the rookie wide receiver Egbuka is. Not only has he taken over as the No. 1 receiver in Tampa Bay, he has been a major factor in why this team is winning. He and Mayfield have a special kind of connection where whatever Mayfield throws, Egbuka catches it. Do note that Egbuka is expected to miss a few weeks due to a hamstring injury he suffered in the Buccaneers’ Week 6 win over the San Francisco 49ers. 

We have no disagreement here. 

• Statline: 27 receptions | 469 receiving yards | five receiving touchdowns | no drops

DROY 2024 winner: Jared Verse, Edge Rusher, Los Angeles Rams

Nate’s pick: Philadelphia Eagles Off-Ball Linebacker Jihaad Campbell

Campbell, who filled the shoes of injured off-ball linebacker Nakobe Dean, has been tremendous, so far, in his rookie campaign. Campbell has not only filled in for Dean but has also been an upgrade for the Eagles. Campbell is paired with veteran off-ball linebacker Zack Baun to form one of the more formidable off-ball linebacker duos in the NFL.

• Statline: 40 tackles | one forced fumble | one interception | one stuff

Connor’s pick: Cleveland Browns Off-Ball Linebacker Carson Schwesinger

In what has been an expectedly bad season for the Browns, Schwesinger has already proven to be an elite player. Schwesinger has proven he can be the signal-caller of this defense, whether in run defense or the pass game. It has been a tough season for this award with the current talent, but Schwesinger has stood out as the only “elite” player so far. Schwesinger is also believed to be the lead pick for not only the all-rookie team but also the All-Pro team per Pro Football Focus. 

• Statline: 52 tackles | one sack | three stuffs 

COTY 2024 winner: Kevin O’Connell, Head Coach, Minnesota Vikings

Nate’s pick: Indianapolis Colts Head Coach, Shane Steichen

Steichen steered the Daniel Jones led Colts to a 5-1 start. Jones has looked like an above-average QB, and the team, as a whole, has shown how tough of a team they are to beat. Steichen also brought in former Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo to run the defense, a side of the ball that has greatly improved this season. Unless Jones returns to prior form, Steichen will be in the conversation for COTY for the remainder of the season.

• Record this season: 5-1 overall | 1-0 in the division | 4-0 at home | 1-1 on the road

Connor’s pick: Seattle Seahawks Head Coach, Mike Macdonald 

After an impressive 10 wins, but no playoffs, the Seahawks are off to a great start in 2025 at 4-2. A big part of that is due to their insane defense and how MacDonald has transformed them. Safeties Julian Love and Nick Emmanwori have played at All-Pro levels. Defensive tackles Byron Murphy II and Leonard Williams are on pace for career years and have each played at a top-five level. MacDonald has completely transformed this team from a questionable future to a team that is and will become elite.

• Record this season: 4-2 overall | 1-1 in the division | 1-2 at home | 3-0 on the road