# Zachary Pereles: CBS Sports' panel of NFL experts published its 2026 individual award picks, with Joe Burrow the leading MVP choice, Ja'Marr Chase for Offensive Player of the Year, Will Anderson Jr. an overwhelming Defensive Player of the Year pick, Jeremiyah Love for Offensive Rookie of the Year, David Bailey and Rueben Bain Jr. tied for Defensive Rookie of the Year, Patrick Mahomes for Comeback Player of the Year, Penei Sewell for Protector of the Year, and a four-way tie for Coach of the Year. **Claimed:** Sep 8, 2026 **Pundit:** Zachary Pereles — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/pundits/zachary-pereles **Outlet:** CBS Sports — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/outlets/cbs-sports **How it reached us:** published in writing **Original:** https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/cbs-sports-2026-nfl-award-predictions-mvp/ 22 checkable claims — 18 award picks and 4 coach award picks — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet. It names 33 players and teams, each linked to their own record. None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in. > Mahomes winning Comeback Player of the Year was the most popular pick across all of the categories. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Joe Burrow to win MVP** - Kind: Award Picks · About: Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals - Verdict: not settled yet - **Lamar Jackson to win MVP** - Kind: Award Picks · About: Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens - Verdict: not settled yet - **Puka Nacua to win Offensive Player of the Year** - Kind: Award Picks · About: Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jadarian Price to win Offensive Rookie of the Year** - Kind: Award Picks · About: Jadarian Price, Seattle Seahawks - Verdict: not settled yet - **Myles Garrett to win Defensive Player of the Year** - Kind: Award Picks · About: Myles Garrett, Los Angeles Rams - Verdict: not settled yet - **Bijan Robinson to win Offensive Player of the Year** - Kind: Award Picks · About: Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons - Verdict: not settled yet - **T.J. Watt to win Defensive Player of the Year** - Kind: Award Picks · About: T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Penei Sewell to win Protector of the Year** - Kind: Award Picks · About: Penei Sewell, Detroit Lions - Verdict: not settled yet - **Caleb Downs to win Defensive Rookie of the Year** - Kind: Award Picks · About: Caleb Downs, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: not settled yet - **Josh Allen to win MVP** - Kind: Award Picks · About: Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jeremiyah Love to win Offensive Rookie of the Year** - Kind: Award Picks · About: Jeremiyah Love, Arizona Cardinals - Verdict: not settled yet - **Liam Coen to win Coach of the Year** - Kind: Coach Award Picks - Verdict: not settled yet - **Patrick Mahomes to win Comeback Player of the Year** - Kind: Award Picks · About: Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs - Verdict: not settled yet - **Ja'Marr Chase to win Offensive Player of the Year** - Kind: Award Picks · About: Ja'Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jahmyr Gibbs to win Offensive Player of the Year** - Kind: Award Picks · About: Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions - Verdict: not settled yet - **Will Anderson Jr. to win Defensive Player of the Year** - Kind: Award Picks · About: Will Anderson Jr., Houston Texans - Verdict: not settled yet - **De'Zhaun Stribling to win Offensive Rookie of the Year** - Kind: Award Picks · About: De'Zhaun Stribling, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **David Bailey to win Defensive Rookie of the Year** - Kind: Award Picks · About: David Bailey, New York Jets - Verdict: not settled yet - **Joe Brady to win Coach of the Year** - Kind: Coach Award Picks - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jesse Minter to win Coach of the Year** - Kind: Coach Award Picks - Verdict: not settled yet - **Rueben Bain to win Defensive Rookie of the Year** - Kind: Award Picks · About: Rueben Bain, Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Brian Schottenheimer to win Coach of the Year** - Kind: Coach Award Picks - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Joe Burrow — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/joe-burrow - Cincinnati Bengals — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/bengals - Lamar Jackson — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/lamar-jackson - Baltimore Ravens — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/ravens - Puka Nacua — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/puka-nacua - Los Angeles Rams — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/rams - Jadarian Price — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/jadarian-price - Seattle Seahawks — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/seahawks - Myles Garrett — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/myles-garrett - Bijan Robinson — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/bijan-robinson - Atlanta Falcons — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/falcons - T.J. Watt — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/t-j-watt - Pittsburgh Steelers — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/steelers - Penei Sewell — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/penei-sewell - Detroit Lions — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/lions - Caleb Downs — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/caleb-downs - Dallas Cowboys — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/cowboys - Josh Allen — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/josh-allen - Buffalo Bills — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/bills - Jeremiyah Love — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/jeremiyah-love - Arizona Cardinals — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/cardinals - Patrick Mahomes — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/patrick-mahomes - Kansas City Chiefs — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/chiefs - Ja'Marr Chase — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/ja-marr-chase - Jahmyr Gibbs — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/jahmyr-gibbs - Will Anderson Jr. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/will-anderson-jr - Houston Texans — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/texans - De'Zhaun Stribling — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/de-zhaun-stribling - San Francisco 49ers — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/49ers - David Bailey — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/david-bailey - New York Jets — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/jets - Rueben Bain — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/rueben-bain - Tampa Bay Buccaneers — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/buccaneers ## What others said about the same people - Tyler Sullivan on Drew Lock: In an unsigned Week 2 odds roundup, the piece states that with Sam Darnold hurt, Drew Lock will likely start at quarterback for Seattle against Arizona. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/8a14b5e6-066b-457f-b409-a3ddbd512aca (scored 0) - Ralph Vacchiano on Tua Tagovailoa: Vacchiano ranks all 32 NFL teams entering the 2026 season, with the Rams first and Dolphins last. He also flags the Giants as a potential surprise team with a top-10 defense, and notes Deshaun Watson won Cleveland's QB job while Tua Tagovailoa starts Week 1 in Atlanta. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/6f782be9-64d3-47cf-b054-6566e14194d6 (scored 0) - Chris Brockman on Baker Mayfield: Brockman's season-preview overreactions: Fernando Mendoza becomes an Offensive Rookie of the Year finalist; Dak Prescott wins MVP and the Cowboys win the Super Bowl; Jesse Minter's Ravens win the AFC North; C.J. Stroud leads Houston to the AFC's No. 1 seed; Jonathan Taylor approaches 2,000 rushing yards; Baker Mayfield wins the NFC South, goes 12-5 and reaches the NFC title game while landing a $60 million-per-year deal; and Aaron Rodgers throws 35-plus touchdowns as the Steelers go 11-6 and win the North. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/d508736e-a824-4fa0-854c-df4ebdd9ef02 (scored 100) - Mike Moraitis on DaRon Bland: Moraitis 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/66b5ed7b-41bd-4f67-9b4d-16eae4675e67 (scored 100) - Steven Ruiz on Michael Penix Jr.: In a retrospective tiering of all 32 starting quarterbacks, Ruiz treats Michael Penix Jr. as the Falcons' Week 1 starter over Kirk Cousins, whom he places in his lowest tier. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/968b3764-11ef-41b5-a370-ff570b3219d1 (scored 0) - Jon Gruden on Baker Mayfield: The former Buccaneers head coach predicted that Tampa Bay and Baker Mayfield are closer on a new contract than believed and that an extension will get done. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/10bb8ff2-886c-488e-b693-fb4ea9dd5880 (scored 100) ## More award picks The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Brandon Sneide on Drake Maye: Snyder 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/1cf83e90-e59f-4c8f-941f-c732efcb4c03 (scored 0) - Eric Mangini on Drake Maye: Mangini picked the Patriots 23-20 with Drake May as Super Bowl MVP, and earlier named Kayshon Boutte ("Kaeshawn Booty") as his dark horse MVP. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/332dce8c-f71c-4f26-a976-8f4615a9f9bd (scored 0) - Chris Broussard on Drake Maye: Broussard picked New England to beat Seattle 24-21, with Drake May winning Super Bowl MVP, and named Cooper Kupp as his dark horse MVP. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/1247ee30-3338-4940-8fc9-977cc215ff59 (scored 0) - Rich Eisen on Sam Darnold: Eisen reaffirms his pick of the Rams to win the NFC West despite Seattle's current lead, expects Buffalo to land as the 2 or 3 seed in the AFC, names Josh Allen as his MVP with Sam Darnold finishing top five, floats the Saints picking in the teens, and calls Puka Nacua possibly the best receiver in the league. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/6671cdd3-7a29-4dc8-a3a0-7b5702ef670b (scored 0) - Eric Mangini on Justin Herbert: Mangini's upset alert was Carolina beating the heavily favored Rams; he also confirmed he has Buffalo ultimately winning in Jacksonville, and noted he had picked Justin Herbert as his MVP after Joe Burrow's injury. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/a0d45d98-1c40-47ec-9f79-7444727d076c (scored 0) - Brandon Carney on Christian McCaffrey: Carney made a full playoff bracket, picking the Bears, Niners, Rams, Patriots, Jaguars and Texans in the wild card round, then Seahawks and Rams in the NFC divisional, Broncos and Patriots in the AFC, with the Rams beating the Patriots in the Super Bowl. He also gave award picks including Stafford for MVP and Vrabel for Coach of the Year. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/88101820-7344-4240-93f1-caa15fe95de9 (scored 100) --- Accuracy is 0-100 against what actually happened. The naive guess is what a strategy requiring no knowledge would have scored on the same call — the difference is the skill, and it is what the MissedTakes Score averages. Full method: https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/methodology We summarize what a pundit said and quote a short span for attribution; we never republish their article. If this is wrong, tell us: https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/corrections?pundit=zachary-pereles