Quarter-Season 2022 NFL Award Rankings: Multiple Late Round Rookies on Top?

 The season is officially a quarter of the way done. Feels so weird to say, kickoff feels like it was just yesterday but no, here we are. For the first time in a few years, these races feel like they are going to be ultra-competitive and down to the wire, as there are so many options at each spot. Today we will look at each major award and I will give my current top 3 candidates to win them. We will update this quarterly. Let's get it!

Defensive Rookie of the Year

3. Devin Lloyd, Linebacker, Jacksonville Jaguars
Statline: 49 total tackles, 2 INTs, 6 pass deflections

Not sure how he fell to pick 27 in the draft. The Jags weren't either, as they traded back into the first to snag him. Lloyd has instantly proved to them that they made the right decision, looking like one of the best overall LBs in the NFL, not just rookies and a potential franchise cornerstone. Lloyd is top 10 in total tackles, top 5 in pass deflections (that’s including DBs too!), also, the only LB within the top 15 in deflections. His two INTs in 5 games is also tied for third most in the league. Lloyd has been that do-it-all LB he was for Utah and is definitely going to be right in the mix for DROY!

2. Sauce Gardner, Cornerback, New York Jets
Statline: 20 total tackles, 1 INT, 6 pass deflections, 50% completion allowed, 32.6 passer rating allowed (top 5 lowest in the entire league)

Yup, Sauce has come just as advertised. I believed he was the no. 1 player in the draft, and he should have been the top pick in the draft. He wasn't, and now teams are already starting to look silly. It's been Sauce Island so far in New York, he has been impossible to throw on. His sticky coverage numbers are already showing up, and literally contributing to wins for the Jets who sit at 3-2 right now! Sauce has already manned up with some of the best pass catchers in football and won, he is going to be good for a long long time and has a top tier shot at DROY. 
Pre-season no. 2: SAME (also Gardner is what I mean)

The (current) Winner: Tariq Woolen, Cornerback, Seattle Seahawks
Statline: 17 total tackles, 3 INTs (1 returned for a TD), 4 pass deflections, 1 kick blocked, 1 fumble recovery

If this holds up it would probably be the most shocking DROY winner of all time! The Seahawks appear to have found yet another late round gem at CB. First it was Richard Sherman in the 2010s and now it could be Tariq Woolen. We all knew Woolen was an athletic freak going into the draft, but that was about it for now (for what it seemed). It took Woolen all of 2-3 games to shed the "project" label. The 5th rounder won a starting CB job for Seattle in camp and has never looked back. He has been their CB1 and not only done a good job, but he's been on the best CBs in the entire NFL. His 3 INTs are the most of any corner in the league right now, he also has a passer rating allowed of 40.2 which is 4th lowest in the NFL! Not just rookies! Woolen has been unreal for Seattle and if he keeps this up could be the most shocking DROY winner of all time!
Pre-season no. 1: Aidan Hutchinson (DE, Lions)

One guy to burst into the race in the next quarter: Talanoa Hufanga, Safety, 49ers

Offensive Rookie of the Year

3. Chris Olave, Wide Receiver, New Orleans Saints
Statline: 25 receptions for 389 yards, 2 TDs receiving

Chris Olave was the third WR off the board in a loaded first round of wideouts. So far he has been the best of the bunch, showing off instant chemistry with the New Orleans QBs along with an advanced feel for the game. Olave's claim to fame is his route running, which has easily translated to the NFL, but it has been unreal to see how good his hands have been this early. He just has some of the strongest hands and has made some great grabs through his first 5 career games. With injuries ravaging the Saints right now, Olave continues to see WR1 targets for this offense and should only do better when guys like Jameis Winston and Michael Thomas are back! Saints look like they got a winner here who is definitely very much in the OROY mix, if not the favorite.

2. Breece Hall, Running Back, New York Jets
Statline: 56 carries for 275 yards, 2 TDs rushing | 17 receptions, 213 yards, 1 TD receiving

In two weeks from now I feel like Breece Hall could be far and away in the top spot. We saw the Jets take a slow approach with him to begin the year, working him in behind Michael Carter, but his talent is too evident for them to do so any longer. The last two weeks he has turned it ON and now it's looking like he won't look back! Especially in his week 5 game, Breece Hall was simply electric. He ran for over 100 yards while also catching two balls for 97 yards. His do-it-all nature is becoming quite clear and he looks like he may just become one of the best dual-threat RBs in football in no time. I think week 5 was the first big game of many to come for Hall.
Pre-season no. 2: George Pickens (WR, Steelers)

The Winner: Dameon Pierce, Running Back, Houston Texans
Statline: 86 carries for 412 yards, 3 TDs rushing | 13 receptions for 57 yards

Through 5 games our top rookies on either side of the ball were both 4th round or higher picks! I don't know when the next time that will happen is. I love Dameon Pierce! This guy is simply such a fun watch. With bruising backs like Chris Carson retired from the league, Pierce brings back that brand of football to the NFL. Pierce took two weeks to get going, but since week 3, he has been impossible to stop. The Texans have not been a great team, but there have been multiple games where Pierce literally puts the team on his back for an entire drive to go down and score. Against the Jags in week 5, which the Texans won, Pierce forced SEVENTEEN missed tackles in the game. That is the most in a single game PFF has ever recorded! Pierce is also 5th in the league in rushing right now with his 412 yards! This is wild production and instant success for a fourth round rookie in a terrible situation. It is a testament to how damn good he is and what bright things he has coming his way. He is my current leader in the OROY race!
Pre-season no. 1: SAME

One guy to burst into the race in the next quarter: Ken Walker, RB, Seahawks

Comeback Player of the Year

3. Jeff Okudah, Cornerback, Detroit Lions
Statline: 19 total tackles, 3 pass deflections

The Detroit Lions took quite a risk when they took Jeff Okudah with the no. 3 overall pick back in 2020. The early returns were not great, as Okudah struggled with recurring injuries and then inconsistent play when he was rarely on the field. 2022 has already shown us why he went that high a few years ago. Okudah has finally been healthy, and his skill has been on full display. While week 5 was a rough game for both he and the Lions (as they got shutout), Okudah has been a lockdown CB1 option for Detroit the rest of the season so far. His low passer rating allowed and completion percentages along with 3 pass breakups have proven his worth. He is certainly in the mix for this honor.

2. Jaycee Horn, Cornerback, Carolina Panthers
Statline: 17 total tackles, 4 pass deflections, 1 INT, 23.8 passer rating allowed (lowest in NFL)

Another highly drafted young corner that dealt with a tough injury to begin his career. Horn was playing great for Carolina early in 2021 before going down with a season ending injury. He has picked up right where he left off for Carolina at the end of last year, only better this time. Horn has quickly established himself as one of the best CBs in the entire NFL. He's already broken up 4 passes and picked one off while allowed a 23.8 passer rating which is the lowest in the league! Furthermore, he's allowed the least yards of any CB in the league as well! While Carolina does not have a lot going for them right now, they evidently have a budding superstar CB on the roster which is huge for a rebuild! Horn is going to have a great shot at CBPOY.
Pre-season no. 2: Christian McCaffrey (RB, Panthers)

The Winner: Saquon Barkley, Running Back, New York Giants
Statline: 97 carries for 533 yards, 3 TDs rushing | 18 receptions for 143 yards receiving

So far out of all the award races so far, this feels like the only one with a guy clearly with a big step ahead of everyone else. Saquon Barkley is BACK! I was not a believer in him or that he would be able to return to form after multiple injury plagued seasons and a terrible supporting cast in New York. He has proven me and many others wrong as he suddenly looks like the electrifying talent we all remember him as after his rookie year. Barkley has been a machine on the field this year, breaking away for massive plays, forcing missed tackles, and most importantly: winning Giants games! Barkley is currently the second leading rusher in all of football and is also starting to RUN away with with this award. 
Pre-season no. 1: Derrick Henry (RB, Titans)

One guy to burst into the race in the next quarter: Derrick Henry, RB, Titans

Coach of the Year

3. Brian Daboll, New York Giants

If the Giants keep up their winning ways, I can see a clear path to Daboll winning COY! The Giants have been routinely one of the very worst teams in the league since around 2015. They seriously hadn't had a winning record at any point in a season since then (yup, not even like 1-0 or 2-1). Then Brian Daboll comes along. The Giants quickly got out to a 2-0 start, dropped a close game and then won two more. They are now 4-1 heading into week 6, amongst the best in the NFL. Whether it keeps up or not will be a true testament to Daboll, but man are the early returns on the former Bills' OC good! It looks like the Giants may have finally got their head man right, just look at how much better this offense is...

2. Mike McDaniel, Miami Dolphins

Another rookie head coach in the the top 3! McDaniel was the odds on favorite after the first three weeks of the season as his Dolphins got out to an AFC best 3-0 start including a win over the Bills. Injuries have hit his team at the QB position which is nearly impossible to recover from and since then his team has dropped two straight and now sits at 3-2. With Tua Tagovailoa's return looming soon, I'm confident the Dolphins will get back to their winning ways behind the genius offensive playcalling of McDaniel. He too looks like a home-run hire and should have a great shot at winning COY in his first year on the job!
Pre-season no. 2: Sean McDermott (Bills)

The Winner: Nick Sirianni, Philadelphia Eagles

Just as I picked in the pre-season, Sirianni currently looks like the favorite to win COY! His Eagles have been the best team in the league through the first quarter. They are the only remaining unbeaten and he has his team firing on all cylinders. Known as an offensive minded coach, his defense has quietly been almost MORE impressive than the elite rushing offense that many have said carry this team. I don't really care who is leading this team, the fact that they are winning in the fashion that they are is a reflection of Sirianni's coaching job and for that he is my favorite to win COY through 5 games!
Pre-season no. 1: SAME

One guy to burst into the race in the next quarter: Kevin Stefanski, Cleveland Browns

Defensive Player of the Year

3. Chris Jones, Defensive Tackle, Kansas City Chiefs
Statline: 7 total tackles, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, 2 pass deflections

I get it, these stats might not JUMP off the page at you, but they do not tell the full story. Defensive Tackles do not generally have numbers that are the best of the best. Jones' numbers are solid here, don't get me wrong, but they aren't what you would typically expect out of a DPOY favorite. Still, his presence cannot really be proven with these numbers. He is involved on every play, causing pressures and eating up blocks. The entire KC defense runs through him. I'm not a huge fan of PFF, but they have him as the highest graded PLAYER in the entire NFL. If Jones continues to play the way he is, he will have a real shot at DPOY down the stretch!

2. Nick Bosa, Edge Rusher, San Francisco 49ers
Statline: 15 total tackles, 6 sacks

Through 5 games, the DPOY race is really a two man race. This obviously can and will change, but for now I have Bosa slightly below the current winner. San Francisco's defense has been the best defense in the league. We've all known they were a great unit, but this year they have stepped up another notch and taken the league by storm. The best player on that defense is none other than former DROY Nick Bosa, who seems to get better every single year. His 6 sacks are tied for most in the NFL, and he is amongst the most pressures created in the league as well. With this torrid start to the year, Bosa could wind up with over 15 sacks on the season which would give him a great chance to take home his first of potentially multiple DPOYs!
Pre-season no. 2: Micah Parsons (OLB, Cowboys)

The Winner: Micah Parsons, Outside Linebacker, Dallas Cowboys
Statline: 19 total tackles, 6 sacks, 1 forced fumble

After his crazy rookie season in which he easily won DROY, Micah Parsons has also clearly taken his game up a notch. It is so rare to see a player who gets all the pre-season hype to take a major jump actually do it, and Parsons has. One of the odds on favorites for the award before the season, Parsons is playing EVEN BETTER than we expected. He is also tied with Bosa for the league lead in sacks with 6, but he's an outside linebacker who doesn't even rush on every down like Bosa. This is a guy who is a top flight rusher AND coverage LB when needed. Right now he's the clear winner for DPOY but this race will not get any easier down the stretch.
Pre-season no. 1: TJ Watt (DE, Steelers)

One guy to burst into the race in the next quarter: TJ Watt, Edge Rusher, Steelers

Offensive Player of the Year

3. Travis Kelce, Tight End, Kansas City Chiefs
Statline: 33 receptions for 347 yards, 7 TDs receiving

Travis Kelce continues to do things that are unheard of for the TE position. If you look around the league, the position is maybe in its worst spot ever. Aside from Kelce and a few others, there are not many headliners at the spot. For Kelce to be as dominant as he's been from that position just speaks to how unreal of a talent he is. With Tyreek Hill in Miami, Kelce has taken sole possession of the 'top target' label in KC's high flying offense. The Chiefs are 4-1 and haven't looked this good since Mahomes' MVP winning season. The craziest part about Kelce is that he leads all pass catchers with his whopping SEVEN TDs! He scored 4 of those in a single game last week over the Raiders, in which he did it with just 25 other yards to show for it. That game is indicative of how special Kelce is and how he is going to be in the midst of this OPOY race to the finish!

2. Saquon Barkley, Running Back, New York Giants
AS SEEN ABOVE
Pre-season no. 2: Lamar Jackson (QB, Ravens)

The Winner: Nick Chubb, Running Back, Cleveland Browns
Statline: 98 carries for 593 yards, 7 TDs rushing

If the season did end today, Nick Chubb would be the clear winner for OPOY. The belief around the league has always been that Chubb is simply a damn good pure football player. The issue has been the backfield split in Cleveland with him and Kareem Hunt. This season, Chubb has finally taken full power of the backfield with just the unreal efficiency and command he is playing with. Chubb has rushed for at least 110 yards in 4/5 games this season and has seen the second most total carries in the league as well. The Browns are winning games on the back of Chubb who is finally getting his moment to show he is in the tier of RBs like Henry, Barkley, Taylor, and McCaffrey. This race will stay competitive as always, but for now Chubb has it in control.
Pre-season no. 1: Justin Jefferson (WR, Vikings)

One guy to burst into the race in the next quarter: Jonathan Taylor, RB, Colts

MVP

3. Geno Smith, Quarterback, Seattle Seahawks
Statline: 1,305 yards, 9 TDs, 2 INTs passing | 20 carries for 77 yards, 1 TD rushing

WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT??! Through a quarter of the season, Geno fricken' Smith is right in the league MVP race! Simply unreal. In his first starting season in over 6 years, Smith has turned back the clock and is playing like a prime Russell Wilson in Seattle. He has been the highest graded QB in the NFL by PFF and has the highest completion % in the sport as well (with 75%)! Not only is he throwing the high percentage checkdowns like we expected, he's going deep, and doing it with unreal accuracy and touch. Both DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett are back to looking like elite receivers behind the play of this QB. If the Seahawk defense wasn't so bad and the team was able to have a better record than their current 2-3, I think Smith would be potentially the favorite for MVP. This has been a crazy first quarter for Geno and I cannot wait to see if he can keep it up down the stretch. This kind of story is what makes me love sports. HE'S YET TO WRITE BACK!!

2. Josh Allen, Quarterback, Buffalo Bills
Statline: 1,651 yards, 14 TDs, 4 INTs passing | 35 carries for 225 yards, 2 TDs rushing

You can tell he wants it. Josh Allen has progressively been getting better and better each year of his young NFL career, and with the way he has come out slinging to begin this year, he clearly wants that MVP and more importantly, a ring! The big bodied, big arm QB continues to wow the league with his accuracy despite how much velocity he throws the ball with. The Bills have one of the best offenses in the league thanks to Allen and should he kept dominating on cruise control, he will be hard for the voters to deny at the end of the year when MVP voting takes place.
Pre-season no. 2: Justin Herbert (QB, Chargers)

The Winner: Patrick Mahomes, Quarterback, Kansas City Chiefs
Statline: 1,398 yards, 15 TDs, 2 INTs passing 

By a hair on his chin, Patrick Mahomes takes my top spot in MVP rankings at this moment. Josh Allen has been trying to get ahead of this guy for as long as he's been in the league, but for now I still see Mahomes as the MVP of the league. A can and will change in this race, but I can see Allen and Mahomes being neck and neck all year long for the honor. We all know how good they both are, Mahomes especially. He makes some of the craziest plays you will ever see, being crazy with the ball while yet rarely turning it over. His 4-1 Chiefs are also one of the top teams in the AFC and figure to be Super Bowl contenders like usual. On tap for week 6: Mahomes' Chiefs vs Allen's Bills...that game and how both of these elite QBs play in it could go a LONG way towards deciding who takes home the hardware at the end of the year! Mahomes leading the league in TD passes at the moment gives him the slight edge in my humble opinion.
Pre-season no. 1: Joe Burrow (QB, Bengals)

One guy to burst into the race in the next quarter: Lamar Jackson, QB, Ravens