Jack McKessy· Feb 18, 2022
McKessy's way-too-early 2022 NFL awards predictions: Mahomes for MVP, Jonathan Taylor for OPOY, Aaron Donald (or Micah Parsons if Donald retires) for DPOY, Kenny Pickett for OROY, Kayvon Thibodeaux for DROY, Michael Thomas for Comeback Player, and Mike Tomlin for Coach of the Year.
“The fifth-year starter will return to his early-season form with no picks in September and ride that momentum to high production and his second MVP award.”
published in writing · The Draft Network · read the original (as archived Aug 17, 2022) →
The page this came from has since been taken down. The archived copy above is the record of what it said.
8 checkable claims — 7 award picks and 1 position order call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 12 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
All 8 have settled, averaging 12.5 out of 100, against 17 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
8 checkable claims in this take
Each one is scored on its own against the published methodology. A pundit naming several outcomes is graded on each, not on all-or-nothing.
- Award PicksKenny PickettFeb 18, 2022
Kenny Pickett to win Offensive Rookie of the Year
“OROY: Kenny Pickett ... I still feel pretty decent about going with Pickett here.”
Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 0+0 skillHow this was scored
- award:
- offensive_rookie_of_the_year
- naive:
- the naive pick was Justin Herbert, who won it the year before
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- 08386c54-0d9e-4e77-948e-b0e307f096dc
- season:
- 2021
- winner:
- Ja'Marr Chase
- correct:
- no
- accuracy:
- 0
- baseline:
- 0
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- Award PicksPatrick MahomesKansas City ChiefsFeb 18, 2022
Patrick Mahomes to win MVP
“MVP: Patrick Mahomes ... ride that momentum to high production and his second MVP award.”
Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 100-100 skillHow this was scored
- award:
- mvp
- naive:
- the naive pick was Aaron Rodgers, who won it the year before
- skill:
- -100
- player:
- Patrick Mahomes
- season:
- 2021
- winner:
- Aaron Rodgers
- correct:
- no
- accuracy:
- 0
- baseline:
- 100
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- Award PicksMichael ThomasNew Orleans SaintsFeb 18, 2022
Michael Thomas to win Comeback Player of the Year
“CPOY: Michael Thomas ... Thomas is a pretty safe bet here though.”
Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 0+0 skillHow this was scored
- award:
- comeback_player_of_the_year
- naive:
- the naive pick was b206a6f9-ca9b-4704-90c4-1d8eda1a6933, who won it the year before
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- cb856bb4-8c39-44b4-9347-dfb05765f369
- season:
- 2021
- winner:
- Joe Burrow
- correct:
- no
- accuracy:
- 0
- baseline:
- 0
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- Award PicksAaron DonaldLos Angeles RamsFeb 18, 2022
Aaron Donald to win Defensive Player of the Year
“DPOY: Aaron Donald OR Micah Parsons ... it would be hard not to pick him here.”
Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 0+0 skillHow this was scored
- award:
- defensive_player_of_the_year
- naive:
- the naive pick was Aaron Donald, who won it the year before
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- Aaron Donald
- season:
- 2021
- winner:
- T.J. Watt
- correct:
- no
- accuracy:
- 0
- baseline:
- 0
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- Award PicksMicah ParsonsDallas CowboysFeb 18, 2022
Micah Parsons to win Defensive Player of the Year
“If Donald does retire, it's Parsons who takes home this award.”
Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 0+0 skillHow this was scored
- award:
- defensive_player_of_the_year
- naive:
- the naive pick was Aaron Donald, who won it the year before
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- Micah Parsons
- season:
- 2021
- winner:
- T.J. Watt
- correct:
- no
- accuracy:
- 0
- baseline:
- 0
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- Award PicksKayvon ThibodeauxFeb 18, 2022
Kayvon Thibodeaux to win Defensive Rookie of the Year
“DROY: Kayvon Thibodeaux ... Thibodeaux is probably going to dominate no matter where he ends up.”
Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 0+0 skillHow this was scored
- award:
- defensive_rookie_of_the_year
- naive:
- the naive pick was Chase Young, who won it the year before
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- 4dd2754a-53c3-44ad-a6d6-b795519224b4
- season:
- 2021
- winner:
- Micah Parsons
- correct:
- no
- accuracy:
- 0
- baseline:
- 0
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- Award PicksJonathan TaylorIndianapolis ColtsFeb 18, 2022
Jonathan Taylor to win Offensive Player of the Year
“OPOY: Jonathan Taylor ... Taylor is my choice here.”
Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 0+0 skillHow this was scored
- award:
- offensive_player_of_the_year
- naive:
- the naive pick was Derrick Henry, who won it the year before
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- Jonathan Taylor
- season:
- 2021
- winner:
- Cooper Kupp
- correct:
- no
- accuracy:
- 0
- baseline:
- 0
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- Position Order CallsKenny PickettFeb 18, 2022
Kenny Pickett to be the first or second quarterback off the board quarterback off the board
“Pickett will likely be the first or second quarterback off the board in this year's draft”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 36.26+63.74 skillHow this was scored
- draft:
- 2022
- naive:
- naming one of the 9 at random averages 36.26
- skill:
- 63.74
- player:
- Kenny Pickett
- season:
- 2021
- zero at:
- credit halves every two places
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 36.26
- position:
- quarterback
- class size:
- 9
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- actual order:
- 1
- predicted order:
- 1–2
- weeks left when called:
- 0
What others said about the same people
- Mike MoraitisTrade and Signing Calls · DaRon BlandHit · 100Moraitis names five Cowboys he expects to be playing their final season opener in Dallas in 2026: George Pickens (likely tag-and-trade or departure), Malik Hooker, Luke Schoonmaker, DeMarvion Overshown and DaRon Bland.
- Bucky BrooksTrade and Signing Calls · Keenan AllenHit · 100Brooks predicted J.J. McCarthy won't be on the Vikings' roster (traded or released), said Kyler Murray wins the Vikings' QB competition, made a series of 2025 award picks, made 2026 Heisman/draft projections including Arch Manning as the front-runner for the No. 1 overall pick, and said none of Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen or Joe Burrow win a championship this season.
- Noah ComptonDepth Chart Calls · C.J. AllenMiss · 0After watching the Colts' eleventh training camp practice, Compton says rookie linebacker CJ Allen is still expected to start the regular-season opener, identifies Alec Pierce as the team's top receiver and Cam Taylor-Britt as the first cornerback behind the starting trio, and declares the kicking job Blake Grupe's to lose.
- Pete PriscoScore Predictions · Kansas City ChiefsClose · 57Prisco is the lone expert cited picking Kansas City, 20-17 over Denver.
- Mike FlorioScore Predictions · Kansas City ChiefsClose · 57Florio gives score predictions for every Week 1 game of the 2026 NFL season, including an opening-night upset by the Patriots in Seattle and narrow home wins for the Giants and Chiefs.
- John PluymGame Outcome Picks · Kansas City ChiefsHit · 100Pluym's Week 1 straight-up picks for all 16 games.
More award picks
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Gregg RosenthalAward Picks · Tristan WirfsMiss · 0Rosenthal picked Patrick Mahomes for MVP, Micah Parsons for Defensive Player of the Year, Jahmyr Gibbs for Offensive Player of the Year, Aaron Glenn for Coach of the Year, Travis Hunter for both Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year, Bill Callahan for Assistant Coach of the Year and Tristan Wirfs for Protector of the Year. He also made depth-chart calls on Adam Thielen and Jalen Coker.
- Jourdan RodrigueAward Picks · Penei SewellMiss · 0Rodrigue picked Patrick Mahomes for MVP, Jared Verse for Defensive Player of the Year, Ja'Marr Chase for Offensive Player of the Year, Mike Vrabel for Coach of the Year, TreVeyon Henderson for Offensive Rookie of the Year and Abdul Carter for Defensive Rookie of the Year, with Jesse Minter for Assistant Coach of the Year and Penei Sewell for Protector of the Year.
- Brandon SneideAward Picks · Drake MayeMiss · 0Snyder picks the Seahawks to beat the Patriots 31-23 in Super Bowl 60, believing Seattle pulls away late, and says Drake Maye will finish second in MVP voting behind Matthew Stafford.
- Nick WrightAward Picks · Rashid ShaheedMiss · 0Nick picked Seattle to win the Super Bowl 27-17, citing Seattle's defense, coaching against young quarterbacks and schedule strength, and named Rasheed Shaheed as his dark horse Super Bowl MVP.
- Chris BroussardAward Picks · Cooper KuppMiss · 0Broussard picked New England to beat Seattle 24-21, with Drake May winning Super Bowl MVP, and named Cooper Kupp as his dark horse MVP.
- Eric ManginiAward Picks · Drake MayeMiss · 0Mangini picked the Patriots 23-20 with Drake May as Super Bowl MVP, and earlier named Kayshon Boutte ("Kaeshawn Booty") as his dark horse MVP.